RANVIJAY

Craving someone you barely know or have never seen is an injury to your health. It feels like a thirsty man searching for a single drop of love in the desert, hoping it will quench his thirst.

It felt amazing to yearn for her every moment. I'd never experienced a peaceful moment in my entire life, but the past six months had been the most precious. Earlier, I wished I could see her, but now I crved her presence, her solace, and her oceanic eyes.

"Should I try to find you?" I said in a breathy voice, placing the anklet next to mine on the bed. "Whenever I touch you, it feels like I'm touching a delicate daisy." I muttered, caressing her anklet with my rough lips. My rough lips must be hurting her.

"I think I need to visit Delhi", I got up and sat on the bed while bending my right leg. My mind still tries to figure out what the right thing to do is. Ranvijay, it's better to search for her rather than die every moment by craving for her. I got down from bed and picked up my laptop from the corner study table.

I went back to bed and looked outside the window as the roared thunderstorm caught my attention. It looks like it's going to rain. Fuck . I'd never liked the rain, and getting wet in salty water always made me grumpy. I signed into my laptop and waited for the Wi-Fi to connect.

"Fucking annoying! Rain is the cause of every problem," The stressed veins popped up on my forehead. It was so easy for me to get irritated. "Please don't test my patience." I murmured, pressing my eyes hard. After ten minutes, I was finally connected to the Make My Trip website.

I booked a flight ticket from Pune to Delhi in the middle of the night. What an asshole I am. People might be sleeping peacefully at this hour, while I was restlessly trying to find a way to get entangled once again with an unknown blue- eyed girl.

"Good night, Raaje! Take care of me," I whispered, kissing her anklet. "I can take care of the whole nation, but I don't know why I crave your concern for me," I murmured. Maybe it was because nobody had ever cared about me.

"I don't want anyone to hear our conversation, so keep it a secret."

♡

I don't share a perfect bond with my father, my heart is filled with hatred for him. He tried so hard to mend the relationship with me, but I don't have such intention. First, he abandoned me in childhood, and now I have abandoned him.

I can say that I never looked at my father after my mother's death. He thinks my stubbornness and anger towards him are unnecessary, but to me, he shouldn't have betrayed my mother just for his best friend. Maa was everything to me, and he didn't just betray her. He betrayed me as well.

I stepped down the stairs, completely ignoring my father, who was walking towards me. I didn't want to spoil my mood. "Ranvijay beta," Dad said, but I didn't give a damn about his words and walked past him .

"Mousi, I'm going somewhere for two days," I said, rolling my eyes at her. She was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. I was halfway through the hall when a male voice came from my right side.

What's up, Bhai? How have you been?" Akash asked, sipping his green tea. He only liked to have green tea from his beloved wife. He was a mad lover. Apart from this, he was my younger cousin and an IPS officer by profession. His behavior was unlike mine. He was a well-behaved person. After all, he was raised by my mousi with her immense love.

"I'm fine!" I replied.

"Congratulations, Bhai, for the bravery medal," he smiled. His eyes were filled with immense pride for me. "How does it feel to have an honor?"

"I always feel great when I crush terrorists' heads with my hands," I smirked, tapping his shoulder. I was an aggressive and ruthless PARA SF soldier in my battalion. Until now, I had crushed countless terrorists' heads. My superiors had given me the title of daredevil, as they assumed that I was more ruthless than a terrorist. The daredevil soldier who cannot die.

"Yeah, Bhai, you're the best officer, and I'm proud of you." Akash and I were talking while my so-called father stood in the corner, watching us. I could sense that he was yearning for my attention, exactly the same way I felt in my childhood when he ignored me. My ignorance was tit for tat.

"Ranvijay, don't you want to hug me? After all, it's been a while," Dad said, and his words instantly sparked anger in my temples. "Why? Don't you know we are soldiers and we spend countless days on the battlefield?" My eyes rolled at him for a fraction of a second. "But why am I explaining this to you? After all, we have so many officers in our family," I replied in annoyance.

Akash's eyes were darting between us. His facial expression was like World War III was about to happen at any moment. The intensity of my voice had gathered the attention of all the family members.

"I'm aware of the fact, beta," Dad paused for a second and continued. "But still, I'm your father. Your mother and I missed you so much." He said, shifting his eyes to his beloved wife, and it was enough to make me feel like a bad person again. 

"She is your wife, not my mother," I corrected him. "So stop tying the relationship between us." The fire of anger in my eyes would surely burn the whole hall. I pinned my gaze to the family photo, where all the men in our family were in service uniforms, except for me.

"Beta, you..." He paused as I glared at him.

"Beta, so you remembered that you have a son?" My voice was filled with wrath. He stared at me with pitying eyes. But sorry, it didn't melt my heart.

"Stop worrying about me. I can take care of myself," I growled, tucking my hands into my pockets. My stepmother started crying again in front of my father. "She started again," I smirked at her, seeing her big crocodile tears.

"I'm getting late, please excuse me," I said, flashing my watch in front of my face. I was just fed up with the nonsense, so I picked up my bag and left.

♡

"I will reach UNA in the next two days," I said to Arjun while sitting in the cab. I was on my way to Pune after spending two days in Delhi. Cab stopped, making me look outside the window. Two annoying things were happening at the moment: Rain and a traffic jam. The roads were full of cars.

A notification popped up on my phone. When the initials caught my attention, I immediately opened it.

The terrifying bomb blast took place in Mumbai yesterday. 21 people are under treatment who suffered burn injuries, and 50 died immediately on the spot. The incident terrified the people of Mumbai. The Mumbai police are still not sure about the attacker, but rumours are everywhere that it's Turkish mafia TAMRAZ DAGESTANI who is behind the conspiracy. The matter is sensitive and will soon be handed over to the army to take necessary action.

I read the full article, and the news boiled my blood. Indian Army will soon grip your fucking neck, Tamraz. And I wish I get the chance to dissect your fucking body parts. I hate terrorism, and terrorists. I threw my phone on the seat while pressing my angry veins on my forehead.

It took me 3 hours to reach home. It was 1 a.m., and it might not be a good idea to ring the doorbell. I was walking toward the door when someone quickly approached me. "What's up, Ronny?" Ronny was a German Shepherd dog. My soldier family has immense love for dogs.

Ronny jumped on me and started licking my hand. "Are you watching people carefully or not?" I asked in a rude tone, patting his head, and he nodded. Animals are more responsible and trustworthy than humans. Their presence never annoyed me. "Good night, stay alert." With that, I walked inside the house.

I was thirsty, so I walked into the kitchen to get some water when some rattling sounds echoed in my ears. I turned my head to check outside. I quietly walked out of the kitchen and took a few steps toward the entrance, where someone was trying to enter the house secretly.

"Saavi!"

She froze after hearing my voice. It looked like she had just returned from a big party. "Bhai!!" She turned around, holding her heels in both hands. "Baccha, why are you sneaking in like a thief?" I tugged my hands into my pockets. "Bhai, I was at... I was at the party," she stammered.

All of my cousins have some kind of fear of me. I never thought that they would see me as a devil. Saavi was the youngest of the cousins. She was the only sister we had, as the Karmarkar family's third generation consists only of men.

"Late-night party, huh?" I said coldly. She took big steps toward me. "I was supposed to come early, but I'm late because of fu*k ra..." she bit her tongue. "Sorry, because of stupid rain, bhai, I swear." She sneezed.

"Sorry bhai!" She swallowed hard as I continued to stare at her. "Please don't be angry at me," she begged while I rolled my eyes to watch the wall. She was continuously sneezing as the cold caught her.

"Okay, stop bothering me and go to your room. I'll be there in a few minutes." Her eyes widened when she heard me. "But why?"

"Didn't you scold me enough today?" She stopped arguing when my eyes rolled at her. "Go now." And she immediately left.

♡

"May I come in?" I asked, knocking on the door, which broke Saavi's gaze as she sat on her bed. She was using her phone and smiling weirdly. "Yeah, sure, bhai. You don't need to ask," she said, throwing her phone on the bed.

I took seven steps until I reached her bed. "Take the medicine and drink this turmeric milk," I said, handing her the medicine. She glared at it as if I had given her venom. "Why are you giving unwanted looks to the medicine?"

"Bhai, it has a bitter taste," she said, sneezing again.

"Medicine is always bitter in taste," I sat beside her. "Bhai, but—" I cut her off. "Don't make excuses, take the medicine. It's already late." She grimaced before taking the medicine and then finished the milk. "Good girl."

"Bhai, I have a terrible headache. Will you please massage my head?" I nodded, and she slid herself under the blanket. "Bhai, you know I'm enjoying my college days; it's been fun," she chuckled. "And what about your studies?"

"I'm performing well in studies," she said. "Bhai, stop! I feel better now." She stopped my hand. "That's why you're my favorite bhai, among all my brothers." A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

"What about your other brothers? Aren't they nice to you?" I caressed her hair.

"It's not like that. I mean, Akash bhai is always busy like you, Vikrant bhai is in Bangalore and visits home twice a year, and Vikram is younger than me and always fights with me."

"You're too sweet, even though I'm afraid of you." She yawned while I was busy staring at the photos hung on the walls. 

"But I never said anything to you—" I moved my eyes to her and stopped midway. She was sleeping like a princess. I switched off the lights in her room before walking out.

♡

It was 9 p.m., and my whole family was gathered together. I was standing on the balcony, looking down the hall. "What's Meera's family doing here?" I sighed. I had no idea what was going to happen in the next moment. I turned on my heels to the staircase and stepped down.

"There is Ranvijay. Everyone, attention please, I have something to say," Dad chuckled, drawing everyone's gaze toward me. My gut feeling heightened, and it felt like something was going to happen beyond my wishes. I clenched my jaw in tension. "Bhagyashree and I have decided that Ranvijay and Meera should get married."

The news immediately shocked me to the core. I stared at my dad, who was laughing with his beloved wife. My face turned pale at the news, as I didn't want to marry anyone. Everyone in the hall seemed happy, except for me.

"Meera, do you have any objections to the decision?" Dad asked her, while my eyes shifted from Dad to Meera. She nodded her head yes with the brightest smile she could muster. "What the fuck, Meera?" I sighed in disappointment.

I knew Meera from childhood, and she was my friend. Her father and my father were best friends. Dad liked Meera, but I never imagined that he was going to pair her with me. "I have an objection," I said in my sharp, rude tone, which I often used. Everyone started staring at me. My words instantly wiped the smile off everyone's face.

"I don't want to marry her, and I don't understand why the fuck nobody took my permission to make a decision about me," I burst out in anger. Kaki and Meera's mother gasped, not to mention Meera's mother's heart came into her mouth.

"Ranvijay, try to understand..." Dad said, but I cut him off. "I didn't ask you," I grunted. "Ranvijay, don't be angry. All we want is for you to get married," Aaji explained to me. But I couldn't be happy because I didn't love Meera.

"But didn't I say to everyone that I'm not interested in fucking marriage?" I growled in frustration. "And Meera..." I looked at her. "She is my friend; how can I marry her?" My words wiped the smile off her face. Her expression was as if I betrayed her.

"I say no to this marriage." I turned toward the staircase. "Don't be ridiculous, Ranvijay."

"You are insulting Meera and her family as well," Dad said, but I continued my walk up the stairs. "She is going to be your wife at any cost." I stopped in my tracks, clenching my fists at my sides.

"Digvijay!" Bhagyashree tried to stop Dad. Everyone was stunned by his tone. When he used this harsh tone, it seemed like I was very much like him.

"Your mother wanted you to be a handsome groom. If she were alive today, she would surely have gotten you ready with her own hands." My mother's wish faded my anger for a few seconds.

"And what's wrong with marrying Meera? She is young, beautiful, and successful," Dad said. But Meera is not in my heart. My heart has love for her... her...that blue eyed-girl. I don't know much about her, but I know one thing. I can't love anyone else. Never. 

"Right, Ranvijay, and soon you'll turn 30. It's right for you to get married before it's too late." I looked at Kaki, giving her a "stay out of it" glare. "Why can't you shut your mouth, Kaki?" I said and continued walking up.

"Ranvijay." I halted but kept my back turned to them. "Forget it. I'm not doing this. Don't bother me again." I strode toward my room, swung the door open, and slammed it shut behind me. "Everyone has gone mad," I muttered under my breath. Grabbing the whisky bottle, I poured myself a glass and drank it down neat.

"I can't believe they are using Maa to manipulate me," I said, taking another shot, then another. It was strange, but only alcohol helped me calm down because it numbed my brain cells. I was supposed to leave tomorrow, but the whole incident compelled me to leave the house immediately.

"Ranvijay!" Mousi knocked on the door. "If you're planning to blackmail me in the name of my mother, there's no way I'm falling for your trap," I warned, taking another shot.

"Ranvijay, I want to talk to you. Please open the door, beta." She requested, and I opened the door. She stepped inside the room. "Put the glass aside and listen to me," she said, sitting me down on the bed and sat beside me.

"Ranvijay, sometimes we're unable to make certain decisions in our lives. Marriage is one of them," she said, gently caressing my head as I kept my gaze fixed on the floor. "Don't your parents have the right to choose a life partner for you?"

"Nope! If he's asking for parental rights, then he needs to take parental responsibilities first," I looked at her. "And he never took that." I ground my teeth in frustration.

"Marriage won't make me happy because because that person died inside me long ago." I growled. The longer I stay here, the more I get annoyed and angry for sure.

I stood up and walked to the closet. "It's better to leave this house; I'm feeling suffocated here," I said, opening the closet to pack my bag. "Ranvijay, it's your mother's last wish..." My hand froze in place.

"She said to me..."

Ranvijay loves me insanely, Manju. If I die someday, he will be all alone. Promise me that if something happens to me, you will take care of my son like your own. When he grows up, find a beautiful girl who can make him believe in love again. Please, don't ever leave him alone.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as my mother's last words made me emotional. I loved her insanely. There was no doubt about it. Mousi gently caressed my back. "We are not villains in your life, beta. All we want is for you to be happy," she said softly. I quickly wiped my tears as I didn't want to cry in front of her.

♡

It's been a month since I posted to UNA (Himachal Pradesh). It's been a month since I said yes to Meera's marriage proposal. Who thought that I would say yes to marriage? But it was my mother's last wish, and I honour her wish more than my life. I've known Meera since childhood, but we don't often meet as my profession is hard.

It's better to marry a known girl. But if my fate is tied to Meera, then why did I fall for that anklet girl? I tried searching for her in Delhi, but I couldn't find anything about her. All I had was her fragrance and her anklet.

It's just like I was in a sweet dream for six months, and when I woke up, the dream had shattered. I felt immense pain in my heart when reality hit me—that I couldn't have her. I wish I could have held you that day when we first met.

If I had known at that time that you would become my deepest desire, I swear I would have held you tightly in my arms and never let you go. But now, it seems like we were never meant to be. I wanted to erase your memories, but it's so hard for me.

I tried so hard each day to get over you, but your love is like a swamp. The harder I tried to get over, the deeper I drowned in it. Ranvijay, you're getting married to Meera. You aren't supposed to think about her—it's wrong. That's why I kept her anklet with Maa's belongings, because throwing it away was beyond my control.

I've been trying to forget you for the past month, but you're still alive in my mind. This is madness. Why can't I stop myself from falling in love with her, even though I know I'll never meet her in my life?

♡

Arjun and I have been transferred to Manikaran to work with regular troops for one month as part of our training. We are currently on our way to the Manikaran camps. The roads in Manikaran are pathetic. It's fucking annoying to drive a jeep on these roads that have countless potholes.

"Can't you drive slowly?" I said rolling my eyes at Arjun who was driving. "Why aren't you enjoying the ride on fucking holes?" he giggled before I looked outside the window. I don't know when the guy is sitting next to me will be serious about his life.

"Stop the Jeep, now?"

He stopped the jeep at the side of the road. I got down from the Jeep. What the pleasant weather kullu has is perfectly opposite to my life. I spread my arms just to feel the peace. "Ranvijay, don't you want tea?" Arjun said, making me roll my eyes and I nodded.

I opened my eyes and took out the cigarette packet. Arjun brought me a cup of tea. "Here, take it," he said, passing me the tea kulhad (cup). "Smoking and tea is a deadly combination, and you're enjoying the combo alone," Arjun grumbled, sipping his tea. Why can't he just ask for a cigarette normally?

"I'm getting married, Arjun," He spat out his tea. "Really? I can't believe this," Arjun's eyes widened in shock. He was still trying to digest the fact that I was getting married. "Finally, you got the anklet girl, didn't you?" I took a deep breath. "Well, where did you find her?" Arjun puffed on his cigarette.

"I'm not getting married to her. It's Meera—my would-be wife," I said dryly. "What?"

"But you love her, don't you?" he said, shaking his head. "Why did you say yes to Meera?" I couldn't hide my feelings from Arjun. After all, we were best friends.

You're right, Arjun. I fell in love with the anklet girl, and now I'm trying so hard to forget her.

"Destiny," I sighed, "I thought I could only love her, and she was in my fate, but I was wrong." Fate was always cruel to me. It never gave me what I wanted.

"Let's go," I slipped into the jeep while Arjun took the driver's seat. My eyes were pinned to the trees passing by. I rolled my eyes back into the jeep when Arjun spoke. "What's happening there?" His words made my eyes shift to the road. Some guys on the road were trying to stop our jeep. "Arjun, stop." He immediately applied the brakes.

I got down from the jeep when a girl ran to me. "Sir, please help us," she gasped, clearly injured. "Relax, we'll help you," I said, glancing over her shoulder. "Tell me what's exactly happening here."

"Sir, we met with a horrible accident. We all got injured, and the driver is still in the bus," she said, terrified by the accident. I rolled my eyes at the bus stuck on the edge of the mountain. 

Arjun immediately rushed toward the bus to check on the driver. "Okay, just relax. We will rescue all of you, okay." I assured her and helped her sit in the jeep.

"How many passengers were on the bus?" I asked. "We are around 10 of us, and one of our friends is hanging in a ditch," she pointed toward the mountains. "Earlier, we could hear her sobbing, but now her voice isn't coming. Sir, please save her," she pleaded.

I picked up the ropes from the Jeep and immediately ran towards the edge of the mountain. "Kashish, can you hear us, Kashish?" Her name is Kashish. Her friend repeatedly took her name. Kashish, this is the first time I heard this name and I don't know why I'm getting restless.

I got down while wrapping a rope around my waist. My eyes were searching for her when suddenly her sobs caught my attention. Her grip on the twig was getting loose. I sped up to reach her. 

Her hands slipped from the twig, and she was about to fall into the ditch, but somehow I let go of my hand, gripped her waist, and pulled her to my chest. "Are you okay, Kashish?" I murmured near her ear. 

She was shivering in fear, digging her nails into my hand that was wrapped around her waist. "Don't be scared. You're in my arms and I won't let you go," I said in a breathy voice.

She turned her face slightly, and her eyes fell on me. I was shocked when our eyes met. "Her eyes..." I was speechless for a moment. Her terrifying eyes watched me without blinking, her hair falling over her eyes in the wind. I had seen these eyes before. Her eyes were exactly the same as the owner of the anklet. Blue. Is that really you? But how is it possible?

My heart was beating insanely, as if I would die from my own heartbeats. "Please don't leave me. I—I don't want to die," she pleaded, but my eyes were still staring at her. "Don' t worry, nothing will happen," I replied, my beard caressing her cheek. Yes, we were that fucking close to each other.

Our gaze deepened until she became unconscious. She was in my arms, making my heart flutter, but I was still confused between both girls.

Did I get her? I don't know

♡

COCO - will ranvijay recognized kashish?

Please do comment and votes as i don't get whether you liking the story or not. And your votes and comments motivates me to write.