Writer's POV:-
Rajveer's phone buzzed—once, then twice. He glanced at the screen, a small smirk playing on his lips when he saw the name. He nudged Rudra, holding the phone out. Rudra's irritation vanished instantly as he saw the name "Arav bhaiya" flashing on the screen. He took the phone with a sudden, eager smile.
"Hello?" The voice from the other side was like a melody. For a moment, Rudra forgot to breathe, drowning in the crisp, sweet sound of that one word repeating again after every few seconds.
Rajveer nudged him again, pulling him back from his wonderland. Arav was still waiting for a response on the other side. Rudra cleared his throat, his cool exterior crumbling. "Hii... I mean, Khamba Ghani, Aru."
"Ru? Aditi was wondering if Kirti has an extra map?" Rudra heart melted with one word He called Him RU like he used too, His Aru his breath called him with love without being forced to say and that too with a forgotten nickname for him which he gave.
Rudra looked back at Kirti, who was already digging through her bag. "I have it!" she chirped before Rudra could even ask.
Rudra smiled shyly, looking like a newlywed blushing at her husband. "She has it. Are you dropping Aditi off today?"
"Yes, just dropped her. Now I'm taking Shiva to his university... I have to finish your enrollment documents there, too."
"Oh... so Shiva is in the same uni as me?"
"Yess Ru, same year as yours and major as well but with one or two different subjects"
Rudra's smile widened. The world felt a little brighter, a hope flicker of seeing him daily while he drop off Shiva.
The call ended, but the echo of Arav's voice remained in his soul and mind, leaving a print behind.
Rudra's POV:-
My heart is racing. I'm going to see my Aru—my Angel—again. This will be the second time I've seen him since my return, and only once in the last twenty-four hours? It hurts to be away from him that long. But soon, everything will be good. I will Make it good.
We reached the school before assembly. Kartik and Kirti jumped out and bolted toward their classes as if a jailer were waiting to punish them for being late. The school looked exactly the same, though perhaps a bit more disciplined than when I left. A dark smirk touched my lips, remembering the chaos I used to cause in these halls with my Friend even at the age of ten we were known for unstoppable Chaos.
After dropping them, we headed straight for my university enrollment. The campus carried an aura of prestige and old money. My great-grandfather built this place when he saw the nation lacking in facilities, choosing the best professors and top-tier resources, all funded by our foundation.
But was it only for the sake of the people? Hell nahh. Nothing is done without a profit. Half of our family's Black money turns White through this education foundation—schools, training centers, sports clubs. To the world, it's a place of glory; to us Shekhawats, it's a brilliant business.
As I stepped out of the car with Veer, all eyes were on us. I could feel the girls staring, eyeing us like prizes. It irked me, but I masked it behind my status. If I weren't maintaining my position, I would have made sure they'd never be able to look at my face—or anything else—again.
Veer walked ahead, his expression as void and cold as mine. We reached the reception, and the woman behind the desk stood up instantly, her voice trembling a bit. "Principal sir is inside, Mr. Shekhawat."
Veer didn't bother knocking. We entered with our heads high. The Principal, not so old man, turned a little pale the moment he saw us. "Good morning, Mr. Shekhawat."
Veer sat on the couch, adjusting his cuffs. "So, you are the new principal appointed," he asked. I sat beside him, stretching my legs out comfortably. Veer signaled the man to sit; he quickly grabbed a chair, sitting on the very edge of it across from us. "Yes, Mr. Shekhawat. I am Vikas, Vikas Shrivastava" Veer nodded in acknowledgment
"So, Mr. Shrivastava, you know your job," Veer said, sliding my documents across the desk. The Principal took them with both hands, as if he were receiving a holy relic.
"Yes, Mr. Rudra Pratap Shekhawat can join whenever he likes," the Principal stammered. "It might be best to start tomorrow. The students in that class are elite—intelligent and well-mannered. He will be comfortable."
I raised an eyebrow, a flash of anger hitting me. Who was this man to give me advice? He had no right to tell me what to do more practically except Aru and Raj have one bit of the right to advise me on something I haven't asked for and he tried to take that position. I slammed my palm flat onto his desk. "I will let you know when I am joining. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. AM I CLEAR" I nodded my head with raised eyebrows, so he knows he has to agree. The Principal gulped and nodded frantically. I smirked with the power I hold.
Sometimes, I feel lucky to have been born the Crown Prince of the Shekhawats; power, money, and status don't just follow us—they originate from us. I might have respected this man, but he has stripped himself of any worthiness by the way he secured that seat. I know the truth: how he gambled with the futures of deserving students who were actually capable of building this nation. He sold those final seats to the useless, dim-witted sons of rich bastards who couldn't crack the entrance exam if their lives depended on it. His primary duty as an educator was to be fair, but since he chose corruption, I see no reason to show him mercy. My father only installed him here because he's a dog—a creature that will wag its tail for a few million, stay quiet, and let us do our work in the shadows.
Veer opened his mouth to speak, but a soft knock interrupted him.
"May I come in, sir?"
That angelic voice. My anger vanished instantly. I stood up, smoothing my clothes and fixing my hair, while Veer signaled the Principal to answer.
The door swung open, and the air left my lungs. My heart jumped, and my eyes widened, my mind froze. Arav walked in wearing a rose-gold shirt—my favorite color. He looked like an angel who had just descended from heaven. My soul screamed that he wore that color for ME or else Why else would he choose it? No one keeps shirt of such colour in their wardrobe nowadays.
His walk was graceful, making my blood run hot. His nude-pink lips looked more inviting than ever. In his one ear, a single gold earring jingled softly—the same one he'd worn since childhood. The other one? It was safe and secure in my possession.
He smiled at me, and for a second, I thought I might actually pass out because HE SMILED AT ME, he smiled FOR ME.
Author's POV:-
"Khamba Ghani, Aru," Rudra said, his voice dropping into a shy, boyish tone as he stood beside him. Arav smiled and reached up, patting Rudra's head affectionately. Rudra practically melted under the touch.
"Khamba Ghani, Arav Bhaiya," Rajveer interrupted, his voice teasing. Rudra shot a lethal glare at his brother when Arav pulled his hand away because of him.
"Ghani Khamba, Raj," Arav replied softly. Rudra went silent, pouting like a sulking child.
Arav turned to the Principal. "Sir, I believe the documents are in order."
The Principal nodded quickly. "Mr. Arav, perhaps you could show Mr. Rudra around? You know the campus better than I do as an ex student."
Arav looked at Rudra, silently asking if he was okay with that. Rudra's face lit up with a genuine, toothy smile showing he was more than eager that made Arav chuckle. Before they walked out, Rudra quickly fired off a smug message to Rajveer. "Leave without me"
As they stepped into the corridor, Rudra turned to Arav, still pouting. "Why didn't you take my greeting properly? You took Raj's, but not mine."
Arav laughed, keeping his pace. "Because I patted your head instead. Besides, Rajveer showed me respect."
Rudra frowned. "I greeted you with devotion!"
"Oh? Did you?" Arav teased.
Rudra nodded vigorously.
"Khamba Ghani... who is going to add 'Bhaiya'?"
Rudra huffed, his eyes flashing with a hidden intensity. "Not me. You're my friend, not my brother. Why should I call you that?"
*I'll die before I call him brother,* Rudra thought darkly. *He can be many things to me like wify, hubby, baby... Daddy but for now let him be my friend, but never brother.*
Inside the office, Rajveer's smile vanished. He turned to the Principal, his face a mask of cold authority. "His safety is your only priority now. Am I clear, Mr. Shrivastava?"
The Principal nodded, his knees shaking under the weight of Rajveer's voice.
Rudra walked beside Arav, his gaze anchored to him with a fixated intensity. He watched the way Arav's hair caught the breeze, floating like silk, and how faint lines creased his forehead whenever he spoke of something serious. Arav was diligently explaining the campus layout—pointing out the infirmary, the staff wing, and the grand meeting hall—but Rudra heard none of it.
His world had narrowed down to the details: the grace in Arav's movements, the curve of his full lips, and the soft, slightly pointed bridge of his nose. He traced the constellations of moles on Arav's face—the one at the center of his hairline, the faint one on his left cheek, the tiny speck on his nose, the one near his mouth, and finally, the darkest mark on the side of his chin. Each one was a map Rudra had memorized long ago.
Noticing Rudra's dazed expression, Arav stopped in front of a classroom and let out a small, annoyed huff. "Ru, your classroom... at least take a look," he said, shaking his head at Rudra's lack of awareness.
Rudra only nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face just because His Arav had called him Ru again , he only heard one word leaving the rest pass as a breeze.
"This boy..." Arav muttered, patting Rudra's shoulder firmly to snap him out of his trance. "You can daydream after you put your bag down. The scenery isn't going anywhere."
Rudra's POV:-
I blinked, coming back to earth only when my Aru—my Aru—touched my shoulder. I hadn't even realized we'd climbed the stairs. My memory was a blur of his profile, the rhythm of his walk, and the melody of his voice. I didn't remember a single word he'd said, only the calm, honeyed tone he used to say it.
When he caught me staring and frowned, I had to suppress a chuckle. How could someone be this adorable when they were annoyed? Only My Aru.
He pointed toward the classroom. Inside, students were scattered across desks, some swinging their legs and chatting like lovebirds. "Go on, take a look," Arav urged.
I stepped inside, leaving him at the door trying to return back as soon as possible. As I walked in, I heard him greeting students passing by. They spoke to him with a familiar warmth, as if they'd known him for a lifetime even if they had but not more than me. A sharp, ugly pang of jealousy shot through my chest.
Why are they looking at him like that? They could greet him without flashing every single tooth in their heads. Their grins were hideous, yet they directed them at my angel as if they had the right.
Huffing with suppressed rage, I dropped my bag on the last desk by the window. I could hear the whispers and murmurs starting up—the students eyeing me like I was some kind of exhibit—but I ignored them. I turned and walked back out to My Aru.
That's when I saw him.
A boy, about my height, stood with a bag slung over one shoulder. His back was to me, but he was talking to Arav. My Arav.
Heat surged in my chest when I saw Arav smile—that wide, genuine smile that reached his eyes which only I could bring Once. I clenched my fists, the possessiveness that had been in my blood since birth beginning to boil. Not now Not fucking Now, I told myself. Not yet. But then, Arav reached out and playfully flicked the boy's forehead, laughing. That's it my patience snapped.
"Just get all the crazy talk done with him," Arav said, his voice bright and happy.
My eyes burned. I took heavy, deliberate steps toward them. I didn't look at the boy; I didn't need to. He didn't exist to me. I stepped directly into Arav's space, cutting off the boy's line of sight, and forced a smile.
"Let's go, Aru."
Arav nodded, still wearing that lingering smile, and turned to lead the way. I didn't give the other boy a single glance as we left. I didn't follow behind Arav this time; I walked right beside him, shoulder to shoulder.
I am the only one who belongs in this space. No one else.
Writer's POV:-
"Oh soo our Chote Rana sa is back. Now the game will be fun... Welcome back... And take care because this time I ain't backing off."
The boy who stood there smiled creepily.