CHAPTER 29
Kashish entered Raheja Mansion, feeling utterly drained. The day at work had been relentless, and on top of that, she had spent what little energy she had left searching for a gift for Rudra. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the couch, her body too tired to even make the short walk to the kitchen for water. Her eyelids grew heavy as she shut her eyes, her breath coming out in shallow, fatigued sighs. The surge pricing of cabs had been ridiculous, forcing her to take public transport home, which only added to her weariness.
Just then, she heard the sound of water being poured into a glass. Startled, she opened her eyes to find Rudra standing before her, holding out a glass of cold water. Without a word, she took it from him, not even bothering to refuse. She downed it in one long gulp, the cold liquid soothing her dry throat as she set the empty glass aside and wiped her lips.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“Where were you?” he asked, his tone anything but friendly.
“It shouldn’t concern you where I go,” she retorted, standing up to leave. But Rudra stepped in her path, blocking her way. Her eyes narrowed, and when he still didn’t move, she sighed in frustration. “Why should I report my schedule to you?”
“That’s not the answer I’m looking for,” he bit back, his gaze intense.
Kashish clenched her jaw. She could tell he was on edge, likely suspecting she had spent the day trying to find a bride for him. His frustration amused her. The very man who tormented her at work was now getting worked up over her late return home. She decided to use this moment to mess with him a little.
“I got a part-time job,” she said, suppressing a smirk.
Rudra’s brows furrowed in confusion.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m serious. It’s a cool gig, actually,” she teased, holding back a laugh. “Matchmaker.”
His eyes darkened with realization, understanding exactly what she was hinting at. “Kashish, enough!” he barked.
Her laughter faded as she became serious again.
“Okay relax. You know, I won’t take that role—yet. Not because I don’t want to help Daadi. I do. But before I do that, I need to fix you.”
Rudra’s expression hardened. “Fix me?”
“Yes,” she replied, her eyes flickering to his chest for a brief second. She hadn’t forgotten how he recoiled when she’d tried to touch him in the car earlier. His fear of being touched by a woman was something he’d never be able to hide, and it would only create more problems when he married. Could any woman live with a man who carried such heavy scars?
Rudra shook his head, his voice laced with warning.
“You can’t fix it.”
“Maybe not,” she said, undeterred. “But I’ll find a way. You know very well—when I decide on something, I don’t back down.”
She reached into her purse, pulling out a business card. Rudra’s eyes narrowed as he watched her, his face impassive but his mind racing. Why was she suddenly so determined to get involved in his issues? What game was she playing?
“Dr. Akash Dixit,” she said, holding up the card.
“Who the hell is that?”
“A psychiatrist. One of the best in the country. It took me hours to find him. I’m booking you an appointment.”
Rudra’s patience snapped. He lunged to snatch the card from her hand, but Kashish quickly stepped back, anticipating his move. She knew he’d either tear the card to pieces or intimidate her into dropping the idea altogether.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your business schedule isn’t disturbed,” she added casually. “I’ll take care of everything.”
Without waiting for his response, she walked away, heading to her room with a satisfied smile. Rudra stood frozen, his mind reeling. He hated the idea of opening up to anyone, hated the thought of baring his pain and his past to a stranger. This was exactly why he had never sought help from a psychiatrist. He didn’t want sympathy, didn’t want to be fixed. But what rattled him even more was Kashish’s involvement. Why was she doing this? Where had her all-consuming hatred for him gone?
Did she even realize how deeply she was entangling herself in his life? And worse, did she understand that by doing so, she was complicating everything between them even more?
*****************
Kashish sat on the edge of her bed, freshly showered, holding the business card of Dr. Akash Dixit. After days of intense research, she had found his name, and there was no way she was going to let this opportunity slip away. It baffled her that Rudra had kept this secret from his family. Why had he hidden it from them? How would they react if they knew? And what about that woman—the one who had tried to molest him? Was she ever punished? A surge of anger coursed through her. One horrific event had the power to destroy someone’s entire life.
Her eyes remained glued to the card. Even if she managed to get an appointment, would Rudra actually go? What if he refused? She couldn’t take any chances. She had to ensure he met this doctor, that he started getting the help he needed, and all this had to happen before he fled back to Paris. Everything she did these days seemed to revolve around him now, but she couldn’t afford to waste time. She had to act fast. Picking up her phone, she dialed Lavina’s number. After three rings, Lavina answered.
“Hello, Kashish!” Lavina’s voice was light, as usual.
“Hi Lavina. Is this a good time to talk?”
“Of course, go ahead.”
Kashish took a breath. “I don’t really know where to start... okay, here it is. I’m going to book an appointment for Rudra with a psychiatrist. I’m not sure if he’ll go on his own, though, so I was hoping you could accompany him and make sure he actually goes.”
There was silence on the other end for a moment. Lavina was stunned, clearly trying to process what she’d just heard.
“Wait—hold on,” Lavina finally said. “Did you just say you’re making an appointment for Rudra ? To see a psychiatrist ?”
“Yes.” Kashish bit her lip. Was this a terrible idea? Why was Lavina reacting like this?
“I can’t believe it. Did you even talk to him about this? Is he okay with it?”
“Well, I brought it up, but no, he’s not happy. That’s why I need someone to take him there. He won’t go otherwise. You’re the only one who knows about this besides me, so I figured you’d be the best person to help.”
Lavina fell silent again, then spoke with a more serious tone.
“Can I ask you something, Kashish? And I need an honest answer.”
“Go ahead.” Kashish rolled her eyes, already sensing what Lavina was about to ask.
“Why are you taking the lead on this? You hate him, don’t you? Why are you so determined to fix him?”
Kashish’s jaw tightened. “My hatred for him is one thing, Lavina, but this is something else entirely. Plus, I made a promise to Daadi that I’d help him settle down and marry someone. I won’t let all this slip through my fingers. This family has given me a lot, and I owe it to them to repay them before I leave for good.”
Her words seemed to strike a chord with Lavina. Did Kashish even realize what she was doing? Lavina wondered. Perhaps, without knowing it, Kashish had already forgiven Rudra in her heart. Otherwise, why would she be doing so much for him and his family? Lavina decided not to press the matter further.
“It’s a noble cause, Kashish, but be careful. Rudra isn’t the kind of man who just follows where you lead. He’s got walls—he knows how to shut people out.”
“He won’t shut me out,” Kashish replied with an unexpected surge of confidence. Even she was surprised by the certainty in her voice.
“I like that confidence. Alright, consider it done. You book the appointment, and I’ll make sure he goes.”
Relief washed over Kashish. “Thank you, Lavina. I really appreciate this. I’ll send you the details tomorrow once the appointment’s set.”
“Of course. Oh, by the way, tomorrow’s the deadline to submit your Valentine’s gift to Jay. Have you bought anything for your secret Valentine—meaning, Rudra?” Lavina teased.
Kashish rolled her eyes. “Not yet. I’ll pick something up tomorrow before I get to the office.”
“Sounds good. Alright, take care. Bye for now.”
As the call ended, Kashish put her phone down, an idea forming in her mind. She knew exactly what to buy for Rudra. But to pull it off, she’d need his measurements. How was she going to get those?
*****************
The next morning, Kashish confided in Anjali about the office’s secret Valentine game and how fate had landed Rudra’s name in her chit. She shared her struggle to find him a gift and how, now at the eleventh hour, she was left with only one option.
“Measurements? But how will you know his shirt size?” Anjali asked, whisking eggs for omelets.
“Shekhar might know. Can you ask him?” Kashish suggested, desperation creeping into her voice.
“I doubt Shekhar’s ever paid that much attention to Rudra’s shirt size,” Anjali replied, glancing thoughtfully. “But I’ll check with him anyway.”
“Please, I need to buy him a shirt and get it wrapped up. Today’s the deadline to submit gifts,” Kashish pleaded.
“Alright, I’ll ask him.”
Anjali left the kitchen, disappearing upstairs. When she returned a few minutes later, her face was apologetic.
“Sorry, Kashish. Shekhar has no idea. You’ll either have to change your gift or, well... get the measurements yourself.”
“No way,” Kashish muttered, frustrated. “He’s already in his bedroom—what excuse do I have to barge in and check the size of his shirt?”
Anjali thought for a moment but came up short. Then she brightened. “By now, he’s probably in the shower. You could give it a try.”
Kashish sighed in disbelief. She wasn’t thrilled about the idea, but with no other options, she reluctantly agreed.
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do.”
She rushed upstairs, cautiously pushing open the door to Rudra’s bedroom, which, to her relief, wasn’t locked. A quick glance around told her he wasn’t there. Moving quickly, she spotted a shirt neatly folded on the bed—probably the one he planned to wear for work today. She grabbed it, noting the size and brand. Just as she was about to leave, the bathroom door clicked open.
Rudra stepped out, wrapped in a bathrobe, his wet hair still dripping. He froze for a second, surprised to see Kashish in his room who immediately placed the shirt back on the bed, but her heart raced, knowing she’d been caught. However, Rudra didn’t seem to care. Instead of questioning her, he walked right past, ignoring her entirely as he made his way to the mirror to dry his hair.
Kashish blinked in disbelief. What just happened? Was he not going to ask why she was in his room? His indifference annoyed her. It was as if her presence meant nothing, like she belonged here. How dare he!
“Am I invisible to you?” she snapped, glaring at his reflection in the mirror. “You just walked past as if I don’t exist.”
Rudra glanced at her once, meeting her gaze through the mirror. “I don’t waste my attention on irrelevant things,” he mocked coldly.
Kashish clenched her jaw and took a step forward. “I don’t need your attention either,” she shot back, her voice sharp.
“Then why are you in my room?” he replied, turning to face her fully. “This is the last place you should be.”
Her frustration flared, but she held her ground. “You’re the last person I should care about, and yet here I am, trying to show some consideration for this family. I’m doing them a favor before I leave for good.”
Something in her words pierced Rudra’s heart. Leave? Would she really leave this house forever? Could he let that happen? And most importantly how could Kashish, who thrived on the company of others, live all alone? She wasn’t the type to live in isolation—she needed people, laughter, and warmth.
“You don’t have to leave you know,” he said quietly. “You can stay here, with everyone.”
Kashish’s anger deepened, but Rudra continued before she could respond.
“I know it hasn’t been easy for you, living in this family—especially with me around. But I’ll be gone in two months. You won’t have to see my face again. No one’s doing you a favor by letting you stay here. In fact, if you choose to stay, you’ll be giving this family something priceless, something they’ll miss if you leave.”
His words hit her harder than she expected. She could see the unexpected similarity in their thinking. Just as she had taken it upon herself to heal his hidden wounds, Rudra, in his own way, was trying to offer her a future without demands, without expectations.
“Think about it,” he urged.
Kashish stood there, speechless. She knew she could never stay in this house, not even if the heavens themselves demanded it. But something in his tone, in the sincerity of his offer, made her hesitate. Before she could respond, a knock at the door startled them both.
Daadi entered, her eyes immediately narrowing as she saw Kashish standing in Rudra’s room, with her grandson half-dressed. Kashish’s breath caught, and without a word, she bolted out of the room, brushing past Daadi as she went. Daadi glared at her retreating figure before turning her attention to Rudra.
“What was she doing here?” Daadi asked, her voice sharp with suspicion.
“Just talking, Daadi. Why? What’s up?” Rudra replied, clearly unfazed.
“I’m going to Haridwar with my friends. They’ve asked me to join them for a pilgrimage, and I couldn’t say no.”
Rudra frowned. “Daadi, you’re not well enough to travel. How can you go?”
“It’s only for four days,” Daadi insisted.
Rudra sighed. He knew there was no stopping her when it came to these spiritual trips.
“Alright,” he relented. “I’ll ask Jay to arrange the jet for you. You won’t be traveling by road.”
Without waiting for an answer, Rudra grabbed his phone and called Jay, giving instructions to prepare for Daadi’s journey.