The chariots of the rain god retreated back to his clutches, for the purpose of blessing the earth with a rejuvenating downpour, was served.
Yet, the dark clouds were left in its wake imperceptibly, with an unsatiated desire.

Trees swaying in light breeze, seemed to dance in joy. The small beads like rain drops slid down the tree leaves and dropped lightly over the weeds beneath, like a mother's loving pat before sleep.

The sweet earthy smell permeating from the firm soil bed was somewhat, soothing.

However, the dark expanse of the teetering shadows, accompanied by the echoing howling wind, certainly, brought along the sense of treachery.

Shadows, masked hidden moves, sheltered backstabbing enemies.
Born of light yet shied away from it.
Always had used you as a shield yet conspired against you, behind your back.

Rudra rolled down the glass screen and let the harsh wind lovingly, sting his cheeks. His eyes gleamed dangerously, roaming all across the nerve- chilling dark expanse.

Darkness, shadows, fear; these wonderful gifts of nature, had always been his favourite. Often, helping him in more ways than necessary.

The cars dashed past the roads, seemingly on their way to the Rathore Palace.

Rudra brushed the strands away. Leaving few things here and there, the night had been more enjoying than he anticipated.

He leaned against the backseat, arms- wide splayed over the headrest. His gaze, however, never left the view.

This was what his body had been demanding, the play. The blood rushing through his veins, adrenaline kicking in with full force and most important of all, the blood adorning his hands.
That was ecstatic.
Too bad he had to scrub it all so fast.

Rudra's lips then, curled into a cryptic smile. The night was even more fruitful. The taste of its sweetness was still lingering on his tongue.

"I love you... Rudra."

Gauri.

His Gauri, rewarded him with a presumable fruit of his hardwork.

Everything turned out to be the way he wanted. The way he planned.

The lips took a more cruel twist.

Rudra couldn't forget her face. So vulnerable, innocent, utterly confused and... immeasurably in love with him.

He almost felt bad for her. Almost.

Had he been aware of this euphoria, he would have made her fall for him, extraordinarily fast. But guess, better late than never.

A chuckle left his mouth.

"Damn right amazing."

.
.
.

Vijayendra lit, what-appeared-to-be, his third cigar.

For the first time in his life, he was afraid of a person other than his father.

Yes, the mighty Vijayendra was afraid of his own son, Rudra.

Rings of smoke rose high in a futile attempt to touch the ceiling of the humongous study room, only to vanish in thin air.

Vijayendra's eyes seemed faraway, perhaps lost in the past.

He could never forget those brown eyes and the golden fire swirling in them.

His memory as fresh as a bloom of flower, always brought the disturbing images of those eyes which stared at him; accusing him, condemning him but more than that... pitying him.

Vijayendra abruptly closed his eyes and exhaled loudly. He coughed once, twice, continuously.

A hand stretched in front of him, offering a glass of water.

Vijayendra grabbed the glass with an unmistakable poise.
Drowning his throat with the water, he glanced up.

His gaze locked with the same brown eyes with golden glitter in them.

These eyes, however, were different than what he remembered. These eyes held indecipherable calmness and mirth.

Rudra grinned.
"Did you wait long, daata?"

Vijayendra's eyes snapped towards clock.

"Raghuveer kako sa is still busy, ordering the guards. Guess, I arrived early," Rudra said with a grin.

Rudra turned to acknowledge the other two occupants of the room, Siddharth and Veer.

"Thank you, Sid. Will take it from here. You may retire to your room," Rudra said.

Siddharth opened his mouth to ask something but Rudra beat him to that.

"Don't worry, everything's fine now," Rudra assured.

Siddharth's tensed shoulders relaxed visibly. A sigh of relief left his mouth.

Rudra grinned mentally,
"Dearest brother of his darling sister."

Siddharth nodded and walked out. Indeed, it had been a strenuous night, mentally.

Veer's whole demeanor changed from the moment his elder brother walked in. He kept staring at Rudra.

Rudra scanned Veer cautiously and then, smiled.

"Dear brother, it would be best if you had a good night's sleep now. Tomorrow's going to be a long day, for you."

Veer stood up and without a word, walked out.

The notorious shine on Rudra's face brightened even more.

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.
.

"Do you mind telling me, where were you tonight?" Vijayendra asked sternly.

Rudra smiled.
"As a matter of fact, I do mind."

Vijayendra shot a glare at his son.
"You don't possibly understand that..."

"Why daata?" Rudra intervened.

His face darkened and a cold smile stretched across his face.

"I have told you, it doesn't matter, anymore. Perhaps, you should know that. Why do you burden yourself with my problems? Despite assuring you thousands of time, you interfere in my business." Rudra paused.

"You already have a lot in your plate, right now."

Vijayendra banged the table.
"I am your father. I ought to be worried for you."

"And I am your son. You should know that I do, whatever I do, with perfection," Rudra spoke in a dignified manner.

Vijayendra slumped against his chair, suddenly feeling tired, very tired.

"This is dangerous."

Rudra smirked. His face shinning with zeal.
"I play with danger. It's like a second nature to me, you know."

Vijayendra slipped the spectacles out of his hold. His shoulders drooped a little, only a little. It was a known fact, Vijayendra never ever, as of, flinched when in company of others.

"How much more?" He muttered. His tone holding a strange pain.

Rudra's eyes steeled and he slipped into an emotionless mask.

"How much more, Rudra? How many years? How much more should I repent?" Vijayendra looked nowhere in particular.

"I carry the burden, every single minute. Every single day of my life. Tell me, my son," Vijayendra paused.

"Will I ever get rid of this burden, in this life?" He asked.

Rudra stared ahead, not meeting his father's gaze.

"Will you ever forgive me?"
Vijayendra's eyes turned glossy.

Rudra's emotionless mask never broke, not a single crack.

"You assume a lot, daata."

Vijayendra closed his eyes in defeat. Everytime, he had been hearing the same reply. He knew, that was a diplomatic answer. Neither did his son agree, nor did he disagree.

But Vijayendra was tired now. How much more will he burn in this ages long fire of repentation?

Outside, he might look tough, but from inside, he had turned to ashes long back.
Sometime he thought, what if he could go back in time and change his actions. Would the past have, then, been a little less excruciating?

.
.
.

"Don't divert, daata. This discussion will take you nowhere. Let's focus on the matters in hand," Rudra said after a long pause.

Vijayendra regained his lost momentum and straightened. Shutting down the barrier of emotions, he stared at Rudra.

"What is it?"

Rudra spinned the paperweight. His fingers effortlessly, rotating it in an imaginary axis.

"Devendra Raj was approached by Kanhaiya Lal. Seemingly, opposition party is too eager to recruit your newest and youngest rival."

Vijayendra smirked.
"They are fools if they think that, the insolent brat can stand against me."

Rudra stopped spinning the paperweight. His expressions hardened.

"Devendra Raj."

Rudra's face lit up with a malicious shine.

"He is already creating troubles. I had warned him but he took me lightly."

His expressions darkened with malevolence.

Vijayendra witnessed the change of expression with astonishment filling up his every fibre. Did he just see his father's reflection?

No.

It was more.

This intensity was more than what his father had.
Rudra Pratap Rathore was a puzzle, a mystery. Vijayendra couldn't unravel him, he was sure of that.

"Nevermind," Rudra said cheekily.
"Tell me about those traitors."

Vijayendra adjusted his spectacles back.
"I am working on it."

Rudra looked at him incredulously.

"You disappoint me. Still working?
You should have been attending their funerals, by now."

"They are the ministers of my party. It's not that easy," Vijayendra defended.

Rudra grinned, "Common daata, where's the fire in you?
If you wanted them out of your way, they would be dead."

"They would." Vijayendra smiled.
"They don't deserve to live after joining hands with them."

"So, when shall I bring glycerines? And that long speech, I'm gonna deliver in their funeral ceremonies?" Rudra said cheekily.

"Soon."

Vijayendra laughed.

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.
.

Rudra's forehead creased. He engrossed himself in deep thinking which didn't go unnoticed by Vijayendra.

"What's the matter?"

"I am 27," Rudra answered.

Vijayendra frowned, "Yes, you are."

"I think, I should get married now," Rudra said seriously.

"Yes, you... What did you just say?" Vijayendra asked in bewilderment.

"Married. I should get married," Rudra repeated his words.

Vijayendra stared at his son in silence, totally shocked.

"Anyways. Have a meeting to attend tomorrow. Good night, daata."

Vijayendra still stared at the closed doors.

"I pray to almighty to provide extra strength to my future daughter-in-law. Only god can help her."

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.
.

Gauri sneezed loudly.

"Bless you. Seems like someone's recalling you." Savitri smiled.

Gauri frowned.
"I think it's cold. Leave it. I'm off to bed, now."

Gauri dried off her hair. She had been more than happy to get out of that saree.

"God! I am never gonna wear it again but..."

She rushed to her cupboard and scrambled through it.

A smile spread on her face when she found her black salwar suit.

"Gauri..."

Gauri jerked off the dress and closed her cupboard hurriedly. Her pupils dilated when she turned around.

There stood Rudra, with a perfect teasing smile.

He had changed himself into a fresh set of clothes.

"Wha... what are you... d... doing here?"
Gauri looked around frantically, praying her mother wouldn't walk in on them, somehow.

"Ain't I allowed now?" Rudra feigned a hurt look.

"By the way, you sure know how to impress me," he said.

Gauri was confused.

"You know, I love black."

Rudra smirked.

Gauri blushed a brilliant shade of crimson.

"You..." she trailed off.

Rudra walked forward.

"I..." he whispered.

In no time, Rudra closed the distance backing Gauri against the cupboard.

"I wouldn't mind a good night kiss," Rudra said and started leaning forward.

Gauri could only gaze at him with wide open eyes.

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.
.

"Gauri..."

"Gauri..."

Savitri shook her daughter for the upteenth time who was staring at the mirror with widened eyes.

"Gauri," Savitri yelled.

Gauri snapped out of her daze.

Colours of embarassment flooded her cheeks. Was she dreaming? With open eyes?

She looked at the floor in a pleading manner.

"Please swallow me up."

Savitri cleared her throat.

"You have been through a lot today. Go sleep."

Gauri nodded like a child.

All of a sudden, she stopped in her track.

"Maa, you sleep with me tonight," Gauri said concernedly, her eyes roaming across the room.

"What if he comes for real?"