CHAPTER 48
Jaipur Residence
Kashish clung to his shirt as Rudra carried her toward the car. After the heavy dinner, she had casually asked for some dessert, assuming he hadn’t planned any, which is why he was now taking her out.
“You need to put me down,” she murmured softly.
“Why? Are you ashamed of me?” Rudra’s grip on her tightened.
Kashish frowned, shaking her head. “No, I’m not ashamed... just a little embarrassed because the guards are watching.”
Rudra cast a brief glance toward the guards, and at once, they turned away, reading his silent command. He shifted his gaze back to her, his voice low and husky.
“Problem solved.”
Kashish giggled.
“You never waste time solving my problems, do you?”
“I’ll always clear every obstacle from your path, Kashish. That’s my promise.”
A wave of pride rushed through her, and instead of holding onto his shirt, she wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him with a possessive tenderness.
“Where’s the driver?” Rudra muttered, scanning the area for their usual chauffeur. Kashish, meanwhile, kept admiring him, thinking of how he embodied all the qualities a woman would want for a lifetime in her man.
“Why don’t you drive?” she asked cautiously, testing the waters. The expression that crossed his face was dark, almost dangerous, as if she had touched a raw nerve. She knew why he didn’t drive, but still, she had to ask.
Rudra gently lowered her to the ground, his mood visibly shifting.
“I don’t like these kinds of jokes, Kashish. Please,” he muttered, taking out his phone to call the driver.
Before he could dial, she snatched the phone from his hand.
“I’m serious,” she said softly but firmly. “Shekhar told me you learned to drive when you were abroad. You even got a license. Why don’t you drive here?”
His temper flared, and his grip tightened on her wrist before she could reach for him again.
“You don’t know why I don’t drive anymore?”
She realized this had turned into more of a confrontation than a gentle conversation. She sighed and softened her tone.
“Let it go. That fear of hurting someone again—it won’t happen. Not anymore.”
Even though she addressed the root of his fear, Rudra remained unconvinced. His brow furrowed as he stared at her, his voice sharper now.
“Kashish, don’t. I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”
For years, he had carried the weight of believing he could be the cause of someone else’s pain. He’d built a wall of caution around himself, convincing his mind it was for everyone’s safety. But no matter how much reassurance Kashish or anyone else gave him, he couldn’t accept it. The driver finally appeared, apologizing for his delay. Rudra grabbed Kashish’s hand and tugged her toward the car, but she stood her ground.
Seeing her reluctance, he growled, “Fine. Good night then,” before storming back toward the house, his frustration simmering.
Kashish watched him go, unsurprised by his reaction. She hadn’t expected him to confront his fears so quickly. It would take time, but she didn’t have that luxury. Daadi’s looming threats haunted her mind, urging her to help Rudra heal before the situation spiraled further out of control.
*****************
Rudra lay on his bed, replaying the events of the past hour. He’d been so eager to take Kashish out for dessert, but she had ruined the moment with her request for him to drive. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door knob turning. He glanced up to see Kashish entering his room, now dressed in her nightclothes. His anger hadn’t subsided, and he turned his back to her, hoping she’d take the hint and leave.
But she didn’t. Instead, he felt her arm gently slide around his waist as she hugged him from behind, careful not to touch his chest, her breath warm against his neck.
“I ruined your mood, didn’t I?” she whispered into his ear.
Rudra tensed. What was she doing?
“Go back to your room, Kashish. We’ve both had a long day,” he muttered.
Kashish felt a lump rise in her throat. She had pushed him too hard, too soon. She didn’t want to rush the healing process or make him uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was trying to rush things, to make you feel normal again.”
Rudra turned around finally meeting her eyes.
“Won’t you love me the way I am?”
The pain in his voice broke her. Her tears threatened to spill, but she held them back. His question hurt so much. But maybe it was her fault - she’d acted so strange today, rushing around like that. Of course he’d think something was wrong.
Moving slowly, she reached up and put her hands on his face.
“I love you exactly as you are, Rudra. I don’t want to change you—not for me, not for anyone. I just want to take away your fears.”
He pulled her hand and kissed her palm.
“Then just stay with me, and those fears will disappear.”
Just then his mind processed her recent words and his entire being froze. She said she loved him? She loved him.
A sudden rush of elation surged through him. He pulled her closer, his hands trembling slightly with excitement, his breath shallow as he cupped her face gently and tilted it toward him.
“Say that again,” Rudra demanded.
Her eyes widened as she realized what she had just said. She’d just confessed her love for him—something she had avoided saying for so long, but now, it was out. The moment she had feared and longed for all at once.
She tried to pull back, shying away, but Rudra held her firm, his hand gripping her waist now as he pulled her even closer.
“Don’t run from me now,” he whispered, his lips grazing her ear. “Say it again, Kashish. I need to hear it.”
Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson as she found it hard to breathe under the weight of his intense gaze. His demand was insistent, and his eyes burned with a desperate plea. She swallowed hard, gathering the courage to say it again.
“Yes, Rudra... I... I love you.”
The moment the words left her lips, Rudra’s eyes darkened with pure emotion, a haze of desire and love clouding them. Before she could react, he leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips, a soft smooch sound escaping as he pulled away, his breath ragged.
Kashish gasped, but Rudra wasn’t finished. His fingers gently wiped the slight wetness from the corner of her lips, his eyes filled with a yearning that almost made her weak.
“Say it again,” he demanded. “I need to believe it.”
His tone left no room for hesitation. He needed her to say it, to confirm what he had longed to hear his entire life.
“I love you,” she whispered again.
This time, Rudra kissed the other corner of her lips, lingering a moment longer as his hand gently caressed her cheek. He pulled back just slightly, his eyes blazing with a need that made her feel like the world had disappeared around them.
“Again,” he whispered, his lips ghosting over her skin.
Her body trembled as she met his gaze. This time, she didn’t shy away. She looked directly into his eyes, her voice bolder, stronger.
“I love you, Rudra.”
Before she could even finish the sentence, Rudra pulled her fully into him, their lips crashing against each other’s with a raw, desperate need. Neither of them knew who made the first move, but the kiss was deep, hungry, and filled with the passion they had both suppressed for so long. His lips devoured hers, demanding, exploring, as if he were claiming every inch of her soul.
Kashish instinctively reached for his chest, needing something to hold onto to steady herself, but Rudra, even in the haze of passion, felt the familiar surge of discomfort. Without breaking the kiss, he swiftly grabbed her arms and wrapped them around his neck, guiding her hands to his nape. Understanding why he did that, she tugged at his hair, pulling him deeper into the kiss as if she could fuse their hearts together with just that touch.
He groaned softly against her mouth, the sensation of her fingers in his hair igniting every nerve in his body. His hands slid down to her waist, pulling her impossibly close, their lower bodies pressed together, melting into each other. The kiss grew more frantic, more desperate, as if neither of them could get enough of the other. Her lips moved in perfect sync with his, matching his intensity, her love pouring out with every stroke of her mouth against his.
Kashish could barely breathe as she kissed him back with everything she had—her fears, her love, her surrender—all of it pouring into him, like she was giving him the very essence of herself.
Time seemed to stop. The world around them disappeared. There was only Rudra, only his lips on hers, only this moment.
When they finally pulled away, gasping for air, Rudra’s forehead rested against hers, their breaths mingling, as they stared into each other’s eyes.
“I love you,” she whispered once more, the words now flowing naturally, with no hesitation, no fear. And as she said it, she saw a different kind of softness in his gaze—one that told her he believed it now. Completely. Undeniably.
Rudra cupped her face again, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek as he smiled at her, a smile that was filled with more love than she’d ever seen in him before.
“And I will love you... until my last breath,” he murmured, sealing the promise with another deep, passionate kiss, one that left no doubts—this was forever.
******************
The blare of the alarm woke Rudra early the next morning. He stretched and turned it off, glancing at the clock. It was 6:30 a.m., time for his usual morning workout. He looked over at Kashish, who was still asleep beside him. They had spent the night in his room, kissing each other for hours and still not getting enough of each other. Surprisingly, she showed no signs of regret sleeping next to him unlike the last time.
As she stirred awake, Rudra gently pulled the duvet over her and kissed her forehead softly.
“Sleep a little longer,” he whispered.
“Where are you going?” she mumbled, grabbing his hand sleepily.
“The gym,” he replied with a smile, amused by her reluctance to let him leave. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
He kissed her forehead again, coaxing a sleepy smile from her before she snuggled deeper into the pillows. As Rudra left for his morning routine, Kashish drifted back to sleep, feeling a strange sense of contentment she hadn’t felt in her life ever.
*****************
“Daadi, please,” she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation. “Let me see him just once.”
Tears streamed down her face, and her hands shook as she clasped them together, begging for a moment with Rudra.
“No!” Daadi’s sharp tone cut through the air like a blade, instilling more fear in Kashish’s heart. The time had come. Rudra was healed, his fears gone, and now, the truth about the promise she had made to Daadi had been laid bare. But the moment she feared most was here—Rudra’s reaction. Instead of gratitude, he had taken her promise as the ultimate betrayal. The man who loved her more than life itself had turned away, refusing to see her, hurt that she would ever make such a vow to his grandmother, knowing how much he loved her. Now, he had made up his mind. He didn’t want to see her ever again.
Her bags were packed, her belongings ready to be cast out of Raheja Mansion, and all she wished for was a final glimpse of Rudra. But Daadi stood firm, blocking her path, her expression hard and unforgiving.
“Get out of this house!” Daadi screamed, her voice echoing with rage. “You have no place here. This family was never yours. Rudra was never yours. Get out!”
Kashish’s heart shattered at Daadi’s cruel words. She dropped to her knees, still pleading, sobbing uncontrollably. But Daadi remained unmoved, dragging her to the door with a cold fury that sent a chill down Kashish’s spine. Her luggage was thrown out, and the heavy door of Raheja Mansion slammed shut with a thunderous finality.
“Daadi... please! Don’t do this. Let me see him once,” Kashish’s voice broke as she pounded her fists against the door, her pleas falling on deaf ears.
She shot up from the bed with a gasp, drenched in sweat, her breathing ragged. It was a nightmare, but it felt so real. She looked around in a panic and found Rudra sitting beside her, his hand gently caressing her hair. The warmth of his touch was a stark contrast to the icy rejection she’d just experienced in her dream.
“Kashish? Relax,” he whispered softly, pulling her into his arms as she clung to him tightly, her heart still racing.
The relief of seeing Rudra next to her was overwhelming. She buried her face in his neck, holding him as if he might disappear. It was as if the universe had granted her wish to see him one last time, even though in reality, she was still in his arms.
“I was just back from the gym, heading for a shower, and then I heard you screaming in your sleep,” Rudra murmured. “Was it a bad dream?”
He tried to pull away slightly to meet her gaze, but Kashish wouldn’t let him go. She held him tighter, knowing these moments were fleeting. Soon, she would be gone, leaving him forever. This was the painful reality she had to face, and she couldn’t bear the thought of it.
Rudra sensed her distress and stroked her back gently, trying to calm her racing heart.
“If you don’t want to talk about it now, that’s fine. Just calm down.”
He held her until she finally eased her grip and leaned back, still trembling.
“It... it was a bad dream,” she replied shakily.
“I heard you pleading with Daadi,” Rudra said softly, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What were you pleading for?”
Kashish didn’t dare meet his eyes, knowing she couldn’t tell him the truth. Not now. Rudra noticed her hesitation and cupped her face gently, turning her to face him.
“I know why you’re having these nightmares,” he said, trying to console her. “You’re always worried about whether Daadi will accept us, accept our relationship.”
She nodded, but it wasn’t the whole truth. The fear wasn’t just about acceptance; it was about knowing that her time with him was running out. Daadi had promised to tear them apart, and Kashish knew that moment was fast approaching.
“I have a solution to get rid of that fear once and for all,” he said with a grin that momentarily made her heart skip for a different reason.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll find out soon. But for now, get ready. You have those designs to present today, remember?”
The reminder of work pulled her back to reality, and she hurriedly got off the bed, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. As she left the room, Rudra watched her. Something was wrong, and he could sense it. Kashish had been different ever since she had confessed her feelings for him. What was she hiding?
As if on cue, his phone rang. It was Jay. He answered quickly, hoping for some distraction.
“Yeah, Jay?”
“Boss, I checked the name of the passenger who traveled to Jaipur the day before I did,” Jay said.
Rudra’s heart quickened. “I’m listening.”
“It was Savitri Raheja, your grandmother.”
The words hit him like a blow. Rudra stood in stunned silence. “Daadi was in Jaipur?”
“Yes, Boss. She had a return ticket booked for the same evening,” Jay added.
Why had Daadi come to Jaipur? Why hadn’t she told him? His thoughts immediately shifted to Kashish. That was the same day she had taken off from work, the same day she had confessed her love for him. Could this be connected?
Was Kashish’s confession genuine, or had Daadi somehow influenced her? The possibility tore at his heart. No, Kashish loved him—he had felt it. But what had really happened that day? Had Daadi and Kashish met? What was said between them?
Rudra ended the call and sank onto the bed. He had to get to the bottom of this. Kashish was keeping something from him—something big. And now he had proof that Daadi was involved.
He knew Kashish wouldn’t willingly reveal the truth, especially if she had promised Daadi something. She was too loyal, too determined to keep her word. But he couldn’t stand being kept in the dark any longer.
*****************
The afternoon crawled by slowly. Kashish wrapped up her presentation at Mehta’s office, her heart brimming with satisfaction. Most of her designs had been approved, marking the successful beginning of the next phase of the project. Her first instinct was to share this moment of triumph with Rudra. She hurried to his cabin, excitement bubbling inside her, only to find it empty. A quick inquiry with the manager revealed that Rudra was in the conference room. Without wasting a moment, she headed there and knocked softly before entering.
Rudra was on the phone, his voice clipped, his expression focused. The second he saw her, though, his gaze softened.
“I’ll call you back,” he muttered into the phone, disconnecting almost immediately, his eyes now solely on her.
Kashish smiled, but it was tentative, unsure. She could sense the importance of the call he had just ended, and the fact that he cut it short—just for her—made her heart stir in ways she didn’t want to admit.
“Sorry... I thought you were done,” she apologized, feeling slightly guilty for interrupting.
“I am done now,” Rudra replied, standing and moving toward her, his presence filling the space between them.
Without wasting another second, Kashish pulled out the papers, beaming with pride.
“My designs got selected!”
Rudra’s face lit up, but there was a flicker of something else—something darker, heavier—that briefly clouded his eyes. She noticed but decided to ignore it, choosing instead to focus on the moment.
“I knew they would. They were the best,” he said, his voice full of certainty.
“You saw them?”
“Of course. I went over them before the presentation. They were brilliant,” he praised, his words sending her spirits soaring.
Kashish was over the moon. It felt good to hear him acknowledge her work, though she’d never doubted it. Their combined efforts had paid off, and now, the success felt even sweeter.
“The team is planning to celebrate,” she announced, her joy bubbling over.
“Let them celebrate. We won’t be joining.”
Her excitement faltered slightly.
“We’re not? Why?”
“Because we have other plans.”
“Plans?” she echoed, her brows knitting together in confusion. “What plans, Rudra?”
He only smiled wider, clearly enjoying the suspense.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Rudra, please, no more surprises. Just tell me what you’re planning.” Kashish crossed her arms.
His gaze softened, but his lips stayed sealed.
“I told you, you’ll know soon. Now, get back to work. And no staying late like yesterday—I mean it.”
She bit back her questions, sensing he wouldn’t budge, and gave him a mock salute before turning to leave. But just as she was about to shut the door, she glanced back and saw him dialing another number, his face growing serious once again. Whoever he’d been speaking to earlier, it clearly wasn’t over.