Chapter 7: I belong to you

“And if I don’t want this? If I don’t want to be ‘yours’?”

She felt the vulnerability in her voice, but she couldn't stop herself.

She needed to know if there was any room for her to be herself in this... or if she was just another conquest to him.

Rudra’s jaw tightened.

This stupid girl... she still doesn't get it.

He fought the surge of anger building inside him, breathing heavily through his nose.

Control yourself, Rudra.

You can’t scare her away.

He took her hand gently in his, his thumb brushing over her wrist, sending a shiver down her spine.

He knew what he was about to say is a white lie.…

but he has to….

he is a selfish bastard…when it came to her.

“You’ve always had a choice, Roshni.”

“You could walk away.”

“I will never bother you! “

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

Then, leaning closer, his voice dropped lower, rougher, almost aching,

"But you won't."

"Because you feel it too.”

“You can’t pretend you don’t feel it,

that pull,

that connection between us.

What we have... it’s beyond words.

And if you think you can find that with anyone else, you’re lying to yourself.”

His fingers tightened slightly around hers, grounding her.

Then he looked at her — like he is hypnotizing her, pulling her into his depth all over again.

"Tell me, Roshni...”
“Do you really want to be that girl?”
“The one who once felt something so deep, so true for one person... but spent her whole life pretending it never happened?

and live with that heartache…. that agony"

Though he was trying to manipulate her — carefully choosing every word,

Yet the thought of her leaving him, now or ever, sent a fear through him he never knew he could feel.

“You think this is just about me… wanting you?"

"Roshni... you are the only thing in this world that makes me lose control."

He exhaled shakily, his forehead almost resting against hers.

"You have all the power here, Roshni. Always did."

"You could walk away right now. I won't stop you."

“But once you decide to be in this, you are bound to me for seven lives”

 
"But don't lie to yourself."

He lifted her chin gently with his fingers, forcing her to meet his stormy gaze.

"You feel it too. You’ve felt it since the first moment we crossed paths."

"And if you walk away now... you will spend your whole life feeling incomplete, searching for something you already found and left behind."

"I know, because that’s what would happen to me if I ever lost you."

A harsh, bitter laugh escaped him — half angry, half broken.

"You’re scared of belonging to me, Roshni?

You don’t even realize... it’s me who already belongs to you."

It was already past 7.

The sky above had deepened into a velvet blue, studded with the first shy stars.

The world around them had gone still — only the endless sigh of the sea waves filled the air, mingling with the sound of their own heartbeats, fast and uneven.

Their foreheads leaned against each other, hand in hand, as if the world had shrunk down to just this — just them,

— breathing the same air,

— sharing the same trembling silence.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them needed to.

Suddenly, Roshni’s phone rang, breaking the delicate spell between them.

She blinked, almost startled, and fumbled to pick up the call.

It was Renu Aunty.

Her voice, fraught with worry, crackled over the line.

"Roshni beta, where are you? It’s getting late!"

Only then did Roshni realize how long she had been here — how time had slipped from her fingers like the sand beneath her feet.

"I’m on the way, Aunty," she said, breathless.

"I’ll be there soon." She hung up, still feeling the heat of Rudra’s gaze on her skin.

When she looked up, he was still sitting there — quiet, unreadable, waiting.

They both stood up silently, brushing off the sand from their clothes.

Then, without a word, he extended his hand.
Instinctively, she reached out.

Their fingers met — lacing together, as natural as breathing.

He was about to take a step forward, when—

"Rudra..."

Her voice was so soft, almost unsure, but it stopped him mid-step.

He froze, turning slowly toward her, as if afraid the moment would shatter if he moved too quickly.

And then, without warning, she stepped into him, wrapping her arms around his chest.

Rudra stiffened, stunned, his arms hanging in the air for a beat before they found her — tentative at first, then surer, pulling her against him fiercely, protectively.

It wasn’t just a hug.
It was something raw, trembling, and beautiful

— a silent surrender, a confession without words.

"Miss Roshni Gupta...", he whispered, pressing his chin lightly against the top of her head,

 his voice rough with emotion, "Thank you."

She pulled back a little, looking up at him, her brows furrowing in confusion — thank you?
For what?

He just gave a small half-smile, that rare, boyish smile that made her heart squeeze painfully.

He didn’t explain.

Didn’t have to.

Instead, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear,

his fingers lingering a moment too long,

before saying, "Come... let me take you home."

"I’ll catch a bus...", she protested weakly.

"Roshni," he said quietly but firmly, "I'm dropping you. No arguments."

For once, she didn’t argue.

She just nodded, her hand slipping back into his, trusting him, allowing herself to trust.

They walked back together, the night air cool around them, their steps slow, reluctant to break the fragile magic that had settled between them.

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The car was silent except for the hum of the engine.

Rudra droves slowly, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting casually on the gear.
But his body was taut, alert — aware of every tiny movement she made beside him.

Roshni sat quietly, staring out of the window, the city lights blurring into soft, golden smudges.

Her heart was still racing.

Her mind replayed every word, every look, every touch from the beach.

It felt surreal... like she had stepped into a dream she wasn’t ready to wake from.

Every few seconds, she would steal glances at him — the sharp line of his jaw, the way his brows were slightly furrowed in concentration, the way he drove like he was protecting something precious.

Her.

And he — he could feel her gaze like a touch.

Every time she looked at him, it pulled something tight inside him, something he didn’t know how to name.

Finally, when they stopped at a red signal, he turned slightly toward her.

"You’re too quiet," he said softly, almost teasing.

She smiled faintly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I’m just... thinking," she murmured.

"About running away again?", he asked, a smirk playing on his lips — but his eyes... his eyes were deadly serious.

She shook her head, almost shyly.

"No," she whispered.

And for the first time, Rudra allowed himself a real, slow smile.

A smile so devastatingly beautiful that Roshni had to look away, blushing.

"You’re mine now, Roshni," he said, his voice low and sure, as the light turned green and the city unfolded before them.

"And I take very good care of what’s mine."

As they reached her lane, he slowed the car to a stop a little before her house, where the street was still and shadowed under the faint yellow light of a streetlamp.

He turned off the engine but didn’t move to open the car door.
Instead, he looked at her,

really looked

— like he was memorizing her face, her presence, this moment.

Roshni opened her mouth to say something, anything... but no words came out.
She could only stare back, her throat tight, her palms cold and sweaty.

Finally, Rudra though to just not to overwhelmed her anymore...for today…,

He spoke, his voice rough and low.

"Jaana hai toh jao, Roshni... but remember, sirf Gaadi se jar rahi ho…"

“Zindagi se gayi to me shayad kabhi zinda hi na milu vapas…..”

Her breath caught.

Without thinking, she raised her hand and gently cover his mouth, shaken by his words.

He stilled, then with a flirtatious glint in his eyes, pressed a kiss to her palm — the very hand which is covering his mouth.

Looking up with a teasing smirk, he said,
"Not bad, Miss Roshni…
First meeting and you’re already touching my lips?"

Her eyes widened, a flush blooming across her cheeks and neck.
She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but he didn’t let go.

Instead, he turned it over gently and kissed her palm again — slow, deliberate.

After few seconds,

Roshni reached for the door handle, but before she could step out, Rudra again caught her wrist gently.

Not forceful. Just... needing her to listen.

She froze, her heart slamming against her ribs.

Rudra leaned closer, his forehead almost touching hers, his breath ghosting over her lips.

“apna mobile paas me rakhna ….”

(Keep your mobile near you..)

She took a moment to register his words and then ever so gently….carefully not to touch his lip with hers…

She nodded.

Slowly, he let her go, his fingers trailing down her wrist like a reluctant goodbye.

she opened the door, stepping out into the cool night.
But before she could close it, she hesitated, biting her lip, then leaned back in slightly.

Softly, almost in a whisper, she said, "Goodnight, Rudra..."

His lips curved into the faintest, softest smile — rare, and only for her.

 “Goodnight aise kahogi… kora-kora ….never mind, one step at a time…”, he mumbled

(“Goodnight, you’ll say it like this... so plain”)

“Hmmm? Y…You said something?”, she stammered

"Goodnight, Roshni," he said, but there was a silent, aching 'stay' buried underneath the words.

And as she walked towards her house, she could feel his eyes on her back — a gaze so heavy, so possessive, it felt like an invisible thread tying her to him.

Just before disappearing into her doorway, she turned once, meeting his gaze across the distance.

A promise.
A beginning.

Rudra sat still in the car for a few seconds, staring at the empty street, feeling like she had taken all the air with her.

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