chapter 47
Both finally reached home, and Ishni slumped onto the couch with a dramatic groan. “Ahhh… I’m so exhausted,” she said, wiping her forehead.
Tara looked at her with gratitude sparkling in her eyes. “Thank you, didi,” she said softly, and hugged Ishni tightly.
Ishni chuckled, wrapping her arms around her. “Aree, pagli… you’re welcome,” she whispered, giving her a gentle squeeze.
Pulling back slightly, Ishni smiled warmly. “Now go rest… from tomorrow onwards, you’re going to your college, and you need all your energy,” she said.
Tara nodded, still smiling, and headed off to her room.
Just then, a maid walked in carrying a jug of water. “Here, madam,” she said, handing it to Ishni.
Ishni took it and sipped, glancing at the maid. “By the way, is Rudra at home?” she asked.
“Yes, madam. Boss is in his study room,” the maid replied before leaving quietly.
Ishni’s eyes softened at the thought of him, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
Ishni pushed the door open and stepped inside the study room. Rudra sat there, perched in his chair, glasses on, black shirt with a few buttons casually undone, sleeves folded up. The sharp lines of his jaw and the dangerous intensity in his eyes.
“Hayyee… mera pati, kinta sexy hai,” Ishni thought, a small shiver running down her spine.
She walked further in, trying to act normal, but every step made her heart beat faster. He looked up at her, a slow smirk curling on his lips. The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with the unspoken tension between them.
“So finally, Miss Ishni ko yaad aa hi gaya ki unka husband bhi exist karta hai, hmm?” Rudra said, leaning back in his chair, eyes narrowing playfully behind his glasses.
“W–what do you mean, haan?” Ishni asked, pretending innocence as she walked towards the table.
Before she could say anything else, Rudra’s hand shot out. He pulled her gently but firmly and made her sit on his lap. Ishni gasped softly, hands automatically resting on his shoulders.
“What I mean is,” he said in a low voice, his chin resting near her shoulder, “madam poora din busy rahi… no call, no message, not even a miss you.”
Ishni looked at him, startled for a second, then smiled softly. “Aww… kisi ko jealousy ho rahi hai kya?” she teased, cupping his cheek.
“Jealousy?” he scoffed lightly, tightening his hold around her waist. “No. Bas haq jatana seekh raha hoon apni biwi par.”
She laughed quietly, resting her forehead against his. “I was busy… but I thought about you,” she whispered honestly.
His expression softened instantly. The smirk faded, replaced by something deeper, warmer. “Bas yehi sunna tha,” he murmured, pulling her closer as if the world outside that room didn’t exist anymore.
“Rudra, main Tara ke liye bahut khush hoon… thank you for letting her stay,” Ishni said softly, her fingers playing with the collar of his shirt.
Rudra lifted his face, eyes warm. “Jaan, aap ke liye kuch bhi,” he said honestly. Then his tone changed, playful again, as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. “Aur ab… agar aap thodi si duniya se free ho, toh apne cute husband par bhi thoda dhyaan de dijiye.”
Ishni giggled, the sound light and shy. “Achha ji?”
He smiled against her skin, arms tightening around her waist. “Haan ji,” he replied softly, like it was the most obvious truth in the world.
“Kya karoon main, husband ji?” she asked teasingly, one brow lifting as she pretended to think hard.
Rudra pulled back just enough to look at her, eyes dark with mischief. “Kiss… bahut saare,” he said simply, like it was a rule of life.
Ishni laughed, shaking her head. “Bas itna sa?”
“Bas?” he repeated dramatically, feigning offense. “Mrs. Rajput, you have no idea how powerful your kisses are.”
She leaned closer, her forehead touching his. “Achha? Phir toh dangerous hai.”
“Bilkul,” he murmured, stealing a soft kiss from her lips slow, unhurried, full of warmth rather than fire. “Par main risk lene ke liye tayaar hoon.”
She smiled against his lips, resting her head on his shoulder. In that quiet study room, with the world outside forgotten, their laughter and stolen kisses felt like home.
The sunlight brushed against my face, dragging me out of sleep. I reached out instinctively but my arms found nothing.
I frowned and opened my eyes fully, scanning the room. She wasn’t there.
“Jaan?” I called out, my voice still heavy with sleep. No answer.
“Subah-subah kaha gayi ?” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. I slipped on my shirt,and made my way downstairs.
And then I heard it.Her laughter.
Soft. Free. Alive.I stopped midway.
There she was standing with Tara, talking animatedly about something, laughing like the world hadn’t bruised her at all. The morning light fell on her face, catching in her hair, and for a moment… she didn’t look real. Just beautiful. Effortlessly, painfully beautiful.My jaan.
I leaned against the railing, watching her quietly. God, the way she laughed like she had forgotten to be careful. Like the old Ishni. The one before pain learned her name.
I smiled to myself.
Maybe Tara was good for her. Because of that girl, Ishni was becoming carefree again… lighter. And that made my chest feel warm. But then—
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Why is she laughing so much with her?
I cleared my throat, dramatic on purpose.
Nothing. Still laughing.
I sighed internally.
“Haan haan, Rudra Singh Rajput,” I thought bitterly, “clearly you’ve been replaced.”
Poor me. Very poor me.
“Jaan…” I said dryly, clearing my throat on purpose. She turned around immediately. “Ahh… I was waiting for you only,” she said with a smile.
And just like that, my heart melted.
Waiting.
For me.
Aww. My wife really knows how to ruin my fake anger.
Before I could enjoy the moment properly, she continued, “Since you’re awake now, I’m leaving.
It’s Tara’s first day, I’m going to drop her to college.
”
She looked at Tara, who was already ready, bag on her shoulder.
So she was waiting for me to wake up… just so she could leave?
When did the universe start hating me personally?
I swallowed my disappointment and nodded like a mature husband. “Go safely,” I said, trying not to sound betrayed.
They walked out Just like that.
I stood there, staring at the door they had just exited through.…My wife is cruel.
Absolutely heartless. I’m definitely filing a caseCharges: ignoring my feelings, emotional abandonment, and criminally forgetting the goodbye kiss.
Yes. Very serious offense.
I was in the office, files in front of me, meetings lined up… but my mind?
Completely somewhere else.
Nowadays, she doesn’t call me much.
Doesn’t spend time with me.
And early mornings? She leaves before I even open my eyes.
Ahh… cruel wife. Very cruel.
I stared at my laptop screen, realizing I’d been reading the same line for the past ten minutes. Nothing was registering. All I could see was her laughing face from the morning… but not with me.
Just then, Vipul walked in. “Boss, please sign these papers,” he said, placing the file in front of me. I looked up.
And simply glared at him.
He froze.
“…Boss?” he asked carefully.
I snatched the file, signed it without even looking, and shoved it back at him.
“Out,” I said.
Vipul blinked. “Did I—”
“—Out,” I repeated, my voice flat.
He nodded rapidly and almost ran out of the cabin.
Vipul stepped out of the cabin, still confused, still slightly traumatized.
“Yeh boss ko kya ho gaya hai?” he muttered under his breath.
“Pata nahi aaj-kal boss ajeeb behave kar rahe hain… bina wajah ghoor rahe the jaise maine unki biwi chura li ho.”
He adjusted the file in his hands and shook his head.
“Office ka stress hoga,” he convinced himself.
“Ya phir…” he paused, recalling Rudra’s murderous glare, “…shaadi ka side effect.”
With a sigh and a silent prayer for his own safety, Vipul walked away, completely unaware that Rudra Singh Rajput’s problem had only one name
Ishni.
After sometime…
Rudra pressed the intercom again.
“Vipul. Cabin. Now.”
Vipul froze outside his desk.
Ab kya ho gaya… subha se boss ajeeb behave kar rahe hai.
He took a deep breath and walked in.
“Y-yes boss, you called me?” he asked carefully.
Rudra didn’t look up immediately. He closed the file, removed his glasses, and finally lifted his eyes sharp, calculating, and very much husband-in-jealousy-mode.
“Vipul,” Rudra said slowly, “tumhe ek kaam karna hai mere liye.”
Vipul straightened. “Of course boss. Business related?”
Rudra tilted his head. “No.”
Vipul blinked. “Security?”
Rudra shook his head. “No.”
Vipul’s heartbeat increased. “Then…?”
Rudra looked at him coldly, eyes sharp as knives.
“From now on,” he said slowly, every word dripping with authority, “you will pick and drop Tara from college. Every day.”
Vipul felt his soul leave his body. That… that dangerous disaster? Nooo, definitely not!
“B-boss, please… don’t do this!” he stammered, hands raised like he was pleading for mercy. “I’ll do anything… anything… but not her! Please, anything but her!”
Rudra didn’t blink. He leaned back slightly
“You’ll do this, Vipul. Because I said so.”
Vipul gulped, feeling like his life had officially been cursed. “Yes… boss… of course… I’ll do it…” he muttered, voice trembling.
Rudra tilted his head, his eyes glinting with amusement and menace all at once.
“Good. I don’t like repeating myself.”
Vipul immediately saluted, though inside his heart, he was silently screaming. God save me… this is going to be a disaster.
Vipul came out of the cabin, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Argggg… yeh boss bhi na!” he muttered under his breath. “Khud ki problem mein mujhe phasa diya.”
He groaned, remembering her.
“Us ladki ke paas main ek pal bhi nahi reh sakta,” he thought dramatically. “Disaster hai woh… pura natural calamity!”
With a defeated sigh and absolutely no option left, Vipul dragged his feet away, mentally preparing himself for the chaos that was about to enter his life. Bas bhagwan bharose…
Ishni and Tara were about to leave when
“Jaan!” Rudra’s voice echoed from the staircase.
Ishni turned instantly. “What happened, Rudra?”
Tara also looked at him, clutching her bag a little tighter.
Rudra walked closer, fixing his cuff casually.
“Actually… you don’t have to drop Tara today.
”
Ishni frowned. “Par kyun? Aur agar guards rakhne ka soch rahe ho toh rehne do. College hai, jail nahi. She’ll get scared.
”
“Arey jaan, pehle sun toh lo,” Rudra said patiently.
“From now on, Vipul will pick and drop her.”
The moment the name left his mouth
Tara’s eyes widened.
Wahi serious face… woh bhi roz?
Ishni blinked. “Vipul?”
She looked unsure for a second, then sighed. “Do you trust him?”
Rudra nodded without hesitation. “Blindly.”
Before Ishni could say anything more, the sound of a car pulling up reached them.
Tara slowly turned her head toward the gate.
Her soul almost left her body.
Vipul stepped out of the car, dressed in a crisp suit, expression unreadable.
He looked straight ahead, then his eyes landed on Tara. For a split second
both froze.
Yeh sach mein aa gaya… Tara thought.
Yeh ladki hi milni thi… Vipul thought.
“Good morning, ma'am” Vipul said formally, nodding at Ishni.
Ishni smiled. “Good morning. Take care of her, haan?"
Vipul gave a tight nod. “Of course.”
Tara swallowed hard.
“Main… main ready hoon,” she muttered.
Vipul opened the car door.
“Bathayi"
Tara shot him a glare. “Itna formal hone ki zarurat nahi hai.”
Then she climbed in anyway.
Rudra watched the entire exchange, lips twitching with amusement.
“Rudra—”
Before Ishni could say anything more, he suddenly scooped her up in his arms.
“Jaan, ab aapki poori tarah meri ho,” he said happily, walking inside as if she weighed nothing.
Ishni let out a soft laugh, lightly hitting his chest. “Rudra, main aapka kya karoon?” she said, half helpless, half smiling.
He looked down at her, eyes full of mischief and love. “Bas aise hi rehna… meri baahon mein.”
Vipul drove in complete silence, his eyes fixed on the road. Tara kept stealing glances at him, finally unable to hold it in anymore.
“Can’t you say no?” she asked.
He didn’t even look at her. “As if I had an option.”
She made a small irritated face. “I don’t want to go with you either.”
He let out a dry scoff. “Mutual feeling, miss.”
The air between them turned stiff, awkward, and oddly charged two people forced into the same space, already at war without even trying.
“Aur chup-chaap baithi raho, warna iss road par chhod dunga,” he said coldly.
She huffed, crossing her arms. “Oh hello, I’m not scared, okay?”
Vipul glanced at her for a split second, then focused back on the road, jaw clenched. Where the hell am I stuck… he thought, pressing the accelerator a little harder, already knowing this girl was going to be nothing but trouble.
After some time, they reached the college. Tara stepped out of the car, adjusting her bag, while Vipul got out too, his eyes instinctively scanning the area, alert and sharp, checking every corner like it was second nature to him.
“pick mein time. Don’t be late,” she said impatiently, tapping her foot.
“I know. Don’t order me,” he replied curtly, shooting her an annoyed look, though he still waited until she walked a few steps inside the gate, just to be sure she was safe.
“Yeh ladki mujhe pagal kar degi… boss ne kaha phansa diya,” Vipul thought, clenching his jaw as he got back into the car, already regretting every life choice that had led him here.
Meanwhile, inside the college campus, Tara hadn’t even taken ten steps when her friends surrounded her like detectives on a mission.
“Taraaa, who was he?” one of them asked, eyes sparkling.
Another whistled, grinning. “Damn girl, he was so fine… hot hot!”
Tara rolled her eyes dramatically. “Shut uppp. He’s just my sister’s husband’s right hand very serious and very annoying man,” she said, waving them off, though her cheeks betrayed her just a little as she walked away.
College hours ended, and the campus slowly started emptying. Students poured out of the gates in groups laughing, chatting, making plans for the evening.
Tara walked out with her friends, laughing loudly at some silly joke, her carefree smile finally back.
Just then
Her eyes landed on him.
Vipul stood beside the car, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone to his ear. His sleeves were rolled up, veins visible on his forearms, jaw tight, expression sharp and commanding.
“Yeah… send the information before evening” he said coldly into the phone.
Even the way he spoke felt dangerous.
Her friends followed her gaze.
“Oyeee, woh phir aa gaya!”
“Taraaa your bodyguard is sooo hot yaar.”
“Full mafia vibes!”
Tara scoffed. “Hot my foot. Walking refrigerator hai woh. No emotions.”
But still… her eyes didn’t move away.
For a second, her heart skipped.
Then suddenlyan evil little idea popped into her head.
Her lips curled into a mischievous smile.
“Bye guys,” she said sweetly. “Kal milte hain.”
She adjusted her bag and slowly… very slowly… started walking toward the car like a cat planning trouble.
She quietly reached near the car, making sure Vipul was still busy on his call.
He hadn’t noticed her yet still standing a little away, talking in that cold, bossy tone like he owned the whole world.
Tara glanced left… right… then slowly crouched down beside the tyre like some secret agent on a mission.
Her eyes fell on a small stone.
“Perfect…” she whispered dramatically.
She picked it up and tried scratching the tyre. Scrrr… scr…Nothing happened.
She frowned. “Huh? Yeh strong kiu nhihai!"
She tried harder.Still nothing.
“Ughhh!”
Frustrated, she threw the stone away and quickly opened her bag. After digging like she was searching for treasure, she pulled out a pen. “Chalega.”
Then she started aggressively poking the tyre.Thak… thak… thak… Absolutely zero damage. “Yaar puncture kyun nahi ho raha? Movie mein toh easily ho jata hai…” she muttered, hitting it harder like a kid throwing a tantrum.
After many failed attempts, Tara finally lost her patience. “Bas. Ab toh hoga,” she muttered, gripping the pen like it was some weapon of war.
She pressed harder… and harder…
Pssssssss— Air started leaking out.
Her eyes widened.
Then slowly… a victorious smirk spread across her face.
“Hehehe… ho gaya.”
She dusted her hands like she had just achieved something historic.
“Mr. Vipul… ab kya karoge?” she whispered to herself, grinning mischievously.
She casually walked toward him from behind like nothing happened, hiding the pen inside her bag.
She tapped his shoulder. He turned.
“Good evening,” she said sweetly, flashing the most innocent smile she could fake.
Vipul’s eyes narrowed instantly.
“Why are you smiling like that?” he asked coldly.
“Like what?” she blinked dramatically.
He stared at her for a few seconds… then something caught his attention.
Vipul stared at the tyre for a few seconds, trying to process what he was seeing.
Completely flat. His jaw tightened.
“What the fuck, man!!” he snapped in frustration, running a hand through his hair. “I remember clearly it was NOT punctured.”
He replayed everything in his head.
It was perfectly fine. Then slowly… very slowly… his eyes shifted toward Tara.
She was standing a little too straight.
A little too quiet. too innocent Suspiciously innocent. His eyes narrowed.
Tara’s heart dropped.
Oh no… he knows… HE KNOWS.
Vipul started walking toward her. Slow. Steady. Dangerous.Each step heavy.
She gulped and automatically started stepping back.
“D-dekho… maine kuch nahi kiya hai…” she mumbled, hands raised slightly like she was already surrendering.
Goodness save me please… Bhagwan ji main aaj se shararat nahi karungi…
He didn’t stop. She kept moving back until
Thak! Her back hit the car window.
No escape. Before she could slip away, Vipul placed both his hands on the car on either side of her, caging her in.
His arms trapping her.
His tall frame towering over her.
Too close. Way too close.
Her breath hitched.
His face was inches away, eyes dark and sharp.
“Last time pooch raha hoon,” he said quietly, dangerously calm, “tumne tyre ko touch kiya tha?”
She tried to say something, anything, but no words came out.
Vipul was staring at her like she had personally offended his entire bloodline.
His jaw was clenched so tight the veins near his temple were visible. His eyes weren’t angry loudthey were worse. Quiet. Controlled. Dangerous.
She gulped.
“I’m asking something, Tara!!” he snapped. “Tell me, dammit!!”
She flinched at his raised voice.
“I… ma… woh…”
Nothing made sense. Her tongue felt tied.
Why is he so scary when he’s angry?!
Slowly… very slowly… he leaned closer.
Her breath stopped.
Her back was already pressed against the car window, nowhere to go. His face inches away. She could feel his warm breath on her skin.
Her heart started hammering so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
Then he lifted his hand.
Her eyes widened.
Oh my god. Oh my god. Is he going to kill me? Slap me? Arrest me?
“Bhagwan please bachaa lo…” she whispered and squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
She braced herself.
But instead of painSomething soft brushed her cheek. She slowly opened one eye. His fingers were gently wiping her face.
She blinked.Confused.
He pulled his hand back and showed her the black smudge on his thumb.
Rubber dust.
From the tyre.
His eyes locked with hers.
“Next time,” he said calmly, almost mockingly, “if you’re puncturing a tyre… remember to clean your face.”
Her brain stopped working.
Caught.
Red. Handed.
She stared at him like a kid caught stealing chocolates.
“You’re terrible at crime,” he added dryly.
“Zero talent.”
Her cheeks turned tomato red.
“Main… main criminal nahi hoon!”
“Haan, clearly. Criminals at least don’t leave evidence on their own face. ”