"A Simple Gesture"

Hello lovely readers! Welcome to the next chapter of Mine Yes! Forced to be Yours Mr. Devil. In this chapter, we dive into the quiet tension between Anaya and Rudra. A small act of gratitude can unravel deeper emotions than one would expect. How will their fragile relationship evolve after this encounter? Grab your favorite drink and settle in! 💖

Enjoy, and don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments!

~ Penols.S 💫

—————AUTHOR'S POV :~~~~

Anaya stood outside Rudra's office door, her palms clammy and heart pounding. Why was she so nervous? It was just a thank you, nothing more. Her fingers tightened around the chocolate in her hand as she gathered the courage to knock. A soft thud echoed in the quiet hallway, and she immediately regretted it, ready to turn and leave, unsure of why she felt so uneasy around him lately. Before she could retreat, his voice, deep and commanding, pierced through the silence.

"Come in."

Her breath hitched, but she complied, stepping inside. There he was—Rudra, immersed in work, his dark eyes scanning over documents with a focus that was intimidating yet strangely alluring. The soft light of his desk lamp cast shadows over his face, sharpening his already chiseled features. He didn't look up at first, but when he did, his gaze lingered on her for just a second longer than usual. It was fleeting, yet enough to send her pulse racing even faster.

She swallowed, nerves twisting her insides, unsure of why she was so flustered. It was just Rudra, the man she had married—her husband. But why did he make her feel like this? She shifted, suddenly feeling awkward in her own skin.

"I… uh, I brought you something," she began, voice softer than intended. The words felt clumsy as they left her mouth, and she mentally scolded herself for it.

Rudra raised a brow, not saying much, but his gaze flickered briefly to her hand, where she nervously held out the small bar of chocolate. "You didn't have to," he said, his voice low, almost detached. He was always like this—cold, reserved, as if emotions were something foreign to him.

Anaya's fingers trembled slightly as she placed the chocolate on his desk. "I… I don't have much money to buy you a proper gift, but this... this is what I have." Her words trailed off, and she bit her lip, wishing she didn't sound so unsure of herself.

Rudra's expression didn't change, but there was a faint softening in his eyes, a flicker of something she couldn't quite place. It was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Chocolate?" he asked, the barest hint of amusement touching his lips.

She nodded, her hands twisting in front of her as she stepped back from the desk, feeling ridiculous for the gesture now. "It's... just a small thank you for helping me earlier. I know it's not much."

He studied her quietly for a moment, his silence making her even more anxious. Anaya couldn't tell if he was irritated or simply indifferent, and that frustrated her. She wanted to understand him, but Rudra was like a locked door—impenetrable and unyielding.

A heartbeat passed. Then two.

"Anaya," he said, his tone as unreadable as ever, "you didn't have to."

"I know," she whispered, lowering her gaze to the floor, unsure of why her chest felt tight or why his words, though simple, affected her so much. "But I wanted to."

There was something in the way she said it, something vulnerable and unspoken, that hung in the air between them. For a moment, Rudra looked as though he might say something more, but the moment passed, and he simply reached for the chocolate, his fingers brushing hers briefly. The contact sent an unexpected jolt through her, and she quickly withdrew her hand, unsure of why her heart was beating so erratically.

He unwrapped the chocolate slowly, his movements deliberate. Anaya watched him, her stomach fluttering, hoping—no, needing—to see some kind of reaction. Something beyond the stoic exterior he always wore. But Rudra remained impassive, taking a small bite before glancing back at her.

"It's good," he said finally, his voice softer, almost contemplative.

She blinked, surprised by the quiet compliment. Her heart gave a small leap at the shift in his tone, though she quickly told herself not to read too much into it. But even so, a small, hesitant smile tugged at her lips. "I'm glad you like it."

The room fell into a tense silence again, but it wasn't the usual kind that made her want to flee. It was different—charged, yet fragile, like something unspoken was stirring between them, something she couldn't quite name.

Rudra leaned back in his chair, his gaze still on her, and though his expression remained neutral, there was a faint intensity in his eyes. "You're full of surprises," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Anaya's breath caught, and she didn't know why. There was something in the way he was looking at her now—like he was seeing her for the first time, really seeing her. And for the first time, it wasn't fear or uncertainty that filled her chest but something warmer, something she didn't quite understand yet.

But just as quickly as the moment had appeared, it was gone. Rudra's gaze shifted back to the stack of papers on his desk, his walls firmly back in place.

"Thank you," he said, his voice cold again, dismissive.

Anaya blinked, the warmth in her chest quickly replaced by confusion. Why did he always do this? She wanted to scream, to shake him out of whatever emotional cage he had built around himself. But instead, she simply nodded, turning to leave.

As her hand reached the doorknob, she hesitated, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts she didn't know how to process. She felt like there was more she wanted to say, more she needed to understand. But words failed her, and all she could do was glance back at him one last time.

"Goodnight," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rudra didn't respond, but she didn't expect him to. She stepped out of the room, the door closing softly behind her, leaving her standing in the quiet hallway, her heart heavy with feelings she didn't know how to name.

Back in the office, Rudra sat in silence, the taste of chocolate lingering on his tongue. He clenched his jaw, frustrated with himself. Why did she make him feel this way? Why did her innocent gestures—gestures so simple and pure—crack the stone-cold walls he had spent years building?

Anaya... what are you doing to me? He thought, his fingers tightening around the chocolate wrapper.

And yet, he couldn't bring himself to push her away. Not tonight.

Anaya stood frozen by the door, her hand hovering over the handle as Rudra's voice echoed in her ears.

She turned around slowly, clutching the bar of chocolate in her hand nervously. Her palms felt clammy, and her heart thudded against her chest, unsure of why her nerves were getting the better of her. It was just chocolate, just a thank-you, but somehow, the simple gesture felt heavier, like it carried more meaning than she could explain.

She took a few steps toward him, her breath unsteady. "I… I don't have enough money to buy a proper gift," she murmured, her words rushing out before she could think them through. "But… I have this." She placed the small chocolate bar on his desk, her hand brushing against the wood as she set it down, her eyes avoiding his as if looking at him would make her even more self-conscious.

Rudra looked down at the chocolate, his cold expression unchanged, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. Amusement? Curiosity? He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms as he studied her for a long moment. "You think I need chocolate?" His tone was flat, almost teasing, but it didn't hide the steel behind his words.

Anaya's heart sank, feeling the weight of embarrassment wash over her. She wasn't sure why she had done this, why she thought a simple piece of chocolate would mean anything to someone like Rudra. She glanced at the door, wishing she could just disappear.

"I… I just wanted to thank you," she stammered, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks again. "For… helping me the other day." Her voice was softer now, unsure, almost like she was speaking more to herself than to him.

Rudra's gaze softened, just for a split second, before his usual mask slipped back into place. "I don't need your thanks," he replied coldly, though his eyes lingered on the chocolate a moment longer.

Anaya felt her throat tighten. Why did it feel like every gesture she made was wrong? Why did he have to be so difficult, so hard to read? She wanted to leave, to escape the tension that was suffocating her, but her feet wouldn't move. Instead, she stood there, helpless in front of him, a mixture of confusion and frustration brewing inside her.

But something held her back. Something she couldn't quite explain. It wasn't the words or his cold demeanor. It was the brief, fleeting moments where she thought she saw something more—something hidden beneath that cold exterior. A vulnerability he wouldn't let anyone see.

She swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke again. "It's… it's not about what you need. It's what I wanted to do."

Rudra's eyes flickered briefly, and for a heartbeat, he looked almost taken aback by her words. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk, his gaze locking onto hers with a quiet intensity that made her chest tighten. "You're wasting your time, Anaya."

Her heart skipped a beat, the coldness of his words hitting her harder than she expected. But instead of retreating, she stood her ground, meeting his gaze with a quiet strength she didn't know she had.

"I don't care," she whispered, more to herself than him, but the words hung in the air between them, laden with emotions she didn't understand, emotions she didn't even know she had until now.

Rudra's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening, and for a moment, she thought he might say something cruel, something that would push her further away. But instead, he stood up, his movements slow and deliberate, and took the small bar of chocolate from the table. He stared at it for a moment, turning it over in his hands before setting it back down, his gaze never leaving hers.

"You're confusing yourself," he muttered, his voice low, almost strained.

Anaya blinked, unsure if he was talking about her—or himself. Her heart ached with confusion, torn between wanting to understand him and knowing she never would.

"I'll leave you alone you working," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly as she left the tray of food and turned to leave.

But just as she reached the door, Rudra's voice stopped her again.

"Anaya."

She paused, her heart racing in her chest, and slowly turned to face him once more.

Rudra's face was unreadable, his eyes hard and cold as usual, but his voice—his voice was different this time. "Thank you," he said softly, almost reluctantly, like the words pained him to say.

Anaya felt a lump rise in her throat, her heart torn between relief and confusion. Without another word, she gave a small nod and slipped out of the office, closing the door quietly behind her.

As she walked down the hallway, her mind raced with the memory of his voice, of that brief moment where he had let something slip, something real. She didn't know what to make of it, didn't know what she was feeling, but one thing was clear—Rudra wasn't just the cold, distant man everyone thought he was.

There was something more.

And for reasons she couldn't explain, she wanted to find out what that something was.

Anaya wandered through the office corridors, her thoughts a tangled mess. Rudra's words echoed in her mind—"You're confusing yourself." She couldn't deny that she was, but the problem wasn't just her feelings; it was the way Rudra made her feel.

She had always known he was distant, cold even. But now, after that brief moment of vulnerability, she couldn't help but wonder what lay beneath his harsh exterior. Why was he pushing everyone away? Why was he so hard to read?

As she approached the break room, she saw Ria and Aarav sitting at a table, laughing softly as they exchanged playful banter. Ria noticed Anaya's distracted expression immediately and waved her over.

"Anaya! What's up? You look like you've seen a ghost," Ria teased, her cheerful smile lighting up the room.

Anaya shook her head, forcing a small smile as she joined them at the table. "No ghosts, just… work stuff," she mumbled, trying to brush off her confusion.

Aarav, who had been sipping his coffee, raised an eyebrow at her. "Work stuff? Or Rudra stuff?" he asked knowingly, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

Anaya's stomach dropped at the mention of Rudra. She had always suspected that Aarav could see through her, but she hadn't expected him to be so direct.

"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously, not wanting to give too much away.

Aarav leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he studied her for a moment. "I've noticed how tense things are between you two. You're both walking on eggshells around each other. I thought maybe something happened."

Ria nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah, Rudra's been more distant than usual lately. Did he say something to you?" she asked gently.

Anaya hesitated. She wasn't sure how to explain what had just happened in Rudra's office without revealing too much. She didn't want to burden Ria and Aarav with her confusion, especially since they were Rudra's family.

"No, nothing like that," Anaya replied quickly. "I just… I don't really understand him sometimes."

Ria exchanged a glance with Aarav before turning back to Anaya, her smile sympathetic. "That's just how Rudra is. He's always been closed off, even with us. But trust me, it's not personal. He has a lot on his plate, and sometimes he forgets how to let people in."

Aarav nodded in agreement. "He's complicated, but he's not a bad person. Just give him time."

Anaya smiled faintly at their words, grateful for their support, but it didn't erase the weight she felt in her chest. Time. How much more time could she give Rudra? How long could she keep feeling this confused, this torn between understanding and frustration?

She thanked Ria and Aarav for their kind words and excused herself from the break room, her mind still racing. As she returned to her desk, she found herself replaying her conversation with Rudra over and over again, searching for any clue that might help her make sense of the situation.

But as the hours ticked by, one thing became clear—no matter how much she tried to distance herself, her thoughts kept returning to Rudra. To the way he had looked at her, to the softness in his voice when he had finally said "thank you." It was a side of him she had never seen before, and it made her heart ache in ways she hadn't anticipated.

That night, as she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting between them. It wasn't just her confusion or Rudra's coldness. There was something else—something unspoken, something fragile.

And it terrified her.

Because no matter how much she told herself not to, she knew she was starting to care about him.

Really care.

But caring about Rudra Singhaniya meant stepping into the unknown, a world full of shadows, secrets, and walls he had built so high that she wasn't sure she could ever break through.

Yet deep down, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she was the one person who could.

---

The next morning, Anaya entered the office with a newfound determination. She wasn't going to let her emotions cloud her judgment anymore. She needed clarity, not just for herself but for Rudra too.

She made her way to his office, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure what she was going to say, but she knew she needed to talk to him, to get some answers.

As she reached the door, she hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. There was a long pause before she heard his voice from the other side.

"Come in."

Anaya pushed the door open, stepping into the room. Rudra was sitting at his desk, his eyes focused on the stack of documents in front of him. He didn't look up when she entered.

"I need to talk to you," Anaya said quietly, her voice steady despite the nerves swirling inside her.

Rudra finally lifted his gaze, his expression unreadable. "About what?"

Anaya took a deep breath, stepping closer to his desk. "About yesterday. About… us."

Rudra's eyes narrowed slightly, his posture tensing. "There is no 'us,' Anaya," he said flatly, his tone colder than she had expected.

Anaya swallowed hard, but she didn't back down. "You can say that all you want, but we both know that's not true. You keep pushing me away, but I see through it, Rudra. I see the part of you that you're trying to hide."

Rudra's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening as he stood up from his chair. "You don't know anything about me," he said sharply, his voice low and dangerous.

Anaya took a step forward, refusing to be intimidated. "Then help me understand. Stop shutting me out."

For a moment, Rudra said nothing, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Then, without warning, he turned away, his hands gripping the edge of his desk as if he was trying to hold himself together.

"Why do you care, Anaya?" he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Anaya's heart ached at the vulnerability in his words. She didn't have all the answers, but one thing was clear.

"Because I see you, Rudra. The real you," she whispered, her voice soft but firm.

##To be continue...**