The grand hall still thrummed with the afterglow of celebration—crystal chandeliers casting golden shards across silk-clad guests, the scent of jasmine garlands and expensive perfume hanging heavy in the air. But on stage, the atmosphere had shifted into something electric, dangerous, alive with unspoken storms.
After the pooja, Devraj Singh Chauhan stepped forward, commanding the spotlight like a king reclaiming his throne. His voice rolled out, rich and resonant.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I, Devraj Singh Chauhan, am immensely happy today. The first reason for my joy is that today is my son Rudra's 30th birthday. And the second piece of wonderful news is that my daughter—my daughter—Priyanshi Singh Rajput has today climbed to the fourth position on the list of the world's richest people!!"
Rudra's gaze, which had been devouring Priyanshi from across the stage like she was the only oxygen in the room, reluctantly tore away and shifted to his father. The entire crowd's attention snapped from Devraj to Priyanshi in a collective ripple. Devraj pressed on, emotion thickening his tone. "Admittedly, Priyanshi is not my biological daughter, but she is more than any daughter could ever be! I have always considered her my own, and she has always treated me like her papa."
Rudra's eyes flicked back to her; the crowd's gaze swung from her to Devraj in perfect, breathless synchrony. A soft, pure smile curved Priyanshi's lips, her eyes locked on Devraj with unguarded adoration. "I always wanted a daughter," Devraj confessed, voice cracking with old longing, "but God and my beloved wife gifted me a wonderful son. Yet I yearned for a daughter, and when I didn't have one, God sent her into my life. That emptiness vanished the moment you entered our world, Priyanshi. You carry every quality my wife possessed—the ones I dreamed of seeing in my daughter. Thank you, Priyanshi!"
The hall seemed to hold its breath. "Today, on this beautiful day, I wish to make one special announcement. But first, I would like to invite Priyanshi and Rudra to join me on stage." Priyanshi moved with quiet grace, stepping into the light. Rudra remained rooted, still staring at her as if the universe had narrowed to the curve of her neck, the fire in her eyes. Ayansh's hand landed on his shoulder with a firm tap, yanking him back to earth. "Bhai, Uncle called you too." Rudra blinked, disoriented. "What? Wait!? Why? Okay… I'm coming!"
He took his place on the left, Priyanshi on the right, Devraj between them like a living bridge stretched over a chasm.

Devraj's voice dropped into something intimate, conspiratorial. "I have always wanted the two of you to marry each other—ever since the day I first saw her." He paused, letting the words sink like stones into still water. "I know your personalities are worlds apart—one a fierce Leo, the other a enigmatic Scorpio—two zodiacs with nothing in common." Priyanshi's lashes lowered, a veil of sudden shyness; Rudra's stare remained glued to her, burning, possessive, even under the glaring lights. Devraj continued undeterred. "I know… I know that you two barely know each other. You don't even want to know each other—your lives and careers keep you both so consumed. But I also know how deeply you both love me. If I insisted on this marriage, neither of you would ever refuse me." His smile turned almost pleading. "So today, on my son's 30th birthday, I want to stand here with you both and announce your marriage! Priyanshi, my lovely daughter, my baccha—I have always dreamed of making you my daughter-in-law."
The crowd leaned forward, hearts racing. But Devraj raised a hand. "But first, I want to announce something else." Pride swelled in his chest. "On Rudra's 30th birthday, and on the day of your monumental achievement, I want to tell you all that I am entrusting my daughter—this beautiful, responsible soul Priyanshi—with the authority over my dream project! The London project that was not only my dream, but my late wife's as well. I always wanted to hand it to someone trustworthy, capable, deserving. You possess every single quality I need." He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "God bless you, beta. My baccha."
Rudra erupted into applause—wholehearted, thunderous, every clap a silent vow poured straight from his soul as he watched her. The hall exploded in matching cheers. Yet Priyanshi's gaze remained fixed on the floor. For the first time, her eyes were lowered—not from the crowd, not from Devraj, but because of Devraj's son. The man who had stolen her heart the exact moment she swore never to let anyone close enough to shatter it again. The same man standing mere feet away on this very stage.
Devraj's voice softened, turning to his son. "And for my heart, my soul, my life—my son—on your 30th birthday, I want you to meet the wonderful woman who is perfectly compatible for you, my boy!!"
Priyanshi POV
I'm staring at the floor, cheeks warm with a blush I can't control. I don't even know why my heart is hammering like this. Maybe… maybe Uncle is finally going to announce it. Our marriage. He's wanted me to marry Rudra for years, but every time he brought it up—every single time he asked me to meet him—I said no. Flat out refused. Because after that last heartbreak, I locked every door inside me. I swore no one would ever get close enough to break me again.
But this time… I think I won't say no. Maybe I'll ask for time to actually know him. I don't understand it, but something inside me is whispering that I want to know him.
Author POV
Devraj's smile widened, triumphant. "Today I am announcing that Rudra Singh Chauhan, son of Devraj Singh Chauhan, is going to marry Samaira Oberoi—my best friend's daughter! Right now, I would like to call her to the stage! She is a brilliant CA and the daughter of Vivek Oberoi, the well-known politician! Come here, my would-be daughter-in-law! Give her a huge round of applause!!!"
Rudra POV
My gaze was glued to her, heart slamming against my ribs with a hope sharper than any blade I'd ever known. Then an unfamiliar name sliced through the air.
My world didn't just crack—it shattered.
My heart stopped. Marriage? Not to her—to someone else? Betrayal clawed up my throat, thick and suffocating. It felt like my own father had bartered my soul for a political deal. How could he? No. I refuse. I will marry no one but her.
"Why not her? Dad, why did you do this to me?"
I searched the sea of faces until I found her. She stood paralyzed, shock carved into every line of her body. Our eyes collided—and I was speechless. Guilt crashed over me like I'd driven the knife into her chest myself. Her gaze screamed questions I had no answers for.

I needed to reach her. Needed to spill every buried feeling since the day she first walked into my life. But before I could take a step, she descended from the stage like a ghost. I lunged after her—only for Papa's iron grip to clamp around my wrist. I yanked hard. Too late. She vanished into the crowd.
Author POV
Devraj stood in the center, taking Samaira Oberoi's hand and placing it firmly in Rudra's. The hall erupted in applause as he beamed. "And soon—by the last date of this very month—they will be married! Yes, I don't want to wait for anything. By the end of this month, they will tie the knot! And in a year or two, I'll be playing with my grandchildren!!!"
Priyanshi POV
My heart weighed a thousand tons—crushing, unbearable. If I stopped moving for even a second, I'd collapse right there. But I heard every word. His marriage. By the end of the month.

This time I'm not angry. Not jealous. Just… silence. A deep, hollow silence I've never felt before. A void carving itself bigger inside my chest with every passing second. No rage. Just emptiness. I slipped out to the garden, desperate for air that didn't taste like betrayal.

Author POV
"Priyanshi! Priyanshi, listen to me—I don't even know who she is!! And I don't want to know who the hell she is! But please… look at me!!"
Rudra's voice chased her through the shadowed garden. He'd broken free and followed, raw desperation driving every step.
She didn't turn. Couldn't. Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall where anyone could see. She hadn't cried in front of another soul since the day her ex ripped her trust to shreds.
"Why are you here?" Her voice trembled, fragile as glass.
"Don't you know why I'm here?" Rudra answered, soft and aching.
In a sudden explosion of fury, she whirled and slammed him against the cold stone wall, caging him with her arms. Her face hovered inches from his, breath hot and ragged.

"No, I don't! Who am I to you? I'm nothing to you! And you're nothing to me!"
Her palm crashed into the wall beside his ear—crack echoing like gunfire in the silence.
"You're just a businessman's son to me—nothing else, okay? So stay the hell away from me and my life!!!!"
Rudra watched her, utterly silenced by the storm raging in her eyes.
Rudra POV
Her words sliced deeper than any knife, each one carving fresh wounds. I wanted to scream that I felt the exact same torment—that she was everything. But seeing her tear-streaked cheeks, those furious red-rimmed eyes,

the raw power of her anger… it stole my voice. I couldn't speak. Couldn't find words big enough for what lived in my chest.
The Stand-off
They stood locked together, mere inches apart. Rudra felt the feverish heat rolling off her skin, the wild flutter of her breath against his mouth. For one electric heartbeat, her gaze dropped to his lips—the space between them dissolving, screaming for collision.

Then she tore away, brutal and sudden, spinning her back to him.
"Stay away from me!" she screamed, voice cracking on the edge of hysteria. "I'm warning you, otherwise—!"

Before the threat could land, Rudra surged forward. His hands clamped around her waist, slamming her back against the wall. He pressed in hard—chest to chest, hips pinning hers, every inch of him caging her against unyielding stone. Their eyes clashed in savage combat, neither blinking. One hand captured both her wrists, yanking them high above her head; the other slid to the nape of her neck, fingers threading into her hair,

holding her exactly where he wanted.
"Otherwise what!? What will you do to me!? Huh!?"
"What do you think?" he growled, eyes devouring hers, searching for any crack. "Do you really believe I knew what Papa was about to say? I don't know that girl. I have zero interest in knowing her!"
He leaned impossibly closer, voice dropping to a dark, velvet threat. "And what about you? Do you have any idea what it does to me every time I see him holding your hand?"
"Every damn fucking time I want to kill him—but I can't. Because it would destroy your happiness!! Hey—do you think I'm in a relationship with Ravi!?"

Rudra's fingers tightened on her wrists; he dragged her neck nearer until his lips ghosted the shell of her ear.

"Isn't it true!? Huh!?"
He searched her face for the truth.
She shoved with all her strength, voice splintering. "Yes, I do! So what? Just stay away from me! Don't you dare follow me!"

She wrenched free and stormed off, wiping furious tears without a backward glance. Rudra stood rooted, shock and agony pinning him in place, eyes tracking her retreating form until darkness claimed her completely.
To my readers…
Oh my darlings, my poor shattered rage, tears, and "RUDRA GROVEL NOW" energy.
I feel you. I'm hurting with you. That silence Priyanshi is drowning in? That feral desperation in Rudra's eyes? That almost-kiss that never happened?
It's only the beginning of the chaos.
This isn't over.
Not even close.
Ten days.
One forced engagement.
One woman running from a love she's terrified to claim.
One man who's about to tear the world apart to prove she's the only one who owns him.
Who breaks first?
Does Priyanshi keep building walls until they both bleed out?
Tell me by dropping your views in comment section...