CHAPTER 46
Kashish decided to keep her confrontation with Daadi a secret. If Rudra ever found out that his grandmother had come, he would dig deeper, and if he discovered the promise she made to leave him after healing his wounds from the past, it would shatter him completely. As difficult as it was for her to live with this burden, she knew she had to find a way out—soon.
Lost in her tangled thoughts, Kashish was startled by the sound of Rudra’s voice. He was back from work. She quickly composed herself, determined not to let him see the turmoil raging inside her.
“Just coffee, Suman,” Rudra told the maid before hurrying towards the stairs. But as soon as he saw Kashish descending, his steps slowed.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, everything else disappeared. The events of the day had left Kashish shaken. She felt an overwhelming urge to confess everything to him—but how could she? How could she hide the storm of pain behind her calm fa?ade? He studied her face for a few seconds before breaking the silence.
“You look pale. What did you do all day?” His voice was gentle but probing.
Kashish stood frozen, unable to form a response. Words seemed to choke in her throat. Rudra moved closer, trailing the back of his finger softly along her cheek. The gesture sent a shiver through her, but she didn’t pull away. The fact that she allowed his touch felt like a silent surrender—like she was slowly letting him in.
“Did you miss me?” he asked.
“I was too busy to miss you,” she lied, trying to keep her tone steady.
Rudra smirked, seeing right through her words.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing at the invitation card in his hand.
“This?” He glanced at it. “Well, the Mehta couple are hosting a Puja at their home tonight. They’ve invited us.”
Kashish exhaled slowly.
“I don’t think I can come.”
Rudra shook his head knowingly. “I understand. After the accident, you lost faith in God.”
She blinked, surprised by how well he understood her. How did he know that?
“It’s been clear from your actions, Kashish,” he explained, reading her thoughts. “Every time you joined the morning Puja at Raheja Mansion, you only did it out of duty. Your heart wasn’t in it. I could see that.”
He knew everything—things about her she hadn’t even fully acknowledged herself.
“So, I won’t push you to come,” he added.
“ You never stopped praying?” she asked as they started walking upstairs toward his room.
“I used to pray with Daadi every day before the accident. Sometimes for good marks, sometimes to win a football match, sometimes for Daadi’s health. After the accident, I didn’t pray as often, but that doesn’t mean I ever stopped believing.”
Kashish was astounded. After everything this man had been through, he still held onto his faith.
“Wanting you in my life is what kept my faith alive,” he admitted softly.
Her breath caught in her throat. How did he always manage to connect everything so deeply?
“So... your entire life revolves around me?” she asked.
The eagerness in her tone was unmistakable.
“Yes,” he whispered as they reached his room. “And your growing interest in me is equally fascinating. Now, may I ask you a favor?”
Kashish raised her brows slightly, already sensing where this was going.
“Will you come with me to the Mehta’s home?” he asked, his eyes pleading. “If not for the Puja, then at least to give me some good company.”
She hesitated, wanting to refuse, but the look in his eyes made her falter.
“Okay,” she finally agreed.
The smile that spread across Rudra’s face lit up the entire room. She hadn’t seen him this happy in weeks, and it was because she had simply agreed to be with him. She returned to her room to get dressed. Why had she agreed so quickly? Maybe it was because of the feelings she had been nurturing for him. But even as those feelings grew stronger, she reminded herself of the wall Daadi had erected between her and Rudra—before she could fully acknowledge her love for him. That invisible line would always be there, holding her back.
For now, Kashish was determined to give Rudra everything he deserved, even if it meant ignoring the heartache that awaited her. He had earned her 100%, and she was prepared to give it to him while she still could.
*******************
The Mehtas had invited only a few close guests to their home that evening, and as Rudra and Kashish entered, they were warmly welcomed with genuine affection. Kashish felt a wave of unease as all the attention centered on her, a sensation she wasn’t used to.
“Rohini, this is Rudra, the client I was telling you about, and this is Kashish, the lead designer from his company,” Mehta introduced them to his wife.
Rohini, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, greeted them warmly, and as pleasantries were exchanged, Mehta gestured toward Rudra.
“Come, Rudra, let me introduce you to a few more people,” Mehta suggested.
Rudra glanced at Kashish, hesitant to leave her side.
“You go,” she said, reading his thoughts even before he could voice them.
“You sure?” he whispered. “I know you aren’t comfortable around new people.”
Kashish rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“I’ll be fine. And stop worrying so much about me, Rudra… because now, it’s my turn to care for you,” she added.
Rudra stood frozen for a moment, taken aback by her words. Her turn? What did she mean? Kashish turned back, joining a group of women, but not before catching his bewildered expression. She had given him enough of a hint to keep him guessing.
“Rudra, come over here,” Mehta called again, pulling him into the crowd.
But Rudra couldn’t focus. His mind was solely on Kashish, on the subtle shift in her demeanor, the quiet confidence she now carried. He pulled out his phone and quickly texted her.
“Now it’s my turn? What did you mean by that?”
He glanced up at her. She checked her phone, read the message, and threw him a quick look before typing a response.
“You’ll know soon.”
His phone buzzed. He read her message, frustration and curiosity swelling inside him.
“I hate games.”
“Pay attention to your business partner; he’s talking to you,” she shot back.
Rudra tore his gaze from her and turned to Mehta, who was indeed talking about the early days of his business. Rudra feigned interest, his mind still spinning around Kashish’s cryptic words. Once Mehta was done, Rudra couldn’t resist texting her back.
“What have you been up to all day?”
Kashish thought of Daadi’s unexpected visit and the stormy conversation that had followed. But there was no way she could share that with him. Not yet. So, she decided to reply with something that would keep him occupied.
“I’ve been thinking about your proposal.”
A spark ignited inside Rudra as he read her reply.
“Kashish, stop playing around. Tell me.”
“I will,” she texted back.
The Puja soon began, and both Rudra and Kashish respected the sacred moment by ceasing their playful exchange. Rudra sat among the men, while Kashish joined the women. The air was filled with the soft hum of prayers, and for an hour, everything stilled. When the time came to offer flowers, Rudra and Kashish stood together at the front, the last to make their offerings.
As Rudra closed his eyes and placed his flowers before the deity, he opened them to find Kashish standing next to him, her palms joined in silent prayer. He watched her, surprised. He knew her faith had waned after her father’s death, and seeing her pray so earnestly now moved him. She must have felt his gaze because she opened her eyes, finding him admiring her.
“These prayers won’t bring my father back,” she murmured softly, “nor will they restore the childhood you lost. But my father always used to say, ‘Whenever you want to do something good, start with a small prayer.’”
Rudra listened as she gently took his hand, sending warmth up his arm.
“There’s always been something between us, Rudra,” she continued. “From the moment we first crossed paths outside that courtroom, there was rage, anger—then frustration, and even revenge when you came back into my life after 11 years. But as the truth came out, that anger turned into guilt, and my feelings for you shifted. Unlike you, my emotions have never been steady. I don’t even know what they are now. But I can’t ignore them anymore. I need to figure this out… what we have between us.”
Rudra felt like the world had tilted beneath him. Was this really happening? He tightened his grip on her fingers.
“Tell me this isn’t a dream.”
Kashish glanced at him. “It’s a new beginning—the only way we can finally escape the pain we’ve been carrying all these years.”
Rudra exhaled, closing his eyes. The moment was so pure, so sacred. He wanted to savor it forever, but just then, they heard footsteps approaching. Kashish was the first to notice and tugged his hand.
“We should go,” she whispered.
Rudra nodded reluctantly. He didn’t want to leave this perfect moment, but he followed her out to where the other guests were gathering for dinner. Kashish mingled with the other women again, while Rudra found himself with the men. But his mind never left her.
He stole a glance at Kashish from across the room. She looked calm but he could see beneath that. She had made a choice—one that would change both their lives. And it wasn’t just out of guilt for her father’s actions. There was something deeper driving her, something powerful she was trying to understand.
Rudra smiled to himself. Whatever the future held, tonight had given him something precious: hope . Kashish was willing to stand by his side, and for the first time in years, Rudra felt like he was ready to live again.
*******************
When they returned home, Kashish could easily read the desire in Rudra’s eyes to stay with her a little longer, to talk, to hold on to the moment they had shared. But reality intruded—he had a video conference with his US client, a meeting he couldn’t skip or delay. She urged him to go, to handle his work. Reluctantly, he accepted her decision and headed to his room.
Kashish freshened up and climbed into bed only to notice Shekhar’s missed call and decided to call him back.
“Kashish? What happened? Are you okay?” Shekhar’s questions spilled out in a rush.
“Shekhar, relax. I’m fine.”
Shekhar sighed, but his tone remained anxious.
“I need to know what happened. Daadi is back in Delhi, acting like everything is normal. I tried asking her, but she just said it was all taken care of. What does that mean?”
Kashish hesitated to even tell Shekhar about the promise Daadi had extracted from her. It would only cause more pain, and the last thing she wanted was to deepen the Raheja family’s wounds.
“I had a long conversation with her,” Kashish explained. “In the end, she understood.”
“Understood what?” he pressed, sounding unconvinced.
“That her beloved grandson can only be happy with me by his side,” she replied as tears welled up in her eyes. The image of the day she would have to walk away from Rudra, as promised, haunted her.
“Kashish, I’m really surprised Daadi came around,” Shekhar said, still doubtful. “But what’s next? What are your plans?”
She wiped her tears.
“My only goal now is to heal Rudra, to give him the happiness he deserves. Nothing and no one will come between us until I’ve done that.”
Shekhar was silent for a moment, absorbing her words
“Are you sure? This isn’t something you can take lightly. Rudra’s been through hell. If you’re serious about giving him a brighter future, you have to be committed. Temporary happiness won’t be enough for him.”
His words hit her hard.
“I know,” she whispered, barely able to speak.
During the confrontation with Daadi, she hadn’t fully grasped the consequences of her vow. Yes, she could pull Rudra out of his pain, but once she left, his grief would be unbearable. She couldn’t hurt him like that, not after everything he had already endured.
*******************
The next morning, Rudra came downstairs for breakfast and found Kashish setting the table, looking vibrant and happy. He, on the other hand, had barely slept. The excitement from Kashish’s indirect confession about her feelings had kept him awake all night. He’d spent those hours imagining a future with her, something he’d only dreamed of until now.
“Good morning,” she greeted him with a smile, pulling out a chair for him.
Rudra felt a little awkward.
“I should be the one doing that,” he muttered, gently guiding her to sit down beside him.
As he lifted the lid of the dish in front of him, expecting his usual pancakes, he was surprised to find something different. He glanced at her, confused. For weeks, she had prepared his favorite breakfast. Now that things were changing between them, she’d broken that routine?
“Where are my pancakes?” he asked, still puzzled.
Kashish began serving him puffy dosas instead.
“What’s with you and pancakes? Why are you so obsessed with them?”
Rudra hesitated, but then decided to tell her. If anyone deserved to know his past, it was her.
“Pancakes were the last dish my mother made for me.”
Her heart sank. Now she understood why they meant so much to him.
“Oh…” she faltered for a moment, unsure how to respond. “I just thought a little change would spice up your mornings. So… I made dosas.”
Rudra couldn’t help but admire her thoughtfulness. His life had indeed been stuck in a monotonous routine for years. She was trying to change that. He took a bite of the dosa and instantly loved it.
“It’s delicious,” he admitted.
Kashish’s face lit up.
“Try it with these chutneys,” she said, offering him tomato and coconut chutneys.
Rudra ate eagerly, appreciating the care she put into everything she did. Kashish, on the other hand, couldn’t take her eyes off him. She marveled at how much he enjoyed his food, how simple pleasures could still light up his face. Watching him now, she reaffirmed her vow to hold the strings of his happiness in her hands. Whatever it took, she would make sure he was always smiling.
Her phone beeped, breaking her reverie. She glanced at the screen, her heart sinking. It was a message from Savitri Raheja, reminding her of the promise she had made and urging her not to delay in fulfilling it. Daadi was so eager to remove her from Rudra’s life. If only it were that simple!