- In KGF...

Rocky stood still for a moment, his expression unreadable. As the tension began to dissipate, Rocky turned his attention to Aadhya.

Rocky - You okay?

She nodded as she held her side with one hand and placed the other on Rocky's shoulder.

Aadhya - It'll be fine.

Rocky gave a small nod, resting a protective hand on her shoulder.

Aadhya glanced between the two, her gaze lingering on her brother for a moment. She straightened herself despite the pain, her hand pressed firmly against her side.

Aadhya - Then I'll leave you two alone.

Her voice was soft but tinged with shallowness. She turned and began to limp across the room, one hand still supporting her waist.

Rocky's eyes followed her retreating figure, his brow furrowing in concern, but he didn't call her back. Instead, he waited until the sound of her footsteps faded into silence before turning toward Reena.

The moonlight bathed the room in a silvery glow, casting soft shadows over Reena's serene face. She lay on the bed, her chest rising and falling in steady rhythm, her lashes fanned against her cheeks. 

The chaos and violence of the night seemed a distant memory in her peaceful slumber. Rocky stepped closer, his movements unusually quiet for someone so commanding. 

For a moment, he simply stood there, watching her. There was a vulnerability in his gaze, one he rarely allowed himself to feel.

He crouched down beside the bed, his calloused hand hesitating above hers afraid that she might break with the slightest touch of his before gently brushing against her fingertips. 

Her warmth grounded him, and he exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Rocky - I don't deserve to be here. To be near you....

His voice barely a whisper, carried away by the quiet hum of the night. 

Rocky - But here I am, drawn to you like a moth to a flame. You don't even know what I've done for you—what I've done to you.

He reached up, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering near her cheek. 

The softness of her skin was a stark contrast to the roughness of his hands, a reminder of the worlds that separated them. 

Rocky - I've taken so much from you. Your family, your delusional peace, your trust. 

His thumb traced the edge of her hand, his touch feather-light. The harsh lines of his face softened, his features illuminated by the pale moonlight. 

Rocky - You remind me of spring. Not the kind of spring that bursts into bloom all at once. No, you're the quiet kind. The one that creeps in slowly after the frost, painting the world in soft colors and gentle breezes.

He smiled faintly, a bittersweet edge to the expression.

Rocky - I'm nothing like that. I'm more like relentless, scorching, never knowing when to stop. I burn through everything I touch. And yet- 

He paused, his voice catching as he gazed at her.

Rocky - Yet I want more....I want to see you smile, smile for me.....I want you to be free.....free with me....

He paused, his gaze drifting over her peaceful face as if searching for answers in her stillness.

Rocky - When I'm with you, I forget the fire inside me. It's like you bring a calm I've never known, like the rain that tempers the heat. But I know what happens when summer comes too close to spring—it drowns it, suffocates it before it has a chance to fully bloom.

His hand lingered near hers, his thumb lightly brushing her knuckles.

Rocky - That's why I should stay away. That's why I try  to stay away. But I can't. 

His voice dropped as everything stilled. 

Rocky - I keep coming back to you, like the sun chasing a horizon it can never reach...

For once, he wasn't the unyielding leader, the ruthless force that commanded respect and fear. Here, in this quiet moment, he was just a man—one who had loved silently for too long. 

Rocky - I wish you see yourself the way I do. You think you're fragile, like the petals of a flower that could be swept away with a single gust. But I know better. You're stronger than you think, Reena. Stronger than me.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, his voice softening even more.

Rocky - Maybe one day, you'll see it too. Maybe one day, you'll bloom so brightly that even someone like me will be able to step into your light without dimming it.

He pulled back slightly, his gaze tracing her features with an almost reverent tenderness but paused mid-way as he whispered.

Rocky - You're the one thing in this world I'd give my life to protect. Even if it means you'll never forgive me.

He leaned forward, his breath warm as it brushed against her hair.

Rocky - If I could give you a world without pain, without me in it, I would. But I'm too selfish, Reena. I want to stay....Will you let me?

He asked even though he knew it was a question he himself knew the answer to. But he still did as he looked at her, searching for a slight movement which can turn the answer which can prove him wrong for once in his life. He sighed. 

Rocky - It's okay....I'll wait for that answer. Until then, I'll stay here. Just close enough to protect you, but far enough to let you grow. 

- I'm allowed to do that at least, right?

He asked himself. He chuckled when he watched her nose scrunch but soon widened his eyes as he realized he just chuckled, not the one he uses while being sarcastic but a genuine one. 

He rose, his face near hers as he took a deep breath, taking how ethereal she looked under the moonlight. 

A faint movement made him pause. Her hand twitched slightly, her fingers curling ever so slightly as if reaching for something. 

His heart clenched, hope and dread battling within him. But she didn't wake, her expression remaining peaceful.

The room was silent again, save for the steady rhythm of her breathing. Rocky leaned back, resting his head against the head of the chair, his fingers still lightly entwined with hers. 

Rocky - Sleep well, my little spring. This summer will be waiting. 

. . . . . . 

Aadhya, watching from the hallway window, sighed heavily and shook her head. 

She limped toward her room, her steps slow and cautious, the pain from earlier now settling deep in her muscles. With each step, the strain on her body grew more unbearable. 

She leaned heavily against one of the pillars in the corridor and sank down to the floor, unable to go any further. A low groan escaped her lips as she felt the pain intensify, her vision blurring slightly. 

The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, and she winced, wiping the blood that trickled from her lip, a reminder of her fight with Kamal.

Aadhya - I had to go and ruin my face. 

She muttered, her voice bitter with frustration.

- As if it was that perfect all the time. 

Aadhya's head snapped up at the familiar voice. She squinted into the shadows, her gaze locking onto the tall figure standing by the pillar. 

Her mouth twisted into a disgusted frown as she recognized him immediately.

Adhya - It's you. 

Her tone was laced with disgust, but she couldn't help the small chuckle that followed, even if it was pained.

Aadhya - What happened to you?

Her eyes took in the sight of Farmaan—his face marked by bruises, the aftermath of the battle he'd been in earlier. 

Yet, despite the ragged look, he still had that dangerous allure. Aadhya rolled her eyes, but her thoughts flickered, though she didn't say anything aloud.

- I thought you hated Reena. Why go through all that trouble?

Aadhya - Shut up, Farmaan. I'm not in the mood to talk with you. 

She tried to push herself up, but the pain in her side flared up, and she hissed as she fell back to the floor.

Farmaan stepped forward, stepping into the light. His eyes softened as he crouched down, his hands hovering near her injury. Without a word, he gently moved her hand away from the wound, inspecting it with a grimace.

Aadhya - What are you doing, you perv?

She snapped, glaring at him as he pulled at her shirt slightly, trying to get a better look.

Farmaan - Stop. 

His voice was sharp, but not unkind.

Farmaan - You're hurt.

Aadhya - Yeah I know, I'm not blind. 

She frowned at him, irritation mixing with the sharp pain that coursed through her body.

Farmaan's eyes didn't leave the injury. His gaze hardened, as if the idea of anyone hurting her ignited a quiet fury within him.

Farmaan - You're hurt. 

He repeated, his voice colder now.

- I let her get hurt...

Aadhya narrowed her eyes at him. She couldn't figure out why he was so insistent. What did he care if she was hurt?

He shifted closer, giving a gentle nudge to her arm.

Farmaan - Get up. 

Aadhya - For what?

Farmaan - Your brother will kill me if I let you get any worse. 

Aadhya's lips parted, but she bit back the retort she had. Deep down, for some reason she felt hurt and that pain felt a lot real than the one she had on her stomach. 

A flicker of something she couldn't quite understand in his eyes or on herself. Something that made her pause. Why was she feeling that way? 

Aadhya - I'm here because the floor looks nice.

Farmaan shot a 'You're dumb, why would you stay on the floor when you're hurt' look as Aadhya scoffed. 

Aadhya - Are you dumb? I'm here because I'm hurt, you dimwit. I can't stand up anymore. 

Farmaan released a staggered breath. His jaw tightened, and without warning, he crouched down in front of her, his arms sliding beneath her to lift her up.

Aadhya gasped, her eyes wide with shock as he lifted her effortlessly, cradling her in his arms like she weighed nothing. 

She could feel the strength in his arms, the way his muscles flexed as he supported her. The proximity made her heart skip a beat, her body stiffening instinctively as she felt the heat from his chest against hers.

His body was firm, yet there was an odd tenderness in the way he held her, like he was afraid of hurting her. She swallowed, unable to look away from his steady, focused expression. 

It was strange—both of them were always so cold, so distant. Yet now, with her in his arms, there was something... softer between them.

Her thoughts began to drift, unsure of how to place the unfamiliar pull she felt in her chest. The way he looked at her, his intense gaze meeting hers for a moment, left her breathless. 

It wasn't just the way he looked now—although, admittedly, he looked a little better than she remembered—but it was the way he was being... kind. In his own way.

- I've never realized it before, but... he looks a little good.

Her mind immediately shut that thought down, but a small part of her, deep down, couldn't ignore the warmth that spread through her chest as he carried her effortlessly. She shifted slightly in his arms, her heart beating faster than it should.

Farmaan's grip tightened slightly as he carried Aadhya into the infirmary room. She didn't say anything, her silence almost more deafening than any words she could have uttered. 

He could feel the weight of her gaze on him, but he didn't dare look back. 

The space between them felt strange—uncomfortable, yet... something else too. He hadn't noticed how close she was to him until now. 

The faint scent of her perfume lingered in his senses, mixing with the faint trace of blood from her wound.

Her small, delicate frame against his chest, the way her body softened into his hold, it stirred something in him—something he didn't want to acknowledge.

As he gently set her down on the bed, he noticed the way her eyes lingered on him, her expression unreadable. Was it curiosity? Disgust? Maybe a little of both. He didn't care. Or at least, he told himself he didn't care.

But deep down, a shift had occurred. Something had changed, and even if he didn't understand it, it felt undeniable. 

For the first time, Farmaan realized that the annoying, fiery woman who had always been his enemy, was no longer just that. 

She was something else—something that made his chest tighten and his mind race with questions he couldn't answer.

Aadhya's heart raced as Farmaan leaned in, his face inches from hers. Their proximity was electric, the tension between them thick enough to cut through the air. 

She hated that her body reacted to him in such a way, that a part of her, deep down, wondered what it might feel like if they were any closer. But she hated him. She still hated him.

Her breath caught when he leaned in slightly more, but instead of his lips touching hers, he turned his head and whispered in her ear, his voice low and teasing.

Farmaan - You're gonna burn a hole in me if you keep on staring that intensely at me, Wildfire. 

Aadhya's cheeks flushed a deep red, her heart thundering in her chest as she quickly turned away, slapping his arm in irritation. 

Farmaan winced, but not from her slap—his bruised arm from his fight with Adam throbbed in pain.

Aadhya - In your dreams you pervert. 

She nearly yelled at him, her voice sharp, but before she could fully process the situation, Farmaan placed both of his arms on either side of her, effectively trapping her on the bed. 

Her breath hitched, her body tightening as she felt his presence, so close, his scent intoxicating.

He leaned in even more, his lips dangerously close to hers. Aadhya's lips quivered with a mix of anger and... anticipation. She hated that she was excited by the proximity. She cursed herself internally.

Farmaan - Were you expecting something else, hm?

A chuckle escaped him, deep and amused, but his eyes didn't leave hers. He grabbed the first aid- kit and stepped back.

Aadhya, now red-faced with embarrassment and frustration, shot up angrily and slapped his arm again, her voice cutting through the silence.

Aadhya - You did that on purpose, you pea brain. 

Farmaan - What? Grabbing the kit?

Her chest tightened with frustration as she huffed in response, not knowing what else to say. 

But something else lingered between them, an undeniable spark. Each word, each movement, was laced with tension—like the calm before a storm.

Aadhya - I swear, Farmaan, one of these days, I'm going to-

Farmaan - You'll what, wildfire? Kiss me?

He chuckled, his voice a little too smooth, his eyes glinting with something that made her breath catch as he crouched down and leaned, their face a little closer. 

Her jaw dropped in disgust, while inside she was whishing that he didn't notice the way she stopped before but he did. 

She wanted to say something, anything, to get him to back off, but the truth was, she didn't want to move. Not yet. 

The way his body slightly pressed against hers, the way his breath tickled her ear... it made her pulse quicken, and she hated it. Hated that she couldn't push him away with the same ease she usually did.

Farmaan, ever the smug bastard, saw her silent hesitation. For a second, he leaned in again, their lips almost about to brush, only to pull back just before it actually did. 

Aadhya's breath caught in her throat. She shot him a glare, her eyes narrowing, but he only smirked in return, watching her intently.

Farmaan - Did I make you nervous, wildfire?

Aadhya's face flushed a deep red, her chest tightening with a mix of anger and something else she refused to acknowledge. She pushed him and stood up from the bed, her back stiff with irritation.

Aadhya - You're insufferable. 

Farmaan - Oh, I'm insufferable? I think you're just mad because you can't stop thinking about kissing me. I can't blame you...My lips are pretty kissable. 

He whispered as Aadhya gagged. 

Aadhya - You're in a dumb delusion if you think for a second that I'm interested in you. 

She started to move toward the door, but Farmaan was quicker. He grabbed her wrist gently, pulling her back to face him.

Farmaan - Alright I'll stop. Your lips been bleeding for hours, and yet you still refuse help. 

He made her sit back and sat on the chair. his gaze softening slightly as he reached out and raised the cotton bud to her lips.

While his other hand brushed against hers, sending an unexpected shock of heat through her.

Aadhya - I can do it myself. 

But her protest was weak, and she didn't pull her hand away. Farmaan looked at her for a long moment before letting out a small, almost inaudible sigh.

Farmaan - You're stubborn just like your brother, I'll give you that. 

He didn't wait for her to protest further. Instead, he lifted her chin gently, tilting her head so he could get a better look at her lips. Aadhya's breath caught as she felt his touch, his fingers warm and sure.

For a moment, they both just stared at each other, the atmosphere thick with unspoken words. 

Farmaan's eyes were dark with concentration as he carefully wiped the blood away from the corner of her mouth. 

His movements were gentle, deliberate, and Aadhya felt the air around them grow heavy, charged with an intensity she didn't understand.

Farmaan - You should be more careful. You're not invincible, wildfire. 

Aadhya's pulse raced under his touch, but she refused to acknowledge the strange sensation in her chest.

Aadhya - I'm fine. 

Farmaan - No, you're not. And it's not gonna be the end of the world if you admit it when you're not. God these siblings will be the death of me. 

He muttered the last line. 

Aadhya - What was that?

She shot him a glare while he gulped and continued.

Farmaan -Nothing. Your classes will be upgraded especially in defense. 

Her heart skipped a beat. If it was before she would've groaned thinking of ways to escape the classes she had to take with him but like it's being said....before. 

Farmaan - You're lucky I'm here. 

Aadhya swallowed hard, trying to ignore the strange ache in her chest as he stood up and backed away. 

She wanted to push him out of her room, wanted to tell him to leave her alone, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

As he walked to the door, his voice floated back to her. 

Farmaan - Good job on protecting someone you hate. 

The words hung in the air as he left, and Aadhya sat there for a long moment, her heart racing, confused, and unsure of what to do with the feelings stirring inside her.

The door closed behind him as he looked at the empty hall which was filled with nothing but the sounds of the night sky. 

His hand clenched into a fist as he ran the last few moments again. The way she looked otherworldly when the moonlight shone on her. 

The way the cool, pale light from the moon kissed her skin, highlighting the smoothness of her jawline, the curve of her neck, and the delicate arch of her cheekbones. 

The way it illuminated the faintest dusting of freckles across her nose, which he had never noticed before.

Her hair, usually a tangle of defiance and chaos, seemed to shimmer under the light, falling in soft waves down her back, looking almost weightless. 

The strands caught the light in places, glowing like strands of silver that framed her face in a delicate aura.

The way her lips, so often curled in defiance or sarcasm, were still, the faintest outline of a scar at the corner of her mouth catching the moonlight as well. 

The way the silver light kissed her lips made them seem like they could be the most inviting thing in the world. 

For a second, Farmaan wondered what it would feel like to kiss her, to feel her lips beneath his. He immediately pushed the thought away, irritated with himself.

He held his heart, silently cursing the inexplicable ache in his chest.

Farmaan - Damn it....

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Happy reading and Do vote! 

Stay Tuned ! 

- Nini.