Later that , as Anaya wandered through the Singhaniya mansion, her thoughts were heavy with doubt. She had come so far since marrying Rudra, but the path ahead seemed filled with uncertainty. The rejections were starting to make her question whether she had what it took to succeed in the corporate world.
She found herself standing in front of the large library on the ground floor—the one Dev had so generously gifted her the previous night. It had been a touching moment, one that had made her feel truly welcomed into the family. The library was now hers, a space she could retreat to, to study, to think, to grow.
With a small smile, Anaya stepped inside. The scent of old books and polished wood greeted her, and she took a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. She wandered through the shelves, her fingers brushing against the spines of the books. This place had so much history, so many stories.
As she made her way to the desk near the window, she noticed something tucked away in the corner—a small notebook that looked like it hadn't been touched in years. Curiosity piqued, Anaya picked it up and opened it, revealing handwritten notes and sketches, much like the ones she had found in Rudra's office.
The handwriting was different, though, more delicate, almost elegant. The notebook belonged to someone else. Anaya flipped through the pages, reading snippets of thoughts and reflections. It seemed like a journal, filled with musings about life, love, and family.
One entry caught her eye:
"I wonder if we ever really know the people we love. They carry so many secrets, so many burdens. And yet, we love them anyway, even if we don't understand them fully."
Anaya's heart clenched as she read the words. They resonated with her on a deep level, reminding her of her complicated relationship with Rudra. He was a man of few words, someone who kept his emotions hidden behind a cold exterior. And yet, despite that, she was starting to feel a connection to him, a desire to understand him better.
With a sigh, Anaya closed the notebook and placed it back on the shelf. She knew that if she wanted to understand Rudra, she would have to be patient. He wasn't the kind of man to open up easily, but she was determined to break through his walls, no matter how long it took.
As she left the library, her mind returned to the conversation she had with Ria and Misha earlier. Maybe they were right—maybe asking for guidance wasn't a sign of weakness. But it still didn't feel like the right time to approach Rudra about her internship. She needed to prove herself first, to show him that she was capable of standing on her own two feet.
---
That night, as the sky is fully black but shine with moon and star's. The mansion settled into its usual quiet, Anaya found herself back in her shared bedroom. The day had been long, filled with self-doubt and reflection, but she felt a renewed sense of determination. She wasn't going to let the rejections define her.
Just as she was about to sit down, there was a knock on the door. Anaya turned to see one of the house staff standing at the entrance.
"Ma'am, Mr. Rudra is asking for you in his office," the staff member said politely.
Anaya's heart skipped a beat. Rudra wanted to see her? She hadn't expected that. Nodding, she thanked the staff member and quickly made her way to the third floor, where Rudra's private office was located.
As she approached the door, she hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the doorknob. She took a deep breath and knocked gently before opening the door.
Inside, Rudra was seated at his desk, his attention focused on the documents in front of him. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and his hair was slightly tousled, as if he had been working for hours without a break. The warm glow of the desk lamp cast shadows across his sharp features, giving him an intense, almost brooding look.
He glanced up as she entered, his expression unreadable. "Anaya," he said simply, gesturing for her to sit down.
Anaya sat down across from him, her hands nervously resting in her lap. "You wanted to see me?"
Rudra nodded, leaning back in his chair. "I've been thinking about what you said earlier. About the internship."
Anaya's heart raced. Was he going to offer her help? Or was he going to remind her again that she needed to earn it on her own?
"I spoke to a few people," Rudra continued, his voice calm but firm. "I've arranged for an interview at one of the top tech companies in the country. It's up to you to impress them, but the opportunity is there."
Anaya stared at him, her mind reeling. He had actually gone out of his way to arrange an interview for her? She hadn't expected this—Rudra had made it clear that she needed to prove herself. And yet, here he was, giving her a chance.
"Thank you," she said quietly, her voice filled with gratitude. "I... I don..I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything," Rudra replied, his tone still cold, but there was a hint of something softer in his eyes. "Just do your best."
Anaya nodded, her mind racing with a mix of emotions. She had wanted to do this on her own, but now that the opportunity was in front of her, she realized how much it meant to have Rudra's support—even if it wasn't offered in the warmest way.
As she stood up to leave, Rudra's voice stopped her.
"Anaya," he said, his gaze locking onto hers. "Don't disappoint me."
Anaya swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. She wasn't just proving herself to the world—she was proving herself to him. And for some reason, that felt like the biggest challenge of all.
"I won't," she promised, her voice steady.
With that, she turned and left the office, her heart pounding in her chest. The interview was her chance to prove herself, not just to Rudra, but to everyone who had doubted her. She wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through her fingers.
As she made her way back to her room, Anaya couldn't help but smile. Rudra might be cold and distant, but in his own way, he was helping her. And that meant more than she could put into words.
I'll prove myself, she thought to herself, determination flooding through her. I'll show him that I can do this.
And with that thought, Anaya felt a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead was still uncertain, but she knew one thing for sure—she wasn't going to give up. Not now, not ever.
__________________________
The next morning, the air in the Singhaniya mansion was quiet and still, the only sounds coming from the occasional rustle of curtains as the breeze from the open windows swept through the rooms. Anaya had woken up early, feeling restless after the previous night's conversation with Rudra. His words, though cold and distant as always, carried a weight that lingered in her mind. He had arranged the interview, but she knew that the hard part was just beginning.
She had to prove herself. To him, to herself, and to the world.
As she made her way around the mansion, she found herself wandering into the study. The large room was lined with shelves filled with books, files, and documents related to the Singhaniya family's business empire. It wasn't the first time she had been in this room, but something about it intrigued her more today. Maybe it was because she wanted to learn more about Rudra, his world, and the complexities he carried.
As her eyes scanned the room, she noticed something tucked away in the corner—a wooden locker. It looked old, almost antique, with intricate carvings along the edges. What caught her attention was the small lock on it. The locker seemed out of place in the otherwise modern study.
Curiosity gnawed at her. She knew this was Rudra's private space, but something about the locker called to her. The lock wasn't one she could easily pick or open without a key, but she noticed something else—engraved on the side of the locker were initials: R.S.
Rudra Singhaniya.
Anaya's fingers lightly traced the engraved letters, her heart beating faster as she realized this must belong to Rudra. She had never seen him interact with the locker before, nor had anyone else mentioned it. What could be inside? More business papers? Something personal?
A part of her wanted to step away and forget she had even seen it, but her curiosity wouldn't let her. It felt like there was something important behind that lock—something Rudra didn't want anyone to find.
Anaya hesitated for a long moment, standing in front of the locker, debating whether or not to ask Rudra about it. But after everything that had happened between them, the idea of bringing up something so personal felt wrong.
Instead, she quietly left the study, her thoughts racing as she returned to their shared bedroom. She couldn't shake the image of the locker from her mind. Why did it feel so significant? And why did Rudra have something so personal locked away in such an obscure corner?
As she sat down at Rudra's desk in their bedroom, her eyes drifted to the stack of papers he had left on the table. The sight of his signature at the bottom of a few documents caught her attention. The bold, crisp lines of his signature reminded her of the initials on the locker.
R.S.
Her heart skipped a beat as a thought crossed her mind—what if there was something important about that locker? Something tied to Rudra's past or to the family? Anaya's curiosity grew, but she knew she couldn't just open the locker without permission. It was too personal, too private.
But the thought of it gnawed at her.
---
Later that afternoon, Anaya found herself back in the library, her mind still swirling with questions about the locker. She had spent the last few hours trying to focus on her upcoming interview, but her thoughts kept drifting back to that corner of the study.
Why was it locked? What could be inside?
She didn't have the answers, but she knew one thing for sure—there was something about Rudra's world that she still didn't fully understand. And that locker was a part of it.
As the hours passed, the house grew quieter, and the usual hum of daily activity faded into the background. Anaya wandered back to the study, unable to resist the pull of the wooden locker. She stood in front of it once more, her fingers lightly brushing against the carved initials.
Her mind raced with possibilities. Could the key be somewhere in the house? Or was it something only Rudra had access to?
Without thinking, she leaned down to examine the lock more closely. The keyhole was small, and the lock itself was old, with a slightly rusted exterior. It wasn't something that could easily be opened without the right key.
Anaya let out a sigh, feeling a sense of frustration build within her. There was so much she didn't know about Rudra, so much he kept hidden behind his cold, distant exterior. And that locker felt like a symbol of everything he wasn't sharing with her.
But she also knew she couldn't force her way into his world. If Rudra wanted her to know what was inside, he would tell her.
Or would he?
---
That evening, as Anaya sat at the dining table with the rest of the family, her mind continued to wander back to the locker. The conversation around her was lively—Dev was discussing business matters with Aarav, while Ria and Misha were teasing each other about their latest college assignments. Anaya smiled and nodded along, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Rudra, as usual, was quiet, sitting at the head of the table with his usual stoic expression. He hadn't said much during dinner, but his presence alone seemed to command the room.
As dessert was served, Anaya finally gathered the courage to ask him something.
"Rudra," she began, her voice soft but steady.
He glanced up from his plate, his eyes locking onto hers. "Yes?"
Anaya hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase her question. She didn't want to come across as prying, but she couldn't shake the curiosity that had been building all day.
"I... I was in the study earlier," she said carefully. "And I noticed there's a wooden locker in the corner."
Rudra's expression didn't change, but she could sense a slight shift in the air. He continued to listen without interrupting.
"I was just wondering... what's inside it?"
The question hung in the air, and for a moment, the room seemed to grow still. Anaya could feel the eyes of the family on her, but she kept her gaze on Rudra, waiting for his response.
Rudra set his fork down on the table and leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. For a few seconds, he didn't say anything, and Anaya began to wonder if she had overstepped.
But then, to her surprise, Rudra's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smirk.
"That locker is none of your concern," he said calmly, his tone cold but not unkind.
Anaya's heart sank slightly, but she forced herself to nod. She had expected him to be guarded, but a part of her had hoped he might share something more.
"I understand," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rudra's eyes softened for just a moment before he returned to his usual composed demeanor. "Focus on your interview, Anaya. That's what matters right now."
Anaya nodded again, feeling a mixture of disappointment and determination. She knew that Rudra wasn't going to open up easily, but she wasn't ready to give up. There was more to him than the cold, distant man he appeared to be. And one way or another, she would find a way to understand him.
##To be continue...**