CHAPTER 44
Kashish sat quietly in the backseat of the car, her mind lost in thought as they drove home. Dr. Akash’s words about Rudra’s proposal echoed relentlessly in her head. Beside her, Rudra noticed her uncharacteristic silence. At first, he resisted the urge to ask, but when her mood remained heavy for too long, he finally broke the tension.
“You seem stressed,” he remarked, his eyes fixed on her, concern lacing his tone.
Kashish snapped out of her thoughts, meeting his gaze. Could she really tell him she was stressed because of him? Because of everything that was swirling in her mind about his proposal?
“No... I’m fine,” she lied, turning her face toward the window, avoiding him.
“You can’t lie to me, Kashish. I read your mind better than you do.”
She swallowed hard, still refusing to look back at him. “If you’re so good at reading my mind, why don’t you figure it out yourself?”
He smirked at her challenge. “Alright, if you insist, I’ll give it a try.”
She looked at him, her curiosity piqued despite herself. Rudra pretended to read her face before making the first guess.
“You’re probably tired of making pancakes for me. It’s become a chore, hasn’t it?” he teased.
Kashish sighed, rolling her eyes. “Wow. You’ve really outdone yourself with that one,” she replied sarcastically.
“No?” he feigned innocence, enjoying the game. “Okay, let me try again.”
She pretended to be indifferent, but deep down, she was curious about what he’d say next.
“You’re planning to avoid checking me in my room at night because you don’t want to end up sleeping next to me again,” he added, a playful glint in his eyes.
Kashish’s eyes widened, taken aback by how close to the truth he had come. She hadn’t expected him to bring that up.
“What nonsense,” she snapped.
He grinned at her reaction. “So that’s ‘nonsense,’ is it? Meaning you don’t actually mind it happening again?”
“Last chance, Mr. Raheja,” she warned. “And this time, you’ll see just how far off you are.”
Rudra didn’t hesitate. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a knowing murmur.
“You’re thinking about my proposal. And if I’m not wrong, you’re on the verge of saying yes.”
Kashish felt her heart slam in her chest, heat flushing her skin. How did he know? Maybe he truly could read her mind. The first two guesses had been mere distractions, but this one... he was too close to the truth for comfort.
The car rolled to a stop outside their bungalow, and she realized he was waiting for her to confirm his guess. But she wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. She wouldn’t let him know how much he affected her.
“You missed all your chances, Mr. Raheja. None of your guesses were right,” she lied before hurriedly getting out of the car, leaving him behind. She knew he didn’t believe her, but at least, for now, she had bought herself a little more time.
*****************
Raheja Mansion
At Raheja Mansion, Savitri Raheja was restless. Ever since Rudra had left for Jaipur, anxiety gnawed at her, especially knowing he was staying under the same roof as Kashish. Though she knew Rudra had feelings for the girl, Savitri couldn’t bring herself to trust her. Kashish could easily hurt her grandson, intentionally or not, and that fear consumed her.
“Change the curtains in all the rooms, Ram Prasad,” she instructed, watching the servant bustling around. “And where is Anjali?”
“She went to meet her friend, Daadiji,” Ram Prasad replied.
Savitri nodded absently, already dialing a number. On the other end, the maid she had discreetly placed in the bungalow where Rudra and Kashish were staying answered.
“How is Rudra?” Savitri asked her.
The maid lowered her voice, ensuring no one could overhear.
“He’s doing well, Madam. In fact, he seems happy.”
“Happy?” Savitri’s voice brightened. “How so?”
“Kashish Madam has been making him pancakes every morning,” the maid explained. “It was her decision, not his, and she’s been very attentive to him. I’ve noticed they’re getting closer. She eats quickly, but she always waits for him to finish.”
Savitri sat back, surprised. Kashish making breakfast for Rudra? And waiting for him to finish his meals? That didn’t sound like the girl she had known. Something had shifted. Was it possible Kashish’s attitude toward her grandson had softened? But why? What was behind this sudden change?
“Keep updating me,” Savitri ordered, before ending the call. She needed to get to the bottom of this.
As her mind raced, Ram Prasad returned.
“Daadiji, where are the curtains for Kashish Didi’s room?”
“They’re in her closet,” Savitri replied.
“I don’t have the keys, though.”
Savitri recalled that Kashish had handed over the keys to Anjali before leaving for Jaipur. She retrieved them from Anjali’s room and unlocked Kashish’s closet to fetch the curtains. As she pulled out the fresh fabric, something else caught her eye—an envelope tucked beneath the neatly folded clothes. It looked like it had been hidden, but in her haste, she had disturbed it.
Curiosity got the better of her. Knowing it was wrong but unable to resist, Savitri opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. As she read its contents, her heart sank, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Kashish’s father... committed suicide?” she whispered to herself in shock. “That accident wasn’t an accident?”
Her hands trembled at the revelation. All these years, she had blamed fate, cursed the cruel twist of events that had shattered their family. But now she knew that Kashish’s father had taken his own life, dragging them all into a nightmare that had lasted more than a decade.
Savitri stood frozen, staring blankly at the letter in her hands. How was she supposed to process this? How was she supposed to face the pain, the anger, the betrayal? And what did this mean for Kashish and Rudra?
*****************
Anjali and Shekhar stood in stunned silence, the suicide note from Keshav Bedi clutched in their hands. Daadi had revealed the truth to them after they returned home.
“I… I can’t believe this,” Shekhar murmured. “Kashish’s father planned his own death?”
Daadi’s fury was beyond anything they had ever witnessed. Her eyes blazed with anger, her voice trembling with the weight of years of pain and injustice.
“So that means… Rudra… he’s not entirely responsible for the accident?” Anjali asked.
Daadi said nothing, but her silence was deafening. She was too consumed by the storm raging inside her mind, a fury she could barely control.
“Where did you find this note, Daadi?” Anjali ventured cautiously.
“In Kashish’s closet,” Daadi muttered through clenched teeth.
Shekhar and Anjali exchanged bewildered glances. How could this be? How could Kashish have kept something so monumental hidden? Daadi suddenly shot up from the couch, her face contorted with rage.
“She knew,” Daadi spat. “She knew her father did this—this reckless, selfish thing—and she let my grandson suffer for it!” She nearly shouted, her words shaking with disbelief.
“I don’t think she knew, Daadi,” Shekhar intervened gently, trying to calm her, but Daadi’s anger wasn’t something that could be soothed easily.
“Then how do you explain finding this note hidden in her closet?” Daadi shot back, her voice harsh. “She must have known for years, and she said nothing to us. She kept this from us while my grandson bore the weight of that tragedy. I always had my doubts about Kashish, and now I know. She may have even conspired with her father, for all we know.”
Shekhar stepped forward, trying to reason with her.
“Daadi, we’re jumping to conclusions. We don’t know if Kashish was aware of this. Maybe she’s as shocked as we are.”
But Daadi was beyond reason.
“Innocent or not, Shekhar, I don’t care anymore. I won’t let her stay near Rudra. She’s been lying, and I won’t stand for it. Even Rudra won’t be able to change my mind this time.”
With that, Daadi snatched her phone and dialed a number.
“Book my ticket to Jaipur. The first flight tomorrow morning,” she barked into the phone.
Anjali and Shekhar exchanged worried glances, realizing that Daadi had reached a point of no return.
“Daadi, let me come with you,” Shekhar offered, desperate to mediate before things spiraled further out of control.
“No,” Daadi snapped. “I’m going alone. And if anyone tries to warn Rudra or Kashish about my arrival, they will have to answer to me.”
Anjali swallowed hard, realizing there would be no saving Kashish this time. Daadi stormed off to her room, set on confronting Kashish with the full force of her anger.
*****************
Jaipur
Rudra sat in his room, absently flipping through television channels. After dinner, Kashish had been downstairs chatting with the maids, so he had decided to unwind with a little TV. He rarely had time to relax like this, so it was a luxury he savored.
His thoughts drifted when he heard a knock at the door. Kashish stepped inside, holding a tablet strip in her hand.
“May I come in?” she asked hesitantly.
Rudra muted the TV and placed the remote aside, a soft smile playing on his lips.
“Always.”
His simple reply made her feel strangely nervous, but she tried to push it aside, stepping further into the room. She held out the tablets to him.
“Dr. Akash prescribed these. You’re supposed to take one every night for a week. They’ll help you sleep better,” she explained, handing him the pills.
But Rudra didn’t take them. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto hers with a teasing glint.
“So, you were so much worried about me that you called Dr. Akash?” he teased.
She realized she’d given him an opening to tease her.
“Yes, I did. But honestly, it’s more for my benefit than yours. I don’t want to have to keep checking in on you. So just take it.”
She popped a tablet out of the strip and handed it to him. This time, he didn’t argue. He took the pill and swallowed it with a sip of water.
“I’ve survived without these pills for years, Kashish. You don’t need to concern yourself too much. Nightmares are a part of my life now.”
His tone laced with a quiet pain that tugged at her heart. She couldn’t stand the look on his face, the way he carried his suffering without complaint. She sat down beside him on the bed.
“Your nightmares must have been unbearable in the beginning.”
Rudra’s face darkened with a shadow of the past. “Worse than you could imagine,” he murmured.
Her heart clenched.
“How did you get through it? All those years… so many terrible nights.”
“I survived… but I never knew what could truly ease that pain. Not until last night.”
Her breath hitched.
“Until you chose to soothe me,” he added, his eyes locked on hers.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” she stammered.
He leaned closer.
“I’m a sucker for moments like that, Kashish. Where I have you in my arms. Close to me. I don’t think I’ll ever let you go.”
The vulnerability in his voice made her feel both out of place and exactly where she was meant to be.
“And if you leave,” he continued, “I don’t think I’ll ever breathe again.”
That single statement unraveled her. The man sitting beside her was still imprisoned by pain and loss. And if anyone could heal him, it had to be her. She could see it now. Only she could bring him the peace he so desperately needed.