Love's Rivalry (LOVE AND WAR)

PART 6: A Night of Realizations

The dining room was filled with the warm glow of candles, laughter, and the comforting clatter of plates as the Oberoi family gathered for dinner. But tonight, there was an absence that hung in the air. Dadi noticed immediately.

"Rudra, where is Soumya?" she asked, a hint of concern creasing her brow.

Rudra shrugged, barely looking up from his plate. "She went to lunch with Karan. After that, I didn't see her."

"What? What do you mean you didn't see her?" Dadi's voice rose slightly, a mix of irritation and worry. "You're older than Soumya! You should be taking care of her!"

Just then, the door swung open, and Soumya stepped in, arms laden with shopping bags. "Rudra may be older than me," she quipped, a playful smirk on her face, "but he isn't mature enough to take care of me." She turned to Dadi. "Sorry, Dadi. I went shopping with Karan to buy some revision books and a few accessories. I even informed Om about it."

"Yeah, Dadi," Om chimed in, "She sent me a message, but with the workload, I forgot to pass it along."

"Alright, Soumya, go freshen up and come back quickly for dinner," Dadi instructed, her voice softening.

Soumya nodded and headed upstairs, her heart light with the joy of shopping and the laughter shared with Karan.

A few minutes later, she returned, sliding into the seat beside Rudra. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. Rudra stole a glance at her, his brow furrowing as he noticed something unsettling.

"Soumya, what's that on your left hand? Is that blood?" he exclaimed, suddenly serious. His voice was laced with concern as he leaned closer, his protective instincts kicking in. "How did you get hurt? Why are you so careless nowadays?"

His scolding tone surprised everyone at the table, including himself. But seeing the blood trickling down her hand made his heart race with anxiety.

"Rudra, it's nothing serious," Soumya replied, attempting to downplay the situation. But her voice trembled slightly as she continued, "I was trying to save a little boy. Karan and I were leaving the shopping mall when we saw a blind boy about to cross the road."

Everyone leaned in, captivated by her story. Dadi's eyes widened with concern. "What happened next?"

"A BMW came out of nowhere and knocked him toward a drainage ditch," Soumya explained, her voice steadying. "We rushed to help him. When I tried to pull him out, I cut my hand on some sharp metal."

"How is the boy now?" Dadi asked, her voice thick with worry.

"He lost a lot of blood," Soumya said, her expression softening. "But I donated some of mine, and he's doing much better now. We informed his family and left the hospital."

Dadi shook her head in disbelief, a mix of pride and concern washing over her. "You did all that? But you need to treat your own wounds first!"

"Okay, Dadi, I will," Soumya promised, her tone brightening.

As the conversation turned back to dinner, Rudra couldn't help but steal glances at Soumya. He was mesmerized by her kindness, her selflessness, and how effortlessly she put others before herself. It was a revelation that left him speechless, and he realized he had been too focused on their bickering to notice how remarkable she truly was.

Shivay and Om exchanged knowing looks, and Shivay whispered to Om, "I think Rudra's got it bad."

"Close your mouth and eat your food, Rudra," Om teased, trying to snap him out of his daze.

Dinner concluded with light-hearted banter, but Rudra's mind was elsewhere. He climbed into bed that night, thoughts of Soumya swirling in his head like a kaleidoscope. He couldn't shake the image of her bloodied hand or the way she had selflessly helped that boy.

As he drifted off to sleep, dreams began to weave themselves around him—of heroism, of laughter, and of a girl who had stolen his heart in the most unexpected way. Rudra had no idea what tomorrow would bring, but he knew one thing for sure: he wanted to understand the girl who had just taken a step beyond the rivalry, into a realm of admiration and hope.

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TO BE CONTINUE....

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