Author's POV
The song faded into soft echoes, leaving only the hush of hundreds of held breaths.
Red heart balloons drifted lazily to the marble floor. Rose petals continued their slow fall, catching the golden spotlight like dying embers.
Rudra's arms remained locked around Priyanshi's waist.
Her hands stayed wrapped around his neck.
Neither moved.
Neither blinked.
The entire hall watched-family, guests, servants-but their world had narrowed to the space between their faces.
Rudra leaned down slowly, lips brushing the shell of her ear. His voice came out low, teasing, edged with something darker.
"So you called me a child that day... remember?"
He dipped lower, nose grazing the sensitive skin of her neck-not touching, just close enough to inhale her scent. A slow, dangerous smile curved his mouth.
"This child saved you twice," he whispered against her throat, breath hot. "First time in that café... and now it's the second."
Priyanshi's eyes stayed locked on his-roaming, searching, completely unaware of the words he'd just spoken. Her voice came out soft, almost dazed.
"You can let me go now."
Rudra lifted his head just enough to meet her gaze again.
Noses almost touching.
So close she could feel the heat radiating off him.
He raised one dark brow, voice dropping to a cold, teasing whisper.
"Can I?"
She was still lost in his eyes-deep, stormy, pulling her under like an ocean she didn't know how to escape. She didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Then a familiar voice cut through from behind her.
"Priyanshi!"
Once.
Twice.
"Priyanshi!!"
She jerked.
Hands slipped from his neck.
She tried to step back, to stand properly.
Rudra refused to let her go.
His grip tightened-just enough to keep her anchored, not enough to hurt.
Their eyes met again-hers wide with sudden awareness, his burning with something possessive and furious.
The voice came closer.
Footsteps on the stairs.
Rudra finally released her.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
He stepped back, hands sliding into his pockets.
Face blank.
But his eyes-those cold, emotionless eyes-had turned red-rimmed with barely leashed rage.
The man reached them.
Ravi.
He grabbed Priyanshi's wrist casually, already pulling her away.
Rudra's gaze dropped to that hand.
The hand that dared to touch what he had just held.
His fists clenched inside his pockets so hard the knuckles turned white.
Priyanshi opened her mouth-to say something, anything-but Ravi was already leading her down the stairs, toward a quieter corner of the hall.
Rudra stood rooted.
Motionless.
Watching.
His stare followed that hand like a predator tracking prey.
If looks could tear flesh, that wrist would already be bleeding.
Priyanshi's POV
Ravi was pulling me somewhere-I didn't even know where.
I didn't want to go.
My heart was screaming to stay.
To turn back.
To run to the man still standing at the top of the stairs.
I didn't say it out loud.
But my eyes refused to obey.
They kept looking back at him.
I could see the anger in his gaze-the way he stared at Ravi's hand like it had committed a crime just by touching me.
Then his eyes met mine.
For one second they softened-something raw and unguarded flashing through them.
And then he looked away.
Shifted his gaze somewhere else.
Why?
Why did that hurt so much?
Why did it feel like someone had pushed a knife into my heart and twisted it when his eyes refused to meet mine again?
I barely knew him.
We'd never spoken properly.
Never even exchanged names.
So why did my chest feel like it was caving in?
Why did my heart feel like it had betrayed him-when I didn't even know what I was betraying?
I forced my gaze forward.
To the path Ravi was taking me.
To his hand wrapped around my wrist.
He was leading me out of the hall.
Toward the garden.
Author's POV
Rudra watched her disappear with that man.
Anger surged-hotter than before.
Deeper.
Darker.
Ravi took her to the garden area, still holding her hand.
His thumb brushed over her wrist absently while his other hand unlocked his phone.
He was grinning-wide, proud, excited.
He had seen the article.
Priyanshi Singh Rajput-4th richest person in the world.
And climbing.
Back in the pooja hall, everyone had settled around the mandap.
The setup glowed softly-white marble platform ringed with hundreds of diyas, marigold garlands cascading in perfect loops, rose-petal rangoli spiraling toward the silver Krishna idol at the center. Crystal chandeliers above cast warm golden light, turning everything luminous yet peaceful.
Devraj sat on one side with the family and guests forming a circle.
Rudra took his place opposite-exactly across from where Priyanshi would soon sit.
The pandit began.
"Sab haath jod kar aankhein band kar lijiye... mantras ko mere saath dohraiye."
Everyone obeyed.
Folded hands.
Closed eyes.
Quiet repetition of sacred words.
Everyone except one.
Rudra's POV
They all closed their eyes.
Praying to their god.
But my goddess is sitting right in front of me.
How can I dare to close my eyes when she is here?
She was exactly opposite-pink kurti hugging her frame, matching bangles chiming softly as she folded her hands, eyes closed, obediently following the pandit.
Pink jhumkas swaying gently.
Tiny pink bindi glowing on her forehead.
Pink lips whispering the mantras the pandit asked everyone to repeat.
She looked... adorable.
So cute.
Wait.
Cute?
Adorable?
These words coming from me?
God...
What has this girl done to me?
She sat there-exactly in front of me.
The burning flame of the havan fire rose between us, sometimes flaring high enough to interrupt my view.
But nothing could stop me.
No flame.
No prayer.
No one.
Not even me.
Author's POV
Rudra was gazing at her.
Unblinking.
Then she opened her eyes.
Their gazes collided.
His heart slammed against his ribs in perfect rhythm-like it was screaming her name.
Hers skipped-once, twice.
The havan fire flared high between them, as if protesting.
Five seconds.
Pure, unbroken eye contact.
Then Rudra tore his gaze away.
Looked at everything else.
The diyas.
The garlands.
The guests.
The ceiling.
Anywhere except her.
Rudra's POV
When my eyes met hers, my heart started beating rhythmically-like it was screaming her name.
But I can't bear it anymore.
That's why I shifted my gaze.
Looking at everything-damn everything-except her eyes.
Those innocent eyes do things even devils would fear to do.
Yes, I admit it.
I can bear bullets.
I can bear knives.
But not her eyes locking with mine.
Because if I dare to hold her gaze again...
Something will happen.
Something even I'm not ready for.
And I know-not even she is ready.
Something against the will of fate.
Something unholy.
To be continued...
Cliffhanger Hook:
What happens when the pooja ends... and Rudra realizes he can't keep looking away forever?
Author's Note 🔥💔
Hey my gaze-obsessed readers...
The song ending, the whisper in her ear, the teasing "Can I?", Ravi's interruption, the eye lock during pooja, Rudra's denial screaming while his heart betrays him... did your heart race or ache? Drop in the comments: Whose side are you on-Rudra's stubborn "not love" or the universe forcing them together?
If this chapter made you scream "JUST KISS ALREADY" or "RUDRA STOP FIGHTING IT", smash that ⭐ VOTE, comment "GAZE WAR" or "PRIYANSHI IS WINNING", and add to library so you don't miss when the pooja ends and the real tension begins.
Next part: The fire dies down... but the one between them is just starting to burn.
Stay locked in. This party is far from over.
Love you all (even when they're in denial) 🌑
- Your author (still feeling that eye-lock heat) 😈