Rudraksh stood near the window, rain sliding down the glass behind him.Ruhanika’s heart was pounding.

He hadn’t looked at her properly since the party ended. Not one soft word. Not one explanation. Just silence.

And that silence hurt more than Ayasha’s insult ever could.

She walked toward him slowly.

“Rudraksh…” she whispered again.

No response.

He kept staring outside, jaw tight.

Something inside her broke.

Before she could overthink it, she stepped forward, held his wrist, and turned him toward her.

His eyes met hers — stormy, unreadable.

“If I did something wrong… punish me,” she said, her voice trembling but determined. “But don’t push me away. Don’t ignore me like I don’t exist.”

Her eyes were glossy again.

And before he could react—

She stood on her toes and pressed her lips softly against his.

It wasn’t bold.

It wasn’t seductive.

It was desperate.

A silent plea.

For a second, he froze.

She pulled back slightly, ready to step away—

But his hand suddenly gripped her waist firmly.

“Ruh…” his voice came out rough.

He pulled her back toward him.

This time, when he kissed her, he wasn't hesitant.

It was intense.

Not out of anger at her—

But at himself.

At the way other men had looked at her.

At the way that word — hot — had echoed in his head all evening.

His hand moved up her back, holding her closer, as if shielding her from something invisible. The kiss deepened — not inappropriate, not careless — but filled with emotion he had been suppressing all night.

He broke the kiss suddenly, resting his forehead against hers.

“You think I was angry at you?” he asked, voice low.

She looked at him, confused. “Then why did you ignore me?”

His jaw tightened again.

“Because I didn’t like the way they looked at you,” he admitted. “I didn’t like the way he spoke about you. And I hated that I felt… jealous.”

The last word was almost whispered.

Ruhanika blinked.

Jealous?

“You were… proud,” he continued, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. “So proud that you were mine. But I was also furious that others were looking at you like that.”

His hand cupped her face gently now.

“I was never angry at you.”

Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

“You scared me,” she admitted softly.

His thumb wiped away the faint tear near her eye.

“I would never push you away,” he said firmly. “But sometimes… I don’t handle my emotions well.

and I DON'T WANT THAT MY ANGER FIND YOU OR I HURT YOU IF I DID IT I NEVER FORGET MYSELF”

The rain outside grew heavier.

Inside, the tension slowly melted.

He pulled her into a protective embrace, resting his chin lightly against her head.

Ruhanika held him tighter.

Because now she understood—

His silence wasn’t rejection.

It was possession mixed with fear of losing control.

And tonight, beneath the sound of rain, they finally chose conversation over distance.

Rudraksh’s hold on her waist tightened slightly.

His eyes moved over her shoulder, stopping at the thin strap of her blouse.

His jaw hardened again.

“I know you weren’t comfortable in that blouse,” he said quietly. “Then why did you wear it, jaana?”

Ruhanika lowered her gaze.

Silence.

“Ruhanika,” he asked again, softer this time. “Why?”

She pressed her lips together.

He stepped back, frustration flickering in his eyes — not anger, but helplessness.

“I’m asking you something.”

Still no answer.

He ran a hand through his hair and turned slightly, about to walk away — needing space before his emotions got messy again.

That’s when her voice finally broke through.

“I thought they trolled you because of me.”

He stopped.

Slowly turned back.

She was standing there, fragile but honest.

“I thought… maybe they were right,” she continued, her voice trembling. “Maybe I don’t match your class. Maybe I’m not that pretty. Maybe when they look at me, they think you deserved someone better.”

Each word felt like it was pulled out of her heart.

“I wore that blouse because… I didn’t want anyone to think you chose wrong.”

Silence filled the room again.

But this time it was heavy with something deeper.

Rudraksh stared at her as if she had just said something unbelievable.

Without another word—

He walked toward her.

Then, to her complete shock, he bent down on one knee in front of her.

Ruhanika’s eyes widened.

He looked up at her — not as Mr. Raizada, not as the powerful businessman.

Just as a man in love.

“Did you want to know how beautiful you are?” he asked softly.

Her breathing hitched.

“Then listen.”

His voice lost its sharpness. It became poetry.

“Tu bemisaal hai… teri kya misaal doon,” he said, looking at her as if memorizing every feature.

“Aasmaan se aayi hai — yahi keh ke taal doon.”

He gently held her hand.

“Phir bhi agar koi pooche, kya hai tu… kaisi hai tu…”

He smiled faintly.

“Haathon mein rang leke hawa mein uchhaal doon.”

Her tears flowed freely now.

Not from insecurity.

But from being seen.

He stood up slowly and cupped her face.

“You think I care about their class?” he asked. “You think I measure beauty the way they do?”

He shook his head.

“I chose you because when you walk into a room, you don’t need to shout to be noticed. Because your eyes carry more depth than their entire personalities.”

He wiped her tears gently.

“You are not just pretty. You are powerful. And if anyone ever makes you doubt that again, you come to me first.”

He rested his forehead against hers.

“And next time you feel insecure… don’t change yourself for the world.”

His voice dropped softly.

“Let the world adjust to you.”

Ruhanika closed her eyes, finally feeling lighter.

Because tonight—

She didn’t just wear confidence.

She found it.

Rudraksh was still standing close to her, his hands gently holding hers.

Ruhanika’s eyes were still wet from the tears she hadn’t been able to stop.

He looked at her quietly for a moment — really looked at her, as if trying to erase every doubt she had about herself.

Then something unexpected happened.

Slowly, Rudraksh bent down.

Ruhanika’s eyes widened in shock.

“Rudraksh… what are you doing?” she whispered, trying to stop him.

But he didn’t.

He went down on one knee again — this time not to speak poetry.

But with something deeper in his expression.

Respect.

Gratitude.

Love.

He gently took her foot in his hands, careful and reverent, as if it were something precious. His eyes lifted to hers for a second — proud, grateful.

“Do you know,” he said softly, “how lucky I am that you chose to stay in my life?”

Before she could answer—

He lowered his head and placed a soft kiss on the top of her foot.

Not out of submission.

But out of honor.

As if he was thanking fate for bringing her to him.

Ruhanika gasped softly, overwhelmed. She quickly tried to pull him up.

“Please… don’t do this,” she said, shaking her head.

But Rudraksh stood slowly and smiled at her — a rare, sincere smile that softened his usually sharp features.

“Why not?” he asked gently.

“You think loving you makes me smaller?”

He brushed his thumb across her cheek, wiping the last trace of tears.

“It makes me richer.”

He rested his forehead against hers again.

“You are my pride, Ruhanika. Never think you embarrass me.”

Her fingers tightened around his shirt as emotion rushed through her chest.

For the first time that night, she wasn’t thinking about the party.

Or Ayasha.

Or the people who judged her.

Because the man she loved had just shown her something stronger than pride—Respect.

Rudraksh slowly stood up, straightening his posture.

For a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of rain tapping against the windows.

He lifted his head and looked directly into Ruhanika’s eyes.

The softness that was there a moment ago slowly shifted into something else — a playful seriousness.

“Ab galti ki hai…” he said calmly.

Ruhanika blinked, confused.

“…toh punishment toh milegi aapko.”

Her eyes widened in shock.

“Punishment?” she repeated, completely lost.

She had just confessed her insecurities, he had just comforted her… and now this?

Before she could ask anything else, Rudraksh casually began removing his blazer.

Ruhanika froze.

He placed the blazer on the chair beside them, his movements slow and deliberate.

Then his fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt.

One by one.

Ruhanika’s confusion only grew.

“Rudraksh… what are you doing?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.

But he didn’t answer immediately.

The last button came undone, and he pulled the shirt off, tossing it aside.

Under the warm light of the room, his strong, muscular frame was clearly visible. Years of discipline and training showed in the way he carried himself — confident, composed.

But his expression wasn’t arrogant.

It was teasing.

He stepped closer to her.

“Relax,” he said lightly when he saw her shocked face. “You look like I just announced a war.”

She crossed her arms nervously. “Then what is this punishment?”

He stopped right in front of her.

“You doubted yourself tonight,” he said.

Ruhanika lowered her eyes slightly.

“And the punishment,” he continued, “is that you’re going to stand here and listen to me until you finally believe what I say about you.”

Her brows furrowed.

“That’s your punishment?”

“Yes.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“You’re beautiful. You’re strong. And you’re the woman I chose.”

His voice softened again.

“And you’re not allowed to argue with any of that.”

Ruhanika stared at him for a second.

Then a small laugh escaped her — the tension finally breaking.

“That’s not punishment,” she said quietly.

Rudraksh raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, it is,” he replied.

“Because I’m very stubborn. I’ll keep reminding you every day until you stop doubting yourself.”

The rain outside continued pouring.

But inside the room, the heavy emotions from earlier slowly turned into something warmer — calmer.

“ Ruhanika was still smiling when his eyes darkened and moved towards her and whispered in a husky voice “come jaaan now you have to pay the price for making every eye in that back . Baby ”

And that when Ruhanika breath hitched and now she realised that the war not end only with promise

“Tonight, I’m taking back every inch of skin they dared to look at.” he said

Rudraksh stepped closer.

The distance between them disappeared slowly, like the air itself had thickened.

Ruhanika’s breath caught when his fingers gently caught the edge of her saree pallu resting on her shoulder.

“Rudraksh…” she whispered, half warning, half breathless.

But his eyes never left hers.

There was no anger in them now.

Only intensity.

“You doubted yourself tonight,” he murmured.

His hand slowly slid up to her shoulder, brushing the fabric there as if he was reminding her of every word he had said earlier.

“You thought you weren’t beautiful enough.”

Ruhanika’s fingers tightened around his arm.

The room felt warmer.

The rain outside grew heavier.

He carefully moved the fabric from her shoulder, his touch gentle but deliberate, as if he was studying every reaction she gave him.

Her heartbeat raced.

“Look at me,” he said softly.

She lifted her gaze.

The way he was looking at her made her forget every insult she had heard that evening.

To him she wasn’t someone trying to belong.

She already did.

His hand came up to her cheek, his thumb brushing the faint trace of tears that had dried there earlier.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he said quietly.

Ruhanika swallowed, nervous yet drawn closer.

“And yet you think others decide your worth.”

His forehead rested lightly against hers.

For a moment neither of them moved.

Then he pulled her into his arms.

Not rough.

Not rushed.

Just firm enough to make her feel that she was exactly where she belonged.

Outside, thunder rolled through the night.

Inside, the distance between them finally disappeared.

And this time—

Neither of them pulled away.

His free hand slowly drifted towards her saree pallu and in motion he threw on the floor now her blouse clearly showed him …

Ruhanika breath hitched she lowered her graze her chest was going up and down Rudraksh come close to her and said on husky voice

“ abb glti ki hai to punnishment milegi aapko” he placed his lips on her cleavage and within a minute he started sucking her cleavage with full intensity…

Ruhanika she grabbed his hair and closed her eyes and moan “ Aahh r..rudra…please stop ” she pleaded him and Rudraksh he was not

done

He smrink and said “ not yet darling ”

And in swift motion he threw her blouse on the floor. Now she stood infront of him wearing only bra . She lowered her graze because of shame

Rudraksh pulled her in his arms and laying her on the bed

He slowly started opening her bra before Ruhanika stop him

“ Rudra ye aap kya kr rhe hai..hame..saram aarhi hai ”

Rudraksh smiled and wissperd in her ears “ making love baby ”

But that's when door knocked….