✨ Author's Note – Mine Yes! ✨
Hey lovely readers! 💖
Surprise! 🎉 Here's your second chapter of the week—and guess what? We're leveling up to four chapters per week! 🖤🔥
Tensions are rising, secrets are unraveling, and unspoken emotions are beginning to take form. Kunal and Anaya's past, Ravi's growing realizations, and Ria's inner turmoil—everything is about to collide. 💥
And trust me… this is just the beginning. 👀
What do you think of Kunal's presence? Does Anaya's hesitation hint at something deeper? And Ravi… is he truly as unaffected as he claims? 🤔
Let's dive into the chaos together! 🌪️✨
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Thank you for your endless love and support! Your excitement keeps me going. Let's keep unraveling this journey together. 💕
With love and anticipation,
Penola.S ✨💫
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The soft hum of the air conditioning was the only sound in Rudra Singhaniya's expansive office, aside from the rhythmic clacking of his keyboard. The dim golden light from the desk lamp illuminated the dark mahogany surface, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Outside the large glass window, the city skyline twinkled like scattered diamonds under the night sky, but the atmosphere inside was far from serene.
Rudra leaned forward, his crisp black three-piece suit immaculately tailored to his tall frame. His fingers moved effortlessly over the keyboard, each tap precise and calculated. His silver cufflinks gleamed under the light as he adjusted the sleeves, his eyes never leaving the screen.
He exhaled sharply, rubbing the bridge of his nose before calling out in his deep, commanding voice—
"Ravi, come to my cabin."
A few moments later, the door opened, and Ravi stepped inside. His usual firm presence seemed dulled tonight. The dim lighting accentuated the sharp lines of his face, his jet-black shirt fitting snugly against his well-built frame. His sleeves were rolled up just enough to reveal the veins along his forearms, but there was no energy in his stance.
Rudra barely looked up before speaking. "Did you send the file to Mehta?"
"Yes."
Something was off.
Rudra's eyes lifted from the screen, studying Ravi carefully. His assistant was standing in front of him, hands clasped behind his back, gaze fixed somewhere in the distance—somewhere beyond the walls of the office.
Rudra frowned but continued, "Did you inform HR to submit the monthly profit report?"
"Yes."
His voice was flat, automatic—like a man operating on autopilot.
The room fell silent, except for the distant sound of wind rattling against the massive glass windows. Rudra placed both elbows on his desk, his sharp gaze narrowing on Ravi.
At that moment, the door swung open again.
Aarav strode in, dressed in a white dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, his sleeves messily rolled up. His presence brought a different kind of energy into the room—carefree yet observant. Holding a folder in one hand, he walked toward Rudra's desk, but his steps faltered when he noticed Ravi.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"What's up with him?" Aarav asked in a low voice, tilting his head toward Ravi, who was now seated on the plush leather sofa near the window.
Rudra leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "No idea. He's been like this all evening."
Aarav turned his gaze to Ravi, who was absentmindedly twirling a pen between his fingers. His other hand rested on his knee, and his gaze was fixed on the window where the city lights reflected back at him. His posture was relaxed, but something about him seemed tense—like a coiled spring waiting to snap.
The pen in his hand moved in slow, repetitive circles over his leather-bound diary, drawing countless zeros on the page.
Aarav arched a brow. "Looks like someone's gone completely off track."
Rudra sighed. "I know."
Deciding to test him, Rudra smirked slightly and asked, "Ravi, are you coming for boys' night out?"
Ravi, still staring out of the window, muttered, "Yes."
Aarav exchanged a glance with Rudra before whispering, "Bhai, I think Ravi bhai is getting old."
Rudra chuckled, shaking his head. "You're right."
Aarav, ever the mischief-maker, wasn't about to stop there. He leaned forward and said in a teasing tone, "Ravi bhai, Rudra bhai is going to give you a promotion."
"Yes."
This time, Rudra couldn't hold back his laugh. "Wow. He didn't even flinch."
Aarav smirked, but then his eyes glinted with mischief. He leaned back against the desk, arms crossed, before dropping his final bombshell.
"Oh, by the way, Ravi—Ria is coming to propose to you."
Silence.
The pen in Ravi's hand stilled.
The gentle tick of the office clock suddenly seemed deafening. The faint sound of city traffic outside faded into nothingness.
For a moment, it was as if time itself had stopped.
Then—
Ravi's entire posture changed. His back stiffened, his fingers froze over the paper, and his head jerked up.
His normally unreadable expression cracked, and the flicker of shock in his dark eyes was unmistakable.
"Huh?" His voice came out rough, unsteady—as if the words had blindsided him. His gaze darted between Rudra and Aarav, his throat working as if trying to swallow down his emotions. "What? Where? Ria?"
His reaction was instant.
His fingers tightened around the pen, his jaw clenched, and the smooth, composed mask he always wore slipped for the first time that night.
Rudra raised an eyebrow, exchanging a knowing look with Aarav.
Gotcha.
💮💮.______.💮💮.______.💮💮.______.💮💮.______.💮💮.______.💮💮
Rudra leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he observed Ravi's reaction. The way Ravi had stiffened, the flicker of panic in his usually impassive eyes—it was confirmation enough.
Aarav, sitting casually on the edge of Rudra's desk, let out a low chuckle. His arms were crossed, his white dress shirt slightly wrinkled from his usual restless energy. "Well, well, well. I guess the great Ravi can actually get flustered."
Ravi exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. His broad shoulders tensed beneath his black shirt, the muscles in his jaw tightening as he looked away.
Rudra, still amused, tapped his fingers against the desk rhythmically. "You know, I always had a feeling about this," he mused, his deep voice calm yet pointed. "You're always watching over her. You know her favorite chocolate, her favorite color, and even the small things that make her happy. It wasn't that hard to figure out, Ravi."
Aarav grinned, his dark brown eyes filled with mischief. "Yeah, and you think we didn't notice how you look at her? Like she's the only one in the room? Come on, man. You're obvious."
Ravi's grip on his pen tightened. He took a deep breath and muttered, "I thought you'd yell at me." His voice was low, almost hesitant—an unusual tone for someone as controlled as him. "Or at least be mad after knowing that I have feelings for Ria."
Rudra's smirk softened into something more thoughtful. "Why would I be mad? She's my little sister, yes, but I know you, Ravi. You'd protect her with your life."
Aarav, always the teasing one, added, "Yeah, the real question is—are you going to tell Ria?"
At that, Ravi hesitated. His gaze flickered between them before he quickly turned toward the window again. The city lights reflected in his dark eyes, mirroring the storm raging within him.
"No," he said, voice firm but laced with something unspoken.
Aarav frowned. "Why not?"
Ravi ran a hand through his thick black hair, sighing. "Because she won't accept me. Not in a million years." His voice was quieter now, but there was a finality in his tone that neither Rudra nor Aarav could ignore. "Not even in her dreams."
Rudra studied him for a moment before exhaling. "Ravi—"
"Let it be," Ravi interrupted, standing up. His tall frame cast a long shadow over the office as he straightened his sleeves. "I have work to do."
Aarav, still not convinced, clicked his tongue but didn't push further. "Fine. But don't blame us when she ends up with someone else."
Something flickered in Ravi's eyes—something dark and possessive—but he quickly masked it, turning away before anyone could read too much into it.
He grabbed his coat from the chair and turned toward Aarav. "Tell Janvi to submit the last file before we start the project. It's up to them now. Anaya is going to prepare the code, and Janvi will handle the file formatting and deal documentation."
Rudra watched him go, shaking his head slightly. "Running away won't change anything, Ravi."
Ravi didn't respond.
As he walked out of the office, his heart weighed heavier than ever.
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The reception area at Tech High buzzed with murmurs as Kunal Rajput entered the building. Clad in a perfectly tailored navy-blue suit, his presence alone commanded attention. His sharp features, calculating gaze, and the effortless way he carried himself made people both curious and cautious.
The receptionist, stealing a glance at him, whispered to her colleague. "That's Kunal Rajput again. He was here last time too. Do you think something big is going on between him and Singhaniya Corp?"
The other receptionist nodded, lowering her voice. "He's a mystery. But I heard he and Mr. Rudra Singhaniya aren't exactly friends."
Unbeknownst to them, Ravi had just stepped onto the ground floor. His gaze swept across the lobby, only to land on the very man he wasn't expecting to see so soon—Kunal.
Their eyes met.
A smirk curled on Kunal's lips as he noticed Ravi, his sharp brown eyes gleaming with something unreadable. He adjusted the cuff of his shirt before casually stepping forward, his secretary following closely behind.
"Ravi," Kunal greeted, his tone light but laced with something hidden beneath.
"Kunal," Ravi responded, his voice level, his expression unreadable.
It was a mere exchange of words, yet an undercurrent of silent tension passed between them.
Kunal tilted his head slightly. "I have a meeting with Rudra. Is he in his office, or is he out?"
Ravi studied him for a moment before replying, "He's in. Let me take you there."
Without another word, they walked toward the elevator, their polished shoes clicking against the marble floor in rhythmic steps.
As they reached the elevator and stepped inside, the doors had almost closed when—
"Wait!"
A female voice rang out.
Ravi instinctively pressed the button, holding the door open. His eyes flickered outward, only to meet a familiar face.
Anaya Malhotra.
She stood just outside the elevator, her hand hesitating mid-air as if debating whether to step in or not. Dressed in a simple yet elegant black blouse tucked into beige high-waisted trousers, her usually calm expression wavered slightly.
As soon as Kunal saw her, his smirk deepened ever so slightly.
"Miss Malhotra," he acknowledged, his tone smooth. "Are you coming?"
Ravi's eyes flickered between them, silently observing. Kunal knows Anaya?
Anaya's grip on the file in her hand tightened. She swallowed and took a small step back. "I… you can go ahead. I'll take the next one."
Kunal arched a brow, as if amused by her hesitation. "There's enough space," he said, stepping slightly to the side. "You can enter, Miss Malhotra."
There was a pause.
Ravi watched closely. He could see it—the way Anaya's fingers twitched against the file, the subtle clench of her jaw.
She didn't want to be in the same space as Kunal.
But Kunal? He was enjoying this.
After a brief hesitation, Anaya exhaled softly and stepped inside, maintaining as much distance as possible.
The elevator doors slid shut.
A heavy silence settled inside.
Ravi stood on one side, arms crossed over his chest. Kunal leaned against the railing casually, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. Anaya, standing near the control panel, kept her gaze fixed ahead, her posture stiff.
The faint hum of the elevator filled the space, accompanied only by the occasional click of the buttons lighting up.
Kunal, ever the provocateur, turned slightly toward Anaya. "It's been a while," he mused. "You didn't miss me, did you?"
Anaya's fingers curled tightly around the edges of the file, but her expression remained neutral. "I don't see a reason to."
Kunal let out a soft chuckle, clearly entertained by her attempt at cold indifference.
Ravi's eyes narrowed slightly at the exchange. There was history here. A past that neither of them had acknowledged in front of him.
Just as the tension threatened to thicken further, the elevator chimed, signaling their arrival.
The doors slid open.
Anaya stepped out first, her pace quick, almost as if she wanted to put as much distance between herself and Kunal as possible.
Kunal watched her go, his smirk never fading.
Ravi, noticing the silent exchange, walked beside Kunal and muttered, "You enjoy making people uncomfortable, don't you?"
Kunal chuckled. "Only when it's fun."
With that, they proceeded towards Rudra's office—one with a meeting to discuss and the other, perhaps, with a past to uncover.