Chapter 19 - 17. rest

AVNI

📍 Mussoorie,

India.

The first thing I noticed was the sunlight streaming through the windows, soft and golden, warming my face. It felt surreal, like I had been trapped in darkness for an eternity, and now the light itself was foreign. My body protested every movement. My head pounded like a hammer striking an anvil, my shoulder throbbed with an ache so sharp it felt as though a knife was still lodged there, and every muscle seemed to cry out at once.

I blinked against the light, the room gradually coming into focus. My heart slowed as I recognized the familiar lavender walls, the soft silk curtains swaying gently in the breeze, and the faint scent of jasmine lingering in the air.

Home.

But then the events of last night crashed over me like a tidal wave—Bahadur's panicked whinnies, the rough hands that had grabbed me, the suffocating cloth soaked in chloroform, and the fight for my life. My fingers twitched instinctively, but my arms felt like lead.

A low sound drew my attention, a quiet exhale, almost a sigh. I turned my head, biting back a wince as pain shot through my neck, and saw him.

Rudra.

He sat on the edge of a chair, his elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed. His hair, usually impeccably neat, was tousled, as if he'd run his fingers through it a thousand times. The soft sunlight caught the hazel in his eyes as he lifted his gaze, and I was struck by the sheer intensity in them—worry, anger, and something I couldn't quite place.

"Finally awake?" His voice was low, rough, yet it carried a warmth that made something in my chest tighten.

I tried to sit up, but the sharp stab of pain in my shoulder forced me back down. Immediately, Rudra leaned forward, his hands hovering near me, unsure if he should help or not.

"Take it slow," he murmured, his tone firm but not unkind.

I smirked, though it took effort. "You're bossy even when I'm injured."

He didn't return the smile. Instead, his jaw tightened, and his gaze darkened. "You have no idea how close I came to losing my mind last night. What were you thinking, running off like that?"

I sighed, looking away, unwilling to meet his gaze. "I wanted to live one day on my terms. No guards. No rules. Just... freedom."

His hands clenched into fists on his knees. "And you almost lost everything. Do you have any idea how reckless—"

"Stop," I cut him off, my voice sharper than I intended. I forced myself to meet his eyes, willing him to see my resolve. "I'm fine. I handled it."

He leaned back slightly, running a hand through his hair again. "You call this fine?" he snapped, his voice rising. "You were sitting on a pile of men, drenched in blood, barely holding on. Do you have any idea what could've happened to you?"

"I survived," I replied, my voice quieter now. "That's all that matters."

His eyes narrowed, frustration radiating off him in waves, but before he could respond, the door burst open.

The sound made me flinch, and Rudra shot to his feet, his body tense like a predator ready to strike.

"Avni!"

Mummy's voice was the first thing I registered before she rushed to my side. Her hands trembled as they cupped my face, her warm, familiar touch grounding me. Her eyes, red-rimmed and glistening with unshed tears, searched mine desperately.

"What happened to you? Are you okay? Look at you!" Her voice cracked, and it broke something inside me.

"I'm fine, Mummy," I said softly, trying to smile despite the pain. "Just a scratch here and there."

"A scratch?!" Papa's booming voice followed, and I turned to see him storming into the room, his face a mixture of anger and fear. "Do you have any idea what you put us through? Running off like that? Getting yourself kidnapped? Fighting those men alone? Are you out of your mind?"

"Papa—"

"No!" he interrupted, his voice rising further. "You can't keep doing this, Avni. You're not invincible! You—"

"Papa, please!" Aksh Bhai stepped in, his tone firm but calm. He moved to stand between me and Papa, his protective instincts kicking in. "Let her breathe. She just woke up."

"She wouldn't be in this state if she wasn't so stubborn!" Papa shot back, his voice filled with frustration.

"Alright, enough!" Rudra's voice cut through the noise like a blade. The room fell silent, everyone turning to him in surprise.

He stood tall, his presence commanding as he looked around, his hazel eyes hard and unyielding. "She's been through enough. Let her rest."

For a moment, no one spoke. The tension in the room was palpable, but one by one, they seemed to relent.

Avyukt Bhai broke the silence with a teasing grin, his voice light but tinged with concern. "For what it's worth, you did look pretty badass, Avni. Sitting on top of those thugs like some warrior queen."

"Avyukt!" Mummy hissed, glaring at him.

"What? It's true!" he defended, holding up his hands. "I even got pictures to prove it."

"Delete those," Rudra snapped, his tone cold.

Avyukt rolled his eyes but slipped his phone back into his pocket.

Ashwin cleared his throat, stepping forward with his usual calm demeanour. "Princess, this incident has highlighted significant flaws in security. Moving forward, we need to—"

"Not now," Rudra interrupted, his tone sharp. "She needs rest, not a lecture."

I shot Rudra a grateful look, my eyes beginning to feel heavy again. "Thank you," I murmured.

He didn't respond, but his gaze softened, just for a moment.

Mummy and Papa lingered, their worry evident, but eventually, everyone began filing out. Ritvika paused at the door, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You scared the hell out of us, Avni," she said quietly. "Don't do it again."

"I promise," I whispered, though I wasn't sure if I could keep it.

As the door clicked shut behind them, the silence felt deafening. Rudra remained by my side, his presence a comforting anchor.

"You didn't have to stand up for me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Someone has to," he replied, his tone softer now.

I smiled faintly, exhaustion pulling at me. "You really are bossy."

"And you really are reckless," he countered, but there was no anger in his voice, only a deep weariness.

A small, humorless laugh escaped me. "Don't tell me you were that worried about me."

He didn't answer, but the flicker in his eyes said everything.

I decided to change the subject before the air between us grew heavier.

"What about the wedding?" I asked, my voice slightly hoarse.

Rudra's brows furrowed, like he hadn't expected the question.

 "It went smoothly," he replied after a pause.

"While you were out there fighting with those dumbhead goons, the bride and groom were exchanging garlands, blissfully unaware of the chaos you were in."

A dry chuckle escaped me, though it quickly turned into a wince as my ribs protested. "Good to know my drama didn't ruin someone's big day."

"You call that drama?" Rudra asked, his tone incredulous. "You were sitting on a pile of unconscious thugs like some victorious gladiator. That's not drama—it's madness."

I grinned weakly. "Madness? You're the one who signed up to guard me."

Before he could retort, another question bubbled to the surface. "By the way, when did Avyukt Bhai get here? Last I heard, he was in the US for his studies."

Rudra leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he recalled. "I asked him the same thing. He said he was coming back to Lucknow for vacations and just happened to pass by Mussoorie. He spotted your car turning at a strange point and decided to follow out of worry."

I raised an eyebrow. "That's oddly specific timing."

Rudra gave a small shrug, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Your brother seems to have a knack for showing up at the right—or wrong—moments."

I laughed softly, though it cost me another wince. "I guess that's just Bhai for you. Always in the middle of something unexpected."

Silence fell between us for a moment, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of quiet that spoke volumes without needing words. I could feel Rudra's watchful gaze on me, his concern still evident despite the lighthearted conversation.

"Thank you," I murmured, breaking the stillness.

"For what?" he asked, his voice softer now.

"For being there," I said, meeting his eyes. "For not giving up on me."

His expression softened, and for the briefest moment, the worry in his eyes gave way to something else—something warmer.

 "I didn't have a choice," he said simply. "It's my job."

I rolled my eyes but smiled faintly.

 "Always so formal, aren't you?"

"Always so reckless, aren't you?" he shot back, though his tone was more teasing than scolding this time.

I leaned back against the pillows, the fatigue pulling at me again. My eyes felt heavy, but my mind was still buzzing with unanswered questions and lingering fears. Yet, for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to relax.

As my eyelids drooped, I caught a glimpse of Rudra's silhouette against the golden light, his figure steady and unyielding like a fortress. And in that moment, I knew I was safe.

Even amidst the chaos, I had found my anchor.

The room blurred around me as my body surrendered to the fatigue. But before the darkness claimed me, I heard him murmur something, so soft I wasn't sure if I imagined it.

"I won't let anything happen to you again."

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