The night air was cold against her fevered skin, but Rudrani kept running. Her bridal lehenga-once a masterpiece of gold and crimson-was now a burden, its heavy embroidery snagging on thorns, its silken folds dragging through the dirt. The bangles on her wrists jingled with every frantic step, betraying her escape like a cruel taunt.The world blurred as she ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The veil slipped from her head, caught by the wind, but she didn't stop. Her feet burned, her heart pounded, but the promise of freedom pushed her forward. Then, the sound. A sharp crack in the silence. A presence too close. Before she could scream, a strong hand seized her wrist, yanking her back into the shadows. She collided against something solid-heat, strength, the scent of smoke and sandalwood. Fingers pressed into her skin, possessive, unyielding. A deep voice, dark as the night itself, murmured against her ear. "Did you really think you could run from me?" Her fate had caught up with her. And now, there was no escape. 🌟 She had fought against fate, but fate had always been stronger." 🌟 𝓞𝓴𝓮𝔂 𝓫𝓪𝓾𝔂🥱