VANI

CHAPTER 10

"प्यार तुमसे लाख है,
धुआं, धुंआ या राख है।
रोज़ जल रहा है मुझे,
कुछ कहिन जरा सा।"

The hall was filled with laughter and music, but amidst the joyous ambiance, Vani sat stoically, her face a mask of indifference. Her lehenga—a masterpiece of intricate embroidery and rich fabric—was breathtaking, a vision Rudra couldn't tear his eyes away from. But her lack of attention burned him. She hadn't even glanced his way since being brought down the staircase.

Rudra clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. He craved her gaze, her words—even if they were angry. Anything but this silence.

When the rings were brought forward, he seized the opportunity.

He held out his hand for hers, but when she placed her palm in his, he gripped it a touch too tightly. Vani hissed softly, glaring up at him, her brown eyes blazing with fury.

Rudra smirked, leaning closer as he murmured, "Finally, you're looking at me."

She didn't respond, instead silently digging her nails into his skin when it was her turn to slip the ring on his finger. He didn't even flinch, his smirk widening.

"Harder, Vani," he whispered, his tone dark and teasing. "It's starting to feel good."

Her frustration grew, but before she could pull her hand away, he clasped her wrist gently and pulled her close, pressing a firm kiss to her forehead.

As he hugged her tightly, he leaned into her ear and whispered, his voice deep and suggestive, "I'd rather have your marks on my back and chest, my soon-to-be ardhangini ji, when I'm making you scream my name over and over again."

Vani's breath hitched, her cheeks flushing with both rage and embarrassment. Before she could respond, he pulled back, his smirk firmly in place.

"Shall we get the blessings now?" he asked, his voice smooth and innocent, as if he hadn't just whispered something scandalous.

Together, they moved to the elders, bowing to touch their feet.

When they reached Rudra's grandfather, the elderly man stopped Vani.

"From now onwards, you are the daughter of the Rathore house, beti. And in our home, daughters don't touch feet."

Vani's heart softened, and for the first time that evening, a small, genuine smile graced her lips. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she nodded gratefully.

But Rudra's grandfather wasn't done. He turned to his grandson with a mock stern look.

"And you, why are you just standing there? Touch my feet and take my blessings, you stubborn boy."

Vani chuckled as she watched Rudra's irritation flare, but to her surprise, he bent down and touched his grandfather's feet without a word.

Prithviraj smiled warmly and placed his hand on Vani's head.

"I am your dadu now," he said with affection. "Never hesitate to come to me for anything, beti. Even if it's Rudra causing trouble. Here, take my number."

Vani couldn't hide her smile as she nodded. Rudra, on the other hand, scoffed loudly.

"Don't encourage her, dadu," he muttered, crossing his arms.

But Vani's mind was already working. She'd found her ally.
.
.

The engagement was finally over. The house had quieted, and Vani sat in her room, relieved to be alone. She ran her fingers over the engagement ring absentmindedly before slipping it off and tossing it carelessly into her bag.

"At least I won't have to wear this for a while," she muttered to herself, zipping her bag shut.

Her flight plan had failed, but she'd found a bus leaving for the city. It wasn't ideal, but it would get her where she needed to be. She grabbed her phone and turned to leave when the door slammed open.

Rudra stood there, his broad frame filling the doorway, his eyes dark with barely contained fury. His gaze swept over her, landing on the packed bag at her feet.

"You're leaving?" he growled, striding toward her.

Vani stiffened. "Yes, I am. My internship starts Monday, and—"

"And you thought you'd just leave without telling me?" His voice rose, his anger evident.

"You don't own me, Rudra," she snapped, crossing her arms. "I don't need your permission to go anywhere."

Rudra's patience was wearing thin. His jaw clenched, his body tensing with frustration as he took a step closer to her. "Is this the way you talk to your fiancé now, Vani?" His voice dropped into a mocking, venomous tone. "Didn't your mother teach you how to behave with your future husband?"

At the mention of her mother, Vani's heart sank. She could feel the anger and the pain surge within her, but it was the guilt—the raw, stinging guilt—that twisted in her chest. She'd lost everything because of that night, the night her parents had died.

Her eyes flickered with unshed tears, but she quickly blinked them away, determined not to let him see her falter. He knew too much about her past. He knew how she blamed herself for what happened to them, how every breath she took felt like a reminder of her failure.

"You think you can keep reminding me of that?!" she hissed, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "I've heard it enough from you, Rudra! Stop pretending like you care about what happened to them. You don't. You just want to control me."

Rudra took a step forward, his smirk only growing wider as he closed the distance between them. "I know what you're doing, Vani. You think if you push me away, if you pretend you don't care, it'll make you feel better. But I won't let you escape me. You belong to me now."

"Get lost, Rudra!" Vani exploded, pushing him with all the strength she had left. "You don't own me! I don't belong to you! I never will!"

Her hands were still shaking with the force of her anger, but her words were steady, resolute. Rudra stumbled back slightly from the force of her push, his eyes blazing with fury. He wasn't used to being challenged like this. He wasn't used to someone defying him so boldly.

His eyes narrowed dangerously, his voice low and deadly. "You think this is the way to talk to your fiancé? To the man who's going to be your husband? You've got a lot to learn, Vani. I'll make sure of that."

Vani stood tall, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, her gaze unwavering. "Go to hell, Rudra. I'm not afraid of you. You'll never break me and YOU WILL NEVER FUCKING OWN ME"

Rudra's jaw clenched as he grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer. "I do own you, Vani. Or have you forgotten the ring I just put on your finger? You think you can waltz out of here like none of this mat-?"

Before he could finish, something caught his eye—the absence of the engagement ring that had been on her finger just moments ago. His breath hitched, his gaze snapping to her bare hand.

"Where is it?" he demanded, his voice like the low rumble of thunder before a storm.

What kind of characteristic do you want in Rudra's character???