Chapter 22 - 20. a storm within

AVNI

📍 Mussoorie, 

India

I hated being told what to do.

The moment Rudra's sharp voice echoed through the hall, declaring that we were leaving for Lucknow, something inside me snapped. He had no right to waltz in here, bark orders, and expect me to fall in line like some damsel in distress. I wasn't that girl—not anymore.

Yet, as I stood there, glaring at him with every ounce of defiance I could muster, I couldn't deny the truth in his words. Mussoorie didn't feel safe anymore. It hadn't since the attack. The shadows lurking behind every corner, the strange cars parked just a little too long outside the villa—it all pointed to one thing: this wasn't over.

But knowing it and accepting it were two different things.

I sank back into the sofa after Rudra left the room to coordinate our departure. My friends and family hovered around me, their concern palpable, but it only added to the weight pressing on my chest.

"Are you okay, Avni?" Ritvika's voice was gentle, but it grated against my frayed nerves.

I forced a small smile. "I'm fine."

It was a lie, of course. I wasn't fine. My body still ached from the bruises, my mind was a tangled mess of fear and confusion, and now I had to pack up my life and move to Lucknow because Rudra Singhaniya said so.

Avyukt sat beside me, his expression unreadable. "You know he's right," he said softly.

I turned to him, my frustration boiling over. "Don't you start, Bhai. This is my decision, not his."

"Your decision could get you killed," he replied, his tone calm but firm. "We can't take that risk."

I wanted to argue, to tell him I could handle myself, but the memory of the attack was still too fresh. The cold hands that had dragged me into the van, the blindfold tightening around my eyes, the muffled voices—it all came rushing back, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.

Atharv's voice broke through the fog. "Hey, you're zoning out. Stop thinking about it."

"I can't just stop thinking about it," I snapped, sharper than I intended. His concerned expression made my stomach twist with guilt. "Sorry," I mumbled, looking away. "I just... I don't know how to stop."

"You don't have to stop," Ritvika said, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "But you don't have to face it alone either."

Their kindness was suffocating. I loved them for it, but at that moment, I needed space. I needed air. Without a word, I stood and walked out to the veranda, the cool breeze stinging my cheeks. The hills stretched out before me, a picture of serenity that felt completely at odds with the chaos inside me.

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to steady my breathing. The kidnapping wasn't just an attack on me—it was an attack on everything I thought I knew. My safety, my freedom, my very identity felt like they'd been stripped away, leaving me raw and exposed.

And then there was Rudra.

I didn't know what to make of him. He was infuriatingly controlling, but beneath the rough exterior, there was something else. Something that made me feel... safe. Not that I'd ever admit it to him—or to myself, for that matter.

The sound of heavy boots on the veranda pulled me from my thoughts. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," Rudra said, his voice low but firm.

"I needed some air," I replied without looking at him.

He stepped closer, his presence commanding as always. "We leave in an hour. Make sure you're ready."

I turned to face him, crossing my arms. "You can't keep treating me like a child, Rudra. I'm not helpless."

"No, you're not," he said, surprising me with his agreement. "But you're also not invincible. And until we figure out who's behind this, I'm not taking any chances."

There it was again—that maddening mix of arrogance and protectiveness. It was infuriating, but it also made my heart skip a beat.

I shook my head, refusing to let my emotions cloud my judgment. "I don't need you to fight my battles."

"This isn't about what you need, Princess," he said, his tone softening. "It's about what you deserve. And you deserve to live without constantly looking over your shoulder."

His words hit me harder than I expected. For a moment, I saw the man behind the mask—the one who wasn't just my bodyguard, but someone who genuinely cared. It scared me more than I wanted to admit.

"I'll be ready," I said quietly, turning away before he could see the tears welling in my eyes.

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The drive to Lucknow was tense. I sat in the backseat with Ritvika and Atharv, who did their best to keep the mood light, but I could feel Rudra's gaze flicking to the rearview mirror every few seconds. His vigilance was suffocating, but I couldn't blame him.

The roads twisted and turned, the lush greenery of the hills giving way to the sprawling plains. With each mile, I felt the distance growing—not just from Mussoorie, but from the person I'd been before all of this started.

Ritvika leaned over, whispering conspiratorially, "Do you think Lucknow will be any better? Or just a bigger fishbowl?"

"Probably a gold-plated fishbowl," Atharv quipped, trying to lighten the mood. I managed a small smile, appreciating their effort even as my thoughts remained elsewhere.

As the skyline of Lucknow came into view, a strange sense of foreboding settled over me. This city, with its grandeur and history, held promises of safety, but it also held secrets. Secrets I wasn't sure I was ready to uncover.

When we pulled up to the gates of the imposing estate where we'd be staying, my breath hitched. The mansion loomed ahead, its towering facade a symbol of everything I wanted to escape yet couldn't.

And as we stepped inside, one thought kept echoing in my mind:

This isn't over. Not by a long shot.

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