Chapter Forty Nine
Ria's POV;
I slept in the guestroom that night. Or at least... I tried to. The sky had been pouring endlessly, rain crashing against the windows like it was trying to drown out my thoughts - but nothing could silence them. Not the storm outside, not the darkness in the room.
All I wanted... was to disappear.
To run.
Far away from this mansion. From him. From everything that reminded me of what my life had become.
But I couldn't.
Because every path I imagined led back to the same truth - if I ran away, my family would suffer.
The Rathores weren't just powerful... they were ruthless. And society? It would tear my family apart before I even got the chance to explain.
So I stayed.
Trapped.
My eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling as tears silently slipped into my hairline. My chest felt heavy, like something was sitting on it, suffocating me slowly.
"Just sleep..." I whispered to myself. But even sleep felt like it didn't want me. Eventually, exhaustion won.
The next thing I knew, loud knocking dragged me out of my sleep. I groaned softly, my body heavy, my head pounding from the lack of rest. I stumbled toward the door in the dim light, barely able to keep my eyes open as I unlocked it.
"Good morning, Ria!"
Avantika's bright voice hit me like sunlight.
"Bhabhi..." I murmured, my voice thick with sleep as I turned away, rubbing my eyes.
"What time is it..." I asked, my words dragging as I walked back inside.
She followed me in and switched on the lights. I winced immediately, raising my hand to shield my eyes.
"It's 6:00 AM, so get up," she said casually.
Six?! I usually wake at 7 or 8. My brain struggled to process it.
"Why, bhabhi..." I mumbed, still half-asleep. "Is there a function...?"
She giggled softly at my state.
"If you don't get up now," she said, pausing for effect, "you'll be late for college."
I froze.
Completely.
My sleep vanished in a second.
"What...?" I turned around so fast my head spun. "What did you just say?"
"Yes," she smiled. "Dadaji told me last night. You're going back. I already called Siya, she will pick you up at 7:30."
For a second...
I couldn't breathe.
Then everything hit me at once.
Freedom.
A piece of my old life.
Something that was mine.
Before I could stop myself, I ran to her and hugged her tightly from behind.
"Thank you... thank you so much, bhabhi..." I whispered, my voice trembling with happiness I hadn't felt in so long.
She laughed softly, patting my arms.
"Thank Dadaji, not me."
I nodded quickly, already pulling away.
I didn't even realize I was smiling - genuinely smiling - as I ran out of the room.
I rushed into my room.
I didn't even think.
Didn't pause.
I just wanted to get ready.
I opened the walk-in closet and picked out a deep brown kurti - soft, elegant, comforting with matching pants and dupatta. Something that felt like me.
For the first time in days... I felt light.
Alive.
I turned, admiring the outfit in my hands as I walked out of the closet -and slammed straight into something solid.
My body stumbled back. But I steadied myself.
My breath caught in my throat.
And when I looked up-
Everything inside me stopped.
Aansh.
I had completely forgotten about him, about everything in my excitement to get a piece of my life.
That this is HIS room.
He stood there, shirtless, his skin slightly damp with sweat, his hair messy like he had just finished working out... or fighting. His chest rose and fell slowly, controlled.
But his eyes-
His eyes were locked onto mine.
Dark. Intense. Unreadable.
And yet... burning.
The air shifted.
The room suddenly felt too small.
Too hot.
I forgot how to breathe.
Completely.
My fist tightened as my heartbeat spiraled out of control, echoing loudly in my ears.
Why... why does he look like that...
Why does he always look like that...
I dropped my gaze immediately, panic rising in my chest. I bent down quickly to pick up my outfit that had fallen, needing something - anything - to break the moment.
But even as I stood...
I could feel him.
Watching me.
I tried to walk past him.
Tried to escape.
But the moment I crossed him-
A hand wrapped around my wrist.
I froze.
Every nerve in my body lit up at once.
His touch wasn't soft.
It wasn't gentle.
But it wasn't rough either.
It was firm.
Possessive.
And it burned.
My breath hitched as a shiver ran down my spine.
I didn't turn.
I couldn't.
He let go.
Just like that.
The sudden absence of his touch felt... wrong.
Too empty.
I clenched my fingers slightly, confused at my own reaction. He bent down, picked something up, and when I finally looked. He was holding my jhumkas.
The ones I didn't even realize I had dropped. He extended them toward me.
No words.
Just that same unreadable expression.
My fingers brushed against his as I took them-
And that single touch sent another wave through me.
I pulled my hand back instantly.
And then I left.
Almost ran.
The moment I stepped into the hallway, my smile faded.
Reality came crashing back.
Everything from yesterday.
I slowed down.
My fingers unconsciously moved to my wrist - the one he had held.
It still felt warm.
Like his touch was still there.
"Why..." I whispered softly to myself.
Why does it feel like this?
I shook my head quickly.
No.
No, I wouldn't let this ruin today.
Not today.
Today... I get a piece of my life back.
And for once-
I chose to hold onto that.
Even if it didn't last.