Obsessive Flames of Love

A week of joblessness and Tanvi had barely ventured further than her bed.

The cool breeze swept through the window, caressing her bare legs where they stuck out from the soft covers. Maybe today she would go out. Pulling on a pair of ripped jeans and a checked shirt, she finger-combed her hair into a bun with a few soft tendrils draping against her face and neck.

…

“Boss!! You need to sign a few more documents,” Maahir placed a few files on the table while Rudra was glancing at the screen and flipping through the reports without batting an eye.

His kneen gaze was focused entirely on the latest dealings to incorporate the losses that occurred by the previous contract breakage, and a creaking sound from his mobile alarmed him.

Instantly, he picked it up by the tune.

“Boss! Ms. Tanvi is going to the cafe near west Malad,” his men informed.

Hearing that, a sudden urge to meet Tanvi fascinated him. Fidgeting with his fingers on the glossy table while twirling in the swiveling chair, an idea popped into his mind when a mischievous smile spread across his lips.

“Empty the cafe and have a bouquet of roses sent with nut babe,” Rudra ordered Maahir.

Listening to that, Maahir’s lips twitched upwards. He quickly bid and leave the office.

…

Stepping into the cafe, peeping at the vacant tables and quiet surroundings, Tanvi flinched, “This Cafe was empty?” Her eyes widened as she questioned herself in bewilderment. “This was very unusual!” She pondered as her lips pressed into a thin line and occupied her table.

Noticing that her cold coffee needs a little bit of time, her eyes rolled onto her mobile, and she began scrolling memes to relieve herself. “Aw! This was fun!” She exclaimed as a smile appeared on her rosy lips, and she zoomed her screen, digging further. While she was savoring them, some men approached.

“Miss, this is for you,” one of those men in black uniform said.

Raised her head, Tanvi gave a puzzled look. “You’re giving it to the wrong person,” she said while pausing her fingers.

“This flower bouquet is for Ms. Tanvi Siara Agarwal, and that’s you, Miss!”

She frowned, “That’s me,” Moved her head down, scratched her head with a squint, “I don’t know who sent this.”

“Let me ask them.” She decided and glanced upwards, but they weren’t present. “What the fuck is this?” Shrugged her hands in annoyance, she observed the bouquet with bright red roses.

“Wow! It’s been many days since I saw red roses.” She quoted as her eyes shone, carefully inhaled the fresh smell of them, and chuckled.

“They’re great. But who sent them?” She racked her memory, but found no answer, “ugh!” it irked her, and placed them on the table when a card fell from it.

“Ooh! A card?” Picked it up, she spun the red card, “modest and classy.” Her lips curved upwards, “maybe I’ll find the person inside.” She nodded decisively and opened to read it.

It said, “My dear Tanvi!! I hope you like roses. Wait for me, darling. You’ll soon meet me!”

She was stunned. Flipping the card, she noticed a name, “Mr. Ishaan Rudra Chauhan.”

Gaped her mouth, she covered her quivered lips and dropped the card by stressing his name. “Ishaan Rudra Chauhan!! Is this the same Mr. Chauhan?” She wondered as her mind went blank.

Swallowed hard, “Anyhow, why’d he send me flowers? Why will the almighty man meet me?” Her eyes popped out and sighed, “this doesn’t make sense. He might be someone else.” She convinced herself, but her gaze settled on a tall, extremely handsome man wearing a blue tuxedo.

With long strides in all his glory, he came to her, and realization dawned on her by noticing his features, “It’s really Mr. Chauhan.” Her mind blew off as her eyes popped out. She was in awe, and not once her gaze missed him.

Occupied the seat in front of her, “Stop drooling, honey!!!” He said in a dulcet tone, peeping at her gawk, and she tapped her head in mortifying herself. “Ahem…” She fake coughed and quickly averted her gaze.

“Mr. Chauhan.” She accentuated.

“Call me, Rudra.” He said.

“What? Um… I mean… okay.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Rudra mused with her stuttering as his heart skipped a beat seeing her.

“You’re here to meet…” Tanvi gulped the rest of the words as she wasn’t sure how to say them to Rudra.

“Meet you.” He blurted nonchalantly.

Her heart jumped hearing that as a glimmer replaced her bleak eyes.

“Um… Nice meeting you, Rudra.” She gave her hand, and he shook it with a slight chuckle, “pleasure is mine, Tanvi.”

Bit her lips, she didn’t understand what to talk about with him. Clasped her hands while her eyes shone and her troubles filled her mind. She opened her mouth, but words weren’t coming out, and she exhaled.

Her eyes rolled onto the bouquet lying beside her, “uh! why did you send me these flowers, Rudra?” She asked with narrowed eyes. His gaze wasn’t soft anymore with her question.

“I sent those to you because you liked them. If you don’t like roses, tell me what you like. I’ll give those to you.” He said in a rigid tone.

“I don’t understand the reason for sending these flowers, Rudra” She snapped back.

“I like you, Tanvi, so I thought we could have a date and arranged it.”

Her heart was pounding hard by listening to his words. She remembered their encounters, how they exchanged glances, how he looked at her, how he turned soft with her, and a slight smile spread across her lips. “I like you, Rudra.” She reflected, “you’ve always made my heart skip a beat in the past months.”

In the next second, the tragedy in her life got her. The cloudy memories resurfaced and assaulted her soul. She squeezed shut her eyes as the pain was arduous for her to neglect. A sullen look settled on her face, “you’re late, Rudra. Because I’m already broken and hurt beyond repair and lost all the faith in love.”

Noticing her change of expression, his heart ached for her understanding the emotional pain she was facing. His fists clenched intuitively, and he swore, “I’ll make that bastard pay a hundred folds for your distress, Tanvi.”

Taking a deep breath, Tanvi said with certainty while pushing aside her interest towards him, “I don’t like you, Rudra. Also, you arranged this date without my consent. According to me, this isn’t a date.”

He froze after hearing her rejection, “what the…” She poked his pride, and the temper rose in him. Trying to bottle it up to himself as his chest was burning, he gulped hard and warned flatly not to scare her. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that, darling? Don’t test my limits.”

“I’m not your employee, Rudra. You can’t command me, nor warn me,” she shouted.

His brows furrowed, “You’ll listen to me, honey. I like you, and you’ll be mine. Only mine.” He smirked as her taunts didn’t affect him.

“Stop your bullshit, Rudra. I won’t like you, and I belong to me, not anyone else.” She said, showing her hand with annoyance.

His gaze became tough and dominating. The soft look in his obsidian amber eyes was nowhere to be seen. Tanvi observed the cold and stone-hearted look on his face, and her emotions plummeted. She began tapping her feet in nervousness while her palms were sweating.

“I’ll make you mine whether you cooperate or not. You don’t have a say in this, darling.” He said in a hoarse tone while looking into her round black eyes.

She gaped her mouth while blinking by seeing his conviction. A recent article she read about him popped into her mind. “He’ll go to any lengths to achieve his motive.” Panic struck her, “he’s saying I’ll be his with confidence, which means he’ll get me?”

Tanvi sighed in helplessness and averted her gaze, “what’s happening? Why didn’t he do this earlier? Out of all the time, why now? When I’m not ready to accept him, though I like him? Why is everything pushing me to a dead-end?” She questioned herself.

“However, going against him wasn’t a wise decision knowing how powerful he’s.” She concluded and noticed his boring gaze on her. Her face turned pale with anxiety but decided not to give him the satisfaction he wants.

“You can’t force me to be yours, Rudra.” She yelled and stood up to leave from there. But he held her hand tightly, not permitting her to flee.

She sought to free herself from his grasp, but the grip kept tightening with each try and she winced in pain.

Looking at her struggle, his heart throbbed, “I don’t want to hurt you, and I can’t leave you just like that without even trying because I sensed your feelings towards me, Tanvi. I almost lost you once. Fortunately, I got a chance to pursue you. But here, you’re not admitting them?”

“Be obedient and listen to me. Don’t push my limits. It won’t be good for you, darling.” He coldly whispered in her ear, but his eyes showed a raw passion for her behind his facade.

Her entire body melted and a lump formed in her throat. Somehow, she found a velvety pitch behind the cold tone he used. She perceived his feelings though his presence was overbearing.

Tanvi’s gaze relaxed as she stopped resisting. Immediately, Rudra’s grip loosened, and a delicate softness replaced his dark look. He stood up and sat beside her.

“He’s doing all of this for me?” She flinched and licked her lips, and her heart thawed in his presence.

“You’ll soon become mine, honey. I like you, and I’ll give you all the warmth you need. I’ll give you everything you want within my limits, Tanvi. Even if I need to show my back to the entire world, I’ll do that for you. I want you to be with me.” He said softly, patting her shoulder while looking into her eyes.

He leaned closer to her, inhaling her intoxicating scent as if she were his oxygen. His hand clutched her slim waist while another hand was making patterns on her thigh, creating a tickling sensation in her.

She looked into his amber eyes. There’s something about that gaze of his, which she’ll never find in another man. As if at that moment, their souls have made a bridge. That’s all she ever needed to connect. A love that’s burning inside of him, the sort that goes for eternity.

She’s mesmerized by his softness, a yearn developed in her belly. Those words, “I like you too,” came to the tip of her mouth as butterflies flew inside her stomach with their proximity but never came out.

Tanvi was striving to resist the temptation caused by his charm when he was this close. Her heartbeat increased drastically. A slight movement of her face will brush his stubbled cheek. The thought itself made fire rush up to her cheeks.

His warm breath falling on her neck made her body erupt in heat, and it was driving her crazy. Her cheeks reddened while sniffing his unique cologne, which she craved when working with him. But unfortunately, she’s not at all in a position to take his words to her heart.

“I want a response from you when I’m talking with you,” he called. Again the softness was replaced by his intense stare, and she nodded.

“I need an answer from you, not a nod, understand? For once, I’m letting it slide. Don’t make me repeat myself, darling” He smirked while his finger stroked her cheek lovingly.

“Okay.” She said, struggling to keep herself in control of the desire that was burning in her.

A warm smile plastered across his lips on seeing her endurance. “I need to leave now.” He said.

“Hmm.”

“I’ll meet you again soon, honey. Take care. Bye.” He kissed her knuckles, patted her hair, gave a peck on her forehead, and left.