102. Not Anymore.

♡♡♡♡♡

A month later,

The Raghuwanshi Palace was buzzing with excitement.

And that was an understatement.

Because today—

They had received something unexpected.

A wedding invitation. From Ashwin.

It was official. The ever-so-secretive Ashwin was finally getting married.

To his longtime girlfriend.

The entire palace was in an uproar.

The women were already planning outfits. The men were discussing the grandeur of the event. The servants were running around preparing for the celebrations.

Because today was—

The engagement party.

And for a family like the Raghuwanshis?

It was going to be legendary.

Since it was a big day, everyone decided to wrap up work early so they could attend the event without distractions.

Rudraksh was one of the first to leave for the office, his mood already on edge from the morning chaos.

And just as he stepped out, he noticed something annoying.

No, scratch that.

Two things annoying.

Aarush and Rishi. Right behind him. Like shadows.

Rudraksh stopped. They stopped.

He walked. They walked.

He turned. They turned.

His eyebrow twitched.

Finally, he spun around, exasperated.

“Why the hell are you both following me?”

Aarush and Rishi exchanged glances, then turned back to him with deadpan expressions.

“We’re your bodyguards,” Aarush said, as if it were obvious.

“You fired us, but we didn’t accept it,” Rishi added.

Rudraksh’s eye twitched harder.

“I fired you because I don’t need you.”

Aarush and Rishi looked deeply offended.

“Excuse me?” Rishi said, arms crossed. “So, you’re saying you don’t want two highly skilled fighters protecting you?”

“Yes,” Rudraksh said, completely serious.

Aarush scoffed. “Wow.”

Rishi nodded, fake-hurt. “You have changed.”

Rudraksh exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I haven’t changed. I just don’t need two grown men stalking me everywhere.”

Aarush and Rishi shared a look again.

Then, at the exact same time,

They turned their backs on him.

Not a word.

Not even a glance.

Just—a full dramatic turn.

Rudraksh sighed. “Oh God…”

Then, without another word, they stormed off.

Aarush towards Mahira. Rishi towards Mahima.

Leaving Rudraksh standing there, wondering if he should be relieved or worried.

♡♡♡♡♡

Mahira’s wrist had fully healed now, which meant she was back to her usual routine.

Or so Aarush thought.

Because when he went to the hospital looking for her—

She was not there. He narrowed his eyes.

“Where is she?” he asked Daisy.

Daisy, clearly annoyed at being questioned, rolled her eyes.

“At the lake.”

Aarush sighed. The lake?

He was about to leave when his phone rang.

It was Ishwar. His voice was firm.

“Report to the Raghuwanshi office. Meeting room. Now.”

Aarush frowned. Something was up.

Rishi, meanwhile, was fuming.

He stormed into the office where Mahima was, plopped down on the couch, and crossed his arms.

Mahima, sipping her coffee, raised an eyebrow.

“Bad morning?”

Rishi exhaled dramatically. “I got fired.”

Mahima’s coffee almost spilled. “What?”

“I got fired.”

Mahima blinked. “From what?”

“Being Rudraksh’s bodyguard.”

Mahima stared at him, then snorted. “Wait—he can fire you from that?”

Rishi shot her a look. “That’s not the point!”

Mahima tried very hard not to laugh.

Instead, she patted his shoulder. “There, there,” she said, completely mockingly.

Rishi groaned, running a hand through his hair.

“He just threw us away like we were nothing.”

Mahima hummed. “Sounds rough.”

“Exactly!” Rishi nodded, leaning back dramatically. “I have been wronged.”

Mahima rolled her eyes. “You’ll survive.”

Rishi exhaled. “Will I?”

Mahima chuckled.

And then—

His phone rang.

Shravan’s name flashed on the screen.

Rishi sighed.

“I swear, if he’s calling to fire me from being close to them, I’m leaving this planet.”

Mahima laughed. “Go on, answer.”

Rishi groaned but picked up.

And Mahima, still smiling, watched as the day continued—

Unaware of how chaotic it was about to get.

♡♡♡♡♡

The Meeting Room,

The Raghuwanshi meeting room was packed.

Because when Aarush and Rishi walked in, they were met with a sight they weren’t expecting.

Everyone was there.

Not just the usual business associates, but literally—everyone.

Rudraksh. Aaryansh. Daksh. Aditya. Mahima. Geeta. Ishika. Ananya. Amrita. Shravan. Ishwar. Every one of the family members.

It was like some kind of grand assembly.

And for what?

Aarush and Rishi shared a look.

Something was off.

But their first concern, wasn't what the meeting was about.

It was why they were even here.

Aarush crossed his arms, annoyed. “Why the hell are we called here when we don’t even work here anymore?”

Rishi scowled. “Exactly! We got fired. Twice.”

The room went silent for a beat.

And then—

Laughter.

Everyone in the room tried to hold back their laughs. Some failed miserably.

Rudraksh smirked. Aaryansh coughed into his fist. Aditya raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. Even the ladies had a knowing smile on their faces.

Aarush and Rishi glared. “What’s so funny?”

Rudraksh leaned back in his chair, arms folded. “You’ll see.”

Aarush and Rishi frowned, but before they could say anything, Ishwar cleared his throat.

And just like that—

The room fell silent.

The meeting had officially begun.

♡♡♡♡♡

Ishwar stood up, his expression serious.

“As you all know, the Raghuwanshi Empire has been expanding rapidly over the years,” he began.

Everyone listened attentively.

Rishi and Aarush, still not interested.

Ishwar continued, “After careful planning, we have officially decided to open two new headquarters under the Raghuwanshi name.”

There was a murmur of approval in the room.

But Aarush and Rishi, still bored.

“So?” Aarush muttered under his breath. “What does that have to do with us?”

Ishwar’s next words, shut them both up.

“The CEOs of these new headquarters have already been chosen.”

The room went silent. The tension rose.

Rudraksh smirked, already knowing what was coming.

Aaryansh and Aditya leaned back, completely relaxed.

Mahima and Ananya exchanged glances.

And then—

Ishwar spoke again.

“The new CEOs are Aarush and Rishi.”

For the first time in a long time—

Aarush and Rishi were speechless.

Silence. Pure.

Absolute.

Silence.

Until—

The entire room exploded in cheers.

Aarush and Rishi, still frozen.

Still processing. Still unable to believe what they just heard.

Did Ishwar just—

Did he just—

Make them CEOs?!

Of Raghuwanshi Headquarters?!

What the actual—

Aarush was the first to react. “WHAT?!”

Rishi followed immediately. “EXCUSE ME?!”

The applause didn’t stop. The cheers grew louder.

Aarush shook his head rapidly. “No, no, no. This is a mistake. A big mistake.”

Rishi pointed at Rudraksh. “Did you plan this? I swear to God—”

Rudraksh smirked. “I didn’t. But I fully support it.”

Aarush turned to Ishwar. “You can’t be serious.”

Ishwar raised an eyebrow. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Rishi ran a hand through his hair. “No, but you do look like you’ve lost your mind.”

Mahima giggled. “You both should be honored.”

Aarush and Rishi turned to her dramatically.

“You think this is funny?” Aarush asked.

Mahira nodded. “Very.”

Rishi groaned. “Nope. We’re rejecting it.”

Aarush nodded firmly. “Yeah. Rejection. Denied. Declined. Overruled.”

But the room, was not having it.

Rudraksh leaned forward. “You don’t get to reject it.”

Daksh smirked. “You’re already appointed.”

Aaryansh shrugged. “We all agreed.”

Ananya grinned. “So it’s final.”

Aarush and Rishi looked at each other.

Then at everyone else. Then back at each other.

And finally—

They sighed. Defeated.

The room exploded in cheers again.

Their fates?

Sealed.

♡♡♡♡♡

The meeting had ended.

Everyone was dispersing.

Laughter, chatter, and excitement filled the hallways as the news of Aarush and Rishi becoming CEOs spread like wildfire.

But amidst the celebration, Ananya had only one goal—

Escape.

She had been doing it successfully for a month now.

Avoiding him. Dodging his intense gaze.

Ignoring the heat that rushed to her cheeks whenever he was near.

But not today.

Because just as she was about to slip out unnoticed—

A strong grip wrapped around her wrist.

A familiar, irresistibly dominant grip.

Her breath hitched.

Aditya.

Before she could even process what was happening, he had already dragged her inside his cabin.

And then—

The lock clicked shut.

Her heart pounded.

She was trapped.

She spun around, nervous. “A-Adi?”

He didn’t reply.

He just stared.

Dark. Intense. Unyielding.

A shiver ran down her spine.

His presence alone was suffocating.

And then—

In a flash, he was right in front of her.

She gasped, stepping back—only to hit the wall.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

“You’ve been running away for too long, Kitten.”

She swallowed. “I—I wasn’t running—”

Aditya cut her off.

His hands shot up, gripping both her wrists and pinning them above her head.

Her eyes widened.

Caged.

Completely at his mercy.

His body was so close.

So, so dangerously close.

“Not today,” he murmured, voice husky.

Her heart raced.

She had seen him angry. Cold. Ruthless.

But this—

This was different.

This was raw. Unfiltered. Possessive.

His lips hovered near her ear.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for this?”

She shivered.

“W-waiting for what?” she stammered.

Aditya chuckled—low and deep.

"To claim what’s mine."

And before she could even react—

His lips descended.

Capturing hers in a fierce, claiming kiss.

Her mind went blank.

His hold on her tightened.

The kiss wasn’t soft.

It was demanding. Passionate. Overwhelming.

Like he was punishing her for running away.

Like he was showing her exactly where she belonged.

With him.

Ananya was losing herself.

Completely.

Utterly.

Hopelessly.

Lost.

Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide

Ananya’s mind spiraled.

Her breath hitched as Aditya’s lips moved against hers—possessive, demanding, hungry.

Her fingers curled against his grip, but he didn’t let go.

If anything, he tightened his hold.

His body was pressed against hers, heat radiating from him in waves.

She gasped against his lips, and he took full advantage—deepening the kiss, claiming every inch of her mouth.

Her knees weakened.

If not for the wall behind her, she would have melted into him.

She wasn't prepared for this.

For the way he devoured her, like he had been starved for centuries.

For the way his warmth consumed her, drowned her, ruined her.

A sharp tug.

A deepened angle.

A shiver down her spine.

He was kissing her like she was his oxygen.

Like he had been waiting for this moment to set her soul on fire.

And god—she was burning.

Her mind screamed at her to push him away, to fight back, to do something—

But her body betrayed her.

Instead of resisting, her lips moved against his, mirroring his urgency.

Welcoming it. Matching it. Wanting more of it.

His hand slipped from her wrist to her waist, pulling her even closer.

A gasp.

A sharp inhale.

His grip was firm, possessive.

Like he was reminding her who she belonged to.

And then—

He pulled away.

Just enough to let her breathe.

Just enough to make her crave more.

Ananya’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her lips swollen, her mind foggy.

She was dizzy. Disoriented. Completely undone.

Her wide eyes met his—and her breath caught.

Because Aditya wasn’t just looking at her.

He was devouring her with his gaze.

Dark. Intense. Almost dangerous.

His fingers traced her jaw, tilting her face up.

“You’ve been avoiding me for a month,” he murmured, voice husky, deep, low.

Her heart stuttered. She knew that tone.

That was the tone of a predator cornering its prey.

“I—I wasn’t avoiding you,” she whispered, but even she didn’t believe herself.

Aditya chuckled.

Dark. Amused. Unbelieving.

His fingers traveled lower, tracing her collarbone, sending shivers down her spine.

“Is that so?” he mused. “Then why do you look so guilty, hmm?”

Ananya’s pulse raced.

She needed to get out of here.

She needed to breathe.

But Aditya wasn’t done with her yet.

His thumb brushed over her lower lip, smirking when she shivered under his touch.

“You think you can run away from me, Kitten?” he whispered, his breath fanning against her skin.

She bit her lip, trying not to melt again.

Trying not to give in.

But Aditya, wasn’t one to let his prey escape.

His grip on her waist tightened.

His lips brushed against her jaw, a soft graze, a teasing promise.

“You’re mine,” he murmured, sending another wave of shivers down her spine.

Ananya’s fingers clutched onto his shirt, needing something to hold onto.

Needing to ground herself.

Because the way he was looking at her—like she was the only thing in his universe—

It was too much.

And yet, not enough.

Not nearly enough.

Aditya’s lips trailed lower, ghosting over the sensitive skin of her neck.

His fingers skated over her exposed waist, teasing, lingering, driving her insane.

A sharp inhale.

A barely-there sigh.

A helpless, quiet whimper.

He heard it.

He felt it.

And god—he smirked.

“Still want to run away?” he whispered against her skin.

She was too lost to respond.

Too lost in him.

Aditya pulled back slightly, his lips barely an inch away from hers. His dark eyes held her captive, his smirk lazy, knowing.

His thumb traced her cheek, lingering just long enough to make her achingly aware of his touch.

Then, with a low chuckle, he murmured, "Go now, Kitten."

Ananya's breath hitched.

His voice was silk and steel, sending another shiver down her spine.

But before she could even think about escaping, he leaned in again, his lips brushing the shell of her ear.

"But at night... I’m not going to spare you."

Her stomach flipped.

Her face burned.

Her knees felt weak.

And worst of all?

Aditya saw every reaction.

Saw how her fingers trembled at her sides.

Saw how her breath stuttered in her throat.

Saw how her lips parted, ready to protest but too shaken to form words.

His smirk deepened.

He loved this.

Loved watching her flustered. Breathless. Completely at his mercy.

Ananya yanked her wrists free from his hold, spun around, and bolted toward the door.

Aditya let her go—for now.

He leaned back against his desk, watching her run, watching the way her hands clutched her dress, as if that could do anything to calm her racing heart.

His smirk didn’t fade.

Not when she fumbled with the lock.

Not when she practically sprinted out of the cabin like a scared kitten.

And definitely not when he saw the faintest trace of her pink-tinged ears.

He let out a deep chuckle, rolling his sleeves up.

Tonight.

Tonight, she had nowhere to run.

♡♡♡♡♡

Aarush let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair as he made his way toward the lake.

And just as said, there she was.

Mahira sat at the edge of the bank, her arms wrapped around her knees, gazing at the water.

The lake stretched out before her, still and untouched, reflecting the soft golden hues of the setting sun. It was quiet.

Isolated. Peaceful.

But the moment she sensed his presence, she turned.

Standing up immediately, her eyes met his.

He smirked. "Why do you always run off here, hmm?"

Mahira shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "It’s peaceful."

Aarush hummed, stepping closer. "You missed quite the scene."

She tilted her head. "What happened?"

He tucked his hands in his pockets, his smirk deepening. "Oh, nothing much. Just me becoming a CEO."

Her eyes widened, then lit up with excitement. "Wait, really?!"

Aarush gave her a lazy nod, watching as she practically bounced on her feet, the happiness in her expression making something warm settle in his chest.

"Aarush Sir! That’s amazing!" she grinned, her excitement bubbling over.

He chuckled, leaning slightly toward her. "Hmm. I think I deserve a reward, don’t you?"

Mahira frowned. "Reward?"

His smirk turned into something far too mischievous.

"A kiss," he murmured, watching her face turn red in real-time.

Mahira rolled her eyes, but that damn blush betrayed her.

"You wish," she scoffed, folding her arms.

Aarush chuckled. "Oh, I do. Every day, sweetheart."

Mahira’s blush deepened, and she turned her face away, refusing to let him see.

But Aarush wasn’t done.

He stepped closer. Too close.

"So?" he teased, voice lower, huskier. "Where’s my kiss?"

Mahira’s heartbeat skipped.

Her hands twitched.

Her breath hitched.

And she shyly pushed him away.

Aarush barely had time to react before he stumbled back—and fell straight into the lake.

SPLASH.

Mahira froze.

Aarush disappeared beneath the water, the ripples spreading outward.

The lake rippled violently around him, swallowing him whole.

Cold, dark, silent.

♡♡♡♡♡

Hey! I'm so sorry for the irregular updates but I am very very busy this week and I'm packed with stuff...

So please wait patiently until the next few chapters...

I'll try my best to post in between my schedules...

:)

She was trapped—between his hands, between his whispers, between the fire he ignited in her.❤️‍🔥