Obsessive Flames of Love

08:00 PM

Rudra was driving his Maserati alone when the roads were illuminated by the street lights. Supposedly, he should be in a relieved mode since the meetings went well and according to his plan, but an uneasy feeling was building up in his stomach, making him feel restless.

His grip tightened on the steering, “Why I’m sensing that something was about to go wrong?” Racked his hair in annoyance, “Was Diana up to cause trouble again?” His amber eyes turned perilous with the thought of Diana.

“Ah! I couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was it.” He sighed and when he was about to dial Maahir, his screen lit up.

“Boss!! Ms. Tanvi was at a bar. She collected all her files and stuff from her office.”

Listening to that, his eyes widened. Stopped the car aside, his lips pressed into a thin line, “why did she do that? What the hell happened over there?” He pondered.

“Ugh. This wasn’t going to work.” With that, he dialed Maahir.

“Boss!”

“Did anything happen at Tanvi’s office?”

“Um… I’m not sure, Boss. You want me to find it out?” Maahir asked a little startled.

“Hm.” Rudra unbuttoned his suit and hit the steering in frustration.

Hearing the sound, Maahir understood the seething anger in Rudra, “Okay. I’ll update you soon.”

In a few minutes, Maahir called, “Boss. Ms. Tanvi made a huge mistake at work today, which caused her entire department’s software to crash and created a huge loss for them. So, Mr. Henry Paul fired her.”

“Okay!!”

Fiddled with his fingers, “She was fired!” He murmured when Tamaz dialed.

“Huh! What does he want now?” Rudra thought and lifted at the third ring.

“Tamaz?”

“Where are you?”

“On my way home. Why?” He inquired with narrowed eyes.

“You heard that Tanvi was fired?” asked Tamaz in an arduous tone.

Stunned, “you knew it?”

Tamaz squinted, “um. Just.”

Silence danced, not knowing what to say when Tamaz questioned, “what are you going to do?”

“Uh! I don’t know. I presumed she’ll make some mistakes but being fired was unexpected.” He shook dejectedly.

“You don’t know? Don’t be dumb, go to her.” Tamaz added dramatically.

“What??” His eyes widened and stopped the car suddenly.

“Yes! Instead of you suffocating yourself, go and stay beside her,” said Tamaz as a matter of fact.

“Huh?”

Tamaz chuckled, “you don’t want to see her?”

“I do. But…” He gaped and scratched his head awkwardly.

“Do you want her to suffer alone?” Tamaz deadpanned.

“No!” He said with determination.

“That’s it. I don’t want to listen to anything. Go now!”

He remained dumbfounded. “Ugh!! Okay.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Rudra scrolled decisively through his contacts until he found Maahir.

“Maahir!! I want the bar empty. Reserve the entire place under my name. I don’t want anyone to create a scene over there seeing us.” He ordered.

…

An hour later

Rudra entered the bar and spotted her at a corner table. Vodka to her lips, she seemed deep in thought.

His heart ached for her. “I want to make her mine!! Right now. Right here!!” After giving the impulse a second thought, he realized he shouldn’t.

Still, he stared at the sad, but intelligent face and thought her beautiful. Maybe not in the commercialized way his previous dates had been, but better. Real.

Striding directly across the room, he sat in front of her. She didn’t notice immediately. His eyes glued onto her when she was busy with her thoughts.

Her gaze was on the ceiling while sipping the vodka in a daze while a grieving expression settled on her not so beautiful face. Noticing the glass was empty, her slender fingers searched to grab another shot on the table.

Unfortunately, her intoxication wasn’t allowing her to do it properly, and the glass in her hand slipped down. Her black eyes focussed on the fully polished shoes on the floor.

Eyed upwards to his waist, his broad shoulders, sharp jawline, obsidian-amber eyes, his messy hair with a cold and ruthless face stood in front of her. She gaped in surprise as if she identified the man.

But her boozing blurred her thoughts, squeezed shut her eyes, and opened them. Yet, she’s unable to recognize the stunningly handsome man. An unapproachable vibe from him tells her that he’s not the one to be trifled with.

Her instincts were telling her that she knew him, “his features were similar to a man I know.” She scrutinized him without batting an eye.

“Wait… who does… he resemble? Uf! I don’t know.” She sputtered and exhaled in annoyance while placing the glass on the clumsy table.

“Why was everything spinning around?” She mumbled while resting her hands on her chin when her sharp eyes turned to doe-eyed.

“You’re also revolving.” She said, pointing her index finger towards him in a numb tone when he chuckled.

Rubbing her eyes, she became a little sober, “you’re still present?” Gazing at the rooted man, “Who are you? What do you want?” She questioned with a stern face.

“You have quite a temper, dear!!!” He said and chuckled at her spontaneous change of emotions.

Her eyes widened with the domineering, yet alluring voice, “I heard it before.” Licked her lips, “but where? when?” She pondered batting her finger on her temple, “uh! My mind wasn’t working properly.” She concluded and realized, “he said dear?”

Raised her head with an arched brow, “What the heck!!! I’m already at my lowest point. I don’t want any more trouble” She thought.

Looking at the man again, she was puzzled, “The entire bar was empty. You can go to another table and have your drink.” She said irritably since she’s in no position to identify anything.

He didn’t respond. “It seems he won’t go.” She understood.

Peeped at his stone-cold face, her gaze lingered across his amber eyes.

Those deep pools of dark-cinnamon swirls seized the depth and heaviness of one thousand untold stories, which imprisoned the raw emotion. The hard stare turned soft on her, revealing an infinite warmth that engulfs her in a comforting embrace.

She was lost in the depths of his obsidian eyes when an overwhelming sensation pricked her heart. The aching she had in her torn heart was soothed in his mesmerizing stare. Her heart skipped a beat for him.

“Stop drooling my dear Tanvi!!!!” He smirked.

She instantly averted her gaze and cupped her reddened cheeks as her whole body turned hot. Then the realization struck her, “he mentioned my name.” She gaped in shock, “how did he know my name?” She questioned herself.

“How are you feeling?” He asked in a soft tone.

“I’m not feeling well.”

“What the fuck!!! Why did I answer him?” She doesn’t even understand why?

Something in him was drawing her towards his charming presence. “He seemed good. There weren’t any lurking bad vibes from him.” She reflected and let her guard down while observing him intently.

“Bring me red wine.” He ordered, glancing at the waiter in a nonchalantly intimidating way.

Seeing her stare, he turned his focus onto her, and his cold gaze turned soft, emanating a high intensity of warmth from them.

Noticed for a while in silence, “he’s becoming soft with me. But why? How did he know me?” she recalled.

“May I know you?” She asked while fidgeting with her hair playfully.

“I’m Ishaan Rudra Chauhan, the CEO of Chauhan Group of Companies.” He said.

Gaped her mouth, she stayed still, “that’s why I felt I knew him.” Swallowed her words, “everything made perfect sense now. My hunches were correct, but my drunkenness didn’t recognize him.”

Rubbed her hand across her nape, “why he’s here?”

She stared onto the floor, “Why he’s talking to me? Did I by any means offend him?” Questions assaulted her already messed up brain. Her quivered lips opened and closed shut.

“I know he won’t usually meet anyone without an appointment except when someone offended him. But here, he came by himself?” She winced in bewilderment when her grip on her dress tightened, and her thoughts are running wild.