"Politics isn't merely about power; it's about wielding influence with finesse, orchestrating the dance of nations on the world stage."
•••
Welcome to a tale that echoes through the luxurious enclaves of the capital to its very downtrodden streets.
...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
With Ananya in his arms, Trayaksh walked back to the car.
His guards parting the crowd for them.
He gently lowered her into the passenger seat, helping her secure the seat belt, his touch lingering for just a second—as if reluctant to part, before he moved around to take the wheel.
She stared out the window, her pulse racing in time with the blur of trees outside, her thoughts a tangle of emotions she couldn't untangle. The heat on her cheeks hadn't faded, and she wasn't sure if it was from the way he cradled her in his arms outside or the unspoken tension that now filled the space between them.
Trayaksh kept his focus straight ahead, the car moving smoothly out of the tracks.
Neither of them said a word.
The hug they shared—it was new.
A boundary crossed.
It was something they'd never done before.
The silence felt thick, heavy, as if speaking might break something fragile. But the tension was undeniable. They both knew it. Felt it.
When they reached the parking lot, they switched cars. Perhaps it was the familiar cocoon of his RR or the fact that they weren't alone anymore, but as they settled into the backseat, the unspoken tension between them softened into something relaxing. Almost easy.
The silence became less awkward, more comfortable. Safe.
But it couldn't last.
"Ek baar."
(Once,)
Ananya frowned, turning to him. "Ek baar?"
(Once?)
His eyes flicked to hers. "Hara hoon race mein. Bas ek baar."
(I've lost the race. Just once.)
She blinked, finally understanding. Oh, so he was talking about that.
She studied him for a moment, and when he continued to hold her gaze without showing any signs of stopping, she looked away, focusing on the window once more as the car zoomed past the city streets, but she didn't stop talking.
"Kisne haraya?"
(To whom?)
"Cobra." He replied, as if recalling an old memory. "Known for never losing a race."
She raised an eyebrow, unable to hide the amusement flickering in her eyes. "And you're admitting it just like that?"
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Why not? Besides, Cobra was deep into military..." He paused, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, "That's the rumor, at least."
