CHAPTER 37
“Is she awake?” Rudra asked Anjali, who had just come down from Kashish’s room.
“Yes, but she wants to be alone for a while. She even refused to eat,” Anjali replied, her concern evident.
Rudra clenched his fists, feeling helpless.
“She’ll fall sick if she doesn’t eat,” he muttered under his breath.
Anjali smiled softly, moved by how deeply he cared for Kashish.
“Even if we forced her to eat, it wouldn’t help right now. She needs time, Rudra. By morning, she’ll be better. I’ll make her favorite aloo poori tomorrow—she won’t be able to say no to that.”
Rudra nodded, though his gaze lingered on the empty lobby. Today had been a whirlwind of emotions, unraveling layers of their pasts, exposing wounds both old and new. He had opened up to Kashish about his darkest memory, and together they had unearthed a painful truth—her father’s decision that had not only claimed his life but shattered Rudra’s as well.
Kashish had always seen her father as a hero, a figure who could do no wrong. But learning that he had orchestrated his own death to secure her future, even if it meant destroying someone else’s, was something that would torment her deeply. Rudra knew her inside out—the way she thought, her inner battles—and he understood what her next move might be. He had to stop her from acting on it, no matter the cost.
Rudra retreated to his room, collapsing onto the bed. Sleep was out of the question. His mind whirled back to the night of the accident, the rain pouring relentlessly as he took his brother’s car keys and drove through the storm. He rarely let himself relive that night, but now he forced himself to. He remembered the road, empty and slick with rain. The headlights cut through the darkness, and then, out of nowhere, a blinding flash of light from the other side of the road. He’d been momentarily blinded, and in those fleeting seconds, Kashish’s father had chosen that exact moment to leap in front of his car.
Rudra shuddered, his body trembling at the memory. The chaotic aftermath flooded his mind—the crowd, the wailing sirens. That one night had rewritten his entire life. He had been punished, torn away from his family. And now, after all these years, he knew he had been framed, manipulated by a desperate man trying to ensure his daughter’s future.
*****************
Kashish woke up with a jolt the next morning. The remnants of a nightmare clung to her mind leading to a nightmare where he saw her father, strangling Rudra and forcing him into a coffin. She pressed a hand to her head, trying to steady her thoughts, and reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. Her stomach churned from hunger, but she had no desire to eat.
A knock sounded at the door, and she groggily called for whoever it was to come in. Expecting Anjali, she was surprised to see Ram Prasad wheeling in a breakfast trolley.
“Kashish Didi, your breakfast,” Ram Prasad said warmly.
“Who sent this?” Kashish asked softly, already knowing the answer.
“Me,” Rudra’s voice echoed from the doorway.
Kashish’s heart sank as she turned to face him. The moment Ram Prasad left, Rudra entered the room calmly. He walked over to the trolley, opening the lid to reveal a plate of aloo poori.
“Anjali Bhabhi made your favorite. You should eat,” he said, extending the plate toward her.
But Kashish couldn’t understand how he was acting so normal, as if nothing had changed. She had expected him to be furious, to lash out at her over her father’s selfish actions. Yet here he was, patient and caring, offering her food.
She turned her head away, refusing to take the plate.
“Why are you doing this?” she whispered.
“You know why.”
“No, I don’t,” she snapped, finally meeting his gaze. “Your family deserves to know the truth.”
Rudra was about to respond when Anjali entered the room, interrupting them.
“Know what?” Anjali asked, her curious eyes darting between them.
Rudra let out a small sigh and quickly diverted the conversation.
“Kashish thinks I should tell the family that I’m not interested in Ruchi. She doesn’t want me to waste her time here.”
Kashish stared at him, unhappy with his lie, but said nothing.
Anjali, however, seemed to accept it easily.
“She’s right, Rudra. You should tell Daadi how you feel. She loves you too much to not understand.” She then turned to Kashish. “But you, Kashish, need to focus on getting better. Look at you—you’ve lost weight in one night.”
Kashish, eager to escape the conversation, swung her legs over the side of the bed.
“I’m going to freshen up,” she said quickly.
“Be careful,” Anjali offered, but Kashish waved off her assistance and headed toward the bathroom. As the sound of the shower echoed through the room, Anjali turned to Rudra, concern etched on her face.
“She’s been so off since yesterday,” she whispered.
Rudra nodded, determined not to leave Kashish alone, afraid of what she might do next. He had to stay close. He couldn’t let her reveal the truth to his family—not yet. Not ever.
Kashish stood beneath the showerhead, the warm water cascading down her body, easing the tension in her muscles. Yet, her mind was far from calm. Her father’s letter haunted her, its words searing into her soul. Why did it torment her so much while Rudra seemed unaffected? This truth wasn’t just hers to bear—it was his nightmare too. How could he act so indifferent? Why wasn’t he telling the family? Why was he still protecting her? Whatever his reasons, she was done accepting his favors or the Rahejas’ kindness. She had to make some hard decisions, and soon.
She wiped away her tears and exhaustion, stepping out of the shower after thirty long minutes. To her surprise, the food trolley was still there, but Rudra and Anjali were nowhere to be seen. A small note sat on the tray, and even before reading it, she recognized his handwriting.
‘Finish this.’
She got dressed and forced herself to take a few bites of the aloo poori. But everything felt empty inside. The only thought swirling in her mind was how she could possibly repay this family’s kindness. Rudra might keep the truth hidden, but she couldn’t carry this burden of guilt much longer. Once Daadi found out, she wouldn’t hesitate to throw her out, and Kashish couldn’t blame her. She would have to face the consequences of her father’s actions sooner or later.
After some time, Kashish made her way downstairs. Rudra had just finished breakfast, while Daadi and the others were still eating. The moment she appeared, Rudra’s gaze locked onto her, his eyes never wavering.
“How are you feeling now?” Daadi asked. “I heard you weren’t well yesterday.”
Kashish glanced briefly at Rudra before responding in a low voice. “I’m feeling better now,” she murmured.
Rudra wiped his mouth with a napkin, but before Kashish could speak, he stood abruptly, cutting her off.
“We have an important meeting today. We should leave,” he lied, his voice firm.
Kashish shot him a glare, defiant.
“I’m not going to the office today.”
She could see through his attempt to delay the inevitable. He could throw a hundred excuses at her, but she wouldn’t deceive this family any longer.
Rudra’s jaw tightened. “Just so you know, I’m your boss, and I demand your presence at work. No day off for you. Let’s go.”
He grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the dining room. She resisted, but his grip was firm, dragging her along. The rest of the family exchanged confused glances, shocked by the scene unfolding before them.
“What meeting was that about, Shekhar? You didn’t mention anything,” Daadi asked, her suspicion growing.
Shekhar shook his head. “I don’t know, Daadi. There’s nothing pressing at the office that would stop Kashish from taking a day off.”
Daadi’s suspicion deepened, but she said nothing more, quietly leaving the table to return to her room.
*****************
“Let go of me!” Kashish shouted as they reached the parking area.
Rudra released her hand, scanning the surroundings to make sure no one was around.
“What do you want?” she yelled.
“Stay quiet about yesterday.”
“Why? Why are you so desperate to keep it hidden? It’s not just your fault. They all need to know that!” she argued.
Rudra’s eyes flared. “How does it matter now? Your father is dead, Kashish. And even if he planned it all, I’m still responsible for that accident. I’ve already paid the price. Nothing changes if you tell them the truth. So just shut your mouth.”
Kashish was left speechless but she wasn’t ready to back down.
“Don’t act like some martyr, Rudra,” she spat. “Even if you’ve been punished, your family deserves to know that all of this could have been avoided if we had found that letter during the investigation. It’s not just you or them who should feel guilty—it’s me. My father orchestrated this mess! He ended his life by his will.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to hold back her sobs. She buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed by guilt. Seeing her break down made Rudra’s chest tighten with guilt. He couldn’t stand it. He stepped closer, gently pulling her hands away from her face so he could see her eyes.
“I don’t blame your father, Kashish,” he murmured, his voice softer now. “He was only trying to protect you. He did what any father would have done. And if I had known you back then, I would’ve wanted the same.”
Her heart skipped a beat. His words left her shaken.
“His actions were wrong, but if he hadn’t done it, we wouldn’t have met,” Rudra continued, his eyes locking with hers.
She couldn’t take it anymore. “Stop it,” she whispered, looking away, trying to distance herself from his words, from the intensity in his gaze.
Rudra stepped closer, forcing her to face him.
“If you want to ease my guilt, then don’t make things worse by revealing that letter. Keep it to yourself.”
“I can’t hide it,” she pleaded in a trembling voice.
“You have to,” he insisted, tightening his grip on her. “That letter changes nothing for me.”
“You can’t protect me forever,” she shot back.
“I can,” he growled. “And I will—until my last breath. Now, get in the car.”
The vehicle pulled up, and Rudra opened the passenger door for her. Reluctantly, Kashish got inside, feeling a storm brewing between them. He had managed to temporarily dissuade her, but how long could he keep her from acting on her next move?
*****************
The entire day, Rudra kept a close watch on Kashish. He could see that she wasn’t herself—her mind was elsewhere, and she barely engaged in the meetings. It was as if she were mentally battling some inner conflict, and whatever it was, it wasn’t sitting well with her. After one of the meetings, she returned to her cabin, only to find Rudra sitting in her chair, looking over her designs.
Her eyes narrowed.
“What are you doing?”
Rudra looked up, standing from her chair. “Good work,” he complimented. “Did Ruchi call you?”
Kashish blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Ruchi?” She racked her brain, trying to recall. “No, why?”
“She’s taking the family out for dinner tonight,” he replied, pausing before adding, “At the Taj.”
Kashish forced a weak smile. “Oh... I see.”
She quickly gathered her sketches, trying to focus on something—anything—but Rudra. He glanced at his watch.
“We should probably head there directly after work,” he suggested.
“I’m not going,” she replied bluntly, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.
Rudra’s gaze hardened, but he simply nodded. “Fine. If you’re not going, neither am I. Let them have their dinner.”
His calm indifference fueled her anger.
“I have my reasons for not going. What’s your excuse?”
Rudra stepped closer. “Because you’re the only reason I’d want to go.”
Lately, his bold confessions had started to unnerve her, and her pulse raced.
“You don’t need to keep reminding me of that,” she replied. “You used to be so reserved, so unwilling to even mention how you felt. What’s changed now?”
Rudra took another step forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “Because now, I want more.”
More?