Love's Rivalry (LOVE AND WAR)

PART 8: Can't wait for tonight!

Alone in her dimly lit room, Soumya finally opened the letter from Rudra. The familiar scent of his cologne wafted through the paper, sending a rush of warmth through her.

"Soumya," the letter began, "I know I've teased you and maybe even hurt you without realizing it. I'm so sorry... please forgive me. I promise to take care of you and support you like your father and brother do. In short, I'll try to fill all the empty spaces in your life. With true love and friendship, your Rudy/Rudra."

As she read his heartfelt words, tears filled her eyes. She clutched the letter to her chest, her heart racing. "Why does this feel so real?" she whispered to herself, the weight of her emotions settling heavily on her.

After a moment, she slipped into bed, but sleep was a distant dream. Memories of their shared laughter, playful banter, and the recent warmth of Rudra's gestures flooded her mind. Meanwhile, across the hall, Rudra lay peacefully asleep, unaware that his family—Dadi and Anika—were watching over him with smiles, proud of their little Rudy for finally confronting his feelings.

Days turned into a week, and Soumya struggled to act normally around Rudra. Every time they were together, her mind raced with doubts and fears, a tumultuous war between her heart and logic.

"He's just playing another prank," her mind insisted. "Don't trust him."

But her heart responded fiercely, "No! Rudy is more mature than that. Remember how tense he was when he saw your wound? He genuinely cares!"

"Sure, he understands," her mind shot back. "But he didn't say 'I love you' in that letter. Act like you do with Rehaan. If he really loves you, he'll tell you."

Her heart pleaded, "You're right, but what if he's waiting for the right moment? I'll give it time. If fate wants us together, it will happen."

With this resolve, Soumya tried to resume her usual interactions with Rudra, but the undercurrents of tension were palpable. Each smile shared, each laugh exchanged felt charged with unspoken feelings.

As weeks passed, the semester break arrived. Soumya found herself caught in the whirlwind of her emotions, unsure of how to navigate her relationships. She walked through the campus, lost in thought, when she overheard a conversation that made her heart skip a beat.

"Rehaan is going to propose to Soumya with a romantic dinner tonight," a classmate said. "He's confident she won't reject him this time."

Rudra, who had been passing by, felt a surge of fury and panic. His heart raced, blood boiling at the thought of Rehaan stealing the very moment he had dreamed of. How could he let this happen?

"Damn it!" he muttered under his breath. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his feelings for Soumya crash down on him. "I can't just stand by and watch him take her away."

In a sudden rush of determination, Rudra sprinted toward the main building, his mind racing with thoughts of how he could make his feelings known.

At the same time, Soumya sat in a quiet corner of the café, her heart pounding. She fiddled with her phone, staring at the message from Rehaan that read, "Can't wait for tonight! I have something special planned for us."

She sighed, conflicted. "What if I'm making a mistake? What if I choose wrong?"

Just then, Rudra burst into the café, eyes wild with urgency. "Soumya!" he called, spotting her immediately. She looked up, surprised and curious.

"Rudra? What's wrong?"

"I need to talk to you. It's important," he said, his voice trembling with emotion.

Soumya's heart raced. "Now? But... Rehaan—"

"Forget Rehaan!" Rudra interrupted, stepping closer, his intensity electrifying the air between them. "I can't let him propose to you without telling you how I feel. I can't keep pretending!"

Soumya's breath caught in her throat. "What are you saying?"

"I like you, Soumya. No, I love you. I've loved you for a long time." The confession hung in the air, bold and undeniable.

Her eyes widened, disbelief mingling with hope. "You really mean that?"

"Of course! I've been scared to say anything because I didn't want to ruin our friendship, but I can't lose you to him." His voice softened, eyes searching hers. "Please, give me a chance."

Tears brimmed in Soumya's eyes as the realization washed over her. This was the moment she had been waiting for. "Rudra... I—"

Before she could finish, the café door swung open, and Rehaan walked in, spotting them instantly. "Soumya! There you are!" He approached with a bright smile that faltered as he sensed the tension. "What's going on?"

Rudra turned, the fire in his eyes hardening. "We were just having a conversation, Rehaan."

Rehaan's gaze darted between them, suspicion creeping in. "About what?"

Soumya's heart raced, caught in the crossfire. She knew she had a choice to make. Would she follow her heart or play it safe?

In that moment, everything shifted. The air crackled with unresolved feelings and the weight of decisions yet to be made. Would she choose the comforting familiarity of Rehaan, or the exhilarating uncertainty that came with Rudra?

"Rehaan, I—" she began, feeling the pull of her heart toward Rudra, knowing deep down that this was just the beginning of a new chapter.

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