Confronting the shadows

**Episode 17: Confronting the Shadows**

The tension from the previous conversation hung in the air long after Aarav left the room. Armaan felt Rudra's gaze lingering on him, a mix of concern and something else—something deeper that he couldn’t quite pinpoint.

"Armaan," Rudra's voice broke the silence, calm yet serious. "I know this is overwhelming, but you have to trust me. I didn't want you involved in all of this."

Armaan stood by the window, arms crossed. "But I am involved, Rudra. Whether you like it or not, I am already in the middle of everything."

Rudra’s expression hardened, but Armaan could see the flicker of guilt behind his eyes. "That’s exactly what I was trying to prevent. I didn’t want you to be another target."

Armaan turned to face him, his own emotions a whirlwind of confusion and fear. "So what now? What’s the plan?"

Rudra walked closer, his presence as commanding as ever. "We’ll handle this, together. But you need to follow my lead. I can’t afford to have you in harm’s way."

"Follow your lead?" Armaan raised an eyebrow, feeling a surge of frustration. "Rudra, I’m not some fragile flower that needs constant protection. I deserve to know what’s happening around me."

Rudra stopped in front of him, close enough that Armaan could feel the warmth radiating off him. "I never said you were fragile. You’re stronger than you realize. That’s why I’ve been holding back."

The vulnerability in Rudra’s words caught Armaan off guard. He had always seen Rudra as this unshakable force, but now, in this moment, he could see the cracks beneath that strong exterior.

Before Armaan could respond, there was a knock at the door. Aarav entered once again, his expression grim.

"We’ve got a problem," Aarav said without preamble, looking directly at Rudra.

Rudra’s demeanor shifted instantly, his expression turning colder. "What is it?"

"Nisha’s made a move. She’s been asking around, and one of her people was spotted near the mansion."

Armaan’s heart dropped. The danger was no longer an abstract idea—it was real and closing in fast.

Rudra clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists. "She won’t stop until she finds us."

Aarav nodded, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation. "We need to leave, now. It’s only a matter of time before she gets closer."

Armaan’s mind raced. Leaving? Running away? He had never imagined his life could take such a drastic turn. Everything he had known—the flower shop, his quiet life—it all seemed so far away now.

Rudra turned to Armaan, his expression serious. "Pack your things. We’re leaving tonight."

Armaan felt a lump form in his throat. "Where will we go?"

"Somewhere safe," Rudra said, though his eyes betrayed the uncertainty of the situation. "I have properties around the city, and one of them is off the radar. We’ll regroup there and figure out our next move."

As the weight of the situation settled in, Armaan nodded, heading to his room to gather his belongings. The mansion that had once felt like a temporary escape now seemed more like a cage, trapping him in a world he didn’t fully understand.

As he packed his things, Armaan’s thoughts kept drifting back to Rudra. He knew Rudra was doing his best to protect him, but part of him couldn’t shake the feeling that there were still secrets being kept. Secrets that could change everything.

Once his bag was packed, Armaan rejoined Rudra and Aarav downstairs. The tension in the room was palpable, and Aarav was already making arrangements on his phone.

"We need to move fast," Aarav said, glancing at Rudra. "I’ve got a car ready outside. It’ll take us to the safehouse."

Rudra nodded, but before they could leave, the front door of the mansion suddenly burst open. Nisha stood in the doorway, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"Going somewhere?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.

Armaan’s breath hitched in his throat. This was it—the moment they had all been dreading.

Rudra stepped in front of Armaan, his body tense, ready to shield him. "Nisha," he said coldly. "This ends here."

Nisha smirked, her eyes darting between Rudra and Armaan. "Oh, Rudra, you know me better than that. This is just the beginning."

Aarav moved closer, his posture ready for a confrontation. "What do you want, Nisha?"

Nisha’s gaze flicked toward Aarav, but her focus quickly returned to Rudra. "What I’ve always wanted, Rudra. You. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen."

Armaan’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the tension between them. He could see now that Nisha wasn’t just some ex-flame; she was a threat, a woman who was willing to do anything to get what she wanted.

But Armaan wasn’t about to let her win. He stepped forward, his voice stronger than he expected. "Rudra doesn’t belong to you, Nisha. You can’t control him like a possession."

Nisha’s smile faded, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, how cute. The florist has a backbone after all."

Rudra’s hand rested gently on Armaan’s arm, a silent gesture of reassurance. "You’ve crossed the line, Nisha. It’s over."

For a brief moment, Nisha’s expression shifted—anger flashing behind her eyes. But then, just as quickly, her smile returned. "We’ll see about that."

With one last, cold look, she turned and walked out, leaving the door ajar behind her.

Aarav let out a breath. "We need to go, now. She’ll be back, and next time, she won’t come alone."

Rudra nodded, his grip tightening on Armaan’s arm. "Come on."

As they hurried out the door and into the waiting car, Armaan couldn’t help but glance back at the mansion one last time. It felt like the end of something—the end of the life he had known.

But as Rudra’s hand rested on his shoulder, grounding him in the moment, Armaan realized that maybe it wasn’t an end at all. Maybe it was just the beginning of something new. Something far more dangerous, but something that would make him stronger than ever before.

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