Major's Soft Obsession

Chapter 3: The Rule She Broke And The Boy He Hated

Myra Malhotra was a good girl for exactly one morning.

She woke up at eight. Blue army blanket still wrapped tightly around her. It smelled like him — strong black coffee, old wood, and something very masculine and clean. She had slept better than in weeks.

Downstairs was silent. No Major. No coffee smell. His black Royal Enfield was not in the porch. He left at four-thirty for his run, then cantonment.

She made instant noodles upstairs. Hummed quietly, but did not play guitar. Trying to follow rules. She looked at Tara in the corner and whispered, "See, we are following Rule One today, Tara. No music after nine. He will be happy."

At ten, it was her first day at Doon University.

It was greener and quieter than Delhi, full of pine trees and mist. English Literature class was on second floor. Professor was already talking about Jane Austen. She entered slightly late, hair still damp.

And the boy next to her was already talking.

"Hi. I am Kabir. Kabir Singhania. Second year, but repeating first year because I failed due to low attendance. You are new? You look lost."

Good-looking in typical college way. White shirt, messy hair, expensive watch, easy smile.

Myra smiled, relieved. "I am Myra. First year. Just shifted yesterday. Pine Villa, Rajpur Road."

Kabir's eyes widened. "Pine Villa? That scary bungalow? That Major's house? Everyone knows it. No one lives there long. They say Major is very rude."

Myra laughed. "He is rude. Very rude. But he gave me his blanket last night because I was cold."

Kabir leaned closer, more interested. "He gave you his blanket? On first night? Myra, you are fast."

He didn't ask for her number directly. He just said, "I have last year's notes, you want?" For a new girl, that was enough to trust.

After class, he offered to drop her home. Myra refused, took an e-rickshaw. But Kabir followed slowly on his bike, just to see where Pine Villa was.

At 6:45 PM, Myra was back in her room. Drying her hair with a towel, wearing a long yellow kurta now. Longer clothes, as he ordered yesterday. Studying Pride and Prejudice. She bit her lower lip while reading — habit when concentrating.

Then phone buzzed.

Kabir: Hey, you left your book in class. I have it. Can I come to give it back? I am near Rajpur.

Myra: Yes! Please bring it. Need it for assignment. Come fast, before 7.

She remembered no boys after 7 PM. But it was 6:52 PM. So okay, right? Just book return. She told herself, "It is just a book, not help. I am not asking for help, so Papa's words are still wrong."

At 7:12 PM, the gate creaked.

Myra ran downstairs and opened the main door. Kabir stood there, holding the book, smiling, looking inside the bungalow.

"Wow. This house is actually haunted but in a hot way. Like you."

"Shh. Give me the book fast. Owner is very strict."

And at that exact moment, at 7:13 PM, a loud, deep sound came from the lane.

Royal Enfield.

Major Veer Singh Rathore was back. Full olive uniform, army beret in hand, black boots heavy on the stone floor. Face tired and angry from cantonment. Dust on uniform.

He stopped his bike when he saw a boy's bike parked in his porch. Inside his gate. Eyes went cold instantly.

He walked inside, helmet in hand, and saw them. Myra in yellow kurta, hair open, standing close to a boy in his porch, after 7 PM.

His jaw clenched, knuckles white around helmet.

Myra froze. "Oh."

Veer did not look at Myra first. He looked at Kabir. Full scan, like scanning a threat.

"Who are you?" His voice low, but dangerous.

Kabir's confidence vanished. "I... I am Kabir. Myra's friend. From college. Came to return her book. Leaving now."

Veer did not move from doorway. Blocking exit.

"Friend? At 7:13 PM inside my house? Do you know Rule Number Two?"

"Rule?" Myra stepped forward. "Major, he was just giving my book. Only thirteen minutes past. He will go now."

"Only thirteen minutes past." Veer repeated slowly, looking at Myra now. Eyes darker. "You remember time exactly when it suits you. Last night 9:07 was not late. Today 7:13 is only thirteen minutes."

Myra's cheeks turned red. Scolded in front of Kabir.

Kabir tried to be smart. "Sir, I respect you are a Major but this is Myra's rented floor. She has right to have friends."

Veer took one step closer. Kabir stepped back automatically.

"This is my house, boy. My rules. My tenant. I said no boys after seven PM. Not 7:13. Seven."

Kabir was almost shaking now.

Myra pulled his sleeve slightly. "You go, Kabir. See you tomorrow."

Kabir left quickly, almost running. "Bye Myra!"

Silence fell in the porch again. Light rain started.

Veer looked at her. Yellow kurta, wet hair, bare feet, holding book like shield, biting lip again.

"You broke Rule Two," he said quietly.

"He was just returning my book! Why are you rude to everyone?"

"Because I was a twenty-one-year-old boy once, Myra. I know exactly how boys look at girls like you."

"Girls like me? What does that mean?"

Veer stepped closer. Too close. She had to tilt her head up.

"It means twenty-one-year-old girls who are alone in a new city, who wear yellow kurtas and laugh loudly in class, who think every friend is innocent. You have no idea how men look at you. But I do. And I do not like boys in my porch after seven looking at my tenant like that."

"My tenant? I am not your property! I pay rent!"

"I can. Read agreement. Clause 8. No male visitors after 7 PM without permission. You signed it."

Myra froze. She signed without reading. Again. Because asking would mean she needs help.

"You put that clause because of me?"

"I put it because Lata said she will send a mature working girl. Mature girls do not call college boys at night."

Myra's eyes filled with angry tears. "You are impossible! You think you are my father?"

Veer's eyes flashed. He leaned down, face inches from hers. Rain pouring, both getting wet, neither moved.

"I do not act like your father, Myra. Do not ever compare me to your father."

"Then what are you acting like?"

He did not answer. Truth was too dangerous for Day Two.

Instead, he took the book from her hands, opened it, saw her name written. _Myra Malhotra, 21, Doon University,_ with a small heart beside it.

Closed it and gave it back. Fingers brushed.

"Inside. Now. You will catch cold again and I will have to give you another blanket. I do not have many."

Myra stood stubborn. "I will not go till you say sorry to Kabir."

Veer laughed coldly. "Major Veer Singh Rathore does not say sorry to college boys who walk into his house after seven."

"You are grumpy, arrogant, rule-making robot Major!"

"And you, Miss Myra Malhotra, are rule-breaking, argumentative, twenty-one-year-old trouble who bites her lip when she lies and talks to her guitar when she is alone."

Myra's mouth opened. He noticed both habits in two days.

"I wore long clothes because you said!"

"I know. And I noticed," he said, eyes going to her yellow kurta for half a second.

That one line. I noticed.

Myra's heart skipped. Rain dripping from his hair onto uniform, eyes not just cold, but possessive and confused.

He turned away first, leaving wet boot marks.

"Dry your hair. And Myra, next time your friend wants to return your book, return it in college. Not in my house after seven. Am I clear?"

"Crystal clear, Major," she muttered, but followed him inside, holding the book close, heart beating fast, whispering to herself, "We managed without asking, right Tara?"

Downstairs, Veer stood in his office, uniform wet, looking at CCTV screen. He had seen an unknown bike at 7:02 PM on the security app at cantonment. That is why he came back early.

He rewound the footage, saw Myra smiling at Kabir. That big sunshine smile she never gave him.

He switched off the screen. But did not delete the footage. Saved it in a folder named "Rule Breaker - Day 2".

Twenty-one. Tenant. And now boys at the gate at 7 PM.

His peaceful leave was not just over. It was destroyed. And worst part — he was starting to like the destruction.