chapter 34
I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for a second, letting his words sink in. My chest warmed, and despite being in the middle of work, all I could think of was him.
“Rudra…” I whispered, cheeks heating, “ab please phone cut kijiye. Staff mujhe ghoor rahe hai, aise lag raha jaise main kisi secret lover se baat kar rahi hoon.”
He laughed, deep and dramatic. “Jaan, I am your secret lover. Husband ka cover toh sirf duniya ke liye hai.”
“Shut uppp, Rudra!” I burst out laughing, hiding my face in my palms, while he chuckled like he’d just won the battle of teasing me yet again.
“Acha ek baat… aapne kuch khaya ki nahi?” he asked softly.
I sighed, shaking my head even though he couldn’t see me. “Rudra… it’s not even lunch yet.”
“So what are you doing?” he pressed.
“Working,” I replied flatly, shuffling through a file.
There was silence for a beat, then his dramatic voice came, “Meri biwi ka matlab hai… she is working, ignoring her husband, and starving herself. Wah, kya pyaar hai.”
I rolled my eyes, smiling unknowingly. “Rudraaa…” I dragged his name.
“Jaan, kaam ruk jaayega toh bhi duniya chalti rahegi… par agar aap khudka khayal nahi rakha toh meri duniya ruk jaayegi.” His tone was gentle now, almost like a caress through the phone.
My heart skipped, warmth spreading in my chest. “Rudra, you and your lines…” I whispered, biting my lip.
He chuckled. “aap mere liye oxygen ho, jaan. Toh mujhe confirm karna padta hai ki aap theek ho. Aur agar aapko thoda sa bhi weakness feel hua na, I’ll shut everything and come running.”
“Acha Rudra, I have work now… let me do,” I said, still blushing, trying to process his dramatic lines.
“Jaan… but I miss you so much,” he sighed, his voice dripping with longing. “Why can’t you just be in my arms forever…”
I closed my eyes, signing in disbelief. “Rudraaa… you sure you don’t get periods? Because the way you’re having mood swings, I seriously doubt it.”
There was a pause. Then I heard him scoff on the other side. “Excuse me?? Did you just—”
“Yes,” I bit my lip, laughing softly. “You’re moodier than me sometimes.”
“Jaan, aap meri insult kar rahi ho ya meri intensity ki tareef?” he asked in mock offense.
I shook my head, smiling unknowingly. “Maybe both.”
“Hmm,” he hummed darkly, his tone dropping lower, “shaam ko ghar aao… I’ll prove to you what kind of mood I really have.”
My cheeks instantly flushed, my heart skipping. “Rudraaa… kaam karne do mujhe!” I whispered, half-scolding, half-smiling.
Rudra POV
I smiled at the phone screen, replaying her irritated-yet-adorable voice in my head. My jaan… she doesn’t even know what she does to me. So stubborn, so fiery—and yet so soft when she blushes. After all, she’s mine.
Suddenly, the door opened and Vipul stepped in, his face grim.
“Boss.”
My smile vanished. My tone, my expression—everything switched in a second.
“ What’s wrong?”
“Boss, there’s a problem in Italy… we need to go there.”
I leaned back in my chair, my jaw tightening. “What? Can’t they handle it?”
Vipul shook his head, nervous. “Sorry, boss… but your presence is necessary. It’s about the Romano deal… the families are restless. Without you, it can turn ugly fast.”
My fingers drummed against the desk. Silence stretched. The lightness I had felt a moment ago—the softness Ishni gave me—was gone. My mafia mask slid back on.
“Book the jet.” My voice was low, sharp. “We leave tonight.”
Vipul nodded quickly. “Yes, boss.” He turned to leave.
I exhaled, my thoughts flickering back to Ishni.
My jaan. My wife. My weakness—and my strength, I clenched my fists.
Italy. The Romano deal. I had left that chapter buried long ago…
and now it dared to drag me back.
My eyes softened for a moment.
Ishni… how do I tell you?
Ishni POV
I was sitting with a few of my colleagues, laughing and chatting while we ate lunch. It felt good to be normal for once—no courtroom, no blood, no shadows—just me and my work friends.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a video call. I smiled instantly seeing the name. My husband. I excused myself and picked it up.
But the second the video connected, I nearly dropped my coffee.
There he was. Rudra Singh Rajput, mafia king of half the underworld… sitting on the sofa with Phoenix on his lap like some oversized baby.
“Rudra… what are you doing?” I asked slowly, half in shock, half in amusement.
He tilted the camera dramatically toward Phoenix, who wagged his tail and growled softly like he was saying hello. Then Rudra turned it back to himself, lips curving into a smirk.
“Jaan…” his deep voice carried that fake-innocent sweetness, “…Phoenix is missing his mommy. And I’m missing my wife.”
I choked so hard on my coffee I almost sprayed it across the floor. My colleagues turned to look at me confused while I coughed into my napkin, my face burning.
“Rudra!” I hissed, lowering my voice, “have you lost mind? I’m at work!”
He leaned closer to the camera, his hair falling messily over his forehead, his eyes ridiculously soft.
“Work, work, work… do they love you more than me, hmm?”
“God! This man…” I muttered under my breath, hiding my laugh. Phoenix barked, wagging his tail, and Rudra gave me that over-the-top wounded look.
“See? Even Phoenix agrees. Don’t be cruel, jaan. Send me a kiss… or both of us will die right here, in your absence.”
I shut my eyes, half embarrassed, half melting. This dramatic idiot was going to be the death of me.
“First of all,” I narrowed my eyes at the screen, whispering so my colleagues wouldn’t overhear, “rather than being in office what are you doing at home? And… did you manipulate Phoenix or something? You two seem so normal today?”
Rudra raised a brow, feigning hurt, then slowly patted Phoenix’s head like some movie villain with his pet.
“Normal? Jaan, this is normal. Husband waiting at home for his wife… pet missing his mommy. Totally normal.”
Phoenix tilted his head and gave the softest purr-growl as if agreeing.
I squinted. “No. You two are plotting something. Look at you—both sitting like good boys in front of the camera. Where’s the bloody drama? Where’s your usual angry face? And Phoenix, why are you wagging your tail so much? Huh?”
Rudra leaned back, smirking.
“Arre wah… my wife is jealous of her own jaguar.”
I almost screamed. “I AM NOT!”
Phoenix barked. Loudly. Rudra grinned wider.
“See? Even Phoenix doesn’t believe you.”
My palm hit my forehead. God help me. Between one overgrown jaguar and one overly dramatic husband, I was clearly the only sane person in this house.
Before I could hang up, I heard a giggle from the side. My colleagues were already peeking at my phone screen.
“Omg… Ishni, is that your husband?!” one of them whispered loudly, grinning ear to ear.
Another one leaned closer. “Arre wahhh… not just husband, look at the background—he has a jaguar sitting like a puppy next to him. What is this fairytale life, haan?”
I froze. Rudra, of course, smirked like the devil himself, tilting the camera just right so Phoenix’s big head popped into the frame, looking like a fluffy guardian.
“See, jaan? Even your colleagues know. You belong here. With us. At home.” He stretched the ‘home’ dramatically.
“Rudra…” I hissed under my breath, embarrassed. “Stop it, they’re listening!”
Too late. My colleague gasped. “HE JUST CALLED YOU JAAN! Areee, so romantic!”
I buried my face in my palm.Rudra, enjoying every second, chuckled. “Exactly. Jaan, suno… chhodo ye boring files. Phoenix is crying for his mommy, and I—” he placed a hand on his chest like a Bollywood hero—“I’m dying without my wife. Come home.”
Phoenix, the traitor, barked right on cue. My colleagues squealed.
“Uff, Ishni! Agar mera husband aisa hota na, main toh straight away office chhod ke bhaag jaati!”
I groaned, glaring at the screen. “Rudra, tumhara bas chale toh tum mujhe office aane bhi na do.”
His grin widened. “Exactly, jaan. Bas aap samajh gayi.”
“Rudra? What’s wrong with you? Why are you disturbing me at this hour? Morning only we talked na?” I asked, almost done with his antics.
On the screen, Rudra gasped like I had just broken his heart into a million pieces. He leaned back in his chair dramatically, covering his forehead with one hand.
“Waah, Ishni. Waah. Morning only we talked? Bas? That’s it? So now your husband is like ration ka samaan—you’ll only use him once a day? Kya yaar, I thought I married a wife, not a warden!”
I blinked. “…Rudra.”
He didn’t stop. “Do you know, jaan, how I’m suffering here without you? Look!” He suddenly turned the camera toward Phoenix. My eyes widened seeing my jaguar sprawled dramatically on the sofa, head down, tail flicking lazily like he was sulking.
“See? Even Phoenix hasn’t touched his food since morning. Why?” Rudra pointed at him. “Because mommy doesn’t care.”
As if on cue, Phoenix gave a soft grunt and buried his head deeper into the cushion.
My mouth fell open. “Oh my god… you actually manipulated him again?”
“Manipulated?!” Rudra clutched his chest like I had stabbed him with a sword. “You wound me, jaan! I’m just a poor husband… a lonely man… suffering in silence while my wife enjoys her chai and gossip session in office.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying not to laugh. Meanwhile, my colleagues across the table were staring at my screen, clearly very entertained. One of them whispered, “Arre yaar, your husband should join Bollywood.”
Before I could mute the call, Rudra leaned closer to the screen, his voice dropping dangerously low.
“Listen carefully, Mrs. Rajput. You have two options. One—finish your work fast and come home to me… Or two—I’ll come there myself, storm your office, and kiss you senseless in front of all your colleagues. And believe me, jaan, I never bluff.”
My jaw dropped. “Rudra!!”
My colleagues exploded into laughter, teasing me with winks and whistles.
I glared at him through the screen.
“Rudra… aap apne kaam nahi karte, na mujhe karne dete. Chahte kya ho aap?” I asked, my voice tight with frustration.
For a moment, he just stared at me… then smirked. That dangerous, slow smirk that could make a whole mafia gang tremble—but right now, it was aimed only at me.
“Bas ek hi cheez, jaan,” he said, leaning closer to the camera. His voice dropped into that husky tone, equal parts teasing and possessive. “Main chahta hoon ki aapki har subah, har dopahar, aur har raat sirf meri ho. Kaam toh duniya karta rahegi, par aap—aap meri duniya ho.”
Phoenix, as if backing him up, lifted his head and rested it against Rudra’s leg, giving me those puppy eyes like haan, listen to dad.
I rubbed my temples. “Unbelievable. You both have teamed up against me now.”
Rudra chuckled, eyes glinting. “Team up? No, jaan. It’s called… family.” He winked.
My colleagues beside me oohed loudly, making me blush furiously. One of them teased, “Arre Ishni, forget court cases, your real full-time job is handling Mr. Rajput!”
I rolled my eyes, already defeated.
“Fineee… I’ll be there. You both better behave till then,” I said, pointing a warning finger at the screen.
Rudra’s grin widened instantly, victory written all over his annoyingly handsome face. “Yes, Mrs. Rajput… we’ll behave,” he said, dragging out the word in a way that told me very clearly—they were not going to behave.
Phoenix barked once, wagging his tail like he’d just won a war.
I groaned and ended the call, but it was too late—my colleagues had already seen everything.
“Oooohhh, Mrs. Rajput,” one of them teased, nudging me. “Even the mighty mafia king can’t last a day without his wife.”
Another giggled, “Forget clients, Ishni, your real client is your husband. Look at how he summoned you like it’s a court order!”
My cheeks burned. I shoved my files into my bag. “Shut up, all of you.”
But deep down, I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. That man… he really knew how to make my world spin.
By the time I reached home, I was already prepared for some kind of drama. And guess what? I was right.
The moment I opened the door, flower petals literally fell on me from above. My jaw dropped. “Seriously, Rudra!?”
And there he was, standing in the middle of the living room, wearing his most innocent smile, holding Phoenix by the leash like he was presenting a co-actor in some Bollywood drama.
“Welcome home, my queen,” Rudra announced dramatically, bowing slightly.
Phoenix barked once, then immediately ran to me, nuzzling his head against my stomach like he was the most loyal child.
I looked between both of them, half shocked, half laughing. “Rudra… you called me home just for this?”
He placed a hand on his chest like I had just wounded him. “Just for this? Jaan, don’t break my heart. I haven’t seen you since morning. That’s almost a lifetime!”
I sighed, throwing my bag on the couch. “God, you’re impossible.”
But before I could say anything else, Rudra came closer, leaned down, and whispered in my ear, “Impossible, yes. But still yours.”
And just like that, my irritation melted.
After all that chaos with Rudra and Phoenix, the house finally went quiet. The evening breeze was soft, the sky painted orange and purple, and for once… there was peace.
I sat curled up on Rudra’s lap, his arms wrapped lazily around my waist as we sat on the terrace sofa. Phoenix had finally gone out for his walk with the guards, so it was just us.
“Finally,” I sighed dramatically, resting my head on his shoulder. “Peace. No overdramatic husband, no jealous jaguar.”
Rudra chuckled low in my ear. “Overdramatic, hmm? You wound me, jaan. I was simply expressing my undying love.”
I tilted my head up at him, giving him a pointed look. “Undying love? Or undying obsession? Because honestly, the way you called me home today…” I shook my head, biting back a laugh. “Even Bollywood heroes would be embarrassed.”
He smirked, tightening his hold on me, pulling me closer until my nose brushed his jaw. “Bollywood heroes don’t have you. I do.”
My breath hitched a little. God, this man.
For a while, we just sat there silently, the city lights twinkling below us. His fingers traced lazy circles on my arm, and I leaned into his warmth, secretly loving the possessive way he held me—as if I might disappear if he let go.
“Jaan…” his voice dropped lower, softer. “Promise me you’ll never get tired of me. Even if I annoy you… even if Phoenix steals half your love… even if I drag you away from your files just to see your face.”
I lifted my head, meeting his eyes, my lips curving into a smile. “I already am tired of you.”
His expression froze, his eyes narrowing. “Ishni—”
I burst out laughing, cupping his cheek before he could sulk. “But I also love you. To the point where your madness doesn’t even feel like madness anymore. It feels like… home.”
Rudra stared at me for a moment, then kissed me—slow, lingering, almost reverent. His thumb brushed my jaw, his other hand anchoring me firmly on his lap as if I truly belonged nowhere else.
His voice was calm, "Jaan… I have something to say," Rudra said, his eyes fixed on me, serious this time.
“Mm…” I nodded, resting my chin on his chest, not expecting much.
“I have to go Italy… for some work.”
For a second, I thought I heard him wrong. My mind went blank. The breeze felt colder, the city lights blurred. Italy? Away from me?
I blinked at him, searching his face for some sign he was joking. But no—this wasn’t the Rudra who teased me in calls, or the man who manipulated Phoenix just to make me come home early. This was Boss Rudra. Mafia Rudra. The man I often tried to forget he was.
“W…what?” My voice cracked. “Italy? As in… another country Italy?”
His thumb brushed my cheek, almost like he already knew what storm was about to break in me. “It’s important, jaan. I can’t send anyone else this time. My presence is necessary.”
I swallowed hard, pushing back the sudden lump in my throat. “And you were planning to just… drop this bomb on me in the middle of a romantic evening?”
His lips curved in a small, guilty smile. “Because I knew if I said it any other way, you’d refuse to even sit in my lap.”
I tried to glare, but my chest was too heavy. “How long?” I asked quietly.
“Few days. Maybe a week,” he said. Then his arms tightened around me, his tone dropping to that soft possessiveness again. “But you’ll be in my heart every damn second. Even if I’m in Italy, you’re here—” he tapped his chest, “—with me.”
I shook my head, biting my lip to stop the tears. “You make it sound so easy, Rudra. But I hate it. I hate when you’re not around. I can’t breathe properly without you.”
For the first time, his gaze softened in a way that made him look almost vulnerable. He pressed his forehead to mine. “Then breathe me in now, Ishni. As much as you can. So you can survive until I return.”
And before I could reply, his lips captured mine, deep and desperate, like he was sealing a promise neither of us wanted to break.
“I don’t want you to go…” I said in a sad tone, my lips forming a pout as I buried my face in his chest. My voice was muffled, heavy with emotions I couldn’t hide. “If you’re not around, I feel like someone is stabbing my heart.”
Rudra froze for a second, then his strong arms wrapped around me tighter, caging me against him as if he could shield me from that very pain. He rested his chin on my hair, breathing me in.
“jaan,” he whispered, his voice low and husky, “do you know what you just did to me?”
I tilted my head up, confused, my eyes watery. “What?”
He kissed the corner of my eye gently, as if erasing the tears. “You made me weak. Do you think leaving you is easy for me? Do you think I don’t feel that same stab every second I imagine being away from you?”
I clenched his shirt tighter. “Then don’t go, na…”
He chuckled softly, though I could hear the crack in his voice. “If it were only about me, jaan, I’d never leave your side. But this… this is for us. For Phoenix. For the empire I need to protect. So no one dares touch the life we’ve built together.”
I looked at him, lips trembling. “You always know how to shut me up with your heavy dialogues.”
This time, his smile was mischievous. “Shall I show you another way to shut you up?”
Before I could protest, his lips crashed onto mine, passionate and lingering, as if he was trying to memorize the shape of my soul. When he finally pulled back, he smirked.
“See? Not stabbed anymore, hmm?”
I rolled my eyes but hid my burning cheeks in his chest again. “You’re impossible…”
“And you’re mine,” he said firmly, his voice almost like a vow.
After sometime
I opened my eyes slowly, a soft smile forming on my lips. I stretched my hand to the side, expecting his usual warmth — his strong arm always draped protectively around my waist. But instead… nothing.
My heart skipped.
I turned, my smile fading. The bed was empty. Cold. My eyes widened.
“Rudra…” I whispered, panic rushing through me. My chest tightened as I scrambled out of bed. Tears pricked my eyes.
“Rudra?” I called, my voice trembling as I searched. I checked the bathroom — empty. Balcony — no one. My heart raced faster, my throat closing in.
“Don’t tell me…” my mind screamed. Did he really… did he really leave for Italy without even telling me?
The thought stabbed me like a thousand knives. Tears rolled down my cheeks. “No… no, Rudra… you wouldn’t…”
I stood in the middle of the room, my knees weak, clutching his shirt I found lying on the chair. The familiar scent of him hit me, and I broke down. “How could you leave like this? You promised…” I whispered into the fabric, my tears soaking it.
I wiped my tears hastily, my chest still heaving.
Without thinking, I bolted down the stairs—barefoot, the marble floor biting into my skin.
Rudra hated when I ran around without slippers, always scolding me like a dramatic husband, but right now…
nothing mattered.
“Rudra…” I whispered, searching frantically.