CHAPTER 52
Raheja Mansion
Raheja Mansion felt heavy with tension as Shekhar shared the latest news with Daadi—Rudra had decided to leave for Paris. Yet, Daadi remained unsettlingly calm, her silence confusing him.
“Daadi, did you hear me?” Shekhar repeated, disbelief in his tone. “Rudra’s planning to fly to Paris tomorrow.”
“I heard you, Shekhar,” she replied quietly.
“Aren’t you even surprised?”
Daadi’s lips twitched, but there was no shock in her eyes.
“I know Rudra better than anyone else. I’ve dealt with his anger and his ways of hiding from the world since he was a boy. Do you remember the time when you rode his new bicycle without permission, and he pushed you off in a fit of rage?”
Shekhar’s mind raced back to that incident, from years before Keshav Bedi’s accident. He had been teasing Rudra by riding his new bicycle, only to be pushed off in a burst of fury. The fall had left his knee bloodied, but it was Rudra’s reaction that had stunned everyone. After realizing what he had done, Rudra had disappeared for hours, hiding in the garage and crying silently, punishing himself for causing his brother pain. Even years later, after coming out of the juvenile home, Rudra had isolated himself from the family—partly because of his guilt over Kashish’s father’s death, but also as a form of self-inflicted punishment. This was a pattern, one that had haunted him his entire life.
“I remember,” Shekhar muttered.
“He’s doing it again,” Daadi continued. “He’s trying to run away because he’s hurt.”
“But this time, Daadi,” Shekhar interrupted, his voice rising, “this time he didn’t hurt anyone. You and Kashish hurt him.”
Daadi’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she held her ground.
“Why can’t anyone understand my point of view? I’m not his enemy. I only want to protect him. Rudra has already paid a heavy price for what happened with Kashish’s father, and now he knows he wasn’t fully responsible. But the relationship they are trying to build won’t last. This will come back to haunt them someday, and I’m trying to prevent that heartbreak. What will people think if Rudra and Kashish are together? Either they’ll blame Kashish for loving the man who killed her father, or they’ll say Rudra took pity on her and decided to marry her. How do we stop that kind of talk?”
Shekhar shook his head, still unconvinced. “Daadi, why does it matter what people think? We can’t please everyone. Rudra is the heart of this family, and if this is what he wants, why can’t we give him that?”
Daadi’s eyes narrowed. “You think he still wants her?”
Silence fell between them as Shekhar struggled to respond.
“If he did,” Daadi said, breaking the silence, “he wouldn’t be planning to leave for Paris.”
Shekhar sighed, frustrated.
“Yes, he’s hurt. But that doesn’t mean he’s stopped loving her. One day, the wounds between them will heal, and he will bring her back into his life.”
“I don’t see that day coming,” Daadi countered, rising to her feet. “He needs time away from her. We can’t force Kashish to leave until she turns 25, as per the court’s orders, but if Rudra goes to Paris, maybe he can clear his head. He’ll realize that this so-called love was just guilt all along.”
Shekhar turned away, exasperated. Every effort to resolve this felt like it only deepened the chaos. Daadi, however, had already made up her mind. She retreated to her room and sat in her rocking chair, contemplating her next move. She couldn’t leave Rudra alone in Paris. Someone had to be there to watch over him. And she knew exactly who to ask. Picking up her phone, she dialed Lavina.
“Hello, Daadi?” Lavina answered, surprise evident in her voice.
“Yes, Lavina. I need a favor.”
“What favor?”
Daadi explained everything—the confrontation with Kashish, Rudra’s hurt, and his sudden decision to leave for Paris. Lavina listened in shock.
“So much has happened while I’ve been in Mumbai,” Lavina muttered. “I had no idea.”
“I need you to go to Paris with Rudra,” Daadi said. “You’ve been his friend for years. You’re the only one I trust to be there for him. Will you do this for me?”
Lavina didn’t hesitate.
“Of course, Daadi. I’ll be with him in Paris. He won’t be alone.”
Relief washed over Daadi. “Thank you, Lavina.”
After hanging up, she felt some of the tension lift. At least there would be someone she could trust with Rudra’s well-being.
****************
Upstairs, Kashish sat in her room, tears streaming down her face. Anjali had brought her dinner, but she refused to eat.
“Kashish, you need your strength,” Anjali said gently. “You can’t fight for Rudra on an empty stomach.”
But Kashish wasn’t listening. She stared blankly at the sky, her heart heavy with fear. She was terrified of losing Rudra to Paris, terrified he would never forgive her.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
Anjali sat beside her, placing a comforting hand on her arm. “I know.”
“I want to stop him, Anju. What should I do?”
“Have you talked to him?”
Kashish nodded, wiping her tears.
“I tried… but he’s avoiding me. He’s so angry, and I can’t stand it. After realizing how much I love him, seeing him like this is breaking my heart.”
Anjali felt Kashish’s pain and tried to soothe her.
“Don’t give up. Keep trying. Fight for him, argue with him if you have to. Show him how much you care.”
“And if he still doesn’t stop?” Kashish asked, her voice cracking.
“Then give him time. He loves you more than anything. He’ll come back.”
“Do you really believe that?” Kashish asked, her eyes filled with desperation.
“I do,” Anjali said, pulling her into a hug. “He will come back.”
As Anjali held her, Kashish clung to the hope that somehow, against all odds, Rudra would return to her. All she could do was hope that love would find a way to heal what had been broken.
****************
Rudra finished packing his bags. Morning had arrived, and with it, the weight of his decision to leave for Paris. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. The thought of walking away from Kashish, of not seeing her for who knew how long, gnawed at him. But he had to do this. She needed to understand the gravity of her mistake—the promise she’d made to Daadi, the secret she’d kept from him. Their relationship was at a crossroads, and for it to work, they needed complete transparency. She had betrayed that trust, and now she had to face the consequences.
If Kashish had trusted him, confided in him, they could’ve found a solution. But instead, she chose to hide something so crucial. Now, he wasn’t just leaving for Paris to cool off—he was leaving to make her understand that hiding things like this would break them. He couldn’t let things fester. Daadi had to accept Kashish, and Kashish had to realize just how deep his love for her ran. Only then would he even consider forgiving her, accepting her back into his life.
Even as he prepared to leave, there was no way he could fully distance himself from her. Wherever he was, his eyes would always be on her. Protecting her was still his responsibility, even if she had bruised his heart. This separation, this anger, was their fight, a battle between them to prove that all they really needed was each other. But it ached. Every second felt like a dagger, the memories of her lingering in his mind, her presence haunting him in his dreams.
Rudra stood at the poolside, staring at the still water, his eyes moist when Shekhar stepped there and noticed the packed bags.
“So, you’re really leaving?” Shekhar asked quietly.
Rudra blinked out of his daze and nodded.
“Kashish hasn’t eaten since yesterday,” Shekhar revealed. “She’s breaking down, Rudra. She’s drained, and I don’t think she can handle this kind of trauma again. I’ve seen her like this before—when she first came to live with us, after her father’s death. But this time... this time the pain in her eyes is even worse. I managed to pull her out of that shell back then, but I can’t do it now. Only you can . Forgive her, Rudra. You’ve always put her happiness above everything, even your own. Why not now?”
Rudra clenched his fists. Of course, he knew Kashish would do something like this, depriving herself of food. How could she hurt herself like this?
“I thought I should tell you, but the decision is yours,” Shekhar added softly before leaving the room.
Rudra felt a war raging inside him. If he saw Kashish now, he knew he would weaken. He might change his decision. What should he do?
****************
Kashish sat at the balcony window of her bedroom, lost in her thoughts, drowning in pain. She felt numb.
The door clicked open, but she didn’t move. She knew it couldn’t be Rudra. Not when he was so furious with her. But then she felt something—his presence, unmistakable, like a familiar breeze that touched her soul. Turning slowly, she found him standing there, dressed in a suit, ready to leave, holding a glass of juice. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of him.
Rudra walked to her and held out the glass.
“Drink,” he commanded.
She sobbed, meeting his eyes, but made no move to take the juice.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, the words trembling on her lips. He hated seeing her like this, but she had to learn. This was a lesson she’d carry for life.
“Drink,” he repeated, more firmly this time. She turned fully to face him, still ignoring the glass.
“Don’t leave me like this. Please, I’m begging you, Rudra.”
But he remained cold, his face emotionless.
“I know I hurt you,” she cried. “I didn’t know you’d react like this.”
“You took me too lightly then,” he muttered. “But I don’t care anymore.” He lied—he had to. He needed to show her that her pleas didn’t move him, that he was stronger than the pain she caused. “Drink this and stop punishing yourself. Ignoring your health won’t fix anything.”
“I know you care for me. Then why won’t you forgive me? You’re in as much pain as I am. Why won’t you let me heal you?”
She reached for his chest, but Rudra instantly swatted her hand away.
“Don’t,” he scolded. “If I wanted to heal, I’d see a doctor. I needed a partner, Kashish. I needed love. Now I don’t even know if what we had in Jaipur was real. What if you were just trying to soothe your guilt? Because if you truly loved me, you wouldn’t have promised to leave me.”
His words cut through her like a knife. She was crying, pleading, baring her soul, and still, he doubted her love?
“I thought you loved me, flaws and all,” he sighed.
“I do,” she whimpered.
“Maybe you do,” he conceded, “but your love comes with an obligation to heal me. And I can’t live like that—constantly waiting for the day wondering if you will leave me once I’m healed. You brought this fear in me by making that promise to Daadi. You weren’t loving me; you were fixing me. And I won’t give you another chance to repeat that mistake.”
“Don’t hate me,” she sobbed.
“I don’t,” he replied softly. “I could never hate you, Kashish. But you need to figure out who you are, and what you want. Stop living for everyone else. I’ve survived loving you, knowing I might never get it in return. I need you to love me the same way—with all of you, no reservations. But I don’t think you’re ready for that yet. If you want to do something for me, stop hurting yourself, and please stop crying.”
Kashish wiped her tears with trembling hands.
“Don’t go,” she begged again as reached for his hand, but Rudra slowly pulled away.
“I have to,” he whispered back.
He walked to the door, and Kashish could only watch with tears streaming down her face as he left.
She had done everything she could to stop him. But he still chose to leave. His eyes, once filled with love, now seemed foreign, distant. She lost him, even after confessing her love. Why did it hurt so much? Would they ever find their way back to each other?