There was silence in the principal's cabin. Arshita and Rudransh stood face to face. Rudransh's deep, sharp gaze was fixed on Arshita, as if he were reading her every breath. His presence carried a strange pressure, making the room heavy. Arshita's heart was pounding. Her palms were sweaty, and her mind was in turmoil.
"What if Chachaji finds out I'm sharing the stage with a boy?" The thought flashed through her mind like lightning. Mr. Ashok Malhotra was a conservative man. For him, friendship between boys and girls was not only unacceptable but also linked to the family's honor. Arshita remembered how she had once mentioned a school friend, and Chachaji had lectured her for two hours. Because of that fear, she had few friends in her life, and even talking to boys was out of the question.
Just then, the principal's serious voice broke her trance. "What happened, Arshita? Where did you get lost?" His heavy voice softened slightly, as if he had sensed her nervousness.
Arshita quickly composed herself. She took a deep breath and said, "Sir, there's no need to bother them. Charvi and I will host the program together. And as for dancing, I always perform alone." Her voice was firm, but her heart was still trembling.
Just then, a cold, harsh voice echoed through the room. "No one asked you anything." Rudransh, who had been quietly listening in a corner, spoke up for the first time. There was a strange authority in his voice, which made Arshita even more nervous.
She mustered up her courage and replied, "But I can't work with you." Her voice was firm, but she was confused inside. The truth was, she was secretly happy. She was getting the chance to work with Rudransh Birla—the most popular face in college, the one girls were crazy about. But the fear of her uncle and aunt outweighed her happiness. She had been punished before for breaking their rules—forbidden from leaving the house several times, and once even had her phone taken away.
A slight tinge of displeasure flashed in Rudransh's eyes. He took a step forward and turned to the principal. "Sir, please go outside for a moment. I need to speak to Arshita alone." His voice was so confident that the principal hesitated for a moment.
"My name's not Ashi, it's Arshita," Arshita immediately interrupted. "And only my people call me Ashi. So please, call me Arshita." There was a slight anger in her voice, but fear was clearly visible in her eyes.
The principal was still in the room. Rudransh looked at him and said sharply, "Sir, you've gotten a little too bold. You're still standing here even after I told you to?" His words carried a veiled threat. The principal panicked, picked up his file, and hurried out. The room was now empty—only Arshita and Rudransh.
Rudransh turned to her. There was a mysterious glint in his eyes. "So you don't want to share the stage with me, right?" He smiled slightly, but his smile held a challenge. "Do you know who you're refusing? Rudransh Birla! The girls here are dying to talk to me for a minute, and you're refusing to dance? You have some guts, I must admit."
Arshita tried to say something. "Look, Rudransh, it's not like…"
"Call me Rudra," he interrupted her, his voice strangely soft.
"But why?" Arshita was startled. "Only close people have the right to call me by my nickname. And we don't even know each other that well." There was innocence in her words.
Instead of answering, Rudransh took a step forward. He grabbed Arshita's waist and silenced her with a finger on his lips. His hot breath brushed her face. "You know, I'm the heartbeat of so many girls. And you're refusing me? Seriously, you have a strong heart." His voice was velvety, but it also held a hint of danger.
Arshita's heart was pounding. She was about to say something when a loud explosion came from outside—"Dham!"
Arshita screamed in fear and inadvertently hugged Rudransh. But the next moment, she realized her mistake. She jerked back, her face flushed with embarrassment. Rudransh looked at her and smiled slightly.
"Come out," he said, hurrying to the door. Arshita ran after him.
Arshita's breath caught at the sight outside. Rudransh's black luxury car was burning in the college parking lot. The flames reached the sky, and thick smoke billowed. Some students had gathered, and security guards were running in from a distance.
Just then, Rudransh's phone rang. He picked up the call. A mysterious, cold voice came from the other end, "Touch, touch, touch... You just saved a few minutes, King! Otherwise, your story would have ended today. Ha ha ha!" There was a chilling laughter in that eerie tone.
Arshita heard the voice clearly. Fear flashed in her eyes. She looked at Rudransh, but he was expressionless. He put his phone in his pocket and then called someone else. His voice was calm but firm, "I want whoever did this within an hour. Understand?"
Arshita was surprised. "How are you so calm? Imagine if you were in the car…?" Her voice was shaking.
Rudransh looked at her and smiled slightly. He was about to caress her face when his phone rang again. This time the voice was different—deep and slow. "The girl standing with you is very beautiful... Who is she, the one with whom Rudransh Birla himself is talking?"
Rudransh's face hardened like stone. He hung up and turned to Arshita. "Arshita, go to class. Now!" His voice was stern, but his eyes held a hint of concern.
Arshita quickly left the place without saying anything.
Arshita sat down in her seat as soon as she reached the classroom. Her face was still pale, and her hands were shaking. Charvi, who was sitting next to her, noticed her condition and immediately asked, "What's wrong, Ashi? Why are you looking like this? What did the principal say?"
Arshita took a deep breath and said, "No matter what, I can't share the stage with Rudransh." Her voice was a mix of fear and determination.
Charvi's eyes widened. "What? You know he's your dream man, right? The one you went crazy over the first time you saw him?"
Arshita rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know. I remember falling in love with him at first sight... and I still do. But you know, if Uncle finds out I'm working with a guy, he'll stop me from coming to college." There was helplessness in her eyes.
Charvi thought for a moment, then said, "Friend, this is true. If Uncle finds out, there will be an uproar. And maybe this time he will call all the students' parents too."
Arshita laughed lightly. "Yes! He just needs an excuse to watch me dance. But Charu, this isn't a joke."
Charvi patted his shoulder. "But if this continues, you and Rudransh will never meet. Look at him, he's so handsome. And now he even talked to you."
At that very moment, Rudransh, sitting in the seat behind them, was listening to all this. He smiled quietly. "So this is the reason for your refusal, Arshita?" he thought to himself. "Now see how I convince you." There was a glint in his eyes—a plan that no one knew yet.
What will happen next?-
Does Rudransh have any plan to convince Arshita? -
Who was that mysterious caller who was calling Rudransh "King"? -
Will Arshita be able to overcome her fear and share the stage with Rudransh?
See you in the next part!