A Few Hours Ago

Mr. Reyansh, my dear rival... you know exactly what Siya means to you," Virendra’s voice dripped with mockery. But before he could finish, Reyansh’s fury erupted.

“Don’t you dare speak her name with that filthy mouth,” Reyansh snapped, his voice thick with barely contained rage.

Virendra’s tone shifted, as if savoring the tension. “Why so angry, Reyansh? You know you can’t stop me from saying my daughter’s name. After all, she’s mine.”

The words hit Reyansh like a blow to the chest, and for a moment, he was paralyzed by a sharp pang of confusion and sorrow. His thoughts stumbled. Siya? His daughter?

“Don’t lie,” Reyansh muttered, but his voice lacked its usual strength. The confidence he had just moments before was now replaced by an unsettling uncertainty.

Virendra’s laugh was cold and cruel. “If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself.” With those final words, Virendra ended the call, leaving Reyansh in stunned silence.

Reyansh stood motionless, his mind racing, his heart sinking into an abyss. The woman he loved—the woman who had become his reason to live—was the daughter of the man who had destroyed him. The same man who had stolen his parents’ lives, leaving him with nothing but hatred.

The weight of the revelation crushed him, suffocating him with disbelief.

PRESENT

Reyansh stood on his balcony, his white shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a chiseled chest, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was tousled, a reflection of the chaos within him. A glass of wine dangled loosely in his hand, catching the dying rays of the sun as they painted the horizon in hues of amber and crimson. The city of Rajasthan stretched out below him, buzzing with life, oblivious to the storm brewing within the man who loomed above it.

As the wine swirled in his glass, Reyansh’s thoughts spiraled back to Siya. Her laughter, her soft touch, the way her eyes held a thousand unsaid words—all of it was now tainted by the revelation that had shattered his world. He clenched his jaw, the muscles in his neck tightening as he tried to suppress the tidal wave of emotions threatening to engulf him.

A soft knock at the door broke his trance. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he called out, “Come in.”

The door creaked open, and Siya Malhotra stepped into the room, her presence like a gust of wind that could either extinguish or fan the flames of his turmoil. She was draped in an elegant saree, its intricate embroidery catching the fading sunlight. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves, and her eyes—those same eyes that had haunted Reyansh—met his with a softness that tugged at his resolve.

“Siya,” he said, his voice low, an undertone of conflict threading through his words. He placed the glass of wine on the railing, his gaze softening as it lingered on hers. “Why are you here?”

Siya smiled faintly, a hint of concern in her eyes. “I missed you,” she said simply, stepping closer. The evening light played off her features, making her seem almost ethereal. “You’ve been distant, Reyansh. I’ve been worried.”

His lips curved into a shadow of a smile, though his heart ached with the secrets he couldn’t share. “I’m fine, Siya. Just… a lot on my mind lately.”

She reached out, her fingers brushing against his. “You don’t have to carry it all alone,” she whispered, her voice tender and full of unspoken promises. “I’m here for you, no matter what.”

Reyansh’s chest tightened. Her sincerity was a cruel reminder of the gulf between them, one she didn’t even know existed. He cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing the delicate line of her jaw. “I know, Siya. You’re my light in all this darkness.”

She leaned into his touch, her eyes searching his face for answers he wasn’t ready to give. “Then let me help you. Tell me what’s bothering you.”

His hand dropped, and he turned back toward the balcony, staring out at the city as the first stars began to dot the sky. “Not tonight,” he murmured. “Let’s just… be here, like this. Can we do that?”

Siya moved to stand beside him, her arm brushing against his as they both gazed out into the night. “Of course,” she said softly, her presence steady and reassuring. “We have all the time in the world.”

Reyansh closed his eyes for a brief moment, her words cutting deeper than she could ever know. He slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, and together they stood in silence, the city’s lights shimmering like distant dreams.

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