~—————@UTHOR'S POV:~~
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room as Anaya worked diligently on the last bits of her presentation. The earlier warmth from the tender moments she shared with Rudra still lingered, but the weight of her unfinished business weighed heavily on her mind. Once the work was complete, a sense of relief washed over her, but another feeling crept in—a nagging frustration that she couldn't shake.
There was something about Rudra that kept her on edge. His secretiveness, the way he had proposed to her so unexpectedly, and now this whole hidden side of him that she hadn't fully uncovered. She wasn't mad anymore—no, she was beyond that. But she wasn't soft either. She felt the need to understand him better, to know the depths of the man she had married.
As she wrapped up her work, Rudra, who had been quietly observing her, closed his own laptop. He leaned back in his chair, watching her closely with a smirk playing on his lips. "Done?" he asked, his voice casual but with an edge of teasing.
Anaya glanced up, giving him a soft nod. "Yes, finally. And you?"
Rudra closed his laptop and stood up, walking over to her. "All set. So, ready for that third date?"
Anaya looked at him, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Right now?"
"Why not?" Rudra replied, extending his hand to her. "I promised, didn't I?"
She hesitated for a second but placed her hand in his. There was a glint of curiosity in her eyes as he led her away from the bed and towards a section of the room she hadn't paid much attention to before. It wasn't the typical romantic setup she had imagined—a fancy restaurant, a luxurious hotel, or a garden. Instead, Rudra led her toward the corner of the bedroom, where his personal office space lay.
"Here?" Anaya asked, slightly confused. "This is your idea of a third date?"
Rudra chuckled, his deep voice filling the room. "Not exactly. Trust me, Velvet. There's more to this than you think."
He led her towards the large, intricately designed bookshelf that stood against the far wall. To Anaya, it looked like any other well-stocked shelf filled with books, but Rudra's hands moved to a hidden latch behind one of the thick volumes. A soft click echoed in the room, and to her surprise, the bookshelf slid open to reveal a hidden room behind it.
"Rudra," she whispered, her eyes wide with amazement as she stepped inside.
The hidden room was unlike anything she had expected. It was a private space—a secret retreat—complete with a sleek television mounted on the wall, plush seating, and a small collection of vintage films and books. A subtle scent of leather and sandalwood filled the air, and there was a quiet hum of technology from a doorway that connected to what appeared to be the main office room of the Singhaniya mansion.
Anaya turned to face Rudra, her emotions a mixture of awe and mild irritation. "You've been hiding this from me?"
Rudra gave her a knowing smile, stepping into the room after her. "Not hiding. I was waiting for the right moment to show you."
Anaya crossed her arms, her expression softening slightly but still tinged with a hint of annoyance. "And when exactly was this 'right moment' supposed to come?"
"Today," Rudra replied, taking a step closer to her. "I wanted to show you that there's more to me than just the cold, distant boss you think I am."
Anaya let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Cold and distant, huh? You think I still see you that way?"
Rudra's gaze softened as he reached out to gently brush a lock of hair from her face. "I don't know what you see me as anymore, Anaya."
Anaya looked away for a moment, her fingers tracing the smooth surface of the hidden room's desk. "It's not that I think you're cold or distant… It's just, sometimes, you keep so much from me. Like this room, for instance."
Rudra remained silent, letting her speak. Anaya's tone shifted, more serious now as she turned back to face him.
"Do you even know why I accepted your marriage proposal, Rudra?" she asked, her voice firm but not accusatory.
Rudra frowned slightly, sensing the gravity of her words. "Because you wanted to help me."
Anaya shook her head, her eyes locking onto his. "That's part of it. But the real reason I said yes was because I wanted to find my brother."
Rudra's expression softened, and he moved closer to her, taking her hand in his. "You never told me that."
Anaya's voice wavered slightly, but she stood her ground. "I haven't told you a lot of things. There's so much about my past that I haven't shared. I grew up thinking I was alone, but I have this faint memory of an older brother—someone who looked out for me before we were separated. I've been trying to find him for years."
Rudra's thumb gently brushed over her knuckles as he listened, his eyes filled with understanding. "Do you remember anything about him? His name? Where he could be?"
Anaya shook her head, frustration creeping into her voice. "No… I wish I did. I just have this feeling, this instinct, that he's out there somewhere. And I thought… maybe with your connections, with everything that comes with being married to you, I could find him."
Rudra's eyes searched hers, and for the first time in a long time, Anaya saw something in him she hadn't noticed before. He wasn't the cold, distant "ice box" she had once thought him to be. There was warmth in his gaze, a genuine care that made her heart ache.
"I had no idea," Rudra said softly, pulling her closer. "If I had known…"
Anaya smiled, a bit of her usual teasing tone returning. "Well, now you do."
Rudra's grip on her tightened slightly as if to reassure her. "I'll help you, Anaya. We'll find him."
For a moment, there was silence between them. Anaya looked up at Rudra, her heart swelling with gratitude, but also with something deeper—an undeniable connection that was growing between them.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Rudra leaned down, brushing his lips against her forehead in a tender gesture. "You don't need to thank me."
Anaya closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. She wasn't the soft, hesitant woman she had been when they first married. This time, she was speaking her truth, showing her real self to him. And Rudra—he wasn't the cold, aloof man she had thought he was. In moments like this, he was warm, attentive, and so much more than she had given him credit for.
They stood like that for what felt like an eternity, wrapped in the quiet intimacy of the moment. When Anaya finally pulled away, she gave him a playful smile. "So, is this your idea of a third date? A secret room and a conversation about my past?"
Rudra smirked, his usual teasing tone returning. "I told you, Velvet. I'm full of surprises."
Anaya chuckled, shaking her head. "You really are something else."
Rudra stepped forward, closing the distance between them once again. "Is that a compliment?"
"Maybe," Anaya teased, her eyes sparkling.
Rudra's gaze darkened slightly, but in a way that made Anaya's heart race. "We're not done yet."
Before she could respond, Rudra gently guided her toward the plush seating in the room. As they settled onto the couch, Anaya couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and curiosity. This wasn't like any other date they had been on before. This was different—more personal, more real.
As they sat together, Rudra reached for the remote control on the side table and turned on the television. To Anaya's surprise, it wasn't some old movie or random show. Instead, it was a live feed of the main office room in the Singhaniya mansion.
Anaya's eyes widened. "You have a camera connected to the office?"
Rudra chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Not just the office. This entire mansion is wired. I keep an eye on things when I need to."
Anaya shook her head in disbelief. "You really are a control freak, aren't you?"
Rudra shrugged, his smirk returning. "I like to be prepared."
Anaya laughed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I should've known."
They sat together, watching the live feed for a few minutes before Anaya turned to face him once again, her playful demeanor fading slightly. "Rudra, can I ask you something?"
"Anything," he replied, his tone serious.
Anaya hesitated for a moment, but then she spoke, her voice soft but firm. "Why did you really propose to me?"
Rudra's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something Anaya couldn't quite place.
"I told you before," he said slowly. "I needed your help."
Anaya shook her head. "No, I mean… why me? Out of all the people you could've turned to, why did you choose me?"
Rudra was silent for a moment, his gaze locked onto hers. Then, with a sigh, he leaned back,
________________
Rudra's arm tightened around her, and he shifted slightly to face her more fully. For a long moment, he said nothing, his eyes searching hers as if he was carefully considering what to say next. Anaya could see the conflict in his expression—the cold exterior that Rudra usually wore was cracking, revealing something deeper beneath the surface.
"You weren't just convenient," Rudra finally said, his voice lower now, more intimate. "There was something about you from the very beginning. I saw the way you handled yourself, your strength… and I knew you could stand by me."
Anaya blinked, absorbing his words. "So it wasn't just about my skills? Or because you were in a bind?"
Rudra shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers. "No, not entirely. I admired you, Anaya. Still do."
Her heart fluttered at his admission, but she wasn't going to let him off that easily. "And yet, you kept so much from me."
Rudra sighed deeply, a slight tension running through his body. "I've lived my entire life hiding parts of myself, keeping things close to the chest. It's how I've survived in this world, Anaya. But you… you're different. I've realized that I can't keep you in the dark forever."
Anaya bit her lip, her frustration bubbling up again. "That's what you think? That you can't keep me in the dark? Rudra, I'm not someone you can control. I won't just stand by and accept the crumbs you give me."
Rudra's jaw clenched, but he didn't pull away. "I know that," he said softly, his voice almost tender. "And I don't want to control you. I just… I've never done this before. Letting someone in like this."
Anaya could hear the vulnerability in his voice, and despite her irritation, she softened slightly. She reached out, resting her hand on his chest. "Rudra, you have to trust me. You can't just keep shutting me out when things get complicated."
Rudra's hand moved to cover hers, his fingers curling around hers gently. "I'm trying, Anaya. But there's a lot you don't know. About me. About my family. About what I've had to do to protect the ones I care about."
Anaya narrowed her eyes, her frustration rising again. "Then tell me, Rudra. Stop hiding behind these walls you've built."
For a moment, Rudra didn't say anything. The weight of the silence hung between them, thick and heavy. But then, slowly, he nodded.
"Fine," he said, his voice steady. "I'll tell you. But first, let me ask you something, Anaya. Why are you really here? Is it just about your brother? Or is there something more?"
Anaya felt her breath catch in her throat. She hadn't expected the question, and it threw her off balance. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words didn't come out immediately. She looked away, suddenly unsure of herself.
"I—" she started, her voice faltering. "It's… It's not just about my brother."
Rudra's eyes softened, and he reached out, gently turning her face back towards him. "Then what is it?"
Anaya took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I didn't know what to expect when I married you. At first, yes, I thought this could be my chance to find him. But now… I don't know. I feel like there's more at stake. Like this… whatever this is between us, it matters. And it scares me."
Rudra's expression was unreadable as he listened, but he didn't interrupt her. He just waited, letting her speak.
"I don't want to be just another person you use and discard when you're done with them," Anaya continued, her voice wavering slightly. "I need to know that I matter to you. Not just because of what I can do for you, but because of me."
Rudra's gaze flickered with something she couldn't quite place—guilt, maybe? Or perhaps understanding.
"You do matter, Anaya," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight that made her heart ache. "More than you know."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Anaya's heart was racing, her mind spinning with a thousand thoughts. But before she could say anything else, Rudra leaned in, his lips brushing against her forehead in a tender, almost reverent kiss.
"I'll help you find your brother," he whispered against her skin. "I promise."
Anaya closed her eyes, the warmth of his touch calming her frayed nerves. She wanted to believe him—wanted to trust that this wasn't just another empty promise. But something still held her back, a small, nagging voice in the back of her mind that warned her to be cautious.
When she finally pulled back, she looked up at him, her expression softer but still guarded. "And what about us?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What happens now?"
Rudra's eyes darkened slightly, but there was a softness in his gaze that she hadn't seen before. "We figure it out," he said quietly. "Together."
Anaya nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt like they were finally on the same page. But there was still so much left unsaid, so many secrets yet to be uncovered.
Rudra shifted slightly, pulling her closer to him on the couch. "You want to talk about the first day we met?" he asked, his voice lighter now, teasing.
Anaya chuckled, the tension between them easing just a bit. "Are you trying to change the subject?"
"Maybe," Rudra said with a smirk. "But I'm genuinely curious. What did you think of me?"
Anaya rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her lips. "I thought you were an arrogant jerk."
Rudra laughed, the sound low and rich. "Fair enough. And now?"
Anaya raised an eyebrow, giving him a playful look. "Now? I think you're still an arrogant jerk."
Rudra grinned, leaning in closer. "And yet, you're sitting here with me."
Anaya's heart fluttered as she felt his breath on her skin, but she refused to back down. "Don't get too cocky, Singhaniya. I'm still deciding whether I like you or not."
Rudra's gaze darkened slightly, but the teasing smile never left his lips. "Take your time, Velvet. I'm not going anywhere."
Anaya's smile widened as she looked into his eyes, feeling a strange sense of peace settle over her. For the first time since they had gotten married, she felt like they were truly connecting—like they were finally starting to understand each other.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.
##To be continue...**