Lotus among the Roses

🩷🔥Lover's Reunion🔥🩷

Kumud leaned against a tree, keeping her eyes on the forest’s edge. They had been waiting for a while now, and the earlier encounter with the tiger still lingered in her mind.  She wasn't fond of idleness, especially when they were out in the open like this. Vyom, however, seemed perfectly at ease, his back against a rock as he toyed with the blade of his dagger.

She glanced at Vyom, who had got up just now, casually inspecting the leaves of a nearby shrub as if they were on a leisurely stroll rather than a secret mission.

“How much longer?” Kumud asked, her voice low. She didn’t like being in the open like this. Too vulnerable.

Vyom didn’t look up, his tone lazy. “He’ll come when he’s ready.”

Her brother, Vikram had told her once that Vyom had a peculiar way of dealing with tension— he always seemed relaxed, almost too much, but his mind was never at rest. Still, Kumud couldn’t shake the irritation that came with his flippant attitude.
Kumud wasn’t in the mood for Vyom’s typical nonchalance. She glanced at Devsena, who stood apart from them, her posture unusually stiff. Devsena hadn’t said much since they had changed their route into the forest, and now she was alert in a way that felt personal. Something was off.

Devsena, clearly, was far from relaxed. She constantly fumbled with her fingers, as she stood by a cluster of bushes, her back rigid, eyes scanning the horizon.

Vyom must have noticed it too. His gaze shifted to Devsena, his lips curling into a sly smile. "Devsena," he called, a playful lilt to his voice, "you’re awfully quiet. Something on your mind?"  Vyom called out, smirking. “Nervous?”

Devsena shot him a withering glare. “Shut up, Vyom.”

“Oh, but why?” he continued, clearly enjoying himself. “I’m sure this meeting means something special to you. I’ve heard stories of lovers meeting under trees just like this one.”

Kumud almost laughed at how fast Devsena’s glare could cut. "Vyom, if you don’t stop—"

"You’ll what?" Vyom leaned forward, goading her further. "I’m just saying, it’s a shame we don’t have flowers or candles to make this little reunion more romantic. After all, he is your promised one, isn’t he?"

"Vyom!" Devsena's voice was sharp, but the slight flush in her cheeks told Kumud that Vyom was onto something.

Kumud watched the exchange with interest. Devsena’s mood had shifted drastically since the mention of this mysterious contact. There was definitely something personal in her silence.

“Vyom, if you don’t stop, I swear—” Devsena’s voice was sharp, but she didn’t finish her sentence.

Before Vyom could retort, a rustling came from the trees. All of them tensed, eyes narrowing toward the sound. Kumud’s hand instinctively went to her dagger again, but Vyom held up a hand, signaling her to wait.

A figure emerged from the trees. Tall, with a well-built frame, his face obscured by a hood until he stepped fully into the clearing. When he pushed back the hood, Kumud’s breath caught slightly. He had a striking presence, the kind of aura that demanded attention. His dark hair fell messily around his face, his eyes sharp, calculating.

“Kushagra,” Vyom said, his tone shifting slightly to something more serious. But the smirk didn’t fully leave his face. “You’re late.”

Kushagra ignored Vyom and instead locked eyes with Devsena. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension. It was as if the rest of the world had disappeared for a moment, leaving just the two of them standing there.

“Kushagra,” Devsena said, her voice softer than Kumud had ever heard it. There was a familiarity in the way she spoke his name, an old warmth that had dulled with time but hadn’t completely faded.