EPISODE 6: YOU FEEL IT TOO
1090 Words
Anika paced the length of her room, her fingers curling around the edge of her shawl. Sleep was impossible, not after everything that had happened. The warmth of Rudra’s touch still lingered on her skin, and the memory of his lips against hers made her heart race.
"What am I doing?" she whispered to herself, shaking her head.
The storm outside had finally calmed, but the storm inside her hadn't. She knew Rudra was dangerous—not in the way criminals were, but in the way a man could steal your heart and leave you with nothing.
A sudden knock at her door made her jump.
She hesitated. Could it be him?
Taking a deep breath, she pulled the door open, only to find a maid standing there.
"Ma'am, sir has asked you to join him for dinner," the maid said politely.
Anika exhaled, torn between relief and disappointment. "Tell him I’m not hungry."
The maid hesitated. "But ma'am, he insisted."
Anika bit her lip. She didn’t want to see Rudra right now—not after the way he had held her, kissed her. How could she sit across from him and pretend everything was normal?
Still, she knew refusing him wasn’t an option.
"Fine," she sighed. "I’ll be there in a few minutes."
The maid nodded and left. Anika closed the door, leaning against it for a moment. Why did Rudra have such an effect on her?
She quickly changed into a simple yet elegant black dress and tied her hair into a loose bun. She wasn’t dressing up for him. She just didn’t want to look like a mess.
Taking a deep breath, she walked out of her room and headed toward the dining hall.
---
Rudra sat at the head of the long dining table, a glass of wine in his hand. His eyes flickered up as Anika entered.
"You took your time," he commented, his voice deep and controlled.
"I wasn’t planning on coming," she replied, taking a seat opposite him.
A smirk tugged at his lips. "Yet here you are."
She ignored him and reached for a plate, serving herself some soup. The silence between them was thick, filled with unsaid words and unspoken tension.
"Eat," Rudra said after a moment. "You barely ate anything all day."
"I can take care of myself," she replied stubbornly.
He leaned forward slightly. "Can you?"
Anika’s grip on her spoon tightened. Why did he always have to push her like this?
"I don’t want to argue," she muttered.
"Good," he said smoothly. "Then let’s talk about something else."
"Like what?" she asked warily.
He took a sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving hers. "Like why you keep running from me."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"I don’t," she said quickly.
Rudra chuckled, shaking his head. "Liar."
Anika swallowed, her hands trembling slightly. "Rudra, what do you want from me?"
His expression darkened. He placed his glass down and leaned closer.
"You," he said simply.
Her breath hitched. "W-What?"
"You heard me, Anika." His voice was low, intense. "I want you."
Anika felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs. This man was dangerous. And not just because of his power or wealth—but because he had the ability to make her forget herself.
"I… I don’t know what to say," she admitted, looking away.
"Then don’t say anything," he murmured. "Just feel it."
She looked up at him, their eyes locking. The intensity in his gaze was almost too much to bear.
She needed to get away from him before she did something reckless.
Standing up abruptly, she said, "Thank you for the dinner. I should go."
Rudra didn’t stop her. He simply smirked and leaned back in his chair.
"Run all you want, Anika," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "But you’ll always end up right back here."
She clenched her fists and walked away, but deep down, she feared he was right.
Because no matter how much she tried to escape Rudra Malhotra…
She always found herself coming back to him
Anika slammed her bedroom door shut and leaned against it, her heart racing.
What was happening to her?
She had always been in control of her emotions, always knew what she wanted. But with Rudra, everything was different. He made her feel things she wasn’t ready for.
She took deep breaths, trying to steady herself. She needed distance. She needed clarity.
But before she could collect her thoughts, another knock sounded at the door.
Her heart jumped. "Who is it?"
Silence.
Then, the door handle turned, and Rudra stepped inside without waiting for permission.
Anika’s eyes widened. "You can’t just barge into my room!"
Rudra closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his eyes locked onto hers. "I can do whatever I want in my own house."
Anika swallowed hard. "Rudra, please…"
He took slow, deliberate steps toward her. "Please, what?"
She stepped back, but he kept closing the distance until her back was against the wall.
"You’re afraid of what you feel for me, aren’t you?" he murmured, his hand lifting to trace a finger along her jawline.
She shivered. "I—"
"Don’t lie," he interrupted. "I see it in your eyes. You want me just as much as I want you."
Anika felt dizzy. "This… this isn’t right."
"Why?" he whispered, his lips dangerously close to hers. "Because you think I’m dangerous? Or because you know I can break every wall you’ve built?"
She turned her head away, but he caught her chin and gently forced her to look at him.
"You drive me insane, Anika," he admitted, his voice low. "And I don’t do well with losing control."
"Then don’t," she whispered. "Let me go."
His jaw clenched. "I can’t."
Their breaths mingled, the air between them thick with tension.
"I should hate you," Anika murmured.
"But you don’t," he countered.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Rudra’s eyes darkened. "Tell me to stop, Anika. Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll walk away right now."
Her heart pounded. This was her chance. She could end this madness here and now.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Rudra smirked at her silence. "Just as I thought."
Before she could react, his lips brushed against hers—not quite a kiss, but enough to leave her breathless.
And just like that, Anika knew—
She was falling.
And Rudra Malhotra was the storm she would never escape.
---
To Be Continued...
- Writer
