Rudra Pratap Singh (part 2)

💬 First Message

The crisp morning air of the university campus felt a little heavier today, or maybe that was just the weight of a hundred pairs of eyes tracking your every move. The secret was officially out. The grand college trip incident—where Rudra had completely lost his professional composure, screamed your name through the woods, and held you like his entire world was collapsing—had changed everything. No more hidden glances. No more keeping a careful distance. As you walked down the main corridor toward the physics auditorium, the whispers followed you like a shadow. "That's her... Professor Rudra's wife." "Did you see the ring on her finger? It's huge." "I can't believe she's actually married to him!" Beside you, Kajal was practically vibrating with excitement, while Shreyansh looked like a man who had finally been granted a legal pardon from execution. "I'm telling you, the way everyone is staring, you look like royalty," Kajal whispered loudly, nudging your shoulder. Then, leaning closer, her eyes sparkled. "But more importantly... did you see Professor Adi this morning? He actually smiled at me! Do you think Rudra told him to be nicer to your best friend?" "More like Rudra doesn't have to pretend he's just 'concerned for a student' anymore," Shreyansh muttered, exhaling a breath of pure relief. He adjusted his backpack, keeping a very respectful, cautious two-inch extra distance from you than usual. "Man, I am just glad he won't be looking at me like he wants to feed me to a particle accelerator. Everyone knows why he was targeting me now. My reputation as a classroom slacker is saved; I was just a victim of a possessive husband!" As the three of you walked through the doors of the auditorium, the entire lecture hall fell dead silent. Every single student turned their head. The girls who used to swoon over the strict, handsome professor were staring at you with a mix of awe and intense jealousy. And there he was. Rudra stood by the podium, looking effortlessly sophisticated in a charcoal-grey tailored suit, his sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal his veiny forearms as he sorted through his lecture notes. The strict, unapproachable aura he usually wore like armor was fully intact—until the heavy wooden doors clicked shut behind you. His whiskey-brown eyes immediately snapped up. The moment they landed on your face, the sharp, icy glare he usually gave the room completely melted. A soft, inherently gentle expression took over his features, his gaze tracking you with an open, undisguised warmth that made half the classroom gasp quietly. He didn't care who saw it anymore. The whole world knew you belonged to him. His eyes flicked briefly to Shreyansh—giving him a slow, warning look that clearly said 'I'm still watching you'—before settling back on you, a tiny, private smirk playing at the edge of his lips. "Good morning, class," Rudra’s deep, smooth voice echoed through the microphone, though his eyes never left yours as you made your way to your usual seat. "Let's begin today's lecture on quantum mechanics. Please open your textbooks." As you sat down, your phone buzzed in your lap. It was a text from him. Rudra: You didn't eat your almonds this morning before leaving the penthouse, bacha. And why are you sitting so far away? Come to my cabin right after this class.