Maybe In Another Life | ✓

⁕18⁕

We left his office after saying our goodbyes to Rahul. I rested my head back on the seat in the car because of an insane headache. When I looked at his side, I noticed him moving uncomfortably, and I remembered that I had pushed him, and he had back pain.

"Umm, Rudra?"

"hmm..."

"I think you should see a doctor about your back pain. I'm really sorry," I said, my voice low and small.

He gave me a nod and a glance.

"Rudra?"

"Yes, darling."

"I don't want to marry you," I said, what's on my mind.

"Chandini!" he warned, casting a quick glance at me.

"What, Chandini? I don't want to marry you! I don't love you or even like you!" I said it sharply.

Everything is happening because of him. I had two panic attacks within a week of meeting him. My last attack was two years ago. He did not say anything and just kept driving.

We soon arrived at my house, and I moved quickly to get out of the car, but he stopped me. Rudra clutched my hair in his fist and drew me closer to him, his face close to mine. "You do not have to love or even like me to marry me!" he sneered.

And the psycho is back!

"Rudra, please! Don't do this; please understand that I don't want this marriage. For me, marriage is only complete when you love your partner, and there is no love between us. I don't even have hope for you and me," my voice brittle and cracking a little in the end.

He did not say anything and just stared at me, his eyes bright red and a muscle in his jaw ticking.

"You can have whoever you want on the planet! Why me?" I asked quietly.

"Because I do not want to be with anyone else!" he exclaimed.

"Oh... please! And what exactly am I getting out of this?" I said, my voice cracking and my eyes stinging with tears.

"What are you getting out of this? You are getting everything—Kapoor's title, money, and luxury. You said you wanted to marry someone you love. You will grow to love me," he said arrogantly as he tightened his grip on my hair, causing me to hiss in pain.

"Yeah? Like this, with you—grabbing my hair and causing me pain every time I see you!"

He relaxes his grip and looks me in the eyes—his eyes are slightly moist, but he blinks and closes them tightly. But when he opens them, his eyes are filled with rage.

"Why don't you get it? Darling, I want you and only you!"

His gaze is drawn to my mouth as I scoff at his remark. He moves his eyes between my eyes and my lips.

"Rudra."

"Hmm..." he hummed throatily, his gaze fixed on my lips.

I moved a little forward, almost touching his lips, and his startled eyes snapped to mine, his breath fanning my lips.

"I do not want your title, your money, your luxury, or you. I want to be happy, and you can't give it to me. I would never love you because I really hate you," I said quietly against his lips, maintaining eye contact.

I jerked his hand away from me, releasing myself from his clutches. I turned to leave the car, but then turned around and looked him in the eyes. "Remember this, Rudra—my silence is not my weakness. I am keeping quiet because you are threatening to ruin my brother's career. And I can't take the risk because my siblings are my only family."