RvR shuru hone ki khushi mein ✨

-• torn •-

His hands glide down my body, and I pant softly, arching my back and fisting the sheets, aching for him all over.

He climbs on top of me.

Eyes closed, I brush my hand down his face, studying the contours and edges, lingering in the sweet dip between his lips, chuckling softly when he tries to bite off my finger. I cup his face and bring him closer, our mouths opening for each other, tongues meeting at the bridges of our lips. My hands slip around his nape, I thread my fingers into his locks, and we kiss like we've never tasted lust before, never known how desirable flesh feels when it's touching your own, naked, bare, all vulnerable, hiding from the world, the copulation more than just natural instinct.

God, he feels so right.

He feels so right-

"We fit, Esther, don't we?"

My eyes snap open in shock and I push him on the shoulders. The light brown swirls look down at me in confusion. "What's wrong, Esther?" An index runs along the swell of my bottom lip.

I scoot back and he's forced to sit straight.

"What happened?" Knelt on the bed, he looks at me as I stand on the floor, aghast and in disbelief of our situation.

"What are you doing here?" I ask in a whisper. "What- How are you here? Where's he?" I look around my room lost.

I'm sure I was with Rudra, not Shourya. Then how come they suddenly changed places? And why did I not realise it?

He gets off the bed and tries to come closer. I teeter back, holding out my hand in a warning. "Don't. Don't you dare. What are you doing here!?" I demand hoarsely.

"You wanted me here." He states, looking into my eyes with conviction.

My face transforms into pure confusion and disgust. "What? What bullshit! I was with Rudra. I-"

"Taranya, you wanted me here. This is your dream."

My heart thrums wildly in my chest. I glare with repulsion, unable to believe his words. "No-"

"Yes. You want me. Admit it." He reduces the remaining distance between us and holds my shoulders tightly, pulling me closer. Our faces mere inches away. I feel him breath, God I feel him alive, with his heart beating in his chest and his eyes bearing the insanity, desperation and madness. "You want me," his hand slides up to cup my cheek. He strokes it, passion pushing him even more closer. We burn for each other, and when his lips touch mine, our eyes flutter close. "You want this. Stop denying." He whispers, licks the seam between my lips, and the touch causes them to fall open. He sucks on my lower lip, nibbles at it, all while holding me against him, every part of his body possessing every inch of mine. He feels the same, the same as him, but he isn't. I'm committing the very sin I was afraid of. "You can have both of us, Esther. You can have both-" startled with the realisation of my feelings that are being shoved in my face like naked truths, I push him away and he stumbles back.

"I don't. I fucking don't." I shake my head vehemently and wipe the back of my hand over my mouth, getting rid of his taste on me, of his mark on me. But my lips tingle, my skin pricks and seeing him away from me, from my body, a sickening part of me wants to erase that distance and resume the removal of my morals, for the carnal desires he evokes in me are worth worshipping, worth owning.

He smiles. "You're torn."

I clench my jaw and look away.

"You're torn between wanting me and needing him," he growls, steps closer and pins me to the wall.

I match his glare with my own. "Stop making up things in your head."

"The irony. We're in your head right now." He smirks and buries his face in the crook of my neck. I bite the inside of my lip, holding back the stubborn moan from falling past my lips. "You want me, Tara." He kisses me sweetly, softly. Hands pressed down my shoulders, he slides off the straps of my dress, and brushes his lips on the bare skin. "You want me, Esther. Admit it. Accept it."

Gripping his shirt, I push him off me. He sighs in frustration.

"I don't." I look into his eyes, my confidence as weak as my lies.

He smirks, the action cocky. "You know one thing common between me and greed?" His prideful gaze regards me with amusement. "It wins," he whispers, and then walks closer, until he has me backed up against the wall, for the umpteenth time.

God damnit, why do I never learn from my mistakes?

"And, my love," he tips my chin up, brushes his thumb over my left cheekbone, the storm in his eyes now settled, calm, "So do I."

I swallow. Does he always have to appear so confident? Even in my dream?

cring cring

I frown.

What's that sound?

"I- I think your phone's ringing." I point out timidly.

"It's your alarm." He deadpans.

My nose scrunches in confusion. "My alarm?"

"Wake up." He says to me.

"Wake up?"

"Wake up, Tara!" I sit up straight in my bed and quickly reach out to shut off the alarm clock. "Tara!" The pounding on my door continues. I rub a hand across my face and get off the bed, striding towards the door. I open it to see a furious looking Janet standing in front of me. "What the hell, Tara! I told you I have extra lectures tomorrow, so wake up early! It's six thirty. I've to be in class at eight!" She screeches.

I wince.

Shit. How did that slip my mind?

Maybe because you're always so occupied with your own problems?

"I'm sorry. But we still have time." I try cajoling a nineteen year old.

"We need forty five minutes to just reach there!" She grits out.

"Give me five minutes." I hug her tightly for a split second. "I love you. I'm sorry." With a kiss on her cheek, I head inside my wardrobe, grab whatever I see fits and rush to the bathroom.

Fuck.

How long was my alarm ringing for?

How did I not hear it before?

I drape my clothes over the hanging bar and turn the shower on. A shriek escapes me when the scorching hot water splashes on my bare skin. Scrambling aside, I adjust the temperature slightly lower, check the warmth on the back of my palm and then step under the shower once it's lukewarm.

"What the fuck was that dream?" I murmur to myself and grab the body wash from the shelf. "And why did it feel so real?" I look down at my chest, my nipples still hard. "I'm not turned on. It's the- it's that time of month." I nod to myself. "I'll have periods in about twenty days. The swelling and all is normal. I wasn't restless because of him." I scoff out.

"Stop talking to yourself, you freak! Don't waste time." Janet screams from outside the bathroom.

I flinch, and quicken up my pace.

By seven thirty, we're out of the palace and inside my car. I step on the gas and practically race out of the premises. The gates open, guards salute, watching me flabbergasted because I don't nod at them as usual.

I manage to drop her off at 8:05 AM.

"I'm sorry!" I shout from the window.

She holds up a middle finger while running up the staircase of the art building. I chuckle.

Turning off the ignition, I step out of the car and slam the door close, swinging the strap of my backpack over my shoulder as I look at the central library. I've an extra lecture too, but it's at nine am. I still have fifty-five minutes to pass.

I buy myself a cup of takeaway coffee from the cafeteria and head inside the library. It's quiet, not a whisper or shuffle of feet to be heard. The librarian shoots me a smile when I wish her good morning.

"Unless you're a literature, engineering, medicine or law major, you don't have an extra class at eight in the morning." She muses thoughtfully.

"Yup," I concede, stopping at her desk since she initiated the small talk. "I'm doing journalism and mass communication."

"Right." She nods.

"By the way, I didn't know literature is hailed just as important as STEM in this university?"

"Over the last eighty years, University of Jaigarh has fostered several great artists. If you see the notable alumnis of this University, along with engineers, scientists and surgeons working in the highest positions, there are many great poets, writers, musicians and actors who passed out from here." She answers proudly. "So, we do focus on all forms of arts in this campus."

"Is this because my great great grandfather was an art lover?" I inquire curiously.

She smiles. "So, you know your history. Good to know that. But yes, it's because King Devendra Singh Chauhan believed learning itself is the most simplest and yet complicated form of art."

"He was a great ruler, wasn't he?" I smile in open admiration. Just the thought of him fills my chest with tremendous pride.

She grins witnessing the fond look on my face. "The greatest. He built this city, protected it until the day he died, and left a lineage of responsible rulers behind. This country might be democratic now, but we'll never trust anyone but a true Chauhan to protect us."

"Is my father a great ruler too?"

The smile on her face fades. "I shouldn't say this, but your father was probably treated the most unfairly in the royal family. Everyone knows how he never got to make his own decisions. Even after getting the throne, he could never become the king."

My heart feels heavy.

"But I'm sure, he'd have made a great King, just like your eldest brother." She assures me.

But my eldest brother is still the crown prince. He isn't coronated yet. People don't even consider my father the King anymore? Not even namesake?

I force a smile at her and turn around, facing Shourya just as he enters through the double doors. He meets my eyes, notices the sombre look on my face and frowns. Ignoring him, I occupy an empty seat and take out my books, preparing notes for the extra lecture.

"Are you okay?" I look up, and see him drop his backpack on the table as he sits down across from me.

"Yeah, I am. Good morning."

He smiles back. "Good morning."

"Don't you have an extra lecture?" I'm not trying to make a conversation. I just want him gone. Seeing him act so innocent makes me feel guilty. I made him do quiet a few lecherous actions in my dreams. I can't face him all nonchalant just yet. I need some time.

"I do, at nine." He takes out his books and laptop. "What about you?"

"Yeah, me too." And then I avoid him like a plague. We study in silence, not even glancing at each other, though a few times I do feel his eyes flicker towards me, or linger longer than necessary on my face, but I refuse to acknowledge the intense gaze.

I pack up at 8:50 and leave the library, swearing under my breath when he follows me instantly.

"What's the rush about?" He huffs slightly, his strides slowing down to match mine. "We still have ten minutes." He glances down at his wrist watch.

"Yeah, I'm just-" I see Atharva climbing the stairs of our building. Oh, thank heavens for sending him in time to rescue me. "Atharva!" I call out louder over the noise of students filling the campus. He halts and looks over his shoulder, finding me in less than a second. He waves at me and beckons me over. "Gotta go, bye." I direct a fake smile towards Shourya.

He nods softly, his lips pressed together.

"Good morning," Atharva greets me with a smile.

"Good morning." I smile back in relief.

"Was he bothering you?" He looks behind us. I see Shourya glance my way for a fleeting second before he walks away.

"No, I was just in hurry. Shall we?" I urge.

Atharva's eyes slide back to mine. "Let's go." He nods and resumes walking. "Oh by the way, I talked to my uncle. He said he's willing to help us for our project. We can meet him today."

I smile. "Great. Let's go after our classes end."

He nods back.

We head to our first class together.

I meet Janet at one in the afternoon for lunch and tell her she'll have to hitch a ride with Ayush today since I'll be leaving with Atharva for some project work.

"He knows, right? I don't want to inconvenience him." She says worriedly.

"Yeah, he does."

I sent him a text during my second lecture and he was more than ready to take her back home.

"Then it's fine. Will you be taking your car or his?" She questions further.

"His, I guess." I shrug. "He knows the way to his uncle's house. The driver took my car back an hour ago. Atharva will drop me home tonight."

"You sound so much at ease inspite of the history between you two. Are you sure your brothers are okay with this?"

"Well, it's not like anyone's home these days to bother about it. But still, I texted Vivaan Bhai last night. Atharva's father went AWOL after that whole car chasing drama. So Saxenas are no more linked with Rajawats. Bhai said as long as I keep him as my peer or a friend, it should be fine." I sigh.

She nods. "Good. At least one of your brothers knows. I'm not counting the twins. They've no influence." She quickly corrects herself.

I chuckle. It's true. The twins and I have no influence in the family. Probably Agastya too. But at least he knows how to put his point forward. Except me for rare times, nobody else among the three of us try to butt in the elders' matters.

"True." I jest.

After we part ways outside the cafeteria, we only see each other at the end of the college day, waving at each other from opposite ends of the parking lot. I get inside Atharva's car, put my backpack on my lap and buckle in the seatbelt.

Atharva's car passes Shourya's at the gates. Our eyes meet for a few seconds before I'm looking away and outside the windshield.

The drive is longer than we expected. "Atharva, how far does your uncle live?" I ask him nervously.

"He lives in the outskirts of the city. Sorry, I should have told you it takes some time to reach there from the city." He looks at me sheepishly.

"The roads are so deserted." I mumble to myself. Open fields run for miles and I don't see a freaking dog in the sight. "We should get back home before dark, okay? I don't know why, these roads are creepy."

"I understand." He nods, carefully manouvering the car on the steep road. "Don't worry, we'll leave as soon as we get the case file."

I lick my lips and clutch the seatbelt tighter, looking outside the window uneasily. I had no idea we have such creepy and deserted outskirts to the bustling city of Jaigarh. And why would his uncle buy a house in a place like this?

My heart settles when bungalows start making appearances on the sides of the road. I relax in my seat comfortably seeing people and shops and vehicles parked outside their houses.

So, people do live here.

"Actually, my uncle's wife is into cattle farming so they decided to settle down in our grandfather's house. You know it's not easy to carry out such things in the city."

Oh.

"Yeah, right." I nod.

He throws me a glance of smiling eyes.

Fifteen minutes later, he's driving inside the gates of a two storey bungalow. My nose automatically scrunches because of the cow dung smell wafting in the air but I quickly force my expressions neutral.

"Sorry, about the-" he points towards the cattle.

"Oh no, please don't. I love cows." I force a smile on my face.

The kids playing in the yard stares at me in awe. I try to smile at them to show myself approachable.

"Blue eyes." One of them whispers.

I blink.

"Their mother is a maid here." He informs me.

Unzipping my backpack, I fish out the two chocolate bars I keep for myself and Janet and offer them to the girls. They gasp, rush forward, their brown skin shiny, childlike excitement gleaming in their dark brown eyes, and sway on the balls of their feet, tugging at their lips as they look between me and Atharva, as if wondering whether they're really allowed to have it.

"Take it. It's sweet." I bend over, smiling genuinely this time.

The taller girl grabs one. And seeing her, the shorter one takes the leftover. They clutch the bars to their chest, giggle up at me and run away. I chuckle.

"Aren't they adorable?"

I nod at Atharva.

"C'mon, let's go inside." I follow him inside the house.

His aunt welcomes us with a great vigor and offers a seat in the living room. She gushes about how Atharva never brought a girl to meet them and how I'm the most prettiest one she has ever seen. I blush slightly.

"Enough, Asha." A rough voice says.

She calms down as a huge, buff man appears from upstairs, his beady brown eyes locking with mine and I straighten up in my seat, clenching the steel glass of water in my hand, anxiety tying my tongue inside my mouth.

"Tara, this is my uncle, Tanmay Dhillon." Atharva makes the introduction.

"Hello, uncle." I nod softly.

He bows in response. "Welcome to my humble abode, Princess Taranya Singh Chauhan."

A steel tray clatters to the ground. We all flinch. Aunt Asha gasps, her hands fly to cover her mouth. "That's why I kept thinking I've seen you somewhere. Oh my God," and she makes a deep bow. I get up, discomforted at the respect shown to me. The age difference makes it even more weird.

"No, please. I'm younger than you." I shake my hands in a no at her.

"Let's go to my study before you give my wife a heart attack."

"Kya aap bhi! (What even!)" She looks her husband's way exasperatedly.

Her husband laughs heartily. Atharva laughs too, so I force a chuckle.

"C'mon, kids, my office is upstairs." Atharva and I follow him to the first floor.

His study suits his profession. Medals, trophies and certificates adorn the walls and glass shelves. His uniform, crisp and proper, hanging on the hook with the stars and batches in place. Behind his desk, photo frames of great freedom fighters hang on the wall, along with the constitution of India in the center. His desk has minimal things, a desktop, a pen stand, files, paper weight and a beautiful, tiny show piece of parliament of India with the tricolour flag that looks like it's floating in the air.

He motions for us to take a seat. We do, as he does in his head chair. I immediately compare him with Yuvraaj and realise, really, not even a police officer can match the aura my brother exudes.

"So, tell me," he leans in interlacing his hands on the desk.

Atharva takes the lead.

"I told you about the project we're doing for our HoJ. We've to take up any past case, and do a thorough reasearch on it, as if it's happening currently and as journalists, we're told to cover the story. Taranya and I decided the suicide case that happened two years ago at Sunrise High?" He trails, expecting his uncle to answer.

"Inayat Rizwan?"

"Yes."

"Is that why you asked for this file?" He pulls out a brown, thick envelope sealed with wax from his drawer. I sit straight in my chair. "A true journalist in the making. Your eyes just sparkled." He eyes me in amusement.

I clear my throat in embarrassment.

"Now let me make this clear, unlike in the U.S., Indian court records are not systematically available to the public, so legally I'm not allowed to share this with you."

Atharva and I look at each other troubled.

"But if our country was so systematic and honest, we'd have been way ahead of the world, wouldn't we?" He smiles humorlessly. "Records such as these get lost over time and no one even bats an eye." He slaps the manilla folder in front of us.

I quickly pick it up. "So- So we can have it?"

"Unless you don't disclose the source of your information, you may." He shrugs.

I beam. "Thank you, sir. Thank you so much!"

He stares at me for a second longer, then nods. "You should stay for dinner." He glances at Atharva.

I feel stumped. "Uh, I don't -"

"At least for a cup of tea?" He raises a brow.

I know I should decline this offer too. Because it's already six and the sun is about to set. We've to head back home before I start receiving calls from home. But I can't say no either, since he helped us a great deal without a delay.

"Sure." I relent.

"If it's fine with her, I don't mind either." Atharva smiles.

We shift to living room and his wife serves us with the cup of tea. By six forty, we're saying our goodbyes and getting into the car. I slip the envelope inside my backpack and put it in my lap, taking in a deep breath of relief. I can't wait to go home and open this.

"Can we go a little faster?" It's already seven forty three and we haven't touched the city yet.

"Sure," he smiles at me, glances down at the speedometer and his face turns blank.

"What's wrong?"

"Why the fuck is fuel sign blinking?" He looks at me in panic.

I blink. "Did you- did you not fill the tank?"

He clenches the wheel tightly. "I don't know. Anagha went to her friend's house last night but it wasn't that far so I didn't bother to check the fuel tank."

I feel the anxiety spike. "Will we even make it to the city?"

He looks at me nervously.

And in time, the car acts up, rattles a little and abruptly halts.

My lips fall apart in shock.

"Fuck."

I look outside the window. We're consumed with the darkness of the dooming night.

"I should call one of my brothers." I fish out my phone from the pocket and see the cross above the bars. I'm sure I pale a little more.

"What's wrong?"

"We've no service here."

Atharva slams his hands on the steering wheel. "Shit."

I lift my head, the vast emptiness surrounds us, and strangely, the freedom outside feels a lot more scarier than the barriers of this car.

"Can we walk back to your uncle's house?" I suggest. I know it sounds dumb but maybe we're not that far off yet.

He shakes his head. "We're stuck in the middle."

We're doomed.

Shourya's pov in the upcoming chapters!

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