RUDRA SINGH RATHOR

The air was heavy with incense, the rhythmic sound of bells echoing from inside the mandir. People moved in and out, their hands folded, their faces glowing with faith. I stood there, away from the crowd, my tall frame leaning against the black Range Rover, arms folded, eyes fixed only on one place-

the stairs of the temple.

For two hours straight.

The Disturbance of the World

My phone vibrated again. The twelfth call in the last half an hour.

Akshat. Then Vardaan. Then my secretary. The boardroom in London was waiting. The Japanese investors were furious. A man like me doesn't keep anyone waiting. Not even presidents of countries.

And yet, here I was-

ignoring call after call, rejecting meetings worth billions.

I pressed the green button finally, my jaw tightening.

"Rudra sir, the deal-" my secretary's nervous voice echoed.

"Cancel it."

A silence fell. "S-sir, but-"

"Cancel. Everything." I cut the call, my tone sharp, commanding. But my eyes... my eyes never left the temple stairs.

The War Within

What the hell are you doing, Rudra?

My mind roared.

This isn't me. I don't wait. I don't chase. I don't stop for anyone. People wait for me, not the other way around.

And yet-

Why does my heart beat differently the moment she's near?

War Between Heart & Mind

Mind: "Are you insane? Two hours standing here? You should be on a private jet closing billion-dollar deals, not guarding temple stairs like a watchman."

Heart: "Shut up. What's a billion-dollar deal compared to one glimpse of her smile?"

Mind: "She doesn't even know you're here! What if she takes another two hours? Planning to open an office branch outside this mandir?"

Heart: "I don't mind. This is the only board meeting that matters tonight."

Mind: "You're Rudra Singh Rathor. The world bows to you. And here you are... bowing to her absence."

Heart: "Better than bowing to profit charts. At least this feels alive."

Mind: "Rejecting twelve calls in a row? Investors will eat you alive tomorrow."

Heart: "Investors can wait. She can't. And stop pretending you don't want to see her dupatta fluttering down those stairs."

Mind: "Admit it-you've lost it. Next, you'll be lighting incense sticks and ringing temple bells."

Heart: "If that brings her out faster, why not?"

Mind: "This is pathetic. What will the media say if they see you here?"

Heart: "They'll say 'The Devil of the Business World waited two hours for a girl.' Sounds like headlines worth printing."

RUDRA SINGH RATHOR

The temple bells echoed again, sharper, louder-almost mocking me. My watch ticked like a reminder of everything I was supposed to be doing right now.

Board meetings. Flights. Deals worth empires.

And yet here I stood... waiting.

The War Within

Mind: "Enough. Walk away, Rudra. You don't wait. You don't kneel. You don't believe in love, you don't believe in God. This-whatever this is-ends now."

Heart: "Just a few more minutes... she will come. I promise. Can't you feel it? Every beat of yours is pulling her closer."

Mind: "You're humiliating yourself. Investors are calling, the world is waiting. And you're standing outside like a beggar of her presence."

Heart (steadily): "For once... forget the world. Tonight, she is the only empire worth ruling."

I pressed my jaw, my fists curling tighter. My chest rose and fell, a storm trapped inside.

Mind: "Leave now. Before it's too late. Before she turns you into someone else."

Heart (whispering, final): "Maybe that's exactly what you need-to become someone else."

The Choice

I exhaled, a long, shuddering breath. My car keys dug into my palm, as if tempting me to leave. But my feet... they refused to move.

For the first time in my life, Rudra Singh Rathor did not obey his mind.

I obeyed my heart.

And I stayed.

I exhaled slowly, trying to drown the chaos inside me. My muscles were tense, my fists clenched. I was restless, but not because of the business deals, not because of the world's expectations.

It was because of her.

The girl who was inside-hands folded, eyes closed, completely unaware that outside, Rudra Singh Rathor-the man the world bows to-was standing like a damn devotee himself.

Eyes on the Stairs

Every time a group of devotees stepped out, my heart thudded in anticipation. My dark eyes scanned every face, every dupatta, every step.

Not her.

Another group left.

Still not her.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration curling at the edges. My watch ticked, the diamond-studded piece glinting under the streetlight. For the first time in my life, I wasn't counting seconds for profit-

I was counting them for her.

The Silent Confession

I muttered under my breath, my own voice a stranger to me.

"Where the hell are you, Ishita? Do you have any idea... what you're making me do right now?"

I chuckled bitterly, shaking my head.

"Two hours... two goddamn hours, and I'm still here. For you. I should be in the sky right now, on my way to Tokyo, but no... I'm here. Watching these stairs like a fool."

My heart whispered back, louder than my pride-

Not a fool. A man who's already hers.

The Shift in the Air

And then, as if the universe itself decided to test me longer, the bells rang louder. The crowd inside began to thin. My gaze sharpened, refusing to blink, my entire body wired with an energy I couldn't explain.

She will come now. She has to.

The wind carried a faint scent of jasmine, drifting out of the temple doors. My heartbeat picked up. My grip on the car loosened.

I didn't believe in God.

But for the first time in years... I prayed.

Let her come. Just once. Let me see her again.