chapter 62
Then he leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropped to a soft whisper right beside her ear.
“Jaan…” he murmured.
Her body suddenly froze.
The moment those words reached her ears, something inside her mind clicked. That voice… that tone… it was too familiar to ignore. Her heart skipped a beat as realization slowly crept in.
Her eyes widened.
“R… Rudra?” she whispered in disbelief.
For a second, the air between them turned completely still.
The man behind her let out a low chuckle near her ear, the sound deep and amused. Slowly, his grip on her wrist loosened and he stepped back, finally releasing her from his hold.
She immediately turned around, her eyes searching his masked face with shock and confusion.
Without saying anything, the man lifted his hand and removed the mask.
There he was.
Rudra.
Standing right in front of her, looking as calm as if nothing unusual had happened. His dark eyes held that same dangerous confidence, and a faint smirk rested on his lips as he watched her stunned expression.
“I was wondering,” he said casually, his voice carrying a teasing edge, “how long it would take for my own wife to recognize me.”
Still stunned, she quickly pulled off her own mask, her eyes fixed on him in disbelief.
Rudra had already removed his mask,
revealing the same calm, unreadable expression on his face—as if being caught like this was the most normal thing in the world.
“Rudra… what are you doing here?” she asked, her voice filled with shock.
For a moment he didn’t answer. His eyes slowly moved over her from the black gown, to the fierce look in her eyes. A faint smirk appeared on his lips, the kind that meant he had already figured out more than he was saying.
“I was about to ask you the same question,” he replied calmly.
The dim light of the room reflected in his dark eyes as he stepped a little closer.
“A secret party, masks, a hidden gun in your dress…” he added, his voice low and dangerously amused. “Interesting evening you’re having, Mrs. Rajput.”
Ishni crossed her arms slightly, still trying to process the situation.
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said firmly.
Rudra tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening.
“The same reason you’re here,” he said quietly. “To find out who’s been playing games with us.”
Rudra’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked at her.
“But honestly,” he said slowly, his voice carrying a quiet intensity, “I’m mad at you.”
Ishni frowned.
“First, you didn’t inform me about anything,” he continued, his gaze fixed on her. “And second… you’re roaming around a place like this—full of dangerous people—without me.”
There was something protective, almost possessive in the way he said it.
As if the idea of her being here alone bothered him far more than the danger itself.
“Ishni,” he added in a lower voice, “do you have any idea what kind of people are present here tonight?”
She looked at him for a moment, slightly guilty.
“Rudra… I thought to tell you,” she began, trying to explain. “But I wasn’t sure…”
Her voice trailed off.
Rudra took a step closer, his eyes searching her face as if trying to understand what she was thinking when she decided to come alone.
The tension between them was thick not just because of the danger outside the room, but because both of them had come here with the same intention…
For a moment, both of them just looked at each other.
There were too many questions between them.
Things they both wanted to ask… things they both wanted to hide.
But neither of them said anything.
The silence between them was heavy.
Suddenly—
The sound of the door handle turning broke the moment.
Both their eyes snapped toward the door.
Someone was opening it.
“Someone there?” a man’s voice came from outside.
Before Ishni could react, Rudra immediately grabbed her wrist and pulled her with him. In one swift movement, they slipped behind the door just as it opened.
The man stepped inside the room slowly, looking around suspiciously.
But the room appeared empty.
Behind the door, Rudra and Ishni stood pressed close together, hiding in the narrow space. His arm instinctively wrapped around her waist to keep her from moving.
Ishni held onto his shirt tightly, trying not to make a sound.
They were so close that she could feel his heartbeat against her.
The man inside the room frowned slightly.
“Strange…” he muttered under his breath while scanning the room again.
But finding nothing unusual, he shrugged and walked back out, closing the door behind him.
The moment the footsteps faded…Rudra and Ishni were still standing there.
Still holding each other.
The door closed and the footsteps outside slowly faded away. Ishni finally let out a soft sigh of relief. She looked up at Rudra, only then realizing how close they still were standing.
Her fingers were tightly holding onto his shirt, and his hands were still resting firmly on her waist, keeping her close to him.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved. Ishni’s lips curved into a small smile as she looked into his eyes. “No matter where I go,” she said quietly, “I always end up finding you.”
Rudra’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at her, his grip around her waist loosening just a little but not letting her go. “And you always will,” he replied calmly. “Because we’re not two people… we’re one.”
His voice carried a quiet certainty that made her heart skip a beat. He held her gaze for a moment before his expression turned more serious. “If I say you won’t go anywhere alone from now on,” he said slowly, “then let’s do this together.”
A small smile appeared on Ishni’s lips. She looked at him with playful warmth in her eyes.
“Alright, pati dev,” she said softly.
She was about to step away when suddenly Rudra pulled her back.
Before she could react, his arm tightened around her waist, drawing her closer to him again. The sudden movement made her stumble slightly, her hands instinctively resting against his chest.
Then he leaned down.
Slowly, he buried his face in the curve of her neck.
For a moment, Ishni froze, surprised by the sudden closeness.
Rudra let out a quiet breath against her skin, as if the scent of her alone was enough to calm the storm inside him. His hold around her waist tightened slightly, protective, possessive.
Even in the middle of danger…
somehow, they still found each other.
Both of them quietly stepped out of the room again, their masks back on, hiding their identities once more. The party was still going on outside—dim lights, masked faces, and murmurs of secret conversations filled the hall.
To everyone else, they looked like just another couple moving through the crowd, but their eyes were alert, carefully scanning every corner.
They moved through the hall slowly, searching.
“He came here only… where did he go?” Ishni whispered under her breath, her eyes moving from one masked guest to another.
Rudra noticed the tension in her voice but didn’t interrupt.
As they walked further down the corridor, they stopped in front of a door that looked different from the others.
It was larger, guarded by silence rather than people, almost like a private room hidden away from the party.
Ishni’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I think he is inside,” she said quietly.
Just as she was about to step forward, Rudra suddenly grabbed her hand.
His grip was firm.
“Karan?” he asked, his voice low but sharp.
Ishni froze for a second.
Even behind the mask, Rudra could feel the hesitation in her silence.
“Rudra…” she said softly, avoiding his gaze for a moment. “…I’ll tell you later.”
But Rudra didn’t move.
His eyes stayed fixed on her.
Ishni stared at the closed door, her mind racing as she tried to figure out a way to get inside without drawing attention.
“How are we supposed to go in?” she murmured, thinking aloud.
Just then her eyes moved to the side of the corridor.
A group of staff members were preparing a large table trolley filled with food and drinks that looked like it was meant to be taken inside the private room.
The table wasn’t small—it was wide enough and covered with decorative cloth and trays.
Ishni’s eyes suddenly lit up with an idea.
She turned toward Rudra.
“Rudra… I think we should go inside that,” she whispered, pointing toward the trolley.
Rudra followed her gaze.
Then he looked back at her slowly.
“Are you serious?” he said in disbelief.
Ishni nodded without hesitation.
“Yes.”
Rudra stared at the trolley again, clearly not impressed with the plan.
“You want Rudra Singh Rajput,” he said quietly, “to hide inside a food table and sneak into a room?”
Ishni folded her arms slightly.
“Do you have a better idea?”
For a moment, Rudra said nothing.
Then he sighed under his breath.
“…You’re unbelievable.”
But despite his complaint, his eyes already showed he knew exactly what was about to happen.
Carefully watching the staff members, both of them waited for the perfect moment.
The workers were busy arranging glasses and plates, completely focused on their work.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Ishni quickly lifted the cloth covering the large trolley, and both of them slipped inside, crouching carefully between the trays and covered dishes.
They adjusted themselves as quietly as possible, pulling the cloth back down so no one could notice them.
Rudra shifted slightly, clearly uncomfortable in the cramped space.
“This is going to kill me,” he muttered under his breath.
“Shhh,” Ishni whispered sharply.
Rudra rolled his eyes behind the mask but stayed quiet.
After a few moments, they felt the trolley move. The staff had started pushing it forward.
The wheels rolled across the floor, and the faint sound of music from the hall slowly faded as they were taken further down the corridor.
A minute later, the trolley stopped.
They heard the sound of a door opening.
Voices filled the room.
The trolley was pushed inside and finally placed near the corner of the room. The staff adjusted a few dishes on top before stepping away.
Once the workers left and the door closed again, silence settled in the room.
Hidden beneath the cloth, Rudra and Ishni stayed completely still… waiting for the right moment to see what was happening around them.
After a few seconds, Ishni carefully lifted the edge of the cloth and peeked outside. Her eyes moved around the room cautiously.
“It seems no one is here…” she murmured under her breath.
Rudra shifted slightly beside her, stretching his cramped shoulders after being folded inside the trolley for so long.
But instead of checking the room…
His eyes stopped somewhere else.
On Ishni’s back.
Her black gown was completely backless, the soft light of the room falling perfectly on her skin. From this distance, there was absolutely no way he could ignore it.
He stared for a second.
Then another.
Ishni suddenly felt the intense silence behind her.
She slowly turned her head.
And immediately caught him staring.
“Rudra!!” she whispered angrily.
Rudra blinked, pretending to be innocent.
“What?”
Ishni glared at him.
“We are hiding inside a food trolley in the middle of a dangerous party… and you’re staring at my back?”
Rudra leaned slightly closer and whispered dramatically,
“I’m just appreciating the view.”
Ishni rolled her eyes.
“This is not the time!”
Rudra sighed softly.
“Jaan, you’re the one who brought me inside a vegetable cart.”
“It’s not a vegetable cart!”
“It literally smells like soup.”
She pinched his arm.
“Focus!”
Rudra winced quietly and rubbed his arm.
“First you force me to hide in a food trolley… then you assault me…”
He shook his head.
“This marriage is very abusive.”
Ishni looked at him in disbelief she was about to reply when suddenly—
Footsteps echoed outside the door.
Both of them froze instantly.
Both of them instantly went quiet.
The playful whispers vanished the moment they heard footsteps approaching the room. The sound of the door opening echoed softly, and someone walked in.
Through a small gap in the cloth covering the trolley, Ishni and Rudra carefully looked outside.
A man entered the room wearing a perfectly tailored black suit. His posture was confident, his movements calm. Thankfully, from where they were hiding, they had a clear view of his face.
He pulled out his phone and answered a call.
“Yes… let them in,” the man said coldly.
Ishni’s eyes narrowed.
Karan.
He wasn’t wearing a mask now.
Rudra’s jaw tightened beside her as he also recognized him instantly.
But the next moment something strange happened
Slowly, he removed the mask completely.
The face underneath was different.
Completely different.
Ishni’s breath caught in her throat.
Karan had been wearing a perfectly crafted face mask.
The real man standing there was someone else entirely.
From their hiding spot, both Rudra and Ishni exchanged a quick glance.
The moment the mask came off, Ishni’s eyes widened in shock.
Her breath almost stopped.
It wasn’t Karan.
It was Abhishek Dewana… Karan’s younger brother.
From their hiding spot beneath the trolley, both Ishni and Rudra stared silently. Neither of them moved, but the tension between them was thick. The truth was unfolding right in front of them.
Just then the door opened again.
A few men walked into the room.
They were tall, sharply dressed, their accents unmistakable.
Italians.
Abhishek adjusted the cuffs of his black suit and gave them a calm, welcoming smile.
“Welcome,” he said smoothly.
Rudra’s eyes darkened slightly beneath the mask as he recognized them.
The Romano family.
For a moment the room filled with quiet conversation and the clinking of glasses.
One of the Italian men stepped forward, his expression slightly disappointed.
“I thought you would finally kill Rudra Singh Rajput,” he said bluntly.
Abhishek’s smile didn’t disappear, but something colder appeared in his eyes.
“Well,” he said calmly, picking up a glass from the table, “he had luck on his side.”
He took a slow sip.
“He survived this time.”
Then he placed the glass down gently.
“But next time…” he continued, his voice dropping colder,
“I won’t repeat the mistake.”
“Good,” one of the Italian men said, his voice calm but filled with authority. “Soon boss will arrive in India as well. Until then… you have to keep Rudra Singh Rajput alive.”
The room grew quieter at his words.
“He is boss’s prey to kill.”
Behind the trolley, Rudra’s jaw tightened slightly as he heard his own name spoken like that. Ishni could feel the tension in his body beside her, but he stayed perfectly still.
Across the room, Abhishek let out a low laugh.
The sound echoed lightly in the dimly lit room.
“Don’t worry,” he said confidently, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll catch him soon enough.”
His eyes carried a cruel excitement as he continued.
“And when I do…”
A faint smirk spread across his face.
“…I’ll hand him over alive.”
He leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the table.
“Let your boss have the pleasure of killing him himself.”
Behind the covered trolley, Ishni’s fingers slowly tightened into a fist.
“And about the deal?” one of the Italian men asked, his tone sharp and businesslike.
Abhishek leaned back slightly, completely at ease, as if the topic they were discussing was something ordinary.
“Yes,” he replied calmly. “Everything is arranged.”
He picked up a glass from the table and swirled the drink slowly before continuing.
“The girls are also kept,” he said.
For a second, the room remained silent.
Behind the trolley, Ishni’s breath caught.
Abhishek spoke again, his voice carrying the same cold indifference.
“Soon they’ll be sent to Italy.”
He took a slow sip from the glass.
“We’ve kept them safe for now.”
The Italian men exchanged satisfied glances.
“Good,” one of them said.
Hidden behind the cloth, Ishni’s hands slowly clenched into fists. Her heart was pounding—not just because of Rudra being hunted anymore.
Now something far darker had revealed itself.
Beside her, Rudra’s expression had turned dangerously calm.
The storm in his eyes said everything.
This was no longer just a trap.
It was a network.
And they had just walked into the center of it.
After a few more minutes of conversation, the men finally began to leave the room. One by one, their footsteps faded away until the door shut behind them and silence returned to the private chamber.
For a moment, Rudra and Ishni stayed completely still inside the trolley, making sure no one was coming back.
Then Rudra slowly lifted the cloth.
Both of them quietly climbed out.
Ishni adjusted her dress while Rudra quickly scanned the room, his sharp eyes checking every corner to make sure they were alone.
His expression had turned serious now.
“Staying here isn’t safe anymore,” he said in a low voice.
Ishni nodded immediately. She had heard enough to understand how dangerous the situation had become.
“We need to leave,” Rudra added.
Ishni glanced once toward the door where Abhishek and the Italians had been standing just minutes ago. Her mind was racing with everything they had just discovered.
Human trafficking.
The Romano family.
She took a deep breath and looked at him again.
“Let’s go,” she said quietly.
---------
After a while, both of them finally managed to leave the party and reach the car. The drive back was completely silent. The road stretched ahead in the darkness, illuminated only by the headlights of the car. Inside, neither of them spoke a word.
Ishni sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her arms crossed tightly, her face burning with anger. Everything they had just heard kept replaying in her mind Abhishek, the Romano family, the girls being sent away, and Rudra being hunted like prey.
In no time, the car entered the mansion gates and stopped in the garage. The entire ride had been silent, but the silence was not peaceful it was heavy, filled with unspoken fear and anger.
The moment the car stopped, Ishni opened the door and stepped out without even looking at Rudra. She was still frustrated, her mind replaying everything they had heard at the party.
As she started walking fast toward the mansion entrance, suddenly her heel snapped and broke.
“Great!” she said angrily, looking down at it as if the world was personally testing her patience today.
Without a second thought, she removed the heels and threw them aside carelessly, not even bothering to look where they fell, and continued walking barefoot toward the house.
Rudra, who had just stepped out of the car, watched the entire scene quietly. He didn’t stop her this time. He didn’t say anything. He simply walked to where the broken heels were lying, bent down, picked them up in his hand, and followed her inside.
---
As both of them entered the hall, they suddenly stopped, a little surprised to see Vipul sitting on the sofa with his laptop open, looking like he had been working for a while.
Rudra frowned slightly. “Vipul?” he called. Vipul immediately looked up, and the moment he saw both of them, he quickly stood up.
“Boss… actually, no one was at the mansion, and Tara was alone… so I stayed,” he said, a little hesitantly, as if unsure whether he had done the right thing. Rudra looked at him for a moment, then nodded once. “You did right,” he said calmly.
“Where is she?” Ishni asked, her voice tired but still firm.
“She’s in her room, sleeping,” Vipul replied.
Ishni closed her eyes for a brief second, as if trying to control everything running inside her head.
Without waiting , Ishni turned and walked straight toward the kitchen.
Rudra looked at Vipul once. Just one look and Vipul understood there was something important to discuss.
“Wait for me in the study room,” Rudra said.
Vipul nodded. “Yes, boss.”
Rudra then turned and walked toward the kitchen, following Ishni.
He stopped at the kitchen entrance.
She was standing near the counter, her back facing him, her hands resting on the marble surface, her head slightly lowered. She wasn’t doing anything. Just standing there.
Rudra walked in slowly.
“Jaan?” Rudra called softly.
Ishni, who was standing ahead. She turned toward him, and the moment she looked at his face, all the anger she was holding suddenly turned into panic. She quickly walked back to him, her hands slightly trembling as she grabbed his arms.
“Rudra… we have to do something,” she started speaking quickly, her voice shaking. “Before they take those girls away… before they try to harm you again, Rudra… I can’t afford to lose you. Do you understand? I can’t lose you. We have to destroy them… we have to finish this!”
She kept speaking without even taking a breath, her words rushing out, fear clear in her voice, her fingers clutching his shirt tightly.
Rudra held her hands firmly.
“Jaan… jaan… Ishni!” he said, trying to stop her.
But she kept going, panic taking over her.
“Bas,” he said firmly, tightening his grip on her hands.
“Par vo—” she tried to speak again.
But before she could finish—
Rudra pulled her closer and pressed his lips on hers.
The words died in her throat.
For a moment, she was too shocked to react.
Like he was trying to silence her fears, her panic, her overthinking everything with that one moment.
His hand moved to the back of her head, holding her in place as if he was afraid she would break apart if he let go.
After a few seconds, he slowly pulled back, his forehead resting against hers, both of them breathing heavily.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered.
His voice was low.
“Look at me,” he said softly.
She slowly opened her eyes.
“I’m right here,” he said. “And I’m not leaving you. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. So stop thinking like you’ve already lost me.”
“Jab tak main hoon, you don’t have to worry,” Rudra said quietly.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was steady the kind of voice that didn’t make promises lightly.
Ishni closed her eyes for a brief moment, as if she was trying to gather herself, trying not to break down in front of him.
Rudra noticed her bare feet then. Without saying anything, he slowly bent down in front of her. Ishni opened her eyes in surprise as he picked up the nearby slippers and gently made her wear them himself.
The small gesture said more than words.
“Come,” he said softly.
----
All three of them moved into the study room. The atmosphere inside was serious now no more silence, no more hiding things. Vipul quickly brought a whiteboard and a marker and placed it in front of them.
“Jaan,” Rudra said softly.
Ishni understood immediately. She walked toward the board and stood there, uncapping the marker.
For a moment, she looked at Rudra and Vipul, her expression calm but her eyes filled with something intense.
She turned and wrote a name on the board in bold letters:
ABHISHEK DEEWANA
Then she spoke.
“His name is Abhishek Deewana… Karan’s younger brother,” she said slowly. “He’s the one fooling everyone.”
Rudra frowned slightly.