Pratap Mansion, 9 PM

Ragini sat curled up in a corner of her bed, her soft sobs filling the silent room. Her dupatta was crumpled in her lap, and her eyes were swollen from crying. She hadn’t changed out of her dress, nor had she even attempted to sleep. Randheer’s harsh words echoed in her mind, cutting deeper than she could understand.

"I am not interested in you!!"

She flinched, pressing her fingers against her ears as if that could silence his cold, cruel tone.

A gentle knock on her door made her stiffen. Before she could respond, Naveen entered, his face shadowed with frustration.

“Ragi…” His voice softened as he saw her state.

Ragini turned away, anger flashing through her teary gaze. “Why did you yell at him?” she snapped, her voice hoarse from crying.

Naveen clenched his jaw. “You don’t know him, Ragi.”

Her fingers fisted over her dress as she turned to face him. “And you do? Ever since I met Thakur Sahab, he has been kind, protective—even for a stray puppy! And today, he saved me. I saw the way he fought for me!”

Naveen’s expression darkened, his muscles tensing. “That must be a part of his dirty tricks. I know what kind of man he is.”

Ragini’s fury rose. “Bhai, please! Stop blaming him just to justify your hatred. He is not like that!”

Her words were a dagger to Naveen’s pride. His fists clenched as his frustration exploded.

“Shut up, Ragini!” His voice boomed, making her flinch. “First of all, you don’t know the reality of the world—his world. Secondly, you are no one to tell me what’s right and what’s not. You will obey what I say. You will accept what I choose for you. Options are not your privilege!”

Ragini gasped at his words, her chest tightening. Naveen never spoke to her this way.

“Now forget about him and go to sleep. And don’t you dare try to contact that man again!” he ordered before storming out, leaving her shattered.

Ragini collapsed onto the bed, fresh tears flowing. Why was everyone trying to keep her away from Randheer?

Just then, Navya entered quietly and sat beside her, rubbing her back gently. “Shh… Ragi, it’s okay.”

Ragini shook her head, her body trembling. “Bhai never behaves this way… he—he loves me…”

Navya nodded, understanding the pain in her voice. “He does, Ragi. That’s why he’s so scared.”

With great difficulty, Navya convinced her to eat a little and tucked her into bed, stroking her hair until she finally drifted into a restless sleep.

Naveen’s Room.

Navya walked into the dimly lit room, carrying a plate of food. Naveen sat on the couch, his head buried in his hands, the weight of guilt pressing down on him.

She placed the plate on the table and sat on the floor in front of him, taking his hands in hers.

“Please eat something,” she whispered.

Naveen lifted his gaze, his eyes red. “Ragini… is she okay?” His voice cracked.

Navya nodded. “She slept.”

His throat tightened, and before he could stop himself, tears spilled from his eyes. “I’m the worst brother ever, Navya. I yelled at her. I made her cry. I promised Mom and Dad that I would protect her, love her like they did… but I failed. I let my anger control me.”

Navya’s own eyes welled up as she cupped his face, wiping his tears with her thumbs. “Pratap ji… you are the best brother. You love Ragini more than anything. But you’re human too. You got scared—angry—because you don’t want her to get hurt.”

Naveen shook his head. “Will she forgive me?”

“She was never angry with you,” Navya assured, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

With great effort, she managed to get him to eat a little before putting him to bed.

Thakur Villa, 12 AM

Randheer entered his room, slamming the door shut behind him. He threw his coat aside, his frustration mounting.

Why does she affect me so much?

His hand reached for his wound, unwrapping the piece of her dupatta he had tied around it. His fingers traced over the fabric, her warmth still lingering on it.

His jaw clenched as flashes of the day replayed in his mind. The way she had looked at him with worry. The way she had held his hand, tying the dupatta over his wound with such care.

He let out a deep, guttural growl.

“Ragini!!” he roared, his voice echoing in the empty room.

Meanwhile in Pratap Mansion,
Ragini tossed and turned before finally sitting up, her breath unsteady. Sleep was impossible.

The night had been restless for Ragini. No matter how much she tried to sleep, the events of the day refused to leave her mind.

The way Randheer had held her, the rage in his eyes, and the way her brother had reacted—it all kept replaying like a haunting melody. She tossed and turned before finally sitting up in bed, her heart heavy with unanswered questions.

Unable to contain the turmoil inside her, she walked out onto the balcony. The cool night air brushed against her skin, but the storm inside her heart raged hotter than ever.

She whispered to herself, a hopeful glint in her eyes.

"I know you were just frustrated with what Bhai said, with the way he reacted. But I also know there’s nothing wrong with you the way he made it seem. And I hope… I just hope you’re not upset with me for what happened. I’ll fix it. I’ll find you tomorrow… and my heart tells me, you’ll be there, waiting for me."

Her voice trembled slightly, but the determination in her heart remained firm.

The Next Morning — Pratap Mansion

Ragini sat in her room, staring at the floor but seeing nothing. She was lost in the whirlwind of emotions from the previous day. She wanted to talk to Randheer, to clear the misunderstanding, to see if he was okay.

A sudden knock on the door broke her trance.

She immediately stood up, her heart thudding. "Naveen Bhai must be here."

But as she opened the door, she found Navya standing there instead.

Her hopeful expression faltered for a moment before she quickly masked it with indifference.

"Where is he?" she asked, trying to sound casual but failing.

Navya frowned. "Who?"

"Your husband."

"Oh,He left for the office early today."

Ragini’s lips curled into a small pout. "Doesn’t he love me? He left without even meeting me."

Navya chuckled. "I think so. But come on, let’s go for breakfast."

Ragini sighed but followed her. As she descended the stairs, a familiar, sweet aroma hit her senses. Her nose twitched in delight.

"Chocolate cake!"

Her eyes lit up as she rushed toward the dining table, only to find Naveen walking out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and carrying a hot pan.

Ragini ran to him, her eyes fixed on the cake.

"My favorite chocolate cake!!" she squealed.

Naveen smiled as he set the cake down. "For my lovely angel."

She beamed at him and threw her arms around his waist. "Thank you, Bhai!"

As soon as he molded out the cake, she eagerly cut a slice and popped a bite into her mouth.

Naveen tensed. "Ragini, it must be hot—"

But Ragini, already chewing, did a happy dance. "It’s super yummy!"

"You liked it?" Naveen asked, watching her closely.

Ragini licked her lips and nodded. "Loved it!"

Naveen’s face softened. He cupped her cheek and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Love you."

Navya and Siddharth smiled at the sweet moment.

To tease Ragini, Siddharth smirked. "Ragini, if it’s that good, can I take a slice?"

"No!" Ragini immediately pulled the plate closer to her.

Siddharth raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay."

Naveen chuckled and ran a hand through her hair. Then, with a more serious tone, he said, "Ragini, I’m sorry about yesterday."

She shook her head. "No, Bhai. Actually, I’m sorry. I should have told you where I was. If I had, none of this would have happened. I was wrong."

"So, all the misunderstandings are solved?" Siddharth asked.

"Yes," Ragini confirmed with a nod.

"Great," Siddharth grinned. "Then can I have a slice?"

"No!!" Ragini shielded her cake again.

Their laughter filled the room, and for a moment, everything felt light again.

But in another part of the city, in a quiet temple garden, someone was drowning in darkness.

Temple Garden

Randheer sat on the stone bench, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely clasped as his mind churned with frustration. His sharp jaw was set tight, his dark eyes stormy, burning with unspoken rage. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t push away the suffocating weight of last night’s events. Naveen Pratap’s words still echoed in his head—resentful, accusing, venomous.

His hands curled into fists. Damn it! He had never cared about what people thought, but something about that girl—her presence, her defiance—unsettled him.

"Why does she keep coming closer to me?"

And as if summoned by his turbulent thoughts, a soft, melodic voice broke the heavy silence.

"Good morning, Thakur Sahab!"

His spine went rigid. His head snapped up, and his gaze clashed with hers.

Ragini stood before him, her dupatta lightly swaying with the morning breeze, her honey-brown eyes glowing with something warm and gentle. She was smiling—a soft, hesitant smile, as if she had stepped into a lion’s den but still carried the foolish hope that the beast wouldn’t bite.

His irritation flared. “Why are you here again? Are you following me?” he demanded, his voice sharp as steel.

She ignored his hostility, her gaze dropping to his arm. “Did you go to the doctor? How is your wound?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Stay back," he ordered, his brows knitting together.

She blinked, momentarily startled, but then her lips pressed into a firm line. “Why didn’t you go to the doctor? At least get it bandaged properly. This is not right, Thakur Sahab."

He exhaled sharply. "Just leave."

"Why? Do you own this garden? Is your name written here?" she shot back, folding her arms stubbornly.

He narrowed his eyes. This girl...

“Even if I did, I’m leaving,” he stated coldly and moved to walk past her.

But before he could take another step, he felt something—her fingers, delicate yet firm, wrapping around his wrist.

"Thakur Sahab, listen to me," she pleaded, her voice softer this time.

His entire body stiffened. He turned to face her, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"But I don’t want to listen," he growled.

Her lips trembled for a second, but she refused to let go.

"Please," she whispered.

Something inside him cracked at the quiet plea. His shoulders tensed, but his fury wavered, just for a second.

He exhaled through clenched teeth. "What do you want?" His voice was rougher, less cutting.

"I just wanted to say two things—sorry and thank you." She tilted her head slightly, her expression sincere. "Thank you for what you did for me yesterday. And I’m sorry for what Bhaiya did."

Randheer scoffed. "Are you done?"

She smiled, shaking her head. "Yes—if you accept them. No—if you’re still not convinced."

Her innocence was maddening. How could someone like her exist in a world so brutal, so ruthless?

His jaw clenched. "Why do you even care about convincing me? Just leave, or your brother will think I—"

"You’re still stuck on what happened yesterday, aren’t you?" she cut in. "Even I and Bhaiya fought, but we sorted it out."

Randheer’s fingers twitched. "Miss Pratap," he said slowly, his voice turning lethal, "it is not wise to disobey your brother. He was right—I am not the kind of man you should be around."

Ragini frowned. "Then tell me—what is so wrong with you? Can’t we change that?"

His patience snapped.

"No one can change a Thakur," he bit out, his voice dark with finality.

But she was unshaken.

"I bet you will—when you fall in love," she declared, a knowing glint in her eyes.

Randheer stiffened. Love? The word itself made his blood boil.

"Love is a curse," he spat.

"No," she countered firmly, stepping closer. "Love is the most beautiful word, the most beautiful feeling. It’s the most beautiful person. You just need to look deeper."

He exhaled sharply, looking away. "Keep your foolish theories to yourself. I’m leaving."

"Fine, take my theories or not," she said, then suddenly brightened. "But will you at least take my flower?"

He stilled. His eyes darted to the fresh marigold in her palm.

"Put it down. I’ll take it," he muttered gruffly.

Ragini grinned. "Thakur Sahab, I have something else to tell you."

He exhaled heavily. "Mind your business."

But she only smiled wider.

Ragini tilted her head, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she smiled up at him.

"You are cute…" she said softly.

Randheer stilled. For a moment, the words didn’t make sense to him. Cute? Him? The Thakur of Rajasthan? A man feared by his enemies and respected by all? His sharp jaw clenched, and his deep brown eyes darkened as he stared at her in disbelief.

She wasn’t done. Looking at his dumbfounded face, she giggled, her voice light and teasing.

"I just love this expression of yours… will you please smile for me?"

Randheer’s frown deepened. This girl… She was crossing a line. He had crushed men for lesser offenses, yet here she stood, toying with him as if he were some harmless boy.

"Shut up," he snapped, his voice dangerously low. "Get lost from here."

But Ragini wasn’t scared. No, she took a step closer, then another, her soft breaths fanning against his chest. Her large eyes held something pure, something he didn’t understand.

"You look even cuter when you’re angry," she whispered, her voice playful yet strangely hypnotic. "When you’re frustrated… when the anger sits on your nose tip…"

Randheer sucked in a breath. This girl is testing my patience.

She tilted her head, her fingers raising toward his face. "Can I touch your nose?"

Before he could react, before he could bark out a warning, her delicate fingers brushed against his nose. Soft… too soft…

That was it.

With a swift, dominant move, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her hand away. A startled gasp left her lips as he tightened his grip, his strong fingers caging her delicate bones.

"Stay. Away. From. Me," he growled, his voice sharp like a blade.

Ragini's breath hitched.

Randheer leaned in, his towering presence overwhelming, his grip on her wrist unrelenting. His lips barely an inch from her ear, his breath hot against her trembling skin.

"Behave yourself, Miss Pratap. Have you forgotten who you are?" His voice was dangerously slow, each word laced with warning. "You are Naveen Pratap's sister. And I?" He chuckled darkly. "I am his biggest enemy."

Ragini's eyes widened, fear creeping into her bones.

Randheer wasn’t done. He tilted his head, his lips ghosting over her ear as he whispered, his voice venomous, "Do you want to know more? My family killed your parents… And if I want, I will kill your brother. No, not just him—your entire family."

A shiver ran down her spine.

Her heart pounded violently against her ribcage. His grip on her wrist twisted painfully, the glass bangles adorning her hand shattering into sharp shards. The sound of breaking glass echoed in the silence, followed by a sharp sting.

Blood.

She winced as the tiny pieces pierced her soft skin, red liquid trickling down her wrist.

Randheer noticed. His jaw clenched. Damn it.

But he didn’t let go.

Instead, he leaned even closer, their bodies almost touching. His fingers brushed against the fresh wound, smearing her blood on his calloused fingertips.

"And remember," he whispered, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine, "I am not interested in you."

Lies.

Everything in his body betrayed his words—his tightened grip, the way his breath hitched ever so slightly, the way his eyes flickered with something dangerous as they lingered on her lips.

He pulled back abruptly, dropping her hand as if it burned him.

"Stay away from me," he gritted out, his eyes dark, unreadable. "Otherwise, the way I saved you yesterday… I might just get you killed tomorrow. Remember that."

Then, without sparing her another glance, he turned on his heels and walked away, his broad shoulders tense, his fists clenched.

Ragini swayed, finally breathing as the weight of his dominance lifted from her.

Her gaze remained fixed on him—his retreating figure, the cold air left behind in his absence.

Her lips parted. "B-But… Thakur Sahab… Thakur Sahab, please… listen to me…"

He didn’t stop. He didn’t turn.

Her voice cracked, the unshed tears in her eyes finally spilling.

She glanced at her trembling hand, at the glass pieces embedded in her skin, at the blood staining her palm.

Her heart ached.

Not from the pain in her wrist… but from the way he had looked at her.

Cold. Distant. Unfeeling.

But she had seen something else beneath that mask.

Something dangerous.

Something possessive.

Something that warned her… and yet, called to her all the same.

After Randheer left,the moment she broke into tears,dark clouds covered the sky and cried with Ragini!

The shattered feelings,ached on her chest. The burden of emotions made her weak..

Even after all this,
Would she still grow feelings for the man who had just shattered her heart along with her bangles?

Would she be able to handle the storm that was Randheer Singh Thakur?

Or was she already falling for him… despite knowing he could destroy her?

To know what happens next, keep reading…
HER DEVOTION, HIS OBSESSION ✨

By:
GAURI "गौरी"
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