CHAPTER 6
Rudra had mastered the guitar at the tender age of eleven, his fingers instinctively finding the right chords. He had a knack for drums as well, and music had always been his true passion. If fate hadn’t shackled him to the massive Raheja empire, he would have undoubtedly carved out a career in music. But now, music was his escape—his only refuge from the suffocating past that consumed him. As he scribbled a few notes of a new melody into his diary, his phone buzzed, shattering his concentration. A message from Lavina flashed across the screen:
“Sorry, Rudra. You know I mean it.”
He barely glanced at it before flipping the phone over, continuing to play. A simple sorry wasn’t enough to undo what she had done. Lavina rarely went against his wishes—almost never, in fact. Their opinions usually aligned seamlessly. But today, by showing Kashish’s designs to Tanuja, she had crossed a line. A second message lit up his phone, and despite his urge to ignore it, he picked it up.
“I’ll meet her and apologize too.”
No. Absolutely not. Kashish couldn’t find out. The thought of her knowing sent a surge of alarm through him. Without wasting another second, Rudra dialed Lavina.
“Don’t you dare do anything like that,” he warned the moment she answered.
Lavina hesitated, trying to read between the lines of his tone. “Okay... I won’t,” she finally agreed.
Another pause lingered between them, but Lavina couldn’t suppress what was really on her mind.
“You’re being... protective of her, Rudra. I think she’s the first woman to ever get that from you.”
Protective? The word struck him like a cruel reminder of his failure. He hadn’t been able to protect Kashish when it mattered most. His failure to save her from becoming an orphan haunted him, sending a tremor through his body. He forced himself to push the thought down, steadying his voice.
“I’ll speak to Tanuja tomorrow and straighten this out. You and Bhai don’t need to worry about it.”
Lavina’s voice softened into a teasing tone.
“You always need to be the center of everything, don’t you? Why can’t you just sit back for once and let me and Shekhar handle it? I’ve already contacted a few designers I trust—maybe Tanuja will like their work and forget about Kashish.”
“You talk too much, La,” he muttered, his voice carrying an edge of impatience.
Lavina laughed lightly.
“That’s because I have to talk for you too. You never speak enough.”
“I don’t like people doing favors for me,” he growled, his tone darker now.
“Friends don’t do favors, Rudra.”
“We’re not talking about friendship here. This is business. And I intend to deal with it my way.”
Lavina sighed, finally giving in.
“Fine, have it your way.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow at the office.”
Lavina chuckled, her voice playfully conspiratorial. “You’ll see me before that, actually.”
“I hate surprises, La,” he warned.
“That’s why I told you, idiot. Daadi invited me for breakfast. Though, to be honest, you should have been the one inviting me.”
“Don’t you dare share any of my secrets with her,” Rudra grumbled, but the humor in his voice was unmistakable.
Lavina giggled mischievously, fully aware of what “secrets” he was talking about.
“Relax, I know exactly what to share and what to keep hidden. Now, goodnight. And give your guitar a break.”
She was sharp, quick to pick up on the fact that he’d been playing even at this late hour. Lavina wasn’t a huge fan of music, but whenever Rudra played, even she found it hard to ask him to stop.
After hanging up, Rudra’s fingers returned to the strings. The melody resumed, but his thoughts were elsewhere—on Kashish, who never left his mind.
***************
Kashish found herself at a crossroads, torn between accepting the offer from Raheja Designs or walking away. She might have considered it—might have given it a second thought—if he hadn’t returned. The very name, Tanuja Mehra, was enough to stir excitement in the hearts of budding designers like her, those desperate for a breakthrough in the fashion industry. Working for “Talaash Boutique” was a dream many in her profession would kill for. But that path led straight through Raheja Designs—the empire of the man who had brought her life to ruin. And that was something she couldn’t stomach. She had no desire to use Raheja Designs as a stepping stone to her success. Yet this decision wasn’t just hers anymore. Shekhar, who had stood by her side unwaveringly for the last 11 years, would bear the consequences if she declined. He had been her rock through every storm, and now, it seemed, it was her turn to shoulder some of the burden and help him.
The next morning, Kashish followed her usual routine, coming down for the morning puja . Rudra, however, had taken to avoiding this time of day, not wanting a repeat of the uncomfortable prasad incident from his second day back. He would make sure to only appear after the ritual was over. But today, as he descended the stairs, he found her there, in the living room. A sudden tension gripped him—an awkwardness he couldn’t shake. Whenever Kashish was near, something in him faltered. It was as though her presence could wound him in ways he wasn’t prepared for, and he knew the feeling was mutual.
Kashish hadn’t acknowledged him yet.
Anjali spoke up, breaking the silence.
“Daadi has invited Lavina for breakfast today, which explains the extra dishes.”
Kashish raised an eyebrow.
“Lavina? Isn’t she the one who liked my designs and showed them to Tanuja?”
Anjali nodded.
“Well then, I’ll have to meet her,” Kashish remarked, surprising Anjali with her willingness to step out of her isolation.
Anjali smiled, glad to see Kashish making an effort to break out of her cocoon.
“You’ll love her, Shekhar says. I haven’t met Lavina either, but he’s told me a lot about her.”
Kashish helped Anjali set the table, casually asking,
“She lives in Paris, right?”
“Yes,” Anjali replied. “She works closely with Rudra on his projects there.”
The mere mention of his name brought a chill into the room.
Anjali glanced toward the entrance.
“Here she comes.”
Kashish turned, watching as Rudra gave Lavina a formal hug. Lavina looked effortlessly stylish in a red palazzo and a long cream top, her dimpled smile radiant enough to turn heads. She could easily pass for a model.
“Hi,” Lavina said to Rudra with a teasing grin. “Am I looking okay?”
“You look great,” he replied, his smile warm as he led her inside.
Anjali leaned in toward Kashish.
“Lavina and Rudra have known each other for six years.”
Something about that grated on Kashish’s nerves. A friend of her enemy was no less than an enemy in her eyes. But was it fair to treat Lavina as such? She wasn’t sure. As Rudra and Lavina entered the room, both he and Kashish pretended the other didn’t exist. They exchanged no glances, as though they were ghosts to one another.
Lavina greeted Daadi first.
“Namaste, Daadi. Thank you for inviting me. If you hadn’t, it would’ve taken months for Rudra to bring me here,” she joked.
“Or maybe years,” Rudra added, his attempt at humor earning laughter from everyone—except Kashish, who remained indifferent, her focus clearly not on him or his words.
Lavina made her rounds, meeting Shekhar and Anjali, before finally standing face to face with Kashish. Lavina knew little about her, aside from what Shekhar had shared during a late-night call. The story weighed on her mind, keeping her awake that night, haunted by what Rudra must have gone through because of one grave mistake. Now, Lavina was eager to meet the woman at the center of it all.
“And you must be Kashish,” Lavina said, extending her hand with a smile.
Kashish shook her hand, but Lavina, always disarming, pulled her into a quick hug.
“I’ve been dying to meet you. Your designs? They’re incredible. They could set the fashion world on fire.”
Rudra tensed at Lavina’s words, fearing that too much praise might make Kashish retreat, might drive her away. It had become nearly impossible to see her, even though they lived under the same roof. And while he did his best to avoid her, there was a part of him that craved even a fleeting glimpse of her. Why? He couldn’t explain it. As he watched Kashish and Lavina talk, her smile illuminated by the soft morning light, his heart clenched. For the first time, he could admire her up close—the depths of her kohl-lined eyes, the way her smile softened her features. He ached to be the reason for that smile, just once.
Kashish felt Rudra’s gaze on her, and it unnerved her. There was something unsettling about being scrutinized by the very man who had destroyed her life. Did he think he could earn forgiveness through his silent stares? If so, he was mistaken. It would never happen.
Daadi’s voice broke the moment.
“Breakfast is ready, Lavina. Come.”
Lavina led the way to the dining room, followed by Kashish, Anjali, and Shekhar. Rudra trailed behind; his presence ignored by Kashish as usual. But at least she was joining them for breakfast this time instead of isolating herself in her room. It was a small victory.
As they sat at the table, Daadi started a conversation. “Lavina, how is work going in Paris?”
Lavina smiled. “Everything Rudra touches turns to gold, Daadi. Business is thriving.”
Kashish remained expressionless, biting back a reaction. In her eyes, everything Rudra touched turned to poison, not gold.
Rudra added, “Not everyone has the support Lavina gives me.”
Lavina’s smile brightened. “Thank you. I’m honored. You know, Daadi, the girls in Paris are crazy about your grandson. But he never shows interest in anyone.”
Shekhar and Daadi laughed, but Rudra stole a glance at Kashish, who remained focused on her plate. He wondered if she was listening to this banter—whether it made any impact on her at all.
Daadi teased him. “Why, Rudra? I thought being abroad would pull you out of your shell.”
Rudra didn’t answer. The truth was, no woman had ever held his interest—except for the one sitting across from him, quietly eating her parathas. The only person who haunted his thoughts, day and night, was Kashish. Slowly, he found himself growing bolder, willing to admire her openly, even as she continued to shut him out.
After breakfast, Lavina turned to Kashish with excitement. “Would you mind showing me more of your designs?”
Rudra tensed again, disliking the idea, but when Kashish didn’t refuse, he stayed silent. The two women left for Kashish’s room, and Rudra watched them disappear upstairs, his mind swirling.
Shekhar approached him, a hand on his shoulder.
“Good news. Kashish has agreed to work with us—for Tanuja Mehra, at least.”
Rudra’s heart skipped a beat. Kashish had agreed? The thought filled him with equal parts joy and dread.
“She knows she’ll have to see me nearly every day for the next four months?” Rudra asked, his voice strained.
“She’s fine with it,” Shekhar replied, though his confidence wavered.
Fine? No, she wasn’t. Rudra knew Kashish better than that.
“Do you have a problem with her working for us?” Shekhar asked cautiously.
Rudra remained silent, his thoughts racing.
“If it makes things easier, I can handle everything, and she won’t have to report to you directly.”
“No,” Rudra said quickly, though his voice lacked its usual conviction. “I’ll handle it.”
Shekhar smiled, patting his shoulder. “I think she’s trying to move on from the past, Rudra. Maybe it’s time you did the same. Let’s hope this client changes things for all of us, for the better.”
Rudra nodded, but deep down, he knew it wasn’t that simple. Moving on wasn’t just about flipping a switch. And for someone like Kashish, it would take more than time. She wasn’t doing this for herself—she was doing it for Shekhar. Whatever her reasons, though, Rudra silently vowed to ensure that her work brought her some happiness. That, after all, was the only thing he had ever wanted for her.