🍁chapter twenty four 🍁

It was seven in the evening, and the entire staff was busy with the party preparations. Rudra had already warned Hotel management that if anything would be lacking in the arrangements then he would file a case against them. The party was set to start at eight.

Rudra was in a room of the same hotel and attending an online meeting. His black suit was neatly placed on the bed, along with a white shirt. A matching tie, a watch, and shoes were also arranged beside them. What a coincidence that the suit fabric was similar to Shantanu’s suit—it almost seemed like a couple’s outfit.

After finishing the meeting, Rudra went to the bathroom. When he came back after taking a refreshing shower, he found Prem sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.

Glancing at Rudra who was standing in a bathrobe, Prem commented, "I told you to get something nice. What has happened to your taste, Rudra? This suit isn’t expensive at all, and hardly anyone knows this brand. High-class people are coming to the party, and you can’t wear some random low-tier brand."

Ignoring Prem’s rant, Rudra looked at himself in the mirror and started drying his hair.

Frustrated, Prem got up from the sofa and walked over to Rudra. "You need to look the best, not the worst. Rudra, what are you even doing? This is the party for the most famous brand of the country and you wear some nameless clothes."

"Prem, I will look way more handsome and charming in this outfit. And once Rudra Oberoi wears a brand, it automatically becomes high-class." Rudra replied calmly and continued with what he was doing.

"Rudra, have you lost your mind? You own one of the biggest brands in the country, and if you wear something inferior, what message will it send to people who are using our brand ? I'm not just your friend, I’m also the CEO of that brand, and I won’t let you insult my company this way." Prem said angrily.

"Mind your own business and let me get ready." Rudra shot Prem a glance and stopped drying his hair. Rudra started to wear the clothes while Prem kept glaring at his friend's foolishness.

A while later, Mona entered the room and greeted them both.

"Mona, can't you make your boss understand? Look at what he’s wearing!" Prem complained, pointing at Rudra who was almost done with the clothes.

Mona widened her eyes at Prem because only she knew how much effort it had taken for Rudra to decide on this suit. She had spent an entire night stressing over it, and now Prem was trying to stir things up again. Mona didn’t want the party to get canceled and keep searching for the outfit.

Mona immediately changed the topic to avoid the new disaster "Mr. Prem, the guests have started arriving. I think Rudra sir will take some time, so why don’t you go and welcome them? "

Prem made an annoying face and muttered, "You’re always siding with this crazy man. Can’t you take my side just once? "

Mona forced a smile and said, "Mr. Prem, you are getting late." Then she turned to help Rudra who was struggling with his tie.

"Heartless boss and his heartless assistant," Prem muttered while glaring at them before storming out of the room.

Party Hall,

The hall was decorated in golden hues, looking nothing less than heaven. There was no specific dress code for people who are attending the party, but everyone was wearing high-end designer outfits. The employees of Elegant were also dressed in exquisite, expensive attire, and the women’s jewelry and bags were just as luxurious. There wasn't a single person who isn't dressed up in branded outfit.

Waiters were serving drinks to the guests, who were engaged in conversations in small groups. Alongside celebrities, many top businessmen had also attended the party, bringing their sons and daughters along to lure the attention of class bachelors. A soft, elegant melody played in the background, making the atmosphere even more enchanting.

Shantanu entered the party hall. This environment was not new to him—having attended multiple high-class parties in Germany. He had met many of these people before, and they were familiar with him. Smiling, he greeted and engaged in conversations with them like a pro.

The moment Prem saw Shantanu, he found himself unable to look away. Shantanu, who usually wore casual shirts and t-shirts, looking entirely different and extremely handsome in a suit. His hair was neatly styled instead of its usual messy look. And when he smiled freely, it was as if flowers were blooming around him.

Prem’s feet unconsciously started moving toward Shantanu, but before he could reach him, he collided with someone.

"Are you blind? Can’t you watch where you're going? " Prem snapped angrily, he mood instantly turned foul.

"You were the one who bumped into me. You should be the one watching where you walk. Where exactly is your attention? Take your eyes off the girls once in a while, or else your boyfriend might get jealous," Archit said with a forced smile.

The moment Prem’s expression changed, Archit felt immense satisfaction and a real spread on his face.

"Shut up and get out of my way," Prem said irritably, pushing Archit aside.

"Rudra bhai hasn’t even arrived yet, so for whom are you in such a hurry to meet? " Archit taunted, trying to provoke Prem even further.

"Shut your mouth! I don’t want to break your face in the middle of the party. But if you say one more word, I swear I’ll bury you alive right here." Saying this, Prem shoved Archit’s shoulder and walked away.

Archit smirked as he watched Prem walk off. "Say whatever you want for now. I will teach you such a lesson one day that you will remember it for the rest of life."

Prem had barely taken a step toward Shantanu and was about to start a conversation, when Shantanu's attention shifted to the sound of applause then on the stars of the hall.

On the staircase, Rudra was descending with his signature attitude, like a king.

Shantanu, along with the others, started clapping and smiled as he watched Rudra walk down looking dashing as always.

As soon as Rudra reached the bottom, the crowd surrounded him.

Shantanu was standing with Kirti and a few others. Kirti pointed towards Rudra and said, "I’ve heard a lot about your chairman."

Smiling, Shantanu glanced at Rudra, who was surrounded by many people, especially women and replied, "Yes, he’s quite popular among women."

Kirti burst into laughter. "Well he deserves it as he is quite hot and attractive."

Before Shantanu could respond, Prem cut in, "Hello, guys!"

Kirti greeted Prem with a smile and shook hands with him. Shantanu also greeted him.

Kirti, Shantanu, and the others resumed their conversation while Prem kept staring at Shantanu, making him visibly uncomfortable. But Shantanu chose not to say anything as Prem is CEO of the company's main Brand. Kirti, however, noticed Prem’s intense gaze and even understood that shaan is not pleased with Prem's behaviour.

"Mr. Prem, would you mind paying a little attention to me as well? Shantanu works with you every day." Kirti joked, with a soft smile, trying not to make any of them uncomfortable with her words.

"You’re admired by the whole world; how could I possibly ignore you Dear?" Prem replied with a grin.

As Prem chatted with Kirti and the others, Shantanu slowly slipped away from there. He walked out of the party hall and into the corridor. It was quiet there, with dim lighting. A large window allowed a clear view of the moon in the night sky in the corridor.

Shantanu closed his eyes and enjoyed the silence.

He didn’t even realize when Rudra had come and stood beside him. Rudra was gazing at Shantanu’s handsome face. He had already seen Shantanu as soon as the hall came into view. At that moment, for a brief second, he forgot to breathe and even his steps had halted as he was walking unconsciously,. It was as if time had stopped for him—until the sound of applause brought him back to reality.

If someone had looked at them from afar then they would have thought a couple is posing for a photoshoot. They looked perfect together, their matching outfits giving them a couple-like appearance.

After some time, when Shantanu opened his eyes, he was startled to see Rudra standing so close to him. Shantanu's heart started pounding, and he took deep breaths while keeping a hand on his chest and stepped back, asking "Boss, what are you doing here?"

Rudra grabbed Shantanu’s wrist and pulled him slightly forward. "Watch where you step, or you’ll fall."

Shantanu ignored Rudra’s words and asked, "Boss, when did you come?"

"The moment you saw me." Rudra still hadn’t let go of his hand.

"Boss when will you stop scaring me by coming suddenly like this. I am telling you I will die of a heart attack one day." As soon as Shaan said about his death, Rudra's facial expressions changed.

"Aaaaa"

Shantanu screamed loudly as suddenly his face collided with  Rudra's hard chest. The hand which Rudra was holding was still between their chests and Rudra's other hand was wrapped around Shan's waist. Rudra said in a serious tone, staring at Shantanu's face, "When will you stop talking nonsense on such a good occasion?"

Shaan raised his head and looked at Rudra's cold face with a little anger and said "First of all you also stop scaring me like this"

Rudra ignored Shaan's complaint and asked him "What are you doing here?? Why are you not at the party hall??"

Shantanu exhaled a tired breath and looking out of the big window of the corridor said, "It is very crowded inside, so I came out, but after seeing such nice weather here, I did not feel like going inside " Then Shantanu looked at Rudra's face while withdrawing  his gazed from outside and asked, "What are you doing here?"

" Call.." Rudra replied in a small coded word and started looking at Shantanu's face. Shantanu is used to this kind of behavior from Rudra, so he understood that Rudra had come outside to receive the call.

Inside the party hall, Prem was looking for Shantanu. The party hall was very big and full of people so it was difficult to find anyone easily. Archit's eyes were not moving away from Prem's worried face. "Who is he looking for?" Archit says to himself and takes a drink and then moves towards Prem.

Shantanu was still in Rudra's arms and Rudra kept looking at Shan. Shantanu was looking extremely good today. Shantanu can no longer bear Rudra's hot gaze so he lowered his face and whispered "I want to go inside"

Rudra doesn't react and kept looking at Shaan's lowered face. Shantanu can still feel Rudra's intense eyes on him. Shantanu started biting his lower lip in nervousness.

"Please" Shantanu requested again and raised his face and looked into Rudra's eyes with pleading eyes. Shantanu's red face and red, trembling, wounded lips came so close to Rudra that he could even feel Shan's hot breath on his face.

Rudra's grip tightened on Shantanu's waist and his eyes darkened. Rudra's throat became dry but Shantanu was still looking at Rudra with innocence and pleading eyes like an infant.

Rudra, moistening his dry throat by gulping his own saliva, slowly he let go of Shaan and stepped back a bit, turning his gaze away from the tempting face of shantanu to the out of window. Rudra's face turned hot and both of his hands clenched into tight fists but his expression was still poker.

There was silence between the two for some time, neither Shantanu asked anything nor Rudra spoke. Rudra kept looking outside while Shantanu sometimes glanced at Rudra and sometimes at the ground and played with his fingers or biting his lower lip.

Without looking at shantanu, Rudra  said "Go inside, enjoy the party."

“And you??” Shantanu said looking at Rudra in confusion.

" I will stay here for some time, " Rudra said, focusing his eyes on Shaan's face again.

"Okay," Shantanu nodded as now he was feeling awkward standing here like this with Rudra. Instead of calming down, Shantanu's mind was getting more turbulent and forget about his heart beat, he didn't know with whom his heart was trying to race.

"Shaan" Rudra called Shantanu, then Shantanu looked at Rudra with questioning eyes "Hmm??"

Rudra took out something from his pocket and holding one of Shaan's hands in his hand, he placed the thing in Shaan's hand.

Rudra placed the key in Shantanu's hand. Shantanu looked at the key and then again looked at Rudra with questioning eyes.

" I am also coming home with you, wait for me," Rudra said looking straight into Shantanu's eyes.

"Okay," saying this Shantanu closed his fist and smiled lightly.

Seeing the cute smile on Shan's face, Rudra's face also got relaxed.

"305"

Rudra told Shantanu the room number

In the party hall,

"Are you looking for a prey for tonight? " Archit whispered into Prem's ears from behind.

Prem closed his eyes and when he opened them, Archit was standing in front of him with two drinks.

"I don't have time to waste on you so go away from here and let me do my work." Prem said rudely.

Archit offered the drink to Prem and said, "Why is your mood always bad? Look at everyone, there are so many good things and it is only you who are still angry." Archit said pointing towards the people.

Prem forced a smile, "What should I do, your appearance is such that it makes me angry. How shameless can someone be? No matter how much I insult you, you still walk away with your head held high every time. Don't you understand that I don't like having you around?"

The smile on Archit's face was gone and the corners of his eyes had turned red. "What is my fault? Can't we live together like we did in childhood? " Archit asked in an emotional voice.

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