𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-64

"Ouch!"

The earth shuddered beneath him, coughing up a rough cloud of dust as his body slammed into the hard ground.

"Ha-ha!" Balwant squatted in front of him, sweat dripping from his brow as he grinned down like a victor surveying his fallen prey. "Rudraksh baba, just gaining muscles won't help you win against professional wrestlers!"

Rudraksh's chest rose and fell sharply as he dragged in breath after breath, each one burning his ribs. His palm pressed firmly into the dirt, fingers spreading, nails biting into the soil as if grounding himself.

The afternoon sunlight shimmered against his soft, golden skin, where a dust-clung vest guarded his upper body, and a white pyjama draped around his lower half.

Clenching his jaw, he tilted his head slightly, blew the curls off his eyes in a sharp breath, and side-glanced at Balwant.

Slowly, the tension in his temple loosened, and a smile bloomed across his face, crinkling his thin-almond eyes as he bent one leg, his foot digging into the ground.

Balwant smiled back, almost relaxed. He shifted his weight, about to stand—

Rudraksh twisted sharply and kicked back into Balwant's knee. Before Balwant could recover, Rudraksh grabbed his arm, rolled with the momentum, and dragged him down into the dust.

They hit the ground hard.

Rudraksh's weight pressed him down, his forearm sliding across Balwant's throat—just enough to stop him from moving. His other hand anchored itself beside the older man's head, his breath steady now, his eyes focused.

Balwant laughed breathlessly and raised his hands, palms open. "Okay! Okay! You have got skills."

Rudraksh loosened his grip. A satisfied smile touched his lips as he shifted, preparing to get up—

Balwant twisted suddenly. He rolled his massive body, and the world flipped. Rudraksh's back hit the ground, the air knocked from him once more as Balwant pinned him down, his forearm firm across his chest.

"But still not enough to knock me out, child." Balwant grinned down at him, eyes bright with challenge, breath still heavy.

Rudraksh nodded under his grip, laughter bubbling out of him as he raised his hands in surrender. "Yeah, yeah, Balwant bhai. Yeah."

Balwant's features instantly softened. The tightness in his shoulders eased as he released his hold and rolled away, pushing himself up on one knee and giving the younger man a moment to breathe, to gather himself.

Rudraksh huffed, dragging in a deep breath. He pressed his palms and feet firmly into the ground, muscles coiling, and pushed himself up with force, dust scattering beneath him.

"Balwant bhai!" He looped an arm around the bodyguard's neck and tugged him closer, laughter still lingering in his voice. "See?"

Rolling his tongue against his lower teeth, he brought his clenched fist closer to his shoulder, flexing his biceps, the muscle tightening beneath sweat-dusted skin.

Balwant cleared his throat, stealing the younger man's attention, and flexed his own arm in response. Thick muscle bunched effortlessly, veins standing out beneath sun-warmed skin.

Rudraksh pressed his lips into a thin line at the sight of the visibly more muscular biceps and rolled his eyes. Clicking his tongue, he tapped Balwant on the shoulder, then brought both his clenched fists together, puffing his chest out and flexing like a gorilla, shoulders and clavicle rising exaggeratedly.

Balwant jutted his lips in feigned disapproval and shook his head. Then, without missing a beat, he mirrored Rudraksh's actions with his solid, built body, only the action seemed far less comedic now.