🎀🌷✧ Pratyusha's POV ✧🌷🎀

I was feeling dizzy.

A cool breeze brushed softly against my face, making me stir slightly in my sleep. It felt pleasant, almost soothing, and for a moment, I simply remained there, lost somewhere between dreams and reality.

A tiny drop of water touched my left cheek. Then another landed on my eyelashes. The coldness made my eyes part slightly.

But suddenly, the droplets stopped.

The breeze disappeared too.

Someone had closed the window.

I still couldn't open my eyes completely. Everything felt heavy. My head was spinning, and the dizziness wrapped around me like a thick fog, making it impossible to see or think clearly.

Then-

a touch.

Soft fingers brushed against my arm.

Slowly, they moved upward to my shoulder, lingering there for a moment before tracing the line of my cheek and chin.

For some strange reason, it didn't scare me. It didn't remind me of the darkness I feared. Instead, it felt warm.

Comforting.

Like home.

Like it was only the beginning of something... something that was quietly seducing me.

I could sense someone beside me. A presence.

Close enough for me to feel the warmth of their breath. The fingers moved again, sliding lightly to my waist.

My breath hitched. It felt warm.

Slowly... carefully... they brushed the bare skin of my waist, tracing its curve before pausing near my navel.

A small circle. A gentle touch. It made my breath tremble. A strange warmth spread through me, and I felt myself being drawn closer.

Still, I didn't feel uncomfortable. I only felt myself sinking deeper into that strange warmth.

The touch moved away, gliding to the other side of my waist before travelling upward to my neck and ear, tracing the curves of my chest.

It felt as though the moment was about to begin. I felt lighter beneath that touch.

Every bit of heaviness inside me disappeared the moment those fingers brushed my chest. The next moment, strong arms lifted me gently.

I could feel myself being carried.

Then-

the softness of a bed beneath me.

A pillow cradled my head. The room was dark. So dark that I could barely make out anything.

And my head...

it slowly started to feel light, as though it was ready for whatever this moment was.

Only one thing was visible.

His lips.

Just the faint outline of them as he leaned closer. And closer.

They seduced me far more than they should have. For a moment, it felt as though if I didn't kiss him now, I never would in the future.

I leaned in.

And then-

a kiss happened.

"WHAT THE FUUUCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK?!"

I shot upright in bed.

Relief immediately flooded me when I found no one beside me.

My breath hitched. My heart raced wildly. My hands trembled.

This... This was just a dream.

Thank God! I hadn't kissed anyone. No one had touched me.

Krishna! Oh God!

You saved me from a dream. I looked around once again, trying to calm myself.

But then I realized something strange like it almost pissed me off. Almost!

This wasn't my room.

I froze.

Suddenly, I could hear hurried footsteps approaching.

My heart began racing again.

Was I kidnapped?

What if what happened in the dream had actually happened?

What if it wasn't a dream at all?

The door opened.

And suddenly, Amar and Devvrata appeared in front of me, both looking alarmed.

They must have rushed upstairs after hearing me scream.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Devvrata asked, immediately leaning closer.

"Praya..." Amar's voice softened. "Why did you yell?" I didn't answer. I simply stared at them.

"Is everything okay?" they both asked at the same time.

"Did someone stalk you?" Devvrata asked again, his brows furrowed with worry. I could actually see the concern on his face. "Why aren't you answering?"

I blinked.

"I had a dream." The relief on their faces was immediate.

"Just a dream," Devvrata muttered under his breath.

"No..." Amar frowned. "Did you dream about it again?"

I knew what he meant. The nightmares. The trauma.

I slowly shook my head. "No." He relaxed.

"Then what did you dream about?" Devvrata asked curiously. No... Out of worry.

I hesitated. "I kissed someone." Both of them stared at me. "In the dark," I added quickly. "I don't even know who."

"What actually happened?" Amar asked.

I swallowed. "I was drunk. Completely drunk. I couldn't even open my eyes properly."

I paused, asking myself what if I just embarrassed myself.

I looked at both of them suspiciously. "Ahh... you shouldn't take any double meaning, okay?"

They nodded.

"I could feel someone's touch on my body."

Another pause.

"And then... I felt like kissing him." I said the last part hesitantly. "And I kissed him."

I covered my face with my hands. "Thank God it was only a dream. Fuck! How could I even kiss a stranger?"

When I looked up again, both of them were trying very hard not to smile and were acting strangely.

Their shoulders were shaking. Their lips were pressed together. And for some reason, they looked as though they were trying their hardest not to laugh.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "Why are you making those faces?"

Neither of them answered. Instead, they exchanged a quick glance.

A very suspicious glance.

My gaze wandered from Amar to Devvrata and then... stopped.

There was a red mark on his white shirt.

I frowned.

A strange uneasiness settled in my stomach.

My gaze drifted back to the white shirt he was wearing, and this time, something caught my attention. A faint red stain stood out against the fabric.

No.

Not a stain.

A lipstick mark.

My brows knitted together as I stared at it. It was shaped like a pair of lips, almost as though someone had...

I froze.

The dream.

The darkness.

The kiss.

Slowly, my hand lifted on its own, an accusing finger pointing toward his chest.

"What is that?"

For the first time since entering the room, he looked... uncomfortable. His eyes flickered down to the mark before returning to me.

"It's... nothing."

Nothing?

I blinked at him.

Then at the shirt.

Then back at him.

The pieces in my head suddenly clicked together with terrifying speed. My mouth slowly fell open.

"...Did that dream actually happen?"

Silence. A horrible, horrible silence.

I pushed the blanket away and sat up straighter, staring at him as though I had just discovered a national secret.

"...DID I KISS YOU?"

My gaze dropped to my outfit, and my eyes widened in horror. The crop top had ridden up slightly, leaving my navel completely exposed. As though I had suddenly remembered I wasn't wearing clothes at all, I slapped both hands over my waist and looked up at him in disbelief.

Before another horrified scream could escape me, he closed the distance between us in two quick steps. His hand rose, and a finger gently pressed against my lips.

I went utterly still.

The touch felt familiar.

Far too familiar.

Oh no.

Oh, no no no.

Was he trying to seduce me with his actions?

A laugh escaped Amar.

I ignored him completely.

I was still recovering from the fact that I had almost kissed a man in my sleep. Or rather... his shirt.

That sounded slightly less embarrassing.

Slightly.

"Good morning, by the way."

The sudden greeting made me look up.

Devvrata was standing a little too close, his hands tucked into his pockets as he watched me with an unreadable expression.

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

Good morning?

I had heard from Amar that this man wasn't fond of greetings. He didn't wish people good morning or good night, and apparently, he found them unnecessary.

Then why was he saying it to me? And why did it sound so... natural coming from him?

He didn't look away. In fact, he seemed to be waiting for my reply.

I swallowed. "M-Morning." The word slipped out before I could stop it.

A faint smile touched his lips. "You were quite entertaining last night."

I frowned. "What did I do?"

"Oh, many things."

I sat up straighter. "What many things?"

"You asked me whether I had a job."

I blinked.

I did what?

"You didn't."

"I did."

I stared at him in horror.

"No, I didn't."

"You did."

A look of amusement settled on his face, making me narrow my eyes suspiciously.

"What else did I say?"

Instead of answering, he took a step back.

"Get freshened up."

I gaped at him.

"That's not an answer!"

He merely turned around and walked toward the door.

"Hey!"

Nothing.

"Devvrata!"

Still nothing.

I threw a pillow in his direction. Unfortunately, he had already stepped outside. I groaned and fell back onto the bed.

Why did these people always tell me half the story and disappear? One day, I was going to die from curiosity.

With a dramatic sigh, I got out of bed, folded the bedsheet and headed toward the washroom.

A few minutes later, I was brushing my teeth when something suddenly struck me.

I froze.

Then slowly looked at my reflection in the mirror. The IG. I had to meet the IG today. My eyes widened.

I turned toward the clock. Eleven thirty.

"OH GOD!"

I almost dropped my toothbrush. I had to report by twelve-thirty. I was already late.

I quickly washed my face and rushed downstairs, nearly tripping over my own feet in the process. I had barely reached the main door when a voice stopped me.

"Where are you going?"

I turned.

Devvrata was sitting in the living room, still wearing the same white shirt.

The same shirt. The same shirt with my lipstick mark. My eyes immediately landed on it.

Why hadn't he changed?

Every time I looked at it, I felt my soul leaving my body. I quickly looked away, out of embarrassment of my actions.

"To my house."

I reached for the door.

"Wait." Amar emerged from the kitchen, carrying a plate in his hands. "I made dosa. Eat first."

I looked at the plate. Then at him. Then back at the plate. Tempting. Very tempting.

But-

"I don't have time. I need to meet the IG."

Both men looked at me. "Why?" they asked at the same time.

I blinked.

Wow.

"I have to give an explanation about..." My gaze moved toward Devvrata before returning to Amar. "...the missing bullet in my revolver."

Silence settled in the room. "I have to report by twelve-thirty."

For the first time that morning, Devvrata said nothing. Amar, however, immediately put the plate down.

"I'll come with you."

I shook my head. "No. You took leave today. Enjoy it."

"No worries. I'll join you." He protested, might be eager to meet his favorite Raudrika.

I sighed. The man never listened. "Fine."

I left for my house while he followed behind. The next few minutes passed in a blur. I quickly freshened up, changed into my uniform, and tied my hair into a neat bun.

The moment I looked at myself in the mirror, my playful mood disappeared.

Officer Pratyusha was back.

I grabbed my things and headed to the station. Time-12:26 p.m.

Good.

Four minutes early. I stood outside the office and took a deep breath. Then another. And another.

I closed my eyes.

Relax. You'll be fine.

I opened them again-

And nearly jumped. The idiot was standing right in front of me. "Hello," Amar greeted cheerfully.

I ignored his existence. Good. Let's continue doing that. Taking one last deep breath, I gently pushed the door open.

Then I froze.

Raudrika was inside. Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Pratyusha, get ready to die.

"Come in." The IG's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I straightened my shoulders and walked inside, with Amar following close behind.

"Jai Hind." Both of us saluted together. The IG acknowledged it with a nod before his gaze shifted to Amar.

"Why are you here?" Before I could answer, the idiot beside me grinned.

"Missed you, ma'am."

I nearly turned to look at him. What a liar. And to make matters worse, Raudrika actually blushed.

Unbelievable. I looked away. Fuck her.

"What's your explanation?" the IG asked, turning his attention back to me.

Straight to the point. No greetings. No formalities. I took a deep breath.

"Devvrata called me for breakfast the other day. We were discussing how to convince my father about the marriage. During the conversation, he said that I would marry him even if my father was at gunpoint."

I paused.

The memory still irritated me. "I didn't like that. I pulled the trigger, and immediately Amar grabbed my hand and moved it in another direction. The bullet hit the wall." The room fell silent.

"That's it, sir."

The IG stared at me for a long moment. Then his brows slowly furrowed. "What kind of explanation is this?" His voice rose slightly.

I remained standing straight. "I wanted to tell the truth rather than creating a false story." I swallowed once before continuing. "If my explanation doesn't satisfy you, then I'm ready to accept any punishment."

Silence. A long, uncomfortable silence.

Then-

"You're suspended for two months."

The words landed heavily. A moment later, the suspension letter came flying toward me and hit me squarely on the face before falling onto the table.

I blinked.

Wow.

That was rude.

Very rude.

Lately, everyone seemed to be getting unnecessarily rude with me.

Especially after Devvrata entered my life.

Wonderful.

I bent down, picked up the paper, and read it.

Two months.

I was officially suspended.

For a moment, I simply stood there.

Then, slowly, my fingers moved to the belt around my waist.

I unbuckled it.

The familiar weight left my body.

Strangely, it felt heavier now that it was no longer there.

I placed it carefully on the table.

Next came my service cap.

Then my revolver.

For years, I had worn this uniform with pride. I had carried that revolver without fear, using it against criminals as naturally as breathing.

But today...

placing it on the table felt different.

It felt as though I was leaving a piece of myself behind.

I drew in a slow breath.

"Jai Hind, sir."

I saluted once again.

No matter what happened, my respect for the uniform remained the same.

"See you after two months."

Raudrika's voice carried a smirk.

I didn't even bother looking at her. The less I saw her face, the better. I turned and walked out.

Suspended.

Wow.

Pratyusha...

what the hell have you stepped into?

The office door closed behind me.

For a few moments, I simply stood there.

Then footsteps approached. Amar.

He didn't say anything immediately. He simply stood beside me. As though he understood that I needed a moment. A few seconds later, he spoke.

"Do you want to eat something?"

I looked at him. I hadn't realized it until then, but I was starving. I nodded. He smiled.

"Come on."

We left the station and headed to a nearby restaurant.

The mood somehow became lighter the moment food arrived.

Dosa.

Noodles.

Manchurian.

And finally...

a chocolate ice cream generously sprinkled with choco chips and drowned in extra chocolate syrup.

My favourite.

I smiled despite myself.

Food really did solve half of life's problems.

I scooped a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth and closed my eyes.

Perfect.

Absolutely perfect.

My phone suddenly rang.

I glanced at the screen.

The smile disappeared.

Nanna.

My heart instantly became nervous.

I wiped my hands and answered the call.

"Nanna?"

"Are you busy?"

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

"No, Nanna."

"Come home. I need to talk to you."

The call ended.

I stared at the screen.

That's it?

No explanation?

No hint?

Nothing?

My heart immediately started racing.

Why did he want to talk to me?

Did something happen?

Did Devvrata's mother say something again?

Oh God.

Not again.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Krishna...

please.

Please don't let things become even more complicated.

The moment the call ended, I lowered my phone and stared at the dark screen for a few seconds. The little happiness I had managed to recover with food and chocolate ice cream vanished just like that. Whenever my father said, "I need to talk to you," in that calm voice of his, it was never something simple.

Amar, who had been busy finishing his food, looked up at me and frowned. "What happened?"

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and sighed. "Nanna asked me to come home. He said he wants to talk."

A look of understanding crossed his face immediately. "You're scared."

I glared at him. "I'm not scared."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

I stabbed my spoon into the melting ice cream and looked away. "Fine. Maybe a little."

A smile tugged at his lips. "You'll be okay."

I wished I had his confidence.

The entire drive back to my Nanna's place felt strangely long. My mind had already come up with a hundred possibilities, and none of them were pleasant. Had Devvrata's mother said something again? Had my father changed his mind about the marriage? Was he still angry with me? The more I thought about it, the more nervous I became.

By the time I reached home, my palms had turned cold.

I stood outside the gate for a few moments, taking a deep breath. Then another. Then one more for good measure.

"Pratyusha," Amar called from behind me, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You're acting like you're about to enter a battlefield."

"It is a battlefield," I muttered.

He laughed softly and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Go."

I nodded and walked inside.

The house was unusually quiet. There was no sound coming from the television, no clattering from the kitchen, and no sign of my little brother creating chaos somewhere.