Thrones of Thakurs

❉ IX ❉

»»-----　✼　-----««

Target- 30 votes
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»»-----　Hrishikesh　-----««

The quiet hum of the car filled the air. Hrishikesh was at the driver's seat, while beside him, Gauri sat silently, dressed in a pink kurta with a long white dupatta and matching trousers.

Her hair cascaded down, waving a little in the wind.

Hrishikesh's mother had asked him to drop Gauri at her home due to some ritual. He hadn't wanted to go, suggesting a driver instead, but she waved away the idea without a second thought.

He glanced at her through his peripheral vision. Her palm rested against her cheek as she looked out the window.

They hadn't exchanged a word since they'd left the mansion.

Half of the journey was over, as he drove along roads that stretched across the city. Her house was almost two hours away.

"Yeh moh moh ke dhaage,

teri ungliyon se ja uljhe..."

The song started playing. Gauri had turned on the radio and was softly humming along, her voice floating in his ears.

He glanced over; she had closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in the music.Hrishikesh usually disliked when people touched his things, especially without permission.

Just as he was about to turn off the radio, her soft humming made him pause.

"Tu hoga zara pagal,

tune mujhko hai chuna..."

He stilled. Her voice was gentle, calm, and unexpectedly soothing. He found himself listening, his breathing picking up as an unfamiliar feeling crept into him.Tightening his grip on the steering wheel, he tried to focus on the road.

"Kaise tune ankaha,

tune ankaha sab suna..."

The song played on, weaving its way into him. Not liking where it was leading, he quickly pressed pause.

"Ham sun rahe the na," Gauri said in a small voice, the sound strangely musical to his ears.

"I don't like it," he replied bluntly, keeping his focus on the road. He noticed her disheartened expression out of the corner of his eye and turned away.

She took a deep breath, clearly holding back her irritation. He knew she was mad, but it didn't matter to him. This was his car, and he could do as he pleased.

Suddenly, a car sped toward them, veering into their lane. Hrishikesh slammed on the brakes, instinctively throwing his arm out in front of Gauri to shield her.

"Shit!" he barked, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, knuckles turning white. The car swerved sharply, his heart pounding as adrenaline surged through him.

The screeching of tires echoed as the car came to a halt just inches away from the vehicle in front. It was a close call-had he been a second slower, they would've crashed.

He turned to Gauri, noticing the tears welling up in her eyes."Did you get hurt?" he asked, still in a daze.

His gaze landed on her face, where a small cut was bleeding.It was because of his ring that had brush slighly when he had put hand infornt of her.

Despite her own injury, she looked up at him with concern, shaking her head.

"Aap ko kahi laga?" she whispered softly.