Author's Note:
Hey wonderful readers! 🌸
I hope you're enjoying the latest chapter of "Mine Yes!" and the tense moments unfolding between Ria and Rudra. Their relationship is about to take some interesting turns, and I'm so thrilled to have you on this journey with me!
Your support means the world to me. I truly appreciate each one of you for being patient and engaging with the story. If you'd like to stay connected and get updates, feel free to check out my social media pages:
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Thank you for being part of this incredible journey with Anaya and Rudra! Your support has been amazing, and I'm so grateful to have such wonderful readers by my side as we dive deeper into their story.
To keep the chapters coming your way, here's the schedule for upcoming uploads:
📅 Mondays: 07:00 AM UTC
📅 Thursdays: 07:00 AM UTC
📅 Saturdays: 16:00 PM UTC
I'm excited for what's to come, and I hope you are too! Keep reading and keep sharing the love!
I can't wait to share more with you! Thank you so much for reading, and please keep supporting the story—I'll keep creating for you! 💖
~PENOLA.S
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As the silence settled in the room, I tried to focus on my notes, but it was hard to ignore the weight of Rudra's presence across the desk. His steady gaze seemed to pierce through my concentration, making it nearly impossible to stay on task. I glanced up, only to find him watching me with a faint smirk.
"Rudra," I said, narrowing my eyes. "You're staring."
"And?" he replied with a shrug, utterly unapologetic. "It's not against the rules of your little agreement."
I let out a frustrated sigh, tapping my pen against the edge of the desk. "I can't study with you looking at me like that."
"Like what?" he asked innocently, though the glint in his eyes was anything but.
"Like... like you're plotting something," I said, gesturing vaguely in his direction.
His smirk deepened, and he leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Maybe I am."
I groaned, slumping back in my chair. "Rudra, I mean it. I have a lot to do, and I don't have time for your games right now."
He straightened up, his expression turning serious. "I'm not playing games, Anaya."
"Then what are you doing?" I asked, exasperated.
"Trying to understand you," he said softly, his voice dropping to a tone that sent a shiver down my spine. "You push me away every chance you get, but I see the way you look at me when you think I'm not paying attention. You're scared, Anaya. Of me. Of us. And I don't know how to fix that."
His words struck a chord deep within me, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. He was right—I was scared. Scared of how easily he could get under my skin. Scared of the intensity of his feelings. And, most of all, scared of what it meant for me to care about him in return.
"I don't need fixing, Rudra," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I just need space."
He leaned back, his eyes searching mine. "Space to do what? Build walls around yourself? Pretend you don't feel anything?"
I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "Space to figure things out. To find my balance."
"And what about me?" he asked, his tone laced with frustration. "Where do I fit into this 'balance' of yours?"
I hesitated, my hands tightening around the pen in my grasp. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice trembling. "But I can't think straight when you're constantly... here."
He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as he pushed it back. I flinched at the sound, but he didn't move closer. Instead, he stood there, looking down at me with a mix of hurt and determination.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice cold and clipped. "I'll give you your space, Anaya. But don't expect me to wait forever while you figure out whether or not I matter to you."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and before I could respond, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
For a long time, I just sat there, staring at the empty doorway. Part of me wanted to run after him, to tell him he did matter, that I was just scared. But the other part—the part that had spent so many years building walls around my heart—kept me rooted in place.
I sighed, burying my face in my hands. Why does everything with him have to be so complicated?
In the silence that followed, I couldn't help but replay his words in my mind. No matter how much I tried to focus on my studies, his voice lingered, haunting me with the truth I wasn't ready to face.
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Ria sat at her vanity, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. The notifications were endless, one after another, all with the same headline: "Singhaniya Tech Faces Major Crisis—Rajawat Family's Hidden Son To Be The Downfall?"
Her fingers hovered over the screen as she read the words again, her stomach churning. The rumor mill was running wild, and it seemed the media had latched onto something big. She couldn't help but wonder how they'd gotten hold of the information about the Rajawat family's involvement. The name Rajawat had been a topic of speculation for weeks now, and with this latest bombshell, it felt like everything was about to crumble around them.
Ria's fingers flew over the screen as she checked Singhaniya Tech's stock price—still steady, but she could feel the tension in the air. It was only a matter of time before the rumors hit harder. She'd seen how these things went, how a whisper could become a roar. If the media was right, this "hidden son" would be trouble for the Singhaniya family, and more specifically, for Rudra.
As her mind raced, she instinctively reached for her phone to call Aarav. He had been uncharacteristically quiet for the past few days, ever since Kunal's true identity had been revealed. It felt like the calm before the storm, and Ria couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing. But when she tried calling Aarav, her frustration grew—he wasn't answering.
Typical, she thought bitterly. Aarav had always been the one to step back from the chaos, but now wasn't the time for that.
Ria let out a frustrated sigh, throwing the phone down onto the bed. There was no way she was going to let this situation spiral out of control without at least trying to talk to someone. She needed to find Anaya, or someone who could give her a clearer picture of what was going on with Rudra and the rest of the family.
Without another thought, Ria pushed herself off the bed and marched out of her room. Her footsteps were brisk as she walked down the hallway, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Where is Anaya? She knew the girl was probably holed up in her room, avoiding the madness that had been brewing in the family. Or maybe she was with Rudra, trying to talk some sense into him. The more Ria thought about it, the more she realized how much tension had built up between Rudra and everyone around him. Ever since that night—the one when Kunal's secret had been revealed—Rudra had kept to himself, locked in his own world, and distant from the people who loved him.
Ria's footsteps echoed as she hurried down the hallway, her mind focused. She wasn't prepared for what came next.
In an instant, she collided with someone. Her hand shot out instinctively to catch herself, but she didn't need to look up to know who it was.
"Ravi!" she exclaimed, her breath quick as she steadied herself.
Ravi, his tall figure towering over her, looked down with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Sorry, Ria. Didn't see you there."
She took a step back, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to compose herself. "You've got to be more careful. I'm in a hurry."
"Where are you headed?" he asked, arching a brow. He could tell she was tense, and despite the easy-going demeanor he wore, he knew something was off.
"I need to find Anaya," she said, her voice tight. "There's news—rumors about Singhaniya Tech. They're saying the Rajawat family's hidden son is going to be a problem for us."
Ravi's face tightened, but he said nothing immediately. Instead, he scanned the hallway with a subtle look of concern. "The media's been talking about that all morning, huh?"
"Yeah," Ria muttered, her worry rising. "And Aarav isn't answering my calls. I don't know what to do. We need to get ahead of this."
Ravi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "You're right. But panicking won't help." He placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip reassuring yet firm. "You'll find Anaya. She'll know what to do."
Ria glanced up at him, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness. "I hope so. I don't know where everyone else is... Rudra's been impossible to reach. Have you seen him?"
Ravi's gaze flickered for a moment before he spoke. "Rudra's been distant, yeah. After the Kunal reveal, he's been... well, he's been shutting everyone out. But you know him, Ria. He handles things in his own way. He's probably still processing everything that's happened."
Ria sighed, rubbing her forehead. "That's what I'm worried about. If he doesn't snap out of it, this whole family will fall apart. We can't afford to lose control now—not with all the chaos that's coming."
Ravi's gaze softened as he placed a hand on her arm. "We'll figure this out. Let's find Anaya first, then we'll make sure we have a plan. Rudra will have to listen eventually."
Ria nodded, grateful for his calm presence. She didn't know if she fully believed that Rudra would listen, but she wasn't about to give up. Not when the stakes were this high.
With that, she hurried down the hallway again, hoping she wouldn't have to search too long before finding someone who could give her answers. As she reached the corner, her thoughts kept circling back to the rumors, to the uncertainty hanging in the air. If there was one thing Ria was sure of, it was that this was just the beginning.
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As Ria rounded the corner, she was met with the sight of Anaya walking down the hallway, her face a mixture of determination and unease. She didn't seem surprised to see Ria, but there was a guarded look in her eyes, as if she'd been anticipating this confrontation.
"Anaya!" Ria called out, hurrying toward her. "Finally, I found you."
Anaya's eyes flickered with a hint of confusion before she forced a smile. "What's going on, Ria? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Ria didn't waste any time with pleasantries. She got straight to the point. "You've heard the rumors, right? About the Rajawat family and how they're claiming their hidden son will bring down Singhaniya Tech?"
Anaya nodded slowly, but there was an unreadable expression on her face. "Yeah, I've heard."
"I'm worried," Ria admitted, her voice strained. "The media's getting out of control with these rumors. I don't know how much longer we can keep the family safe if it keeps escalating. Aarav's not picking up my calls, and Rudra... Rudra's been completely unreachable. This is the worst possible time for him to be so distant."
Anaya hesitated before speaking again, her voice soft. "Rudra's always been like this, hasn't he? He pushes everyone away when things get tough."
"Exactly," Ria replied, frustration lacing her words. "But this time, it's different. The company is on the line, Anaya. I know you're close to him, and I need your help. He's not listening to anyone, and if we don't act fast, the fallout will be catastrophic. You saw how he reacted when Kunal's secret came out. He's not handling things well."
Anaya's eyes softened as she glanced away, looking down the hallway. "I know... I've seen it too. But I don't know what to do. He's always been a mystery to me, and no matter how much I try, he keeps pulling away. Even after everything we've been through, he's still keeping me at arm's length."
Ria's frustration deepened. "This isn't just about you and Rudra, Anaya. It's about all of us. We need to work together to stabilize the company, and we can't do that if he's shutting everyone out. I know you care about him, but you have to push him to face this. We can't afford for him to wall himself off anymore."
Anaya bit her lip, torn between her own feelings and the weight of the situation. "I'll try. I just... I don't want to push him too hard. You know how he reacts."
"Trust me, we don't have the luxury of waiting around," Ria said firmly, her eyes locking with Anaya's. "Rudra's not the only one who needs to step up—so do we. We need to be strong for each other, especially now."
Anaya nodded slowly, her gaze unwavering. "Okay. I'll talk to him. But I can't promise anything."
Ria's heart gave a small, relieved beat. "That's all I'm asking for. Just get him to listen."
Before Anaya could respond, there was a sound from behind them, and both women turned at the same time. Ravi stood at the edge of the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest, watching them with a quiet intensity.
"I overheard a bit," he said, his voice calm but serious. "If you two are done plotting, we need to move quickly. The board will want answers soon, and without Rudra's leadership, things could go south fast."
Ria looked at him, her thoughts racing. "I know. I'm just trying to figure out how to reach him. He's not cooperating, and with all these rumors flying around, we can't afford another delay."
Ravi stepped forward, his posture steady. "Maybe you should all focus on getting Rudra to face the truth, and fast. It's not just about the company anymore. It's about family, Ria. If we lose Rudra, everything else will fall apart."
Ria swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. She had always known how much her brother held the family together, but in this moment, it felt even more crucial.
"I'll do whatever it takes," Ria said quietly, determination rising within her.
Anaya, still standing by Ria's side, gave a small nod, though the uncertainty in her eyes hadn't fully disappeared. "We will all need to be strong. But Rudra... He's complicated, and he doesn't always make things easy."
"I don't care how complicated he is," Ria said sharply. "This family needs him. We need him."
Ravi offered a small smile, though it was laced with a hint of concern. "Then let's stop waiting for him to come to us and go to him. I'm sure he won't be happy about it, but sometimes, you have to force someone to face the storm they're trying to outrun."
With those words hanging in the air, the three of them exchanged a brief look, the weight of their shared responsibility now clearer than ever. There was no more time to waste. They needed to find Rudra, and they needed to make him see that the family, and everything they had worked for, was on the brink of disaster.
Without another word, the group broke apart. Ria headed toward Rudra's office, determined, while Anaya and Ravi made their way in another direction. The tension in the house was palpable, but the clock was ticking. No one could afford to waste another moment.
As Ria walked briskly toward her brother's office, she felt the urgency in her bones. If Rudra wouldn't open up, they would have to break through his walls themselves.
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As Ria approached the door to Rudra's office, her heartbeat quickened. She knew he was inside, probably buried in paperwork or locked in his own thoughts, but it didn't matter anymore. The silence between them, the distance he had created, was suffocating. And if she didn't confront him now, they could lose everything.
She knocked firmly, not waiting for a response before turning the handle and stepping inside.
Rudra was sitting behind his desk, his back to her as he scrolled through something on his laptop. His posture was rigid, and the dim lighting made his features even harder to read. But Ria could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken words, the distance between them.
"Bade Bhai," Ria said, her voice carrying more force than she intended. "We need to talk."
He didn't turn to face her right away, but his fingers paused on the keyboard. There was a long silence before he spoke, his tone almost cold. "I'm busy, Ria. Not now."
"No," she replied firmly, stepping further into the room and closing the door behind her. "It's now or never. We don't have time for you to shut everyone out. You're not handling this alone anymore, and neither should you."
He finally turned in his chair, his eyes narrowing as they met hers. "You've got it all wrong. I don't need anyone's help."
"That's exactly it," Ria shot back, frustration seeping into her words. "You always push people away when you need them the most. But this time, it's different. This time, you're not just risking your own future. You're putting everyone else's in jeopardy, too."
Rudra stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as his gaze turned cold and distant. "You don't understand," he said, his voice low. "You don't know what's really going on."
"I don't need to know everything," Ria replied, her voice shaking slightly. "But I do know that the company, the family, the people who look up to you... they're all waiting for you to step up. You're their leader. And right now, you're abandoning them."
Rudra took a step toward her, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and something else—something deeper. "You don't get to tell me how to lead, Ria. I'm not like you. I can't just go along with everything. There are things that you don't know, things that—"
"I don't care about your secrets," Ria interrupted, her voice cracking under the weight of everything she had been holding in. "What I care about is you. You're falling apart, and you're dragging everyone with you. If you don't start talking, if you don't start trusting the people who care about you, we're all going to lose."
The silence in the room was deafening. Rudra's jaw clenched, and for a moment, Ria wasn't sure if he was going to lash out or break down.
But then, his shoulders sagged, just slightly, as if the weight of her words had finally pierced through the walls he had built around himself.
"I don't know how to fix this," he muttered, almost too quietly for Ria to hear.
She stepped closer, her voice softer now, but still filled with urgency. "Then let us help you. We're in this together. But you have to stop pushing us away."
Rudra's eyes met hers, and for the first time in what felt like forever, there was a flicker of vulnerability in them. It was fleeting, but it was there. He didn't say anything at first, just stood there, his fists clenched at his sides. But finally, he spoke, his tone raw, almost like he was admitting something he had buried deep inside.
"I'm scared, Ria," he said, his voice rough. "I don't know how to fix everything. I don't even know where to start."
Ria's heart clenched as she looked at her brother. This was the Rudra she had been missing—the man who had always been strong, but who, deep down, had his own fears and doubts.
"You don't have to fix everything on your own," she said gently. "We're your family. We're in this together. But you need to let us in."
Rudra exhaled sharply, his face hardening again, but the tension between them had shifted. It wasn't resolved, but it was different now. There was a crack in his armor, just enough for them to start breaking through.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of their conversation hung in the air, but for the first time in weeks, Ria felt like they were getting somewhere.
Finally, Rudra nodded, a small, almost imperceptible gesture. "I'll try. But I can't promise anything."
"Just take the first step," Ria said, offering a faint smile. "That's all we need."
With those words, they both understood that the road ahead would be difficult. But it was a road they would walk together. And that was enough.