Rudra was thrown out from his house but not for the reasons he deserves. Cast away from his royal family and stripped of his title for a crime he didn't commit, Rudra is forced to live a life far removed from the riches and power he once knew. Hidin...
The soft hum of the office was almost deafening in its quiet, but Yamini barely noticed it. She sat at her desk, papers and files scattered in front of her, though none of them had her attention. Her thoughts were far away, tangled up in a mess of emotions she wasn't sure how to untangle.
She had always prided herself on being a woman who could keep things under control, someone who could compartmentalize feelings and get things done, no matter how difficult the task. But now, as she sat in her cabin, staring at the half-finished report on her screen, she felt completely out of control. She didn't know whether to laugh at her own confusion or cry for how utterly lost she had become.
Her thoughts kept drifting back to Rudransh. The way he had become such a constant presence in her life, the way he had slipped into her world with such ease, without even trying. At first, she had brushed it off. He was a colleague, someone she needed to work with, and that was that. But the more time they spent together, the more she found herself drawn to him. It wasn't just his intelligence or his charm, it was something deeper, something that made her feel safe in a way she hadn't in a long time.
But that was the problem, wasn't it ? She wasn't sure what she was feeling for him. Was it real ? Or was she simply projecting her need for comfort after everything that had happened with Raghav ? She had spent so long bottling up her emotions, trying to forget the heartbreak and the betrayal, that it was easier to look for distractions than to deal with the mess in her heart. And now, with Rudransh in her life, she wondered if she was just trying to fill the empty space left by her ex.
Her mind flashed back to the moments she had shared with him in the past week, those quiet, almost intimate conversations they had after work, the way his eyes would soften when he spoke to her, the way he laughed at her sarcastic remarks as if they were the funniest things he had ever heard. She felt the warmth in his presence, the way he seemed to just 'get' her, even when she wasn't saying anything. And then there were the little things, the way his hand brushed against hers when they passed each other something at the office, the way he'd lean in a little closer by maintaining comfortable space , when they worked on a project together, the way he would look at her with that expression that was a mixture of admiration and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
'But does he feel the same way ?' she thought, her stomach knotting. The question had been haunting her for days. She could sense the shift in their dynamic, the growing warmth between them, but she couldn't tell if it was just friendship or something more. Rudransh was never one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, and she had no idea if he had any romantic interest in her, or if he was just being... well, 'Rudransh' kind, generous, and warm to everyone he met.
She realized she knew very little about his personal life, aside from the fact that he was new to the city. Was he single ? Did he have someone else in his life ? Was he even open to the idea of a relationship, or was she just fooling herself ? 'God, I don't even know if I'm ready for a relationship.'
Her mind turned to the last conversation she had overheard between him and Daksh. The teasing, the light banter, and the way Daksh had joked about Rudransh's growing closeness with her... It was clear that her growing bond with him hadn't gone unnoticed. But did that mean Rudransh was feeling something deeper ? Or was he simply enjoying the friendship ?
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that 'she' wasn't even sure what she wanted. What if this was just a distraction for her ? A way to forget about Raghav and the pain he'd caused ? She had invested so much energy into keeping him out of her thoughts, but now that Rudransh had come into her life, the line between healing and running away from her past had blurred.
Yamini to herself : I need to figure this out.
Yamini thought by pushing the papers away and resting her head in her hands. She couldn't go on like this, with all these conflicting emotions tangled up inside her. The growing closeness between her and Rudransh was only making things more complicated. She needed clarity, she needed to know if what she was feeling was genuine, or if it was simply the result of months of being alone, still scarred by Raghav's betrayal.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Yamini quickly straightened up in her chair, forcing a smile as she looked up. It was Rudransh, standing at the threshold of her cabin, his usual easygoing demeanour making her heart flutter despite herself.
Rudransh : Hey, Yamini !
He greeted her by leaning against the doorframe.
Rudransh : You're looking deep in thought. Everything okay ?
Yamini nodded, though she couldn't quite shake the nervous energy that had settled in her chest.
Yamini : Yeah, just thinking about some stuff.
She said, trying to sound casual.
Yamini : What's up ?
Rudransh : I was wondering if you wanted to grab a coffee later, maybe ? You know, after work.
He suggested, his tone casual but with that unmistakable warmth that made her heart race.
Yamini smiled, though it felt tight.
Yamini : Sure. Coffee sounds good.
Rudransh smiled back, his eyes lighting up in that way that made Yamini's insides twist.
Rudransh : Great. I'll see you then.
As he left her cabin, Yamini couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and frustration. Relief, because she was getting a chance to spend time with him outside of the office. Frustration, because the more she tried to distance herself from her feelings, the stronger they became. The truth was, she was terrified of what might happen if she gave in to whatever was growing between them. But at the same time, a small part of her wondered what it would be like to take the risk.
Her heart had been broken before, and the thought of opening it up again was daunting. But as Rudransh's presence lingered in her mind, she couldn't help but feel like this was something worth exploring. The question was, 'was she ready ?'
She didn't know the answer yet. But as she sat back in her chair, watching the clock tick toward the end of the workday, one thing was clear , the friendship between her and Rudransh was growing. And whether it was the beginning of something beautiful or just another chapter in her complicated love story, she knew it was a chapter she couldn't ignore.
...........
That evening, they went to a nearby cafe. Yamini went to grab their order and Rudransh is on phone. He gave a small smile to her and started sipping his coffee.
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And for the first time in a long while, she is feeling calm. She looked at him and started reading his features. His jet black hair , sharp face , attractive eyes , long nose , his light moustache. Her eyes wandered around him like as if she is scanning him. The way his veins are protruding from his arms is making her heart flutter. She wondered why he always wears white shirts. She finds him extremely attractive in white. All of sudden rudransh got up hurriedly.
Rudransh : I need to go yamini ! Sorry ! It's an urgent work.
Rudransh rushed away towards his bike by leaving yamini alone. She wondered why he left suddenly.
............
How's the chapter ?
Do you guys think that yamini or rudransh should propose ? Aren't they playong hide & seek for way too long ?
