Twin Inferno

30.wedding

Rudra’s POV

The tension between us had grown thick, almost suffocating. After what happened last night, things were different — or maybe, they were just as broken as they always had been. Esha, with her biting words and sharp glares, didn’t scare me. But she had my attention.

As I lay back in the bed, replaying her venomous smirk and the way she practically *dared* me to challenge her, I realized something. Maybe it was time I stopped letting her get to me. Maybe it was time I played her game.

The decision came quickly — I'd join her for Ehaan’s wedding, whether she wanted me there or not. But the twist? I’d make her think it was her idea.

That evening, as she got ready for the wedding, I leaned casually against the doorway of our shared room, watching her. The Mehrotra beach mansion was already buzzing with the pre-wedding chaos, but here we were, trapped in our own little war.

"Need any help?" I asked, my tone deliberately casual, as if the past 24 hours hadn’t happened.

Esha didn’t turn to look at me. She just continued fussing with the strings of her lehenga blouse in the mirror.

She was wearing a flattering maroon lehenga it didn't have many works it was plain but looked really expensive and beautiful on her not gonna lie she can pull anything with her body.

“Funny, Rudra,” she muttered, not missing a beat. “Since when do you offer help?”

I smirked, stepping forward, closing the distance between us. "I thought I’d be the perfect husband for once. You know, play the part. For the wedding."

She shot me a sideways glance, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "And what’s in it for you?"

Without answering, I reached out, fingers deftly tying the loose knot of her blouse. My hands brushed against her back, and I could feel her stiffen, just for a moment. But of course, Esha being Esha, she quickly composed herself.

“Don’t get any ideas,” she said coldly, but I didn’t miss the slight tremor in her voice.

"Who, me?" I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence, stepping back as she quickly adjusted her outfit. "You’re the one that seems nervous."

She turned sharply to face me, her eyes locking with mine. "Nervous? Please, Rudra. I don’t get nervous." Her voice was hard, but I saw through it. She was rattled, even if she wouldn’t admit it. That gave me a small sense of satisfaction.

"I guess I’ll take your word for it." I smirked again, stepping back, giving her space. She straightened, trying to regain her composure.

We both knew this wedding was just a distraction. The real battle was between us, and neither of us was willing to back down.

---

The Wedding

As we arrived at the Mehrotra beach mansion, I could feel the weight of the evening pressing down on me. The air was filled with laughter, music, and the salty scent of the ocean. The lights twinkled around the courtyard, creating the perfect romantic atmosphere.

Esha, as always, fit right in. She glided through the crowd with that icy confidence, her red lehenga catching every glimmer of light. For a moment, I caught myself admiring her — not in the way I once did with Siya, but something different. Esha had her own kind of power, and she wielded it with deadly precision.

But still, it didn’t change the fact that my heart was somewhere else.

Watching Ehaan and his bride exchange vows stirred something in me. As they performed the rituals, it reminded me of everything I lost. The love I once had with Siya, the future I thought I’d built. And now? Now I was stuck here, bound to someone who thrived off my misery.

Esha, of course, noticed. She always did.

"Careful," she whispered, sidling up next to me. "You’re starting to look like you’re about to cry. Should I get the tissues?"

Her teasing tone grated on my nerves, but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. Instead, I leaned in slightly, whispering back, "Jealous, are we? Not every wedding is about you."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You wish.”

But there was something different in her voice. She wasn’t as sharp, not as biting. For a brief moment, I wondered if she could see the cracks in my armor. But then, just as quickly, she slipped back into her role — the cold, calculating Esha I’d come to know.

Throughout the night, I did my best to push past the hollow ache in my chest, to ignore the overwhelming weight of everything I’d lost. Esha, meanwhile, seemed to enjoy herself, laughing and mingling with the guests, her eyes occasionally flitting over to me with that mocking glint.

By the time the ceremony ended, I was ready to disappear. But, of course, Esha wasn’t done.

As we stood by the water’s edge, watching the final fireworks light up the sky, she turned to me. "You looked like you were about to break into 'Channa Mereya' back there," she joked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

I smirked, playing along. "Maybe I was. You never know."

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than usual, and for the first time in a long while, she seemed unsure of what to say. But before she could come up with another snide remark, I decided to have the last word.

"I’ll be fine, Esha," I said quietly, my voice low. "Don’t worry. I can handle myself. Can you?"

Her eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by my sudden shift in tone. But she quickly recovered, lifting her chin defiantly. "You’re the one who should be worried, Rudra."

But even as she spoke, there was something different in her gaze. Something almost… human.

For once, I didn’t hate it.

And as the night drew to a close, I couldn’t help but wonder where this strange, twisted game of ours would lead next.