Putta Swamy sadly started walking away after Nidhi scolded him.

Rahul's patience snapped.

"Boss nena thana?! Nenu velamannana?!"
I'm the boss or she is?! I told you to stay!

Putta Swamy froze mid-step like someone pressed a pause button.

"Ante sir... adhi madam..."
Sir... she told me...

Rahul rubbed his forehead, exasperated, pointing a finger at him.

"Repati nunchi I want you to be here near her always. College, home, everywhere. Understood?"

Putta Swamy (saluting hard):
"Yes sir! Crystal clear sir!"

From the side, Nidhi glared at him with a full pout — pure fire in her eyes.

"Ugh! I hate you.." And she stomped back to her room dramatically.

Putta Swamy followed Nidhi like a confused bodyguard puppy.

At the gate...

"i will go from here no need to come." nidhi said annoyingly.

"Madam... sir told me..."

Nidhi rolled her eyes.
"Fine but first... can you get me a tea? Without sugar. With extra ginger. And little clove."

Putta blinked.

"mam you want now itself?"

Nidhi (acting irritated):
"Yes! Tea! Fast ga teeskoni ra... class ki late ayipothanu!"

bring fast or else i will get late.

Putta Swamy panicked.
"Ok madam! 

The moment he sprinted to the canteen...

"Bye bye Putta Swamy..." Nidhi whispered

And escaped like a ninja.

.

.

When he returned with tea...

"...Madam?? ...Madam?!"

Empty.

His soul left his body.

"Sir madam escaped.." he said to rahul.

"go to her class she will be in there."

"ok sir." 

Evening. Nidhi came back smiling innocently.

"Putta Swamy... morning jarigindhi gurinchi bava ki cheppaku..."
Don't tell Rahul about the morning incident... okay?

Putta stood silently... like someone unplugged him.

She patted his shoulder and entered the house.

.

.

Within 10 minutes...

THA-DAM!
Rahul slammed his file on the table.

"NIDHI!!!"

Nidhi flinched and came out nervously.

Rahul's eyes were burning.

"You ESCAPED from Putta Swamy?!"

Nidhi bit her lip.

Putta Swamy slowly hid behind the sofa.

"nuvu oka mata kuda vinava? Neeku danger ante inka ardham katleda?"
You won't listen to one thing? You don't understand what danger is?

"bava overreact avtunav..."
You're overreacting...

"Do whatever you want...."
he left from there..

In evening 

"Manam velali. Urgent work vundhi at home." he said because he got to know about anu's marriage.

we have to go to home urgently..

She pouted but followed him.

Putta Swamy climbed into the back seat like a scared squirrel.

On the lonely road, night settling...

A teenage boy stood waving. "Anna... lift... please..."

Rahul's instincts screamed NO.

"No. We are not—"

"Ok ra... get inside."

Rahul turned slowly, glaring.

"Nidhi... nakenduko... thanu manchi vadu kadu anipistundi..." Rahul said in low voice.
I don't know why... but he doesn't look like a good person.

"Neeku evaru manchi vallu anipistaru Bava? You overthink everything." said nidhi.

who is good person according to you. you overthink everything.

"Naa maata vinu... let's go." said rahul.

listen to me we will go from here.

Nidhi huffed dramatically.
"Oka police officer ayyi okariki help cheyadaniki venakadutunava? Chi bava chi..."
You're a police officer but can't help one boy? Shame!

From the backseat—
"Chi sir chi chi..." said putta swamy.

"You both SHUT UP! I'm not giving lift!"

"Bava please... papam..."
Please... poor guy...

"Papam sir..."

Rahul threw his head back and groaned.
"Fine! Get in!!"

Boy entered.

Nidhi smiled at him.
"Ye ooru meedi?"
Where are you from?

"Domalapenta andi." He said.

Domalapenta 

Putta Swamy blinked.
"Em penta?"

Nidhi controlled her laughter.

Rahul emotionally offline.

After few minutes, the boy said softly

"Anna... I'm hungry... aa shop lo tindama?"
Can we eat at that shop?

"Actually we are getting la—"  was about to say.

"Chi bava! Okadu akali tho unnadante ila chestava?"
How can you talk like this to someone hungry?!

From back—
"Chi sir chi..."

Rahul wanted to jump from the moving car.

But he stopped at a dhaba.

They ate. Weather turned cold. Wind harsh.

Suddenly... torches flickered in the dark.

A group of tribal men approached silently.

Rahul's hand instantly clasped Nidhi's wrist.

"Nidhi... don't move." Said rahul.

Putta Swamy squealed like a mouse.

Before they could react—

BAM!
They were surrounded.

"Endi idi?!"
What is this?!

The boy they gave lift to stepped forward.

"Mee andharini boss teskoramanadu..."
Our boss wants all of you...

Rahul's blood boiled.
"appude cheppanu kada! Manchi vaadu kadu ani! papam bava... papam sir... anta ikkadi dhaka techaru!"
I TOLD you he isn't good! you guys drag him till here.

He glared at Nidhi AND Putta.

"Sorry sir... papam anukunna..." said putta swamy
I thought poor boy... sorry sir...

"Idi Mee idaru kalisi chesina pani!"
This trouble is because of BOTH of you!

They were dragged inside an old wooden shed and locked in a freezing room.

.

.

The room was freezing like a refrigerator.

Nidhi instantly shivered.
Her teeth chattered.

Rahul rushed to her side.

"Nidhi... oi... look at me..."

She curled up, body trembling.

He wrapped his jacket around her shoulders.

But she was still cold.

Rahul's breathing quickened.
He rubbed her hands rapidly.

"Nidhi... open your eyes... oye... don't sleep—look at me!"

Putta Swamy desperately searched the room, blowing at his fingers.

"sir i will arrange fire"

Rahul ignored him and held Nidhi's face.

"Nidhi... hey... listen... please... stay awake..."

She leaned weakly against him.

He cursed under his breath and quickly removed his shirt, wrapping it around her.

"this isn't enough... still cold..."

He held her tightly, rubbing her arms, her back, her feet—anything to generate heat.

"Nidhi... please... cheppu... natho matladu..."
Please talk to me...

Her eyes fluttered open, barely.

"Bava... cold..." nidhi whispered

Rahul pulled her closer, his chin resting on her hair. He kissed her cheeks.

"I know... I know... stay with me... don't close your eyes..."

Putta Swamy was banging the door.

"Evaraina unnara?! Open the door! Madam is freezing!"

anyone there!!

Rahul ignored him entirely, focusing only on Nidhi.

He cupped her cold cheeks.

"Nidhi... look at me... nothing will happen to you... nothing..."

His voice trembled with raw fear.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against his bare torso. The skin-to-skin contact was a shock, a jolt of heat that made her gasp."Better?" he murmured into her hair.

She could only nod, leaning into him, her cold cheek pressed against his warm chest. His heartbeat was a steady, reassuring thump against her ear. But the room's chill was a persistent enemy. His eyes scanned the darkness and landed on a coarse, wool blanket folded on a high shelf. He retrieved it, the fabric rough but dry.

He spread it on the floor and guided her down onto it, then covered them both. But still, she trembled. He looked at her, his gaze intense and searching. "Nidhi," he said, his voice a husky whisper. "I need to warm you. Properly. Let me."

Her eyes, wide and dark, met his. She saw no malice, only a desperate need to help, to protect. She gave a slow, deliberate nod.With her silent permission, his fingers found the hem of her silk top. He lifted it slowly, giving her every chance to stop him. She didn't. He pulled it over her head, and her skin, chilled and covered in goosebumps, met his gaze. He lay down beside her, pulling her into his arms, her back flush against his chest. He wrapped his legs around hers, cocooning her, his entire body a furnace against her.

The heat was immediate, overwhelming. It wasn't just the temperature; it was the intimacy of the moment, the hard muscle of his chest pressing into her back, the rough texture of his jeans against her bare legs, his warm breath on the nape of her neck. His hand rested on her stomach, his thumb tracing slow, hypnotic circles on her skin. Each pass sent a wave of heat through her that had nothing to do with the cold. A soft sigh escaped her lips, a sound that was half relief, half surrender. He tightened his hold, his lips brushing against her shoulder, a silent promise that in the cold darkness, he would be her only warmth.

The night was long, cold, terrifying...
But somehow Rahul kept Nidhi warm, holding her close the entire time.
Her head slept against his bare chest, her fingers clutching his shirt like a scared child.

Morning sunlight slowly slipped into the broken wooden room.

The door creaked open.

A tribal man stepped in —
And froze.

His eyes widened.

Both of them...
Wrapped in the same blanket.
Rahul shirtless, holding her protectively, her face against his throat, their bodies close from the night's cold.

Tribal man shouted....
"Ayyooo! maata vinandi! Ikkada ammayi–abbayi kalisi padukunnaru!"
Oh god! Chief! Come fast! Boy and girl slept together!

Another man came running.

Another.

Within seconds, the room was full of murmurs.

Rahul woke instantly, pulling Nidhi closer instinctively.

Rahul (warning, low tone)...
"Nidhi... wake up... someone is here."

She blinked sleepily, still shivering.
Her eyes opened — and immediately she clutched Rahul's arm in fear.

The tribe murmured louder.

One old tribal leader stepped forward.

"Mee iddaru oka degara padukunaru. Idhi maa niyamam prakaram ulangana. Marry her... lekapothe..."
You two slept under one blanket. According to our custom, you must marry. If not...

He smirked, making Nidhi tremble.

"Ammayini maa ooru abbayiki ichestham."
We will marry the girl to any boy in our village.

Nidhi's blood ran cold.

guys next chapter is in stck and it is paid....only 13 rupees.... it is worth guys please read it once..i was very disappointed for your last chapter voting...i had a lot on my plate still i am trying to give update but you guys are not voting properly.....