CHAPTER 34
Kashish stepped out of the office, planning to go to Uttam Nagar, to search for the trunk where she used to hide her favorite doll, and finally discover the message her father had left for her. The mere thought of stepping inside that house filled her with dread, but she knew she had no choice. This was something she had to face.
Her phone buzzed, and seeing Daadi’s name flash on the screen, she sighed, knowing she couldn’t avoid this call.
“Hello?”
“Where is Rudra?” Daadi asked without any pleasantries.
Kashish rolled her eyes, her temper rising. “I’m not here to spy on him. How would I know where he is?”
“I’m not asking you to track his every move, but you promised to help fix his marriage. Now that Ruchi is here, it’s time you step up. Your real responsibility begins now.”
Daadi’s words hit hard, but Kashish’s mind drifted back to her earlier conversation with Rudra.
“Forcing me to marry someone I don’t love is madness. Stop it before everything turns ugly, Kashish. You have no right to play matchmaker for someone who loves you. You can’t love me, fine, but don’t expect me to feel the same for anyone else.”
Daadi called her name, snapping her back to reality.
“Yes, I’m listening,” Kashish replied, trying to shake off the heavy thoughts.
“Good. Come home and start planning how to bring Rudra and Ruchi together.”
Without another word, Kashish hung up. The cab had arrived, but her original plan to visit Uttam Nagar would have to wait. She needed to return to Raheja Mansion. No matter how much she dreaded it, she knew her presence there was equally important.
As she stepped into the house, Anjali quickly joined her.
“Thank God you’re back. Ruchi has been driving me insane,” Anjali whispered.
“Why? What’s she been up to?” Kashish asked.
“She’s trying everything under the sun to get Rudra’s attention,” Anjali sighed. “But he just got home, went straight to his room, and didn’t even acknowledge her presence. He’s furious with Daadi for bringing her here.”
Kashish nodded in understanding. She knew Rudra better than anyone now, and deep down, she knew this plan wouldn’t work. But still, she freshened up and went to see Daadi. Unfortunately, with Ruchi present, she couldn’t explain her doubts about forcing this match.
“Is she helping us?” Ruchi asked Daadi, her tone laced with irritation.
“Yes,” Daadi replied, “Kashish is going to assist us.”
Ruchi scoffed. “Why do we need her? I can win Rudra’s heart. I don’t need anyone’s help, especially hers.”
Kashish clenched her fists, suppressing the urge to lash out. Anjali was right—this woman was insufferable.
“Ruchi, Rudra has a special bond with Kashish in this house,” Daadi tried to explain.
“Special? He should hate her! She must remind him of all the terrible things that happened in the past,” Ruchi spat, her words like daggers.
Kashish gritted her teeth. Yes, Rudra should hate her, just as she once hated him. But fate had twisted their lives in ways no one could control. It worked on its own terms, regardless of human emotions.
“If she doesn’t need my help, I’ll gladly step back,” Kashish interrupted, ready to wash her hands of this whole charade.
“No!” Daadi snapped. “You can’t back off now.” She quickly convinced Ruchi that Kashish’s involvement was necessary.
Ruchi, though begrudgingly, gave in. “Fine. For you and Rudra’s sake, Daadi, I’ll tolerate her.”
Kashish stared at Ruchi with disbelief. Tolerate her? The nerve. But she couldn’t lose her composure, not in front of Daadi.
“Shall we begin?” Kashish asked.
“I’ll start,” Ruchi cut in, brimming with overconfidence. “Men like Rudra are suckers for a woman’s tears. All I need to do is shed a few, and he’ll be at my feet.”
Kashish couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “That plan is doomed to fail.”
“Who asked for your opinion?” Ruchi snapped.
Kashish had had enough. She stepped forward, locking eyes with Ruchi.
“If no one cared about my opinion, Daadi wouldn’t have asked for my help. So, here’s how it’s going to be—you follow my lead, or you can forget about winning Rudra. Got it?”
Her words hit Ruchi like a slap, and the arrogance in her expression faltered. She reluctantly nodded.
“Good,” Kashish said firmly. “Now come with me.”
She led Ruchi to the kitchen, where Ram Prasad was preparing a tray with black coffee for Rudra.
“Ram Prasad, is this for Rudra?” Kashish asked.
“Yes,” he confirmed.
“Leave it. Ruchi will take it to him.”
Ram Prasad left, and Kashish handed Ruchi the tray.
Ruchi stared at it, her face scrunching up in disgust. “Why should I? There are servants for this.”
“You need an excuse to start a conversation with him. This is your chance—don’t waste it.”
Kashish pushed the tray into her hands.
Ruchi hesitated.
“Are you trying to scare me?”
“Consider it a warning. Now go! He doesn’t like waiting,” Kashish commanded, her voice sharp.
Ruchi gulped, knowing she had no other option. Kashish watched as she nervously made her way toward Rudra’s room, wondering just how long this charade could possibly last before it all crumbled apart.
Ruchi trembled as she hurried toward Rudra’s bedroom, with Kashish following closely behind. She couldn’t believe how she’d abandoned her own important plans just to play matchmaker for the man who had feelings for her. It was ridiculous! Yet, here she was, making sure Ruchi didn’t mess up while trying to impress Rudra.
Inside the room, Rudra sat on the recliner, typing away on his laptop, oblivious to who had entered.
“Leave the coffee and go,” he commanded.
Ruchi’s hands shook as she placed the tray in front of him. When Rudra finally looked up, he seemed surprised to see her.
“You?”
“Yes, it’s me,” Ruchi replied, trying to force a smile.
Rudra stood up, glancing toward the door, sensing Kashish’s presence lingering just beyond it. He hadn’t yelled at Ruchi yet, but he seemed on the verge.
“Why did you bring the coffee?” he asked, suspicion lacing his tone.
“Kashish asked me to,” Ruchi blurted out, immediately realizing her mistake. Kashish closed her eyes in frustration. Rudra’s eyes darted back toward the door, his annoyance growing.
“I mean... Ram Prasad was busy with something for Kashish, so I thought I’d bring it,” Ruchi quickly covered, her voice trembling. “Someone told me you don’t like to be kept waiting.”
Rudra smirked. “Strange. The same person who told you that is the one who never listen to me.” His gaze shifted toward the door again, making Kashish clutch her dress tightly. Did he know she was eavesdropping?
Ruchi, oblivious to the tension, pressed on.
“Rudra, we haven’t had a proper introduction yet. I’m Ruchi. My grandmother and yours are close friends, so don’t you think we could be good friends too?”
Kashish, watching from the doorway, grudgingly admired Ruchi’s attempt to strike up a conversation. Maybe she wasn’t completely hopeless. Ruchi extended her hand for a handshake, but Rudra didn’t take it.
“I don’t make friends, Ruchi.”
His blunt response made Ruchi’s face fall, and Kashish immediately knew he was trying to push her away.
“You don’t? Why not?”
“Not every ‘why’ has an answer.”
Ruchi chuckled, giving him an appreciative look. “Wow, Rudra. Your words are so intense. I wish we could become friends and share our secrets someday.”
Rudra’s expression shifted slightly as he thought about her words. He smirked again.
“You don’t need to be friends to share secrets. In fact, I feel like sharing the most important secret of my life with you.”
“Really? You’ll tell me? I can’t wait to hear!” Ruchi was practically bouncing with excitement.
“Sure, have a seat,” Rudra said calmly, pointing to the recliner. He stayed far away from Ruchi as he sipped his coffee.
Kashish’s heart was racing now. Would he really do it? Would he actually tell Ruchi that he loved someone else? He was crazy enough to do it - he’d even warned her earlier that day that he’d tell Ruchi he loved her and didn’t want anyone else.
“So, Ruchi, I...” Rudra glanced at the door, seeing how nervous Kashish was. “I love...”
“Ruchi!” Kashish burst into the room, cutting him off.
Ruchi jumped, startled by the sudden interruption.
“Kashish? What are you doing here?”
“I... um...” Kashish fumbled for an excuse while Rudra watched the scene unfold with thinly veiled amusement. “You’ve got an important call on your phone.”
Ruchi blinked in confusion.
“Call? I left my phone in my room.”
“Exactly. You should go check it now,” Kashish insisted, growing more desperate to get her out of the room.
Ruchi shook her head. “It can wait. Rudra and I were having a very important conversation.”
“Yes, she’s right,” Rudra chimed in, savoring the moment. “Our conversation is far more important than any phone call.”
Kashish gritted her teeth.
“Ruchi, Rudra isn’t going anywhere. You can talk later. For now, go check your phone.”
She practically dragged Ruchi out of the room. Once Ruchi was gone, Kashish let out a sigh of relief, turning back to face Rudra, who was standing a few feet away with a smug expression.
“She’s a nice girl,” he commented, his tone laced with sarcasm. “I’m sure she’ll understand and leave the house.”
“Why are you doing this?” Kashish’s voice was filled with frustration. “Give her a chance.”
Rudra’s expression darkened, disgusted by the suggestion.
“Even if she’s the perfect wife, I don’t need her, Kashish. And you know why.”
“And what you need, Rudra Raheja, can never be yours,” she shot back, her voice trembling with emotion.
Rudra’s jaw clenched as her words hit him. He stepped closer to her again.
“You think I don’t know that? From the moment I realized what I feel for you, I knew it would never happen. But that doesn’t change anything.”
There was a heavy silence between them before she finally spoke again. “You can’t carry all this grief with you forever. Someday, you’ll need love from someone.”
He moved even closer, his voice rising with emotion. “ You! Whatever I need, whenever I need it, it will only be from you. Don’t generalize it.”
Kashish swallowed hard, stepping back as their eyes locked in a heated gaze. Her face burned with embarrassment as he studied her, his eyes drifting over her cheeks before locking with hers again. In the past, she would have slapped him for getting this close, but something had changed. She no longer felt that old hatred, even though everything about this situation was getting more complicated by the second.
She turned to leave, but Rudra grabbed her arm and pinned her against the wall. She struggled for a moment, but when she met his gaze again, she stilled.
“The more you try to push me toward Ruchi, the closer I’ll pull you to me, Kashish,” he warned. “Be grateful I haven’t decided to make you mine yet. Because when I do, nothing on this earth will stop me.”
His words left her stunned, but she refused to show any fear. She held her ground, her face defiant.
“That’s the last thing that will ever happen, Rudra. Even if my father came down from heaven and asked me to accept your feelings, I wouldn’t.”
He let go of her arm, but just as she was about to flee, the pendant around her neck got caught on his shirt button, pulling her back toward him. Their heads collided, and Rudra quickly steadied her, holding her still.
“Wait,” he said, his voice softening as he noticed the pendant. It was the same one Kashish had worn since childhood—the one her father had given her. Rudra smiled weakly.
“Maybe your father wants you to take back your words,” he whispered.
Kashish averted her gaze, about to untangle the pendant when Rudra gently caught her wrist, reminding her of his fear of being touched. She dropped her hands, and Rudra carefully unhooked the pendant from his shirt. In the process, his fingers brushed her neck. Kashish closed her eyes, feeling paralyzed by the touch. Rudra’s face tensed equally as the sensation of her skin sent a shockwave through his body.
The moment he unhooked the pendant and freed her, Kashish didn’t waste a second before rushing out of the room. Rudra leaned against the wall, breathing hard, trying to understand what had just happened between them. Whatever it was, it had shaken them both to the core.