Moment of Realization

Aksh's fingers tightened around his glass as he nodded absentmindedly at something being said to him. But a nagging feeling crept into his mind—something was off.

He turned slightly, expecting to see her standing nearby, the emerald dress hugging her in a way that made it impossible for him to take his eyes off her.

But she wasn't there.

His brows furrowed.

His gaze swept over the room, scanning every corner, expecting to catch a glimpse of her. But all he saw were unfamiliar faces, people he had no interest in.

A flicker of unease curled in his chest.

He set his drink down, his stance shifting as his mind went into sharp focus. He moved through the crowd, his eyes searching for her.

Nothing.

His jaw clenched.

Where was she?

A cold sensation slithered through him, his pulse quickening. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

Ringing.

No answer.

His grip tightened around the device as something dark and unsettling took root in his chest.

He turned to one of his men, his voice low and lethal. "Find her. Now."

The man nodded, immediately stepping away to follow orders.

Aksh's mind raced.

She wouldn't have just left. Not without telling him.

Unless…

The thought sent something primal surging through him.

Had she felt neglected? Had she thought, even for a second, that she wasn't the most important thing in the room to him?

Or worse—was she in danger?

A sharp breath left him as panic threatened to claw its way to the surface.

He had to find her.

Now.

His mind was a whirlwind, every second feeling like an eternity as he pushed through the crowds, his gaze darting from face to face. The elegant chatter around him blurred into noise, the clinking of glasses fading into the background. The only thing that mattered was her.

His pulse hammered in his ears.

Where was she?

He could feel the walls of the ballroom closing in on him, the air growing thick with anxiety. It wasn't just the empty space beside him that bothered him—it was the fear gnawing at the back of his mind, the knowledge that she had vanished without a trace.

She can't be far.

His thoughts spiraled as his heart raced, trying to force a semblance of calm into his panic. He had never felt this powerless before. He was a man who controlled everything around him, who owned the shadows and shaped them to his will.

But her—she was different.

His footsteps quickened, and the more he searched, the more the dread deepened. His phone buzzed in his hand.

He answered in an instant, his voice low, sharp. "Report."

"She's not in the main halls, Aksh," his man's voice came through the phone. "We're checking the exits, but…"

But what?

The words hung in the air, unsaid but clear. He could already feel it—the knot in his stomach tightening.

Without waiting for another word, he cut the call and stormed toward the exit. His body was tense, coiled like a spring, every nerve screaming at him to find her—before it was too late.

The cool night air hit him as he stepped outside the venue, his sharp eyes scanning the street.

Nothing.

He moved quickly, calling her name under his breath, barely recognizing the urgency in his own voice.

Then, as if the universe had decided to taunt him, his phone buzzed again.

It was her.

He didn't hesitate for a second, picking up the call instantly.

"Where are you?" he demanded, his voice low but strained, his chest tightening at the thought of her alone in the cold.

There was a long pause.

"...I needed to be alone." Her voice came through, shaky, as if she had been holding back tears.

Aksh froze.

Alone?

His grip on the phone tightened. He could feel his blood boiling with a mix of frustration and confusion. But he didn't have time for that now.

"I'm coming to you," he growled, his voice rough.

Before she could protest, he ended the call, already moving faster, his eyes sharp as he scanned the streets for any sign of her.

He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not when everything inside him screamed that she was the one thing that truly mattered.

Aksh's mind was consumed with worry as he reached the street that ran alongside the venue. The cold air bit at his skin, but the rush of panic in his chest kept him burning with urgency. He had to find her—no, he needed to find her.

He spotted her then.

She was standing by the corner, the soft glow of the streetlights illuminating her figure, her back to him. She wasn't moving, her posture stiff, and the longer he stared at her, the more the hollow ache in his chest grew.

She looked so small against the vastness of the city, and yet, in that moment, she was everything.

His heart slammed against his ribs as he took slow, deliberate steps toward her, the sound of his boots against the pavement louder than the silence between them.

When she heard him approach, she didn't turn around immediately. Instead, she stood there for a moment longer, her shoulders tight with something he couldn't place.

"Why did you leave?" His voice was low, a mix of anger and something else—something raw.

She didn't answer right away.

"I needed air," she said softly, her words distant, like they didn't belong to her.

He reached out, gently turning her to face him. Her eyes, those beautiful eyes, were filled with an emotion he hadn't expected to see: hurt.

Aksh's breath caught in his throat.

He had seen her strong. He had seen her laugh. But this? This quiet sadness, this vulnerability—it rattled him in ways he hadn't prepared for.

"Look at me," he said, his voice firm, but his hands were careful, as if touching her would break her even further.

She raised her gaze slowly, meeting his eyes, and in that moment, he saw it—the doubt. The fear. The confusion.

"I didn't… I didn't fit in there," she admitted quietly. "That world of yours… it's not mine. And I don't know if I can be a part of it."

Her words cut deeper than anything he had ever experienced.

Aksh took a step closer, his voice softening. "You are a part of it. You've always been. And you don't have to fit into anyone else's world not even mine I'll fit into your world."

She shook her head, the tears that had been building up threatening to fall. "But you never told me that you loved me, Aksh. You never said it, not once. You claim me, you protect me—but love?" She swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "I don't know if you feel the same."

Her words hit him like a tidal wave.

He stood there, speechless, his heart pounding in his chest. Love? The word felt too small, too fragile, too easily broken. It had always seemed insufficient for what he felt for her.

Did he love her?

What he felt was more. Deeper. Something he couldn't name, something that consumed him like fire.

Without a word, he closed the distance between them, cupping her face in his hands. His fingers were gentle, but his grip was firm—unwavering. His dark eyes searched hers, as if willing her to understand what he struggled to say.

"I'm not good with words," he murmured, his voice rough, raw. "But what I feel for you… it's beyond love."

Her breath hitched, her lips parting in shock.

"Love can fade, can be spoken and forgotten," he continued, his thumb brushing away the tear that slipped down her cheek. "But you—you are in my blood, in my bones. You are the only thing I've ever been certain of."

Her hands trembled as they gripped his wrists. He leaned in, his forehead pressing against hers, his breath warm against her skin.

"You have me," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Not just for now. Not just in words. Always."

And in that moment, everything else disappeared.