Destiny or Accident?

Episode: 25 || Jealous

"Humans are born soft and supple;
Dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead they are dry and brittle.
Thus whoever is strict and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.
The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail."

Listening to Advika's question, a storm of emotions raged in Karna's mind. He saw flashes of her in that attire, her wrist gripped in Arjun's hand, and the way her attention had been focused on someone else. The simmering jealousy he'd felt earlier flared into anger, setting his mood ablaze once more.

Karna turned slowly to face her, his eyes piercing through her confusion. Advika watched him approach, trying to understand what could have possibly infuriated someone as composed as Karna. He stopped in front of her, standing straight, intentionally asserting his presence. It was a subtle show of dominance, and the shift in her expression revealed that it was working.

Tilting his head slightly, Karna raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in his voice. "You're enjoying yourself here, aren't you?" he asked, his fingers brushing lightly against her forehead as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Advika was caught off guard, both by his sudden closeness and the intensity of his gaze. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure, but her heart was racing. The faint touch of his hand sent a shiver down her spine, and she struggled to respond.

"Hmm?" Karna prompted, his voice a low rumble.

"Not really," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to read his intentions. Karna nodded thoughtfully, his hands moving to rest on her shoulders, the contact firm yet deliberate.

"Do you want to know what I think?" he asked, trailing his hands slowly down her arms to her wrists. Advika's breath caught, a mix of nerves and something else fluttering in her chest. His touch was different this time—not just warm or comforting, but almost electric, making her skin tingle in anticipation. She couldn't tell if the shiver running through her was from the cold night air or from him.

As his fingers lightly traced her arms, Karna's eyes roamed over her face, lingering on her features as if memorizing every detail. There was something in his gaze that was no longer just searching—it was appreciating, almost reverent. His thumb brushed over the pulse in her wrist, and he held her hand with a delicate but firm grip, lifting her arm and twisting it behind her gently.

The unexpected movement pulled her closer until her chest barely brushed against his. Advika's breath hitched, her eyes widening at their sudden closeness. She had never experienced this kind of intimacy before, and it left her unsure of what to do or say. She tilted her head to look up at him, their faces so close she could feel his breath warm against her skin. His gaze was intense, and she instinctively bit her lip, trying to steady herself.

Karna raised his free hand and, with an almost feather-light touch, traced his finger along the side of her face. The soft caress made her close her eyes involuntarily, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks. Her serene expression, combined with the dim moonlight that highlighted the delicate curve of her neck, stirred something deep within Karna—something he had spent a lifetime trying to suppress.

For a moment, he felt a dark desire rise within him, an impulse that both intrigued and alarmed him. Her vulnerability, the softness of her skin under his fingers, and the fragile trust in her eyes—all of it created a heady mix of emotions he struggled to contain. He was captivated by her, not just in admiration but in a way that awakened desires he knew would frighten her if she understood the depth of them.