The rain had stopped, but the air inside Rudran's apartment still felt heavy with everything unsaid.

Aarna pulled back slightly, her fingers still brushing against Rudran's shirt. Neither of them spoke for a moment, breaths mingling in the quiet room. The weight of what had just happened hung between them—sweet, terrifying, and inevitable.

"I should..." Aarna started, stepping back and smoothing her kurti, suddenly very aware of how close they had been.

"Yeah... work," Rudran replied, though neither of them moved toward their respective tasks.

The hum of the inverter fan filled the silence. For the first time, it wasn't comforting.

"Rudra..." Aarna broke the silence, her voice softer than usual. "Does this change things?"

Rudran ran a hand through his hair, looking at her with an intensity that made her want to run and stay at the same time. "I hope it does. But I don't want to rush you. We can figure it out together."

Before Aarna could respond, the front door creaked.

"Looks like the storm finally gave up," Roopa's cheerful voice echoed from the doorway.

Aarna and Rudran shared a wide-eyed look. They both instinctively stepped back. The world, it seemed, had returned too soon.

Aarna immediately went to pick up a glass and tried filling water with trembling hands while Rudran hurriedly stepped out with sweat beads on his forehead.

Roopa who saw Aarna's laptop on the teapoy knew she was here and when she heard footsteps coming from kitchen she looked up at Rudran who was looking unusual just the way he looked after discreeting stealing cookies from the jar she used to hide in the kitchen when he was a kid.

Just by taking a look at her son she knew something has happened and almost could guess what it was. She always knew the untold admiration her son had on Aarna and she could have been so happy if she saw this development before she went to the village but now she was afraid that things could get complicated.

Just then Aarna came from the kitchen seemingly calm(trying) with a glass of water in her hand and said "oh! Aunty you are here already. Has the storm reduced."

Roopa loved Aarna like her own daughter so to make it easy for her children she decided to not pry on this situation and look after what is to be done next.

"Yes Devi. The storm has subsided" Her voice lacked the excitement she always had when conversing with Aarna and Rudran could already guess that her mother had connected the dots.

That's when He decided that he should open up to his mother as soon as possible about whatever that is brewing him and Aarna. He never wish to hide anything from his mother.

Just as it was the clue. The power was back and the inverter clinked loudly. Aarna who feeling the tension in the hall wanted to escape found the opportunity to slip.

"Oh, The power's back! Thank you Rudra for letting me use your Wifi. I will be leaving now."

Roopa who would usually stop her had stayed silent still thinking something while her eyes never left her son.

After Aarna left Rudra finally stepped towards his mother, held her hand and dragged her to the couch. He made her sit and sat down near her legs like every other time. 

He looked into her eyes and said "Amma I like Aarna and she seems to like me too. We want to move forward with this. I know this is sudden and unexpected but she is a nice girl and you that well....(deep breath) Please say something."

"Do my ideas and words matter to you Rudra?" Roopa asked in a slow voice looking into her son's eyes.

"yes 'ma. Why are you even asking that, don't you already know the answer." He spoke startled by her question.

"Then forget about Aarna." She said in a single breath.
Rudran who did not expect this stood up and asked shocked "What?.. Why.. why would you say that."

"I am sorry Rudra as your mother and a women who married for love I know how cruel I may seem now but for once do this for me. If this is something that happened before my visit to my home I would have been the happiest person on Earth. I love Aarna like my own daughter. I have seen her, I know she would be a wonderful partner to you but now that idea should die."

"What are you saying 'ma? It does not make any sense. What happened in the village?" Rudran asked sad, frustrated and confused on everything that's happening.

"Your Grandfather is in a bad shape and the doctors have said that he has very less time left. He has been feeling guilty for not accepting my love in the past and my brother, you mama(Vikas Gowda) and his wife (Leelavati) have been nothing but sweet to me the entire time.  Your grandfather asked me a favor, that is to marry my brother's daughter Nivedita to you. He wants the fallen apart family to unite again this way and that was his last wish." 

She looked at her son as a few tears escaped her eyes squeezing Rudran's heart and said "I know its unfair to you but I forgive my father and for the time I left him behind I want to repay by fulfilling his wish. Please forgive me for taking such a big decision for you."

Rudran wiped her tears, his own turning red looking at his mother at this state. he shook his head silently asking her to not cry and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath he said "Amma you are my everything. Whatever you say is always right and if you want this to happen your way. Then let this be. Anyways we... Aarna and me, we are still in the beginning and it is easier to let go. I will talk to her and she will understand."

He held Roopa's cheeks with both hands and said looking into her eyes "And why are you sorry Amma. You are my everything. I will do anything for you, and it still won't equal to what you have done for me. A mother is always right and will do the best for her children doesn't she ?."

At that moment Roopa felt something in her heart, she felt like the luckiest mother in the world to have a son like Rudra and also like the baddest mother for doing this to him. She did not promise anything to her family and said she will discuss this with Rudra before saying anything but she hoped that by this marriage she can finally be guilt free for leaving her family for love. She does not regret but she can only imagine how her parents felt at that time as she is a mother herself now.

Later that evening

Rudra was standing on the terrace of their apartment looking at the messy roads and fallen trees. After storm effects. He messaged Aarna to come and was waiting for her.

RUDRA'S POV:

I felt a hand on my shoulder which bought me back from my thoughts. This is very hard for me but it is necessary.

I looked aside to find Aarna looking at me worried. 

"What happened? Did aunty say anything. You look bothered.." The way she asked looking at my eyes alternatively did something to me.

I turned my back to her and inhaled a deep breath before telling her everything. She deserved all the good in the world and I imagined looking after her like I look after my mother but maybe it is not written in my fate.

After I explained everything "I am sorry Aarna for giving you hope. I really thought we could work but I cannot see my mother sad, she is my everything..." I stopped when her hand reached for my hand which was on the railing but stopped an inch away. I closed my eyes.

"You don't have to explain any further Rudra. I always adorned the bond between you and your mother and from what I have seen I know how much you love your mother...Do what your mother says. Aunty will always do the best for you and about us...(deep breath) maybe we were not meant to be. I will cherish all the moments we spent together."

AUTHOR'S POV:

Tears dropped from Aarna's eyes but she was glad Rudra could not see that as he was facing the other side and the same goes for Rudra as well, tears left his eyes and he could sense the pain in her voice even though she tried so hard to sound normal.

Both are suffering. Each of them felt their heart's bleeding. Though they spent very little time together, they felt a deeper connection with each other. Almost felt like the feelings were as natural as breathing and like they were meant to be and this sudden commotion made them realize how much deeper they fell for each other. 

The silence followed and the only thing that was audible was the sound of breeze, it was getting darker as the time passed. Tears flowed silently from each of their eyes and it was harder to breath for Aarna so she swallowed before speaking.

"I have work to finish, I will leave now." 

She turned around to leave but gasped when she felt Rudra back hugging her tightly almost like he was afraid to loose her, the force made her take a few steps forward. His one hand looped around her stomach and other around her shoulders as he held her tighter and settled his chin on her shoulder bending forward to adjust to her height.

they stayed in that position for a minute or two until Rudra uttered in a broken voice "Maybe in the next birth." And did that make Aarna cry out..? she weeped holding his hands while she felt warm tears soaking her shoulders.

After a few minutes Rudra took a deep breath backing off while Aarna finally set off running.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE :

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