The huge chandelier glittered in pride, reflecting all the glasses of wine that had been raised to propose a toast.

The exquisite celebration-hall was thoroughly bathed in light and decorations, leaving a lingering taste of elegance on the palate. Long and heavy curtains hung from the high end and pooled gracefully on the floor while some were wound around the designer pillars, enhancing their intricacies. Not to be mentioned, the white orchids swathed along the arches and spirals and adorning each of the buffet tables provided an aesthetic relief to the eyes.

Rudra had a smile plastered on his face. A smile — that was good-naturedly threatening and imperceptible — did draw a lot more attention to him as well as instill a slight fear among the onlookers. There were two reasons for the smile.

First, because the party's limelight was on him, much to his brother's curtailed displeasure. Finally, it was time to add a face to his name. All the more powerful. His father could only be none the more pleased with the turnouts. After all, this party had already been delayed so much under the pretext of his ministers' 'untimely' demise.

He met his father's glance and tipped his glass in air, toasting with a poise. Vijayendra did the same whilst laughing and sipping more of the alcohol.

Second, Rudra felt unnaturally amused, and he could not pin-point the cause of his amusement. There were many reasons on this night of celebration.

He twirled the glass effortlessly by its neck, not taking in even a drop of the alcoholic beverage as expected from himself. Rudra did not drink, or smoke, nor did he take interest in narcotics.

His eyes did a quick scan over his family members with the Royal entourage at their service.

Veer, for the first time, wasn't acting like person — for the lack of better terms — high on drugs. Or glaring at the people as if he would crush them beneath his shoe. He was holding up good with the people around. A smile lit his face, reluctant nonetheless.

Aadya was a sight to behold in her designer baby pink dress, playing with a glass of similar coloured mocktail. Currently, she was entertaining another rich-spoilt brat who had already fallen torso-deep in love with her. Rudra grinned as Aadya drew out another soft peal of laughter, sending the man almost on his knees. Rudra noticed; just by a look at his baby sister's face, he knew how vehemently she wanted to poison her companion. Her eyes met his for a fugitive moment. He mouthed 'go on' with a smile to which he received a sheepish smile from her.

All in all, he thought his mother was the only one who was holding up any genuine conversations. A sophisticated queen and a perfect hostess of the party. And Rudra certainly did not miss the group she was greeting to.

He peered over the female occupants of the party. Him being the centre of attention since the moment he walked down, he did not miss any of it.

Donned in the finest Italian suit with a black band-collar button-down shirt underneath, formal leather shoes and a heavy Rolex watch encircling his left wrist, and his long-lush hair kept in usual style; Rudra was living upto the definition of being quite a head-turner and jaw-dropper in black. Young women were all smiles and rainbows, vying for his attention and mothers were religiously paving paths for their daughters with hook or crook.

Siddharth sauntered over to his place beside him, nursing his glass of white wine. As expected from a party such lavish, liquor was on free flow.

Rudra exchanged his drink with a new glass of sparkling water as a server did him the courtesy.

"This is what we call a high profile celebration. In the name of the crown prince, Rudra Pratap Rathore," Siddharth said.

Both clinked their glasses together.

With the way Siddharth trailed him, Rudra mused as to why his friend wasn't already attached to his shadow. But everyone had their reasons, and Siddharth had one too that Rudra knew very well.

"I despise them all with a passion," Rudra stated, passing another acknowledging glance towards a group of socialites.

Siddharth sniggered, adding a little more booze to his system.
"Careful, bro. Your ways of hating can be... confounding. They might take it as your love."

"I don't want it otherwise," Rudra concurred, smiling his million-dollar-smile at a woman in red which earned him a brilliant blush and exaggerated sway of hips.

"God forbid! I cannot hate such parties," he added, more seriously than he intended. This all had almost become a part of his life. He did not want to spend his life hating it.

"In spite of everything, you would think Devendra Raj would not show up in his rival's party. But he did," Siddharth bit out, referring to the brief visit Devendra had payed sometime ago.

"Sid," Rudra addressed, clicking his tongue.
"You need to reframe the statement."

He stared at Vijayendra and spoke, "In spite of everything, you would think my father would not invite his youngest rival and probable enemy. But he did." He smiled.

"The things they do for politics."

Siddharth eyed Rudra through his periphery, downing his drink in a go. He had always admired Rudra for his reasoning and also for his gift to alter emotions while putting forth his thoughts into words.

"You look awfully happy about something tonight. What is it?" Siddharth questioned.

"Perhaps, we could meet up some other day." Rudra remembered her words from two days prior.

"I have to do something really important tonight."
The gold in his eyes shifted meticulously for a fraction of second.

Grinning from ear to ear, he faced Siddharth. The latter raised eyebrows with unsurety, knowing well that a deal with the devil was up for him.

"Cover up for me, bro---"

"Oh no, you see," Siddharth chuckled nervously, "no, no, no. No way in the hell! No. The party has just started and you are planning to ditch it. By all means, go ahead but I do not have a hand in this."

"Oh, trust me, I will. For a fact, I know that you're going to end up covering up for me."

Siddharth groaned, "He knows it."

"Damn you, Rudra."

"Thanks, Sid," Rudra offered, smiling and turning to slip away unnoticed.

"On a second thought, bro," He turned around abruptly.
"Use Veer as a cover. I see him enjoying this a tad too much than what I can swallow."

Siddharth took a minute to discover Veer's smiling face, then turned around only to find Rudra gone.

Sighing wearily, he picked up another glass of wine which he would be needing, no doubt.

"Well! Here goes nothing."

.
.
.

A loud thunderclap reverberated through the air.

Gauri shuddered, unconsciously gripping the cutlery in her hand.

The weather was being pretentious today with all that picked up wind and thunder but no sign of rain so far. The humidity had risen up a notch. Nothing that she couldn't bear, even with her hair out of the usual messy bun.

It was funny now that she thought about it. She had always wanted to test her bravery and perseverance, she just did not how to. God was being merciful to her, indeed. Because these past days and even months, she had been but in and out of fire consistently. Every incident loaned her another installment of her bravery.

Putting up a smile when everything was wrong; that was valour, and she was brave. Fighting each day even though you did not know whom to fight against, even though the circumstances were precariously unfavourable; that was battle, and she was a fighter.

She had learnt every process of every situation by now. She had been there, done it all, had been dragged down again and had a repeat of all that. She had had so much adventure these days; good, bad. And yet, there was this tiny incessant voice that mocked her from inside, 'there's more coming'. What now?

"What now?" She exhaled as the door bell rang twice.

She rushed out to open the door, not letting Rajveer open it.
"I'll get it, Mamo sa."

A fresh breath of air greeted her as she swung the door open, not just literally.

Dependability could be bad; it was a truth. Dependability could be good at times; it was another truth. There were two: the dependable and the dependent; both were strong in their own way.

The dependable knew, they had the competency to be relied on. On the other hand, the dependent relied on them with the preliminary knowledge of how easily their trust could be broken. Dependability did not make anyone coward or weak. It only made them human in a long run called life.

However slow, a smile as beautiful as heaven took over Gauri's features.

Rudra did not even get to take off his biker's mask as a delicate pair of arms wound around his neck, embracing him with a fervour.

Gauri immersed her head, resting her forehead on his shoulder. She let out a breathless chuckle when her feet lifted off of the floor whilst being caught up in a tight embrace by him.

Rudra's hand traced the length of her spine and came to rest at the nape of her neck, whereas the other remained around her waist, holding her firmly to his body.

Gauri's heart whispered in all seriousness, this was what she had been wanting all these days; someone to rely on, someone to lean on, someone to protect her, someone she loved with all her might. Her Rudra.

She felt relaxed.
She felt unburdened.
She felt... relieved.

So much was there to feel and make him feel that she actually forgot where she was and who could walk in on them.

Rudra's gaze moved ever so slightly towards the self-invited stature of Rajveer who was standing in utter awkwardness. He pulled Gauri impossibly closer in his presence. Nothing could match the satisfaction he felt as Rajveer's face contorted in displeasure. Luckily, his mask hid his rather controversial delight, he wouldn't want to give up. Yet.

It was only after the ladies made their presence known that Rudra let his hands relax out of the embrace.

"Rudra, yo---" Gauri's cheerful voice muted, given that she was cautiously turned around to face her family.

Rudra took off his biker's mask and ran his fingers through his hair. His elated eyes solely rested on Rajveer.

Gauri's heart begged to be let out of the constricting ribcage. What had she done?

"Rudra," Mori Kunwar acknowledged his presence politely, unlike her fuming son.
"At this hour of night?"

"This couldn't be delayed any further," Rudra said, humourlessly.
"I am already two days late to her call."

Savitri spared a glance to her daughter who stood pale and unsure of the happenings. She was unsure too.

"She called me, sounding tensed and seeking my company. I noted that she had a tough day but I was too caught up in my job to lend her an ear. Now I... "

Rudra took a brief pause, calculating everyone's expression.

"... do not tolerate negligence, as you see me standing here."

"That's very... reliable of you as a friend," Moti Kunwar voiced out, smiling.

Gauri's shoulder relaxed visibly. She tucked her anxiety and tension beneath an overstretched smile. She would have sent another set of prayer to god. Alas! Her relief was short-spanned.

After having a good laugh, scornful as it might sound, Rudra spoke,

"I am sorry, did you just say friend? Do you really think we're friends?"

Swearing on her sanity, Gauri had deemed Rudra more of a guy who played with his words and modified the truth, if necessary. This was not a slip up. This was all on purpose.

"I am not ready for this, am I?"

"The thing your granddaughter and I have in between us is much... much beyond friendship. Friendship may not be the right term."

"Angel."

Gauri waited. Although he did not face her, she could feel the mirth drained off of his voice, and someone as dangerous as raging storm standing beside her.

"Haven't you told them about you and me and us?" He quipped.

Rajveer had been tested to his limits tonight. Had there been any other person in Rudra's place, he would have dragged him out by his collars. He could not, though. He owed Rudra a lot.

He knew. And he knew, Rudra knew that too.

"Gauri is in love with me."

Everything had a limit, however. Rajveer had one too.

"You... "

"I do not have to hear it from you about her marriage proposal, Mr. Singh. Nor do I intend to disclose about you and Mr. Shekhawat," Rudra said solemnly, plunging the room into silence.

Bleeding silence.

Rajveer nearly took a step back, partly owing to the feral intensity in Rudra's eyes and rest to his words. No one could ever know about his deep dark secrets. His single irreversible sin.

Gauri did forget to breathe for a second or two. How did he know? What else did he know? And most important question of all:

"What the hell is happening here?"

"I... I don't understand," Rajveer trailed off, finally emerging out with apt words.

"My bad, sir," Rudra - more or less - mocked. "Forgive me if I am going too far, do you really think you could hide it forever... "

"... that Jaswant Singh Shekhawat had been impelling this marriage proposal on you for almost a year now. As far as my knowledge concerns, he had been anything but decent."

Rajveer released the breath, he didn't know he was holding back.

"How did you know?" Rajveer asked, frowning.

"I know more than you know," Rudra spoke enigmatically.

"That said," Moti Kunwar's voice did the necessary intervention.
"I want to know why you are here, Rudra."

"As I said," Rudra said, smiling.
"Things have been delayed far too long. It's time to act upon."

Rudra took Gauri's hand in a tight grip, staring dead in her eyes.

She saw... nothing.
Absolutely no emotions on his face or in his eyes.

"Marry me."

*****

I had come across many of you who think that BTH is a fan fiction only because it has Prabhas and Anushka casted as the protagonists.

According to Wikipedia, "Fan fiction is a type of fictional text written by fans of any work of fiction where the author uses copyrighted characters, settings, or other intellectual properties from an original creator as a basis for their writing."

My characters are mine. Their copyrights solely belong to me. So, unless and until I use Pranushka as characters or use any of their reel characters, I do not think that I am writing a fan fiction.

There is a very thin line between fiction and fan fiction. I had noticed it from my day one here. There you go, I finally put it somewhere. Sorry, if I came out as rude or offended anyone.

Thanks.

Love you all ❤❤❤