A Glimpse of Red

Start of Feelings

The tension in the room was still thick as Riyansh, Nitya, and the Rawal brothers wrapped up the meeting. The faint sound of footsteps echoed through the lavish corridors of Rawal Enterprises as Riyansh and Nitya exited the conference room. Behind them, Akhil Rawal exchanged a glance with Pratham, both men understanding that the business discussion had ended, but the personal conflict had only just begun.

Nitya walked ahead of Riyansh, her movements deliberate, her posture tense. She didn't say a word, but Riyansh could sense her unease. The storm that had brewed in the conference room, sparked by Pratham's intense gaze and his calculated challenges, was far from over. And Riyansh knew that Nitya wasn't just shaken-she was angry. Furious, even. But more than that, she was unsettled in a way Riyansh hadn't seen before.

As they stepped out into the sunlight, Riyansh grabbed her arm gently, pulling her to a stop. "Nitya."

She turned to him, her red eyes flashing with a storm of emotions. "Not here, Ansh," she said quietly, her voice strained. "Let's talk later."

But Riyansh couldn't wait. He had seen the way Pratham had looked at her, and he hated it. The possessiveness in his gaze, the way he seemed to claim her without saying a word-it had unnerved Riyansh, but more importantly, it had triggered something deeper. Nitya was his friend and seeing her vulnerable in front of Pratham stirred emotions he hadn't felt in years. He knows himself how much he adores Nitya but today interaction with Pratham makes him clear one thing that he can not deny the love for nitya from now onwards.

"Nitya, what happened in there?" Riyansh demanded, his voice low but firm. "I've never seen you like that. He-he got under your skin."

Her jaw clenched, and she glanced around the open space. The bustling streets of Paris surrounded them, but here, in this moment, it felt like the world had paused, waiting for her response.

"It's nothing," Nitya said, trying to brush it off, but her voice lacked conviction. "He's just...he's different, Ansh. The Rawals-they're not like us." Riyansh raised an eyebrow. "Different how? You've faced more intimidating men than him, Nitya. You've stood in front of kings, rulers, people who would love nothing more than to see you fail. But today, in that room, it was as if he had some kind of...hold on you."

She shook her head, frustrated. "It's not that simple. Pratham Singh Rawal is...complicated." She exhaled, looking away. "He's not just a businessman. He's a strategist. He challenges you in ways you don't expect. And he doesn't just come at you directly-he circles you, finds your weaknesses, and uses them against you without you even realizing it. It's unnerving." Riyansh felt his chest tighten with a mix of protectiveness and anger. "And you let him get to you?". Nitya's eyes flashed again, this time with irritation. "I didn't let him get to me. He's..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "He's like a shadow that creeps up on you, and before you know it, he's in your mind, manipulating the way you think. It's not fear, Ansh-it's like he's playing a game, one that's been set in motion long before we even realized we were part of it." Riyansh stepped closer, his hand still on her arm, his grip tightening slightly. "You're stronger than that. I've seen you take down bigger players. Don't let him-"

"I know," she snapped, cutting him off, but her voice softened immediately after. "I know, Ansh. But Pratham isn't just another rival. He's dangerous because he doesn't need to raise his voice or threaten you to make you feel like you're losing control. He does it in silence."

Riyansh's brows furrowed. "You're saying he's manipulating you?"

Nitya shook her head, her expression dark. "No, not yet. But he could. He's patient. He's watching, waiting. And that's what makes him so dangerous. He's not playing for today, Ansh-he's playing for tomorrow, for next year, for ten years from now. And we have to be ready for that."

Riyansh's anger simmered as he realized just how deeply Pratham had affected her. He hated that Nitya-his fierce, unstoppable Yuvrani-was feeling even a hint of vulnerability. He couldn't stand it.

"I won't let him play these games with you," Riyansh said, his voice low, determined.

Nitya's lips curled into a bitter smile. "This isn't just about me, Ansh. He's testing both of us. He's gauging our bond. He is trying to find out what's between us. And we can't afford to slip."

***

Back in the towering building of Rawal Enterprises, Pratham leaned against the massive windows of his office, gazing out at the city below. His mind, however, wasn't on the view-it was on Nitya. The way her eyes had flared with challenge, the tension in her posture, and that brief moment of vulnerability when their hands had met and he can't digest the fact that she called him Ansh. It was rare to find someone who could stand toe-to-toe with him, someone who intrigued him the way she did.

"Interesting woman, isn't she?" Akhil's voice broke the silence as he entered the room, closing the door behind him. "Nitya Rajput. The Yuvrani of Rajput Garh. She's different from the others."

Pratham's eyes didn't move from the window. "She's strong," he said simply. "But strength isn't enough."

Akhil raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Not enough for what?"

Pratham finally turned, his gaze sharp, calculating. "Not enough to survive in this world. She's too confident in her power, too assured of her control. That will be her downfall."

Akhil smirked. "And you plan to be the one who brings her down?"

Pratham didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped away from the window and moved toward his desk, where a file labelled as "Red Rose" is there and starts reading it.

"Power is a delicate balance," Pratham said, his voice thoughtful. "You don't conquer it by brute force. You win by understanding the pieces on the board and knowing how to move them."

Akhil studied his older brother carefully. "And Nitya is...one of those pieces?"

Pratham's lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile. "She's more than a piece, Akhil. She's a queen. But even queens can be captured."

Akhil chuckled, shaking his head. "Always the strategist. But we cant underestimate her. She's sharp."

Pratham's eyes darkened. "I never underestimate anyone, Akhil. That's why I always win."

Akhil paused, sensing the gravity of Pratham's words. He had seen his brother rise to power, had watched him take their father's empire and expand it far beyond anyone's expectations. Pratham had become the living embodiment of their Grandfather's teachings-cold, calculating, and unstoppable.

But there was something else at play now, something more personal. And for the first time, Akhil wondered if Pratham was truly playing a game of business or something far more dangerous.

"You always win," Akhil repeated softly. "But sometimes, winning comes at a cost."

Pratham's gaze flickered for a moment, but his expression remained unreadable. "I'm willing to pay whatever that cost is, Akhil. Always."

Akhil nodded slowly, realizing that Pratham's sights weren't just set on Rawal Enterprises' next big deal. His eyes were fixed on something-or someone-else entirely.