Vaishali's POV - 

The college auditorium was chaos.

Decorations half-hung, microphones screeching, juniors running around with banners. I was balancing a stack of files and checking the guest list for the tenth time when someone suddenly stepped in front of me.

-Vaishali's Outfit-

I crashed straight into him.

The files slipped from my hands.

"Sorry!" I said quickly, bending to pick them up without even looking at his face. "I didn't see..."

Strong fingers reached down, helping me gather the papers.

I froze for a second... something about his presence felt... heavy. Powerful.

But there was no time. I had too much work.

I was wearing my simple sky-blue cotton kurthi, slightly faded at the sleeves from too many washes, with a plain blue dupatta pinned neatly so it wouldn't fall while I worked.
It wasn't new. It wasn't fancy. Just the neatest dress I owned.

"Thank you," I whispered, still not meeting his eyes, and rushed away.

I didn't notice the silence behind me.
I didn't see the way the security guards stiffened.
I didn't know that the man I collided with was Rudraksh Rathore.

Later...

The auditorium filled with students and teachers. I stood backstage, holding the mic, my heart pounding not from fear, but from responsibility.

"Now," I announced, "I request our chief guest, Mr. Rudraksh Rathore, to please come on stage and address the gathering."

The moment I looked up....

My breath stopped.

It was him.

The man I had collided with.

Tall. Commanding. Dark eyes that didn't leave my face.

For a second, he didn't move.

Then slowly, like a king answering a call, he walked onto the stage.

And throughout his speech... I felt it.

His gaze.

Steady. Burning. Watching only me.

I shifted uncomfortably, telling myself I was imagining it.

After the applause, I stepped forward to take the mic back.

Our fingers brushed.

He leaned closer.

So close I could hear his breath.

"You're gorgeous," he said softly.
"And you will be mine... sooner than you think."

My heart stumbled.

But I forced a laugh. "Sir, students are waiting," I whispered, taking the mic and moving away.

I told myself he was joking.
He had to be joking.

Outside, my friend Aishu grabbed my arm.

"Vaishali!! Rudraksh Rathore talked to you! Do you know who he is? He's like... royalty!"

I shook my head. "Don't say nonsense. He was just being polite."

Aishu squealed. "Polite? That man doesn't even smile at people! He was staring at you like you're the only person alive!"

I looked away.

Because suddenly, memories came back.

My aunt's slap.
My cousins' laughter.
The word orphan echoing in my ears.

"Someone like him..." I whispered, "can never belong in my life."

And yet...

Why did my heart feel like something had just begun?

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Rudraksh's POV -

The moment she collided with me...

Time stopped.

She didn't look at me.
Didn't recognize me.
Didn't fear me.

She just said sorry... and left.

No trembling. No nervous smile. No fake respect.

Just calm.

Peaceful.

Different.

She wore a simple sky-blue cotton kurthi, neatly ironed but clearly old, with a blue dupatta pinned carefully to her shoulder as if she couldn't afford even the risk of it slipping. No jewelry except tiny silver studs. No perfume. No show.

And still... she looked more graceful than women dressed in diamonds.

For the first time in my life... someone walked away from me like I was nothing.

And I couldn't let her go.

"Who is she?" I asked my assistant quietly.

He blinked. "Sir?"

"The girl."

I had already decided.

She was mine.

When she called my name on stage, I knew fate wasn't playing games.

She stood there, nervous yet graceful.

Simple clothes. No makeup. No arrogance.

And still... she outshone every person in that hall.

I spoke to the audience.

But my eyes searched only her.

Her silence pulled me like gravity.

When I leaned close and whispered to her... I meant every word.

She laughed it off.
Didn't believe me.

That made me smile.

Because she didn't know something yet...

Rudraksh Rathore never wanted anything twice.

If he decided once...

It became his.

And now, I would find out everything about that girl.

Her name.
Her life.
Her pain.

And soon...

She would belong to me.