Legacy Unveiled: The Hidden Heir

Chapter 21: Separation

The ride home was like a silent movie, with Rudra shooting us suspicious glances every now and then. And no wonder – Pragyan was out cold, his head resting on my shoulder and his arms wrapped around me. I tried to act chill, staring out the window like I had all the answers, but inside, it was a freaking butterfly garden. All. The. Butterflies.

When Rudra and I finally dropped everyone off and headed home, Pragyan stirred and gave me a tight hug before planting a quick kiss on my lips, right in front of Rudra. My cheeks lit up like fireworks as I shot Rudra a quick look. Surprisingly, he seemed a bit stunned, and dare I say it, maybe even a little proud. I waved goodbye to Pragyan from the doorstep, feeling all kinds of fuzzy inside. Best. Day. Ever.

Back in my room, Rudra leaned against the doorframe with that sly grin of his as I packed my bag for school. "So..." he started, and I knew exactly where this was going. "How'd it go?" he teased, that smirk growing wider by the second.

I played dumb. "How'd what go, Rudra?" I shot back, trying to keep my cool.

"You know, the lip-locking session with Pragyan at the beach," he teased again, amusement dancing in his eyes.

My face turned a whole new shade of red as I stumbled over my words. "Well, it was like, in the heat of the moment, and I... um... kind of... well, yeah."

Rudra laughed at my embarrassment before messing up my hair and guiding me to sit on the bed beside him, that smirk turning into a soft smile. "Hey, you just had your first kiss. It's totally normal to be flustered. But did you like it?"

I paused for a sec, thinking it over, before giving a shy nod. Rudra's smile grew even wider. "Well, there you go. Pragyan seems like a cool dude, and if you're into him and you guys kissed, then..."

Before we could dive deeper into the conversation, our parents barged in like they owned the place. My dad looked surprised as heck, blurting out, "Kiran, you did what?" And my mom's giving me the serious side-eye, asking, "You kissed who, Kiran?"

Feeling the heat of their gaze, I awkwardly cleared my throat and stood up, trying to explain myself. But they weren't having it. Instead, they turned to Rudra for his two cents. "Is this, like, okay? And is she even allowed to do this?" my dad questioned.

Rudra stood up all serious-like but with a hint of confidence. "Yeah, Dad. It's all good. She's allowed, and Pragyan's legit her destined prince."

I'm just standing there, totally confused by their whole conversation. And then my mom gives them both a look like, "Shut it, not in front of her." And just like that, the convo cut off, leaving me to wonder what the heck was going on with my family.

Destined prince? Seriously? I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the whole fairy tale vibe. Like, come on, this is real life, not some magical kingdom. But whatever, I guess.

So, the next day rolls around, and let's just say it was awkward AF. Suddenly, I found myself dressing up like I was auditioning for Pragyan's approval. I mean, crop top, denim skirt, makeup, and maybe even some dainty heels. Looking in the mirror, I couldn't help but think I looked... well, girly. And maybe a tad too much. But hey, no judgments, right? Well, except for Rudra, who just raised his eyebrows in surprise before hustling me into the car.

The ride to school was as silent as a graveyard, and I couldn't shake the feeling of Rudra's disapproval hanging over me like a dark cloud. Finally, he stopped the car and grabbed my hand before I could step out. "Hey, I know you and Pragyan are, like, a thing now, but you don't need to change yourself for him. Or anyone, for that matter," he said, his voice serious.

I looked at him, his words sinking in. "Okay... but I kinda like it," I admitted, feeling a bit defensive.

He raised an eyebrow. "Like what? Looking like a delicate, pretty mommy's princess?"