"Our eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, the world fell away—no names, no past, just a silent promise that our souls still remembered."

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Hidden deep within the thick foliage, Reena pressed her back against the damp earth, her breath barely audible. Her heart pounded against her ribs, the only sound louder being the rustling of leaves above as the evening breeze whispered through the garden.

She had no idea who had entered the space, but when she dared to peek through the gaps in the leaves—her breath hitched.

A man. 

Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in red. His presence was commanding, an air of absolute power surrounding him.

But it wasn't just his presence.

It was him.... 

A sharp jawline framed by a light stubble, his features carved with something rough, something lethal. A man sculpted not by luxury, but by war. The flickering lanterns bathed his skin in gold, but despite the glow of the festival outside, his eyes held a haunting darkness.

Golden, yet stormy.

Fierce, yet... broken.

Reena's fingers curled into the land beneath her as she watched him walk onto the porch, his shoulders visibly heavy, like he carried the weight of the empire on them.

And then, she saw it.

The way his lips pressed into a firm line, how his fingers instinctively clenched before he exhaled, rubbing his temple—like he was pushing something away. 

Something painful.

And at that moment, he looked like a man who had lost everything.

He spoke. 

Rocky - You're still watching over us, aren't you?

Reena stiffened.

His voice—it was rough, deep, but there was a rawness to it, something unguarded.

His golden eyes reflected the silver glow of the moon as he continued, his voice dropping to a whisper—

Rocky - I told you I'd be fine. That I didn't need anyone.

He chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

Rocky - Turns out, I lied.

He took a deep breath. 

Rocky - I never believed in fate... but if fate were kind, it wouldn't have taken you from me.

He spoke softly, almost to himself.

Rocky - Every festival, every prayer, every damn lantern that rises into the sky... I send them with a wish. That maybe, just maybe... you'll return to me.

Reena felt something roll down her cheek.

A tear.

She sucked in a breath, confused.

Reena - [ To herself  ] Why am I crying?

Rocky - I'm scared Shona. There's something going on without me knowing and I have no idea what I am gonn-

She wiped her cheek hastily, but as she moved her hand—

**CRACK**

A dry leaf snapped beneath her touch.

Rocky's head snapped toward the sound.

His sharp eyes narrowed.

Reena froze.

Reena pressed herself against the bush, heart pounding as Rocky's sharp gaze locked onto her hiding spot. The porch was silent except for the distant sounds of festival fireworks bursting in the sky. She swallowed hard, praying he'd lose interest.

But then, his deep, commanding voice shattered her hope.

Rocky - Who's there?

Panic seized Reena as she froze, pressing her hand to her mouth to suppress a gasp.

Reena - This is bad, this is very bad! What do I do? Do I stay still? Do I pretend to be a statue? Do bushes even have statues?!

She screamed internally. 

Rocky took a slow step forward, his boots crunching against the stone.

Reena wished the ground would just swallow her whole.

But Rocky never ignored a sound in his empire.

Rocky - Come out. 

Reena bit her lip, her back pressing tighter against the bush.

Reena, still glued to the bush, muttered the only prayer she could think of.

Reena - Goddess Kali, if you're listening, please turn me invisible. Or make me a real bush. I won't complain. Just please—

Another gust of wind blew through, shifting the leaves slightly—just enough to reveal the corner of her cloth-covered figure.

Rocky's brows furrowed.

Then, with slow precision, he stepped closer.

Reena's heart nearly stopped.

Reena – NO, NO, NO! DON'T COME CLOSER, YOU BIG SCARY MAN!

Rocky tilted his head slightly, his eyes scanning the figure in the bush.

Rocky – Who the hell...?

He muttered to himself as she cursed internally.

There was no escaping now.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Rocky stared.

Reena prayed.

Then—

Rocky reached forward.

Reena braced herself—

And then—

She sneezed.

A loud, unmistakable sneeze.

The universe betrayed her.

Rocky's expression turned unreadable.

Reena, wide-eyed, slapped both hands over her face.

Reena – I AM DOOMED!!!

Rocky folded his arms, his patience wearing thin. 

Rocky - Alright. You've got three seconds before I pull you out myself.

With a resigned sigh, she carefully turned, stepping out of the bush. Her covered form emerged hesitantly, and as she fully turned to face him, she froze.

Everything stilled.

For the briefest moment, something flashed in Rocky's gaze—something unexplainable, almost like... recognition.

But then, his expression hardened, his fists clenching

Rocky - How dare you? How dare you step into this place? The only place where Reena was the only one allowed? 

His anger burned inside him. 

Rocky - Come out here.  

His voice was laced with barely restrained anger. He needed to interrogate her, to demand why she thought she had the right to step into a place meant only for one woman in his life.

But then—she moved.

Or rather, she tripped.

Reena let out a startled gasp as her foot caught on an uneven stone. She stumbled forward, and before Rocky could step back, her weight crashed into him.

The impact knocked them both off balance. His hands instinctively shot out to grab her arms, and in a split second, they tumbled down—falling onto the soft grass.

Reena landed right on top of him.

Their breathing hitched.

Rocky's breath hitched as he looked up, his grip still firm on her arms. Her hands pressed against his chest, her hood slipping slightly, revealing her eyes.

The scent of sandalwood and something faintly floral filled his senses.

A scent so familiar, so dangerously desirable. 

And then, for the first time—he saw her eyes clearly.

A jolt ran through him, his entire body stiffening.

Those eyes.

For a split second, the world around him blurred, and his mind betrayed him—flashing an image of her.

But then, the weight of reality crashed back in, and something dark, something angry settled in his chest

His grip on her arms tightened before he abruptly pushed her off him, sitting up instantly. His heart pounded in his chest, but not because of her—because of himself.

Reena - Ouch!

Rocky - What the hell was that?

He gritted his teeth, running a hand over his face, trying to rid himself of the unsettling feeling in his gut.

Rocky - How could I touch another woman? How could I even let someone else near me like this?

Rocky - Get off me!

His voice was low, rough—laced with something dangerous. His skin burned where he had touched her, as if it were some kind of betrayal. He stood up swiftly, brushing off his clothes as though ridding himself of an unwelcome stain.

His golden eyes locked onto her, sharp and unyielding.

Rocky - Who the hell are you?

Reena scrambled to sit up, her breath uneven. Rocky could see her hands trembling slightly as she clutched the fabric covering her. Her eyes darted around, as if debating whether to run or stay.

She swallowed hard. 

Reena - I...I...

Rocky's glare darkened. It's true that he hated hesitation and liars, but he never got this angry at a woman before. He always respected them but now he hated the way something about the woman in front of him felt... wrong. Unrecognizable, yet oddly familiar, as if -

No. 

He cut the thought off instantly. 

Rocky - Spit it out.

Reena - I...I didn't mean.........I wasn't -

Her voice shook, her words breaking apart like fragile glass. She could barely string together a sentence under the weight of his gaze.

Rocky's patience snapped.

Rocky - You think you can just walk in here? Into my home—into her place?

Reena flinched. 

Her?

She didn't understand why, but the moment he said that, something in her chest squeezed painfully.

Reena - I....I was just...-

She gulped, eyes darting to the side, as if looking for an escape.

Rocky - Stop stammering and speak properly!

His harsh tone made her shrink back. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her cloak, gripping it tightly.

Reena - I....I got lost...

Rocky scoffed, stepping closer.

Rocky - Lost?

The way he said it made it sound like the most pathetic excuse he had ever heard.

Rocky - Do you take me for a fool?

Reena opened her mouth, but no words came. She felt light-headed—her heart racing too fast, her body trembling for reasons she didn't understand.

And then-

Rocky flinched slightly, not enough to make Reena notice but enough for himself.

Just for a second. Just a flicker of a moment.

Her eyes again. 

That same uneasiness gripped him again, but he shoved it down before it could take root. His face hardened.

Rocky - Take off the veil!

Reena's breath caught in her throat. 

Reena - W....What?

Rocky - I said- Take it off.

His voice was dangerously low, daring her to defy him.

Reena swallowed hard. 

Veera - Never show your face to anyone in this place, especially to him. 

Veera's words flashed across her mind as she regretted coming out of the place. 

Reena froze. 

She couldn't.

She wouldn't.

Because even though she had no memory of this man...

Something told her that if she removed it—her entire world would change. But in front of him, his presence told her that if she didn't what he said, her world might end before it could sense change.

Reena hesitated, her fingers trembling over the fabric of her veil. Her heart pounded violently in her chest as she stared at the man before her. There was something in his gaze—something raw, something heavy—that made her stomach churn.

Slowly, she began to lift the veil—

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- Reena?

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Happy Reading and Do vote! 

- Nini !