✨ HEART CAUGHT OF GUARD-CHAPTER-4

Third pov:

At the stroke of midnight, the flight touched down in Chennai. Rudhran, accompanied by Vishnu and Priya, made their way through the bustling city streets toward their family mansion. Even at this late hour, Chennai was alive, its streets vibrant with activity, a testament to how much the city had evolved in the years Rudhran had been away.

As they entered their old neighborhood, Memories of cycling to school, carefree days spent exploring every nook with Vishnu and their friends, and the simple joy of a life unburdened by responsibility played in his mind.  Sensing his mood, Vishnu exchanged a glance with Priya before placing a reassuring hand on Rudhran's shoulder. Rudhran shook his head, brushing off the momentary lapse into nostalgia.

When they arrived at the mansion, His gaze lingered on the intricate gates and the sprawling façade, his heart heavy with memories of a life once filled with joy and his mother's comforting presence.

As Rudhran stepped out of the car, his imposing figure exuded a quiet strength, His expression was stoic, his emotions carefully concealed, but the flicker of nostalgia in his eyes betrayed his guarded demeanor. When his gaze landed on Rajendhran, however, any trace of sentiment vanished. His face hardened into a mask of indifference

Rajendhran's longing was evident in the way his eyes searched Rudhran's face, The man before him wasn't the boy he'd last seen—Rudhran now exuded confidence, style, and a quiet intensity.

The tension in the air was palpable, threatening to suffocate them all, but Vishnu broke it with his usual booming humor.

"Periyappa!(Father's elder brother) How are you?" he called out, striding forward and enveloping Rajendhran in a hug.

Rajendhran chuckled, "I'm good, pa. How are you, Priya, and... him?" His eyes flickered toward Rudhran, though his son remained silent.

Vishnu smirked, playfully patting Rajendhran's stomach. "We are all fine, ohh unga thoppai last time vida perusa irukey(Looks like your tummy's gotten bigger since I last saw you!)" he teased.

Rajendhran let out a hearty laugh, a sound he hadn't made in years. "It's all thanks to Aaradhya's cooking," he replied with a fond smile.

Rudhran's heart skipped a beat, He heard his patti singing Aaradhya praised even his father too!

Meanwhile, Priya stepped forward with a polite smile, "How have you been, mama? It's been so long."

Rajendhran's smile widened, "I'm doing well, ma. It's good to see you both."

As the workers helped bring their luggage inside, the group followed Rajendhran into the house."

Inside the grand mansion, The workers scurried off after helping with the luggage, leaving Rajendhran to linger near the staircase, his eyes following Rudhran as though trying to memorize his every move. Rudhran, however, didn't spare him a second glance. Instead, he gestured to Vishnu and Priya to follow.

As they climbed the marble staircase, Vishnu's boisterous chatter filled the halls "I hope they've given us the good guest room this time. Last time, the mattress felt like I was sleeping on a rock." He threw an exaggerated grimace at Priya, who smacked his arm playfully.

"Don't be so dramatic, Vishnu. You snored so loudly that I doubt you noticed the mattress," Priya quipped.

"That's not snoring, darling; that's my soul singing in my sleep," Vishnu replied with mock seriousness, pulling her closer with an arm around her shoulder. "And you, my lovely wife, are the melody to my life."

Priya blushed,  "Stop it, you're embarrassing me," she whispered, but her smile betrayed her delight.

Rudhran, walking a step behind, rolled his eyes at the display. "You two should just get a room. Oh wait, you are getting one," he muttered dryly.

Vishnu turned around with a dramatic bow. "Why, thank you for your approval, Your Highness. Your generosity knows no bounds," he said, grinning as Priya stifled a laugh.

Shaking his head, Rudhran continued to his room, trying to ignore their antics.

When he entered his old room, he paused. It was pristine—every surface wiped clean, every corner immaculate. The faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, a fragrance he faintly remembered from his mother's rituals. The room was just as he had left it, but it felt... untouched by time. His gaze fell on the photo hanging on the wall—the same one that had once been his silent companion during lonely nights.

The photo of his mother holding him as a baby caught his attention, and he froze. His younger self, chubby and carefree in her arms, seemed like a stranger now.

Memories of his mother humming lullabies, her hands stroking his hair as he drifted to sleep, flashed before his eyes. His chest tightened.

Silently, he ran his fingers along the edge of the frame, Rudhran whispered to the silence, "Amma... I'm home."

Rudhran was surprised to find his room spotless,Every corner was clean, and even his old desk had been wiped down. He walked over to the bed and sat down with a sigh.

he let out a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day melt away. As soon as his head hit the pillow, sleep claimed him almost instantly, one thing was certain—no matter how late he stayed up or how tired he felt, his day wouldn't start without his morning jog.

Rudhran pov :

I stretched lazily, my muscles groaning in protest as I rolled off the bed. A quick glance at my phone told me it was 6:00 AM. Perfect. Time to move. Staying in shape wasn't just a routine—it was life.

No idea if this mansion even has a gym. Knowing my old man, it's probably a dusty room with a treadmill from the 90s. Either way, I wasn't going to wait around to find out. Jogging it is. Brushing quickly, I pulled on my tracks and a sleeveless T-shirt, grabbed my phone, and laced up my sneakers.

As I headed downstairs,A couple of workers shot me curious glances as I passed by. Of course, they'd stare—I'm the mystery son who hasn't been here in a decade. But I wasn't here to make small talk, so I ignored them and stepped outside.  slipping my headphones in. The beat kicked in,  and I hit the street at a steady pace.

The cool morning air was refreshing, and the streets were quiet enough to make my run peaceful but alive enough to remind me I was back in Chennai. Half an hour later, I was circling back to the mansion, my shirt clinging to me from the sweat but still looking good. That's just how I roll.

As I approached the gate, something caught my eye—a kolam(rangoli) on the ground. It was intricate and beautiful, the kind of design my mom used to draw in the early mornings. A pang of nostalgia hit me out of nowhere. People still do this, huh? For a moment, I just stood there, appreciating it. I carefully avoided stepping on it and walked inside.

Then it hit me—Mom. She was always so religious, and I suddenly remembered the little Murugan shrine she loved. That man—yeah, him—had it built for her. Is it still here? Doubt it. No one would've bothered maintaining it all these years. But something tugged at me to go check.

Without really thinking, I headed to the corner of the garden where it used to be. My feet moved on their own, curiosity—and maybe something deeper—pulling me forward.

As my feet carried me toward the corner of the garden, my mind told me to turn back. But there it was—the little temple, still standing tall against all odds. I stopped in my tracks, the faint aroma of incense and fresh flowers tugging me forward.

I didn't even realize when my legs moved on their own. The closer I got, the stronger the scents became, wrapping around me like a distant memory. And then my eyes caught something—or rather, someone.

And just like that, the world around me faded into the background.

There is a girl.

Standing with her hands folded in prayer, her head bowed, her eyes closed. No makeup, just a simple bindi on her forehead, yet she glowed like she owned the sunrise. These days, finding a girl without layers of concealer and eyeliner is rare, but this one? She was a masterpiece of simplicity.

My eyes betrayed me, wandering over her frame. Her waist-length hair was loosely tied back, a few rebellious strands framing her dusky face. Her lips moved softly, chanting something I couldn't hear but didn't need to. Those plum lips were enough to snatch my focus.

And then there was that saree—a plain cotton one, nothing fancy, but damn, did it do wonders. The faint glimpse of her waist peeking out as she shifted had me swallowing hard. She barely reached my chest level, yet she had me feeling like the one who had to look up.

What the hell was happening to me? I'd never been one for relationships or casual flings, but something about her was different. Her simplicity, her purity—it was intoxicating. I was drawn to her, mesmerized by her beauty. My heart pounded in my chest, a foreign sensation that I couldn't ignore. "Really, Rudhra? Falling for a girl you haven't even met? That's a new low, mate."

And just like that, her eyes opened—big, brown, and completely unprepared for me. The second her gaze locked with mine, I swear it was like taking a punch to the chest. My heart didn't just skip; it stumbled.

She blinked, her innocent gaze sweeping over me. Of course, she'd be confused. A guy in tracks, a sleeveless t-shirt, and a headset standing in the middle of the garden, staring at her like he's been hit by Cupid's arrow.

Her eyes darted around like she was checking if anyone else was watching this little... whatever this was. Her lashes fluttered, delicate as butterfly wings, and for a second, Was she nervous? Because of me? Damn right, she was.

And it wasn't just her gaze. The way her fingers twitched slightly, her lips parted like she wanted to say something but couldn't, and the way her feet shifted restlessly on the ground—it was all screaming one thing: I was making her nervous.

Same girl, same.

Before I could even pull myself together to say something—anything—she turned on her heel and bolted.  The sound of her bangles and anklets jingled as she ran toward the house, the ends of her saree fluttering behind her.

I just stood there, dumbfounded. What the hell had just happened?

The girl who'd made my heart pound like a drum had disappeared, leaving me rooted in place like a complete idiot. And yet, I couldn't shake the image of her—those wide, fluttering eyes, her shy, nervous gestures, the way she practically radiated innocence.

"Damn," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.

For the first time in my life, I felt... something. And I couldn't explain it, but I didn't hate it.

In fact, I couldn't wait to see her again.

Idhoo ungakagaa! update -

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