CHAPTER 27
“That’s my type.”
Rudra’s words echoed in Kashish’s mind all night, haunting her relentlessly. She woke up with a jolt, drenched in sweat, struggling to believe he had actually said those things to her. She reached for the water jug by her bed, only to find it empty. It was 5:30 a.m. Frustrated, she slipped on her slippers and left her room, her mind racing, trying in vain to block out the memory of last night. The harder she tried to push him out of her thoughts, the more his presence consumed her. Why couldn’t she shake him off?
She headed toward the kitchen, only to scowl when she found the very man responsible for her sleepless night, brewing himself a cup of black coffee. So, he was up this early too? Or had he also been unable to sleep, like her? Why did she even care? She was only here for water, nothing more. She stepped inside the kitchen, not bothering to tread lightly. He heard her footsteps and turned, their eyes locking briefly before he returned to his coffee. Kashish fiddled with the refrigerator door, trying to focus. The room was still dim, the windows offering no help since it was still dark outside. He hadn’t even bothered to turn on the lights.
She poured water into the jug, her every move calculated to ignore him. But just as he was about to leave with his mug, her voice sliced through the silence.
“I’m going to agree to your Daadi’s demand.”
He froze, then turned to face her as she stepped closer. This wasn’t the best time to confront him, but she had no choice. He was never around, and she had too much pent-up frustration to keep it in any longer.
“What demand?” he asked just to be sure he had heard it right.
“To find a bride for you,” she replied, holding his gaze. She saw the tension ripple through his frame, but she remained calm, almost too calm.
“Now that you’ve told me your ‘type,’ it should be easy,” she added, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Rudra sipped his coffee, maintaining their eye contact without betraying a hint of emotion.
“You’ll be wasting your time, Kashish,” he said quietly.
“Wasting time now to save my future isn’t such a bad trade,” she shot back, her words laced with sarcasm.
Rudra understood what was happening—she’d figured out his feelings, thanks to his slip-up last night. And now, she was determined to tie him to someone else, as if that could fix everything. Did she really think it would be that simple?
“Try your luck,” he said with an air of arrogance before walking away, his coffee in hand. Kashish watched him as he entered the gym room, visible through the glass walls. He set his mug down and peeled off his T-shirt. Kashish quickly looked away, her frustration boiling over. Where did he get all this arrogance? She stomped back to her room, slamming the door behind her. One way or another, she would make sure Rudra Raheja found a bride. That’s what Daadi wanted, and it was what Kashish needed to finally find some peace. With that thought in mind, she threw herself onto the bed, trying to steal a few minutes of rest before her day began.
****************
After breakfast, Kashish hurried to Daadi’s room, catching her just as she finished reading from a holy book. She knocked briefly before stepping inside, already in a rush but determined to make time for this conversation.
“Have you found a bride for him yet, or is the search still on?” Kashish asked bluntly.
Daadi’s eyes lit up, pleased to see Kashish taking the matter seriously.
“Do you really think you can convince him?” Daadi asked.
“I don’t know. You’re the one who seems to think I can, which is why you asked me to do this in the first place, isn’t it?” Kashish countered, her tone sharp.
Daadi sighed, sensing there was more behind Kashish’s sudden willingness.
“But why did you agree?” Daadi pressed, her eyes narrowing.
Kashish froze for a moment, unsure how to answer. Should she tell Daadi the truth—that Rudra had feelings for her and she couldn’t, wouldn’t , reciprocate? That she was only doing this to protect herself, to push him toward someone else before things spiraled further out of control?
“I just want to repay this family for everything it’s done for me,” Kashish replied, though both she and Daadi knew that wasn’t the full truth.
Daadi stood, her pride swelling.
“Are you willing to put the bad blood between us behind?” she asked.
“For this one job? Yes,” she admitted.
Daadi nodded, satisfied. “I have a friend whose granddaughter is interested in this alliance.”
“Good. Give me her details. I’ll arrange a meeting between them soon,” Kashish responded, eager to get things moving.
Daadi looked impressed by Kashish’s enthusiasm and commitment to the task.
“I’ll send you the details,” Daadi promised.
“Okay,” Kashish replied and quickly left Daadi’s room, only to find Rudra at the breakfast table, hastily finishing his meal. He glanced at her, then continued eating. She approached Anjali to inform her of her plans.
“Anju, I’m heading to work, but I might be late tonight,” Kashish said casually.
Rudra’s fork paused halfway to his mouth. Late? Why? What was she planning? He didn’t like the sound of this.
“Kashish, is something important?” Anjali asked.
Kashish glanced briefly at Rudra before answering.
“I have to buy a gift for the person whose Secret Valentine I am.”
Rudra chewed thoughtfully, reminded that he too needed to get a gift. Anjali nodded, distracted by her phone ringing. She excused herself to answer the call, leaving Rudra and Kashish in an uncomfortable silence. Just as Kashish turned to leave, Rudra muttered, swallowing another bite.
“Let’s hope your Secret Valentine isn’t getting a bride as a gift.”
Kashish froze, her eyes widening in shock. How did he know she had drawn his name?
“You saw my chit?” she demanded, anger flaring in her voice.
Rudra wiped his lips and stood. “I didn’t need to see it. I read it on your face—the way you reacted when you opened that chit. That displeasure? It was unmistakable.”
Kashish’s heart raced, a lump forming in her throat. What now? He knew. He’d figured it out without even trying.
“You don’t hate anyone as much as you hate me. No one else could provoke that kind of reaction from you. Reading you, Miss Kashish Bedi, has never been difficult,” he smirked.
His words struck a nerve. Did she really still hate him that much? She wasn’t so sure anymore. If she still hated him, why was she even talking to him? Why did she find herself engaging with him, even if it was just to argue? Rudra didn’t wait for her response. He walked toward the door, pausing briefly.
“I’m heading to the office. I can drop you,” he offered.
Kashish snapped out of her thoughts, her voice sharp. “I’d rather walk than get a ride with you.”
Rudra smirked. What was it about this woman that made him fall so hard for her? She was never kind, never soft, yet he couldn’t help himself. He checked his watch before glancing at her again.
“You’ve got twenty minutes to make it. Good luck,” he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Kashish’s eyes widened. She was running late? She cursed herself for spending so much time talking to Daadi. What was she supposed to do now? Rudra headed out, his car waiting for him, and left her standing there, flustered and fuming.
But she wouldn’t ask for his help. Never.
****************
After an hour, Kashish finally made it to the office, fully aware of how late she was. But there was nothing she could do—her cab had arrived ten minutes later than expected, and the usual Delhi traffic didn’t help. As she stepped out of the elevator onto her floor, she spotted Rudra in conversation with Jay Mathur. The moment Rudra saw her, he looked straight at her and pointed to his watch, a smug reminder that she was late. Kashish knew exactly why he was doing that—he was mocking her for not accepting his offer of a lift. She frowned and tried to walk past him, but his voice stopped her cold.
“Kashish, one minute,” he said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
She paused, though every fiber of her being wanted to ignore him. He was the boss after all. Jay was quickly dismissed, and Rudra turned his full attention to her.
“Why are you late?” he asked, his voice serious.
Kashish gritted her teeth. Why was he even asking when he already knew the answer?
“Why do you ask questions when you already know the answers?” she retorted.
“You’re talking to your boss, Kashish. Watch your tone,” he reminded her, his voice icy.
She swallowed her irritation, trying to remain composed.
“I didn’t realize I was running late until someone kindly reminded me at home, and when that same man offered me a lift, I turned it down. That’s why I’m late,” she explained, her voice calm but unapologetic. She knew her answer would only anger him more—he wanted her to show some remorse, to admit that not accepting his offer had been a mistake.
“Consider this your last warning,” he snapped before walking back to his cabin.
Kashish clenched her teeth, muttering under her breath as she headed to her desk. His cold behavior was getting under her skin. She threw herself into work, losing herself in it completely until lunchtime when she overheard her colleagues chatting about their Secret Valentine gifts. That’s when she remembered—she still needed to buy a gift for Rudra. But what do you get for a man like him? She needed help, and there was only one person who knew him well enough. Without hesitation, Kashish knocked on Lavina’s cabin door and stepped inside.
“Hey, Kashish. Come in!” Lavina greeted her warmly. “I must say, you’ve been so busy lately that we haven’t had time to catch up.”
Kashish smiled lightly.
“You know how it is with deadlines. Anyway, I could use your help with something.”
“Help? Sure, what’s up? Work-related?” Lavina asked.
“Not exactly,” Kashish replied. “It’s about the Secret Valentine. I need to get a gift, and I thought you might help me pick something.”
Lavina looked puzzled for a moment. “Okay... but how would I know what the person would like?”
Kashish smirked, giving her a hint. “Because you’ve known him for the past five or six years.”
Lavina paused, her eyes widening as she caught on.
“Wait... you got Rudra ?”
Kashish nodded.
Lavina gasped. “Oh my God, you’re your enemy’s Secret Valentine?” she exclaimed, horrified. Kashish remained calm, but the word “enemy” stuck with her. Did she still see him that way? Maybe the enmity had softened, taken a backseat.
Lavina, realizing she needed to tread carefully, composed herself.
“Alright, I’ll help. But it’s going to be tough. Pleasing that man is no small task.”
Lavina laughed, picking up her phone.
“Maria, could you get two coffees, please?” she asked before turning back to Kashish. “You know, even after all these years, I still feel like I don’t know Rudra at all. He’s unpredictable, a closed book. You really can’t judge him by his cover.”
Kashish felt uneasy discussing Rudra with someone else, but she had no choice. She just wanted to buy a gift and get it over with. The coffees arrived, and after some light conversation, they agreed to meet after work to browse for gifts together.
****************
Later that evening, Kashish and Lavina reached a store, hunting for the perfect gift.
“How about a watch?” Kashish suggested.
Lavina shook her head. “His brand of watch would cost you lakhs. So... no.”
Kashish sighed. “A pen, maybe?”
“He hardly writes. The man’s all about typing. You could gift him a pair of fingers,” Lavina joked.
Kashish chuckled, imagining the absurdity, and continued browsing.
“A keychain, then?” she asked, trying again.
Lavina’s face grew serious. “He doesn’t drive anymore. Not since the accident.”
Both women went silent, the mood in the store shifting. Lavina immediately regretted mentioning the accident.
“I’m sorry, Kashish. I didn’t mean to bring that up.”
Kashish nodded, understanding. But Lavina couldn’t resist asking a question that had been on her mind for a while.
“Kashish... do you think you’ll ever forgive him?”
Kashish felt her throat tighten. Why did everyone seem so eager for her to forgive him? She turned to Lavina, her eyes darkening.
“Do you think what he did is forgivable? Could any girl in my position forgive so easily?” Kashish shot back.
Lavina fell silent, allowing Kashish to continue.
“He took away my only family, my father. Even though he gave me his own family in return, that doesn’t make up for it. They can’t replace the love my father gave me,” Kashish said, her voice hard.
Lavina nodded, understanding her pain.
“I get it, Kashish. It’s a sin that can’t be forgiven easily. But you should know something. Rudra would give his life if that’s what it took to satisfy your need for revenge.”
Kashish knew this to be true. She’d seen it firsthand when he had stabbed himself in front of her. Lavina continued, her voice soft with sympathy.
“That’s the most anyone could do to punish themselves for their mistakes.”
Kashish looked away, unwilling to admit that she’d started to accept this truth. But Lavina wasn’t done.
“And look at what life has already done to him. He spent two years in a juvenile home, enduring unspeakable torture. I don’t think he’s ever really left that place, mentally. The nightmares, the fear... he just covers it all with fake smiles and bravado. But inside, he’s still that sixteen-year-old boy who just wanted to be safe with his family.”
Kashish’s heart clenched as she listened. Lavina continued, almost to herself.
“You might move on one day—get married, have a family. But Rudra? I don’t think he ever will. He’ll always be afraid of a woman’s touch. Starting a family for him is unimaginable.”
Kashish froze, her mind racing. “Wait... what did you just say? He’s afraid of what?”
Lavina looked startled by Kashish’s reaction. “Oh... I didn’t mean to share that. I thought you knew.”
“I knew something . But not this,” Kashish admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
Lavina sighed. “Yes. It’s called Haphephobia. It’s the fear of being touched. In Rudra’s case, by women. Any time a woman gets too close, he recoils. I even suggested he see a psychiatrist, but of course, he refused. I can only hope someone comes into his life who can heal that wound.”
Kashish was stunned. She had no idea his trauma ran this deep. And here she was, planning with Daadi to marry him off.