Obsessive Flames of Love

14th October

“Let’s go for a walk?” Marina asked Tanvi when she was sending the last report for the day. Raised her head and gestured with her hand, “Five minutes.”

Marina nodded, “I’ll be outside.”

Tanvi finished her work and strode outside where Marina was waiting for her.

“Hmm. So, what’s up?” Tanvi asked with a smile while moving forward inhaling the fresh breeze.

“You need to say. How things were going on?”

“About?” Tanvi asked with a frown.

Marina chuckled, “your engagement.”

Tanvi’s cheeks reddened with the mention of it, she touched her nose while her eyes gleamed, “Riaan was coming in less than two weeks.”

“Wow! That’s good news.” Marina exclaimed lovingly while glancing at her.

“Hmm.”

“How about your parents? Are they satisfied?”

“Yep!! Both families agreed to it. My parents were like on cloud nine, their long-awaited dream was coming true.” Tanvi said becoming a little sentimental, remembering how much she delayed it and caused worry for her parents.

“At least it was happening now, be happy,” Marina said a gave a small hug.

…

Midnight. Sat in the home office, glancing at the pile of files, “Ugh. It’s the last stack.” Rudra sighed and quickly signed them and prepared everything ahead for the coming week, and settled all the issues which were left previously.

03:00 AM. Stretched his muscles while yawning and stood from his chair when realization dawned on him, “Since everything is done, I can finally meet her.” His eyes gleamed with the thought. Opened her snap and stared at her when his lips drew a smile instinctively.

15th October

10:00 AM. Holding the report in his hands, Rudra stood in front of the sprawling beach while unbuttoning his brown suit and placed it in his hands. Flipped the report open, his gaze settled on her picture and studied about her intently.

“It seems her parents are her world.” Bit his lips and dropped onto the nearby couch. “Whom should I meet?” Conflicted by his emotions, his brows scrunched when he uttered, remembering Maahir’s words, “Tanvi was trying to get married.”

“Ah!” Racked his hair, “I’m not understanding what to do with her.” He sighed, “I shouldn’t spoil my chance with her.” With that, he texted Maahir and Tamaz. “Come home.”

Soon, They both rushed with his message, and when they saw him sitting with a confused expression while massaging his temples, they silently exchanged glances and stood beside him.

“Ahem…” Tamaz fake coughed to get his attention, then Rudra raised his head and waved his hand to sit.

“Are you okay, Boss?” Maahir asked while knitting his brows and Rudra nodded.

“I’m not convinced,” blurted Tamaz bluntly.

“Ugh.”

“What’s bothering you?”

“Is it about Ms. Tanvi?” Maahir caught him since he’s aware of Rudra’s schedule ahead.

“You got me,” Rudra said while patting him with a triumphant smirk.

Tamaz chuckled, “you want us to help you out?”

“Yep!”

“What did you plan to do?” asked Tamaz.

Rudra shrugged his hands. “I don’t know. I’m all perplexed.”

“He likes Ms. Tanvi,” Maahir said in a flat tone when Rudra’s eyes popped out in a squint.

“I’m aware of it.”

Glanced at them, Rudra didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry.

“But, I don’t know how deep it is…?” Tamaz stressed to test the waters.

“Um. You can say pretty serious,” emphasized Rudra while scratching his head.

“You mean…?” stopped Maahir deliberately.

“I want her.”

“That’s it. Go to her.” blurted Tamaz with a contented smile plastered on his lips.

“The desire to love and get loved, and the need to nurture seem to go hand in hand. But…” paused Rudra while his lips pressed into a thin line.

Maahir and Tamaz waited for him to continue. Rudra averted his gaze, “I don’t know whether I can be able to protect her or not.”

“You can.” They said in unison.

“You’re more than capable enough to have the woman you want.” They added, understanding his fear to get attached.

“Hmm.”

“But, she’s trying to get married.” Rudra sighed.

“You don’t want to marry her?”

“Ah! It’s not that.”

“Then?”

“Uf!! I don’t know whether I’m ready for that or not at this moment.”

They stared at him dumbfounded while Rudra asked in annoyance, “what?”

“You want to give it a try?” They asked a little taken back by his statement.

“Nope! I want her more than anything, and I’m sure of it.” Rudra said decisively.

“Then…?”

“I don’t know from where to start?”

“What’s there in your mind?”

“I want to do it in the right manner without screwing it up.”

“By any chance, were you thinking to meet her parents?” Maahir asked out of the blue when Rudra nodded.

“What the fuck? Why’d you go to them directly?” Tamaz yelled with narrow eyes.

“Because they’re rushing her about marriage,” said Maahir by recalling her report.

“Ooh! So, you want to tell them firsthand?”

“Yep!”

“Then why to delay it? Go ahead.”

“Will it be a wise decision?” Rudra asked checking his pros and cons.

“Bro, who’d reject you?”

“Correct!” Maahir insisted.

“It’s not that. Without letting Tanvi know about it prior…”

“You’ll be telling her soon. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“Uh-huh.”

“On come on man, where’d the quick and effective Rudra went?”

Rudra chuckled, “okay then. I’m leaving now.” With that Rudra hopped onto his red Porsche.

…

On the way to Tanvi’s home, Rudra felt strange to seek her parent’s approval, though it’s a normal thing to do. But, since his relationship with his parents was complicated, an unfamiliar emotion settled in him.

03:00 PM. Tanvi’s home.

Stood in front of a five-floor apartment with traffic rumbles, rushing people, children’s laughter, birds humming, enclosed by green trees while dried leaves fell on the roads scurried with the hot breeze. “Hmm… not bad.” He mumbled.

“Thankgod, I any longer trapped in that car, and I don’t know what else I’ll think.” He muttered setting his messy hair.

Adjusted his cufflinks, Rudra knocked on their door. A woman around his mother’s age opened the door. Glancing at her, an image of Tanvi popped into his mind.

“If Tanvi ever wore a saree, she’ll be like her.” He pondered when his eyes brightened with the thought.

“Her black eyes, long braided hair, with clanking bangles, her facial features… resembled Tanvi. She seemed to be her mother, Mrs. Ananya Agarwal.” he thought.

Greeting her politely, he was uncomfortably aware that he didn’t want to make a bad impression on their first meeting. Her eyes widened looking at him, “You’re… The president of Chauhan Group?” She asked in little bewildered.

Rudra nodded, thinking, “I should keep my temper at bay here. I shouldn’t piss them off knowing how much they mean to Tanvi.”

“Can I come in?” Rudra asked. She quickly came back from her daze and politely welcomed him into their house.

Rudra sat on a leather sofa in their living room, which apparently, maybe the size of his kitchen. An aroma of dishes wafted over him, which sounds familiar to his taste buds. “Living this normal life, with basic amenities, might not be as bad as I thought.” He presumed.

Soon, Tanvi’s father, Vedant Agarwal, stepped out of a room and took a seat when Rudra greeted him, “Hi, Uncle.”

“Hi!” Vedant said softly.

He’s approximately his father’s age but the wrinkles, greyish hair, the weak appearance made him much older. Observing him, a familiar warmth exuded from him revealed, “Tanvi got his cheerfulness.” Rudra speculated.

“How’re you doing, uncle?”

“I’m doing good, Mr. Chauhan.”

“You can call me Rudra.” He said nonchalantly when Vedant’s eyes widened, “what made him come here?” Vedant was lost in his thoughts and couldn’t find any clue behind it.

“Why’re you here, Rudra?”

Hearing that, Rudra’s obsidian amber eyes turned a shade darker since he doesn’t like it when others questioned him. His gaze landed on Vedant and realized Vedant was watching him.

Took a deep breath, and composed himself, “It’s their right to know.” With that, “It’s about Tanvi.” Rudra said.

“Hmm.”

“Ahem…” Sat upright and gazed in the eye, “I want to marry Tanvi.” Rudra admitted and his face went pale.

Rudra didn’t understand, “I know she’s single.” He squinted, “Then what’s with that expression?”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Rudra, but Tanvi’s engagement was fixed.”

“What?”

“Yes.” Vedant bit his lips looking at the regret in Rudra’s eyes.

“Ah… when it happened?” His eyes narrowed with a frown.

“It didn’t happen yet. It’s on October 29th.”

“Oh!” Rudra opened his mouth, but the words weren’t coming out. The bottom of his stomach dropped out as he momentarily blinked, sure he must have misheard.

“On…?”

“29th of this month.”

As reality set in Rudra began to feel his hackles rise. He’d been gone one month and now she was engaged? Temper boiled beneath his cool surface and he knew he needed to get out.

Quickly thanking them, Rudra took his leave and practically sprinted to the car.

…