•Just A Thing•

Is qadar Nigahon se utre, jehan mein bas gaye, kya kasoor is naadan dil ka Aks ki Aah mein parchhayi se lipat gaye, hame manjoor nahi koi bagair ijazat hamare nazdik aaye par Aapki gustakhi ke baad ab sirf Saja~e~ ishq ka Mazhar baki hai.

~Rudra Pratap Singh Rathore.

**********

Author's POV

She lowered her eyes and a victorious smirk adorned his thin lips.

His eyes wandered to her long waist-length jet-black hair, his stares moving towards her forehead, her thick curved eyelashes, her button-shaped nose, her heart-shaped plumpy lips and stopped on her chin where three dots were tattooed in a triangular shape.

Her face was bare without any makeup, naturally glowing with the turmeric he applied to it.

Her lips trembled slightly, making his heartbeat skip in exasperation, she was divine, a sight that flowed through his eyes and poured into his dark soul.

He forgot the world around him, his dark orbs stuck on her face, trying to devour her spirit.

The darkness of his soul trying to overpower the emotions of something delusional vowing the threads in his heart.

He didn't know stones could beat in sensation, but his beating heart made him believe that gravel beat.

For the first time, he took her whole appearance and was left mesmerized.

He was pulled towards her just because of her eyes, No woman ever dared to catch his stares, but she just theft something in him, so an evil part of him.

The first woman whom he desperately wanted to punish for ruling his nights without his permission, but still managed not to anger him, forced him to like her presence in his dark world, made him yearn to pull her into his hellish fire, to make her a part of his immortal soul.

He innocently blinked his eyes enthralled by her beauty, the innocence in his eyes was so pure and corresponded to his evil essence.

It was the second side of Rudra Pratap Singh Rathod no one ever witnessed.

He kept his chin on Tara's shoulder and muttered, "Aapki Sadgi ka rang to pani se bhi saaf hai Ranisa, isliye rangdiya Humne Aapko Hamare rang mein."

(Your simplicity's colour is purer than water, Ranisa. So I painted you in my colour.)

Her eyelashes snapped toward his handsome face while her heart drummed loudly in her chest.

But he wasn't looking at her, his eyes were set on Tara and relief washed over her heart thinking those words weren't for her.

But if she knew.

Tara blushed feeling his large hands on her small ones for the first time, he touched her this intimately.

Her happiness was beyond vision, His touch was magical, the sound of his breaths near her ear sounding so soothing, his wild smell continuously playing with her nosebud making her helpless to lose herself.

"Hukum," Veer who just came there called after seeing him there in that position.

He didn't find rosewater in the house so went to a nearby shop but didn't expect Rudra to be here in the meantime, which is also bending in front of his sister.

Rudra didn't struggle to even lift his eyes and signed with his fingers to keep quiet.

Shanti Devi who was in the corner was sweating profusely while muttering curses for Garvi.

Prabhakar tried to walk towards them but she stopped him by holding his hand and muttered, "Don't meddle in, just make sure Bade Hukum ( Digvijay ) didn't know that his grandson bent down in front of mere commoner or he would kill us for this sin."

Prabhakar wanted to move forward but decided not to after all he was helpless as always, and there was nothing he could do and go against the Royal family.

"Hamare pass Aapke liye ek tohfa hai."

(I have a gift for you)

He said staring straight at her before signing the servant to hand her the Ring Box.

Garvi without any hesitation took it remembering her Dadi Sa's words.

She wanted to look into his eyes the way she does with everyone but it felt like her eyelashes too were bowing to him.

She never liked lowering her eyes it never mattered who stood in front of her, but in his case, everything changed.

"Shukriya Hukum."

(Thank you, Hukum)

Her voice was just as beautiful as her eyes, so soothing and calm to his earbuds.

"Kholiye," He said with a smile and she moved her trembling fingers to open that box.

(Open)

A beautiful diamond ring shined with the bright light making her eyes go wide at the thought of its price.

Veer too stared at it with shock but didn't speak a single word, knowing it wasn't appropriate of him to speak in between.

Tara suddenly felt insecure seeing Rudra's gaze set on the girl in front of them and seeing that he gifted her a diamond ring her situation worsened.

She wasn't the jealous type of girl but after knowing Rudra for years she would be silly if she thought it was common of him to gift a diamond ring to his personal slave's soon-to-be wife.

Her phone rang and with half heart, she whispered to him, "I need to take this call."

Rudra was too dazed up to even glance at her and just nodded his head in acknowledgement she got up and moved away from there.

Garvi pulled her lips under her teeth restraining herself from saying something that wouldn't be in her favour.

"Hume kimti cheezon ki kadr karni aati hai!!"

(I know how to value expensive things)

She bit her lips hearing his unpleasant words but didn't dare to lift her eyes remembering her Dadi Sa's words.

"Apni nigahon ko zukaye mat rakhiye beshkimati cheeze sarahane ke liye hoti hai na ki chhupane ke liye."

(Don't keep your eyes lowered, expensive things are to admire not to hide)

Her heart thumped hearing his words, so loudly that she was able to hear her wild heartbeats.

Hearing something so intimate words from a man who wasn't her brother or father, never happened in her life, it was something she never experienced.

She lifted her unique pair of onyx eyes to meet his coal-black orbs which were just filled with admiration, and a dark swirl of dreadful emotions.

"Hukum!!" his trans broke hearing Veer's voice and his lips turned into a straight line, displeased with the interruption.

Veer knew it but he continued, "Abhiraaj Sir said there is some problem in Rathod empire."

His eyes darkened almost turning all black, but he didn't avert them from the beautiful sight in front of him.

"Call Araysh," He ordered before taking the ring from that box and gently grabbing her palm.

Her eyes widened and her heartbeat went out of control but her trembling palm didn't affect his decision he soothingly rubbed her fingers before slipping that ring into her finger.

"Hume pasand Aane wali cheezopar nishan chhodne ki Aadat si lagi hai, khafa na hoiye, hume manane ki Aadat nahi hai, bas Jaanlijiye itna ki Hame mol bhav ki taziyah hai lekin Daam chukane mein katraate nahi."

He whispered before kissing the back of her palm and rubbing it softly on his cheek while staining it with her used haldi

(I seem to have a habit of leaving marks on things I like; don't be upset, I don't have the habit of convincing, just know that I value but I don't bargain when it comes to paying the price)

Garvi froze with his actions but Veer just stared at him with his eyes telling another story.

Tara who just come after talking with her father saw the scene and tears welled up in her eyes, she bit her lips controlling her tears.

His name carved on that girl's palm rotated in her head making her anxious to even breathe properly, she didn't stop there and ran outside.

He got up and turned around but halted hearing her soft voice.

"Hum koi cheez nahi hai hukum jispar aap Daam lagaye, Aap honge sarparast naayab chhezon ke lekin hum unme se ek nahi."

(I am not something upon which you can put a price; you might be the master of precious things, but I am not one of them)

His lips curled up hearing her words the first person who raised a voice against him, indeed she was queen, his queen.

"Beshak Aap koi cheez nahi hai, lekin itihaas gawah hai, har awaz uthane wale shakhs parchhaiyo mein gum ho jate hai, khayal rakhiyega mahal ki deeware bohat pakki hai kahi gum na ho jaye Aap Hamari andheri rahon mein."

(Indeed, you are not a thing, but history bears witness that those who raise their voices often get lost in the shadows. Take care; the palace walls are very strong, but what if you get lost in my dark paths)

He finished and walked out without looking at her teary orbs.

Veer bent down and immediately took her in his arms before whispering to her, "Nothing happened Gudiya, Why are you crying silly?"

"Function is over," Shanti Devi declared and everyone emptied the room except for a few dear guests and Aarti.

Prabhakar walked near her and asked, "Why are you crying Gudiya, Abhi se itna Royegi to vidai ke waqt kya hoga."

(If you cry so much now, what will happen at the time of departure?)

Veer just sighed knowing the exact reason behind her tears.

Shanti Devi walked near her and angrily asked, "What did you say to Hukum?"

"She didn't say anything," Veer answered and scooped her in his arms before walking towards her bedroom.

**********

He came out of his car and threw the car keys towards the guard before walking towards the entrance of the marvellous building of Rathod Empire.

His long hair was messy and stubbornly coming out of his bun, his Kurta was dislocated, and his dhoti and face were stained with a lesser amount of haldi.

It looked like he just walked out of his own haldi ceremony, a new groom who was getting ready for marriage.

His attractiveness didn't lessen still ravishing, who would make anyone's knees go weak.

He walked inside while people bowed to him one after another, his lips were pulled up in a smile, which was widening with the passing seconds.

He entered the lobby and it went silent so silent, with no sounds of even breaths.

Employees just held their breath his presence demanded it and they were helpless to surrender he was the man who never needed to utter a single word to command someone, his mere presence was enough to make people obey.

They lowered their eyelashes not having enough courage to even look at him, and invite the unwanted destruction.

His eyes stopped on Araysh who didn't even change his clothes and was standing in the corner.

Araysh respectfully pushed the chair and he smiled before taking a sit like a king, that he was.

His eyes moved all over the faces making their heartbeat skip in anxiety and extreme fear.

He took out a cigarette and lightened it before taking a long cush and exhaling the nicotine.

He forwarded his palm and Araysh immediately handed him a gun making all those employees tremble in terror.

He held a cigarette under his lips and unlocked the gun before asking in a calm voice, "Did Baba Sa or Dada Sa know about this?"

"No Hukum, Just Abhiraj Sir and Rakesh Sir," Aryash answered making his face take the serene glow.

"After this drama, call and inform them that a poor employee was slaughtered in the Rathod empire in the bright daylight, without anyone's knowledge, his body was cut into pieces so it's getting hard to recognize who it was."

He finished and a man came out of those employees before kneeling in front of him.

"Forgive me, my lord I am so sorry, I wouldn't have betrayed you, please show some mercy on my poor soul."

Rudra tilted his head looking at the begging old man but the satisfaction he wanted didn't reach his soul.

He shook his head negatively and said in mockery, "Try something New."

That old man didn't dare to lift his eyes and said in a pleading tone, "I will tell you everything Hukum, just spare my life."

"Rehmat ke Darwajo par Gunah ki dastak dekar Bheekh ki pukar nahi lagate, Abdul."

(Abdul, don't knock on the doors of mercy by presenting the knock of sin and pleading for charity)

That old man got paralyzed hearing his real name from his mouth, with whom he was joking he would have known it before entering the lion's den there was nothing he could hide from the destroyer himself and foolish him thought that he could fool the lord sitting in front of him.

"Reham mein Baksh dijiye hukum," that old man again pleaded making his eyes darken with amusement.

(Please forgive in mercy, sir)

"Hame Shikaar chhodna aur mauf karna sikhaya nahi kisine, jis din sikhade us din shayad hum ek baar soch bhi le."

That old man went speechless, he knew his end was near but he chose to plead for the last time in the way the man in front of him liked.

He bent down and rubbed his nose on his shoes before pleading, "Spare me, my lord."

Rudra's lips curled up and he closed his eyes feeling so surreal.

"Jaiye Baksh Di Aapki Jaan."

(Go, I spared your life)

An evil smile adorned his lips and he calmly said to Araysh

"Bas zehan mein Rakhiye ki yeh apne pairo par chal aur Apne zabban se Alfaj na nikal sake apne humdard ke qareeb."

(Just remember he won't walk on his legs and wouldn't be able to utter a single word in front of his leader)

That old man only regretted not asking for death.