CHAPTER 54
Bedi House – Uttam Nagar
Kashish unlocked the door and dragged her trolley bag inside, switching on the lights. The house felt lifeless, covered in dust, a stark contrast to the warmth of Raheja Mansion. Living alone, without the constant presence of a family, was going to be harder than she had imagined. The silence wrapped around her like a heavy blanket, suffocating her. She sat on the sofa, burying her face in her hands. How did Rudra survive the years he spent alone in Paris? He must have felt the same crushing isolation, the same emptiness. Unlike her, he had no family to lean on during those years. But now, she was about to experience that desolation firsthand, and it was only the thought of his love that gave her the strength to face it.
Wiping her tears, she suddenly remembered the gift Rudra had sent. She pulled it from her purse and carefully unwrapped it. Inside was another small box with a note. She opened the box first, and her breath hitched. A Mangalsutra. The sacred symbol of marriage. Her fingers traced the delicate black beads and gold pendant as tears welled up in her eyes. Why had he sent this? Of all the things he could’ve gifted her, he chose something that symbolized commitment, love, and permanence.
Her hands shook as she opened the note and read it.
“This gift shouldn’t be a surprise to you. I’ve always wanted this, Kashish. From the moment I first saw you, my desire has never changed. Happy birthday to the most complicated woman I’ve ever known. One day, I’ll lay the happiness of the entire world at your feet.”
Her heart clenched painfully. How could he send her such a profound gift, write such beautiful words, and still not call her? She had hoped, even prayed, that he would reach out today, on her birthday. But no call came. They hadn’t agreed to avoid direct contact. She had wanted to give him space, hoping he would understand why she had made those choices. But day after day, the silence stretched on, and she realized this was his way of punishing her—making her wait, making her yearn for him the way he had for so long.
She had promised herself that she would endure whatever tests he put her through. She would prove to him that her love was strong enough. But the longer he stayed away, the deeper her fear grew. What if one day, he stopped loving her? The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Losing him would be the end of her.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Shekhar. She quickly wiped her tears and answered, trying to sound composed.
“Hello?”
“All settled in? How’s it going?” he asked.
She took a deep breath.
“Still settling. There’s… there’s a lot of cleaning left.”
“I didn’t think about that. Let me send someone over to help.”
“No,” she interrupted. “I’ll manage on my own. It’s not much.”
“Kashish, don’t act like we’re strangers. Whether you live with us or not, you’re still family.”
Kashish swallowed the lump in her throat.
“I know. But I need to do this on my own. This is my first chance to stand on my own two feet. Let me figure it out.”
Shekhar didn’t argue.
“Alright. Just remember, we’re always here. Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you, Shekhar,” she whispered, hanging up.
She looked around the house, now her new reality. The silence loomed, but she had no choice. If she didn’t start working now, she wouldn’t make it to the office tomorrow.
For the next two hours, Kashish cleaned the house, ordered food from a nearby restaurant, and mentally prepared herself for the tasks ahead. She walked into the bedroom—the room she had shared with her father. Memories flooded back, especially the night she had waited for him, never realizing he was never coming back. That stormy night when he left for good, intending to end his life. It still hurt, but she pushed those memories aside. Sleep soon claimed her, exhaustion numbing her thoughts.
**********************
Raheja Office
The next morning, Shekhar waited outside the office for Kashish, eager to see how she had handled her first night at her home alone. When she stepped out of the cab, she immediately plastered a smile on her face, hiding any trace of her emotions.
“Hi,” she greeted.
“Hi, belated birthday girl! How was the second half of your birthday?” he asked, curious.
“Good. Didn’t realize how fast time flew. I spent most of it cleaning. I’m planning to buy some groceries tonight.”
Shekhar nodded.
“How are Anju and Daadi? I bet Daadi’s happy I left.”
“Anju misses you, but Daadi... she’s neutral,” he replied, making them both chuckle.
“I’m glad Daadi approved of my decision for once,” Kashish joked, but Shekhar’s next words wiped the smile off her face.
“But Rudra didn’t approve it.”
She froze, staring at him in shock. “You… you told him?”
“Of course, I did. He has other sources who would tell him if I didn’t. And he’s my brother. I can’t hide something this important from him, especially when it concerns you. I know what you mean to him.”
Kashish’s heart sank.
“But I didn’t want him to know… not yet.”
Shekhar laughed bitterly.
“There’s no keeping secrets from Rudra. And he’s already taken steps to protect you. He had made Daadi promise not to force you out of the house, even after your 25th birthday.”
Kashish’s eyes widened. Of course, he had. He would go to any length to protect her, to ensure she was safe.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“He made me promise not to. None of us wanted you to leave, Kashish. But now that you have, I had to tell Rudra. And honestly, I have no idea what he’s planning to do next.”
Kashish felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She knew how far Rudra would go to protect her, but now that she had made her decision, she wasn’t going to bend easily. Whatever he planned next, she would have to face it head-on.
**********************
Anjali called Kashish in the middle of her workday.
“How are you planning to manage all the groceries and set up the kitchen by yourself? Let me come over and help,” Anjali suggested, determined.
Kashish sighed.
“Anju, I’ll handle it.”
“I know you can, but you’re like a sister to me, Kashish. If I don’t do this much for you, I won’t feel at peace. I’m coming over this evening to help you arrange everything,” Anjali insisted.
Kashish didn’t argue further, knowing how persistent Anjali could be.
“Okay, I’ll buy the groceries and have everything ready. Once you’re there, we can get started. Happy now?”
“Yes,” Anjali finally relaxed, her smile evident through the phone. They spoke for a few more minutes, before Kashish returned to her work.
At exactly 5:30 p.m., Kashish wrapped up her day and prepared to leave. She had plenty to buy, and thankfully, her salary had been credited just a few days earlier, allowing her to comfortably manage the expenses. She wasn’t planning to splurge, though—only the essentials.
After work, she headed straight to the market. As she roamed the aisles, selecting what she needed, she found that keeping herself busy made it easier to push thoughts of Rudra’s actions out of her mind, though the questions lingered. He wouldn’t stay quiet for long. What could he possibly do from Paris to disrupt her plans to settle down alone in Uttam Nagar? This question gnawed at her throughout the shopping trip, never leaving her thoughts.
By the time she arrived home, her arms were heavy with bags. She unlocked the door, stepped inside, and dropped the groceries on the floor, exhausted from the day. Shopping alone was more draining than she had imagined. She sank onto the couch, desperate for a moment to relax. But just as she began to unwind, a glass of water appeared in front of her, held by an unfamiliar hand.
It was Rudra.
He stood there, holding the glass, his intense gaze locked onto hers. Was this real?
How did he get into the house she had locked? Or was she hallucinating him? She had imagined him so many times in his absence, picturing his face, his touch, but this... this felt real. His presence was overpowering. She stood up, her breath catching in her throat.
When she didn’t take the glass, Rudra put the glass down, his arms crossing over his chest, never breaking eye contact. The emotions in his eyes were raw—anger, longing, and frustration all battling for dominance. He had flown all the way from Paris. For her.
“How... how did you get in?” she stammered.
“That’s not important,” he replied as he took a step toward her. She instinctively stepped back, creating a distance between them.
Rudra stopped, surprised by her retreat. Was it the shock of seeing him after so long, or was she deliberately pulling away?
Kashish tried to steady her breath, forcing herself to be composed. She knew why he was here. He was going to drag her back to Raheja Mansion, and that was the last thing she could allow.
“Why are you here now, Rudra?” she asked. “I... I didn’t expect you to come like this.”
“I didn’t expect you to be here either,” he snapped. “You don’t belong here, Kashish.”
Hearing him say her name sent a familiar shiver through her, but it wasn’t the same as before. He hadn’t changed, but she had. Did he even notice?
“Is this because I left?” he asked, cutting straight to the point. “Was this your plan to get me back here? If it was, congratulations—you succeeded. I’m here.”
Kashish shook her head, her voice firmer now.
“Always so presumptuous! I didn’t leave to get you back. This was something I had planned from the moment I was forced to stay with your family. I’ve enjoyed the comforts of Raheja Mansion, but I knew deep down I never really belonged there.”
Rudra let out a sarcastic laugh, his eyes narrowing.
“This isn’t a decision, Kashish—it’s an escape. If it were a real decision, why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“Would you have let me leave if I had told you?” she challenged, already knowing the answer.
“No,” he replied sharply.
“There you go,” she said, giving him a sad smile. “I knew your answer, which is why I didn’t ask for your permission.”
Rudra stared at her, shocked at how resolute she had become. In his frustration, he hadn’t even noticed how much she had changed. She looked thinner, paler, despite everyone assuring him that she was fine. She was suffering in silence, just like he was. Her eyes, now more expressive than ever, betrayed the truth. Kashish hadn’t been happy at all - she’d been crying every day, missing him. Not just once or twice, but over and over. She’d fooled everyone else, pretending to be happy. That’s why no one had noticed how sad she really was. It all made sense now. The reason he kept seeing her crying whenever he closed his eyes wasn’t just in his imagination. It was real. While he was gone, she’d been here, crying and wishing he was with her.
“So, you’ve been pretending? Pretending to be happy?”
Kashish frowned, not understanding the direction of his question.
“I should have known,” he said bitterly. “The way I know you, no one else can. I was a fool to believe others.”
Kashish felt a pang of guilt. He was right—she had been pretending.
“You can’t expect everything to happen as per your wish, Rudra, especially not in love.”
“We’ll see about that. Right now, you’re packing up and coming back with me to Raheja Mansion. And this time, it’s for good.”
Kashish let out a bitter laugh.
“What makes you think I’ll do that?”
His expression darkened with anger.
“I see this time apart has given you an attitude,” he growled.
“I’m not going anywhere, Rudra. This is my home. I belong here, not at Raheja Mansion.”
He glared at her, clearly offended. But Kashish didn’t want to fight.
“This place is close to the office. It’s more convenient for me,” she explained.
“I’ll arrange your commute,” he shot back without missing a beat.
“I don’t need your unnecessary comforts anymore,” she said, standing her ground. “I want a simple life now - the kind I should have had since I was little. The only reason I stayed at Raheja Mansion was because the law said I had to. That’s over now. I don’t have any excuse to stay there anymore, especially without you.”
Rudra raised his eyebrow.
“An excuse? That’s all it was?”
Kashish nodded, not trusting her voice, not really understanding why he seemed so wounded by her words.
“Fine,” he said.
He walked to the kitchen. She waited, wondering what he was doing. The sounds of drawers opening and closing echoed in the tense silence. When he returned, she noticed something different in his bearing - a determination, a resolve that both thrilled and terrified her.
It wasn’t until she saw the blood on his thumb that understanding began to dawn. He had deliberately cut himself, and the realization made her breath catch in her throat. Before she could process what was happening, he reached for her and pressed his bleeding thumb to her forehead, marking her hair partition with his blood. Kashish froze, shock rippling through her body like a current. The warmth of his blood on her skin felt like a brand, marking her in a way that went far deeper than the physical.
“Now you’re my wife,” he said firmly. “And not even law can keep a husband and wife apart.”
Her heart wasn’t just racing now - it was threatening to burst from her chest. What had he done? This ancient ritual, this primal claiming - it shook her to her very core. With trembling fingers, Kashish touched the blood on her forehead, feeling the wetness there, the tangible proof of his desperate action. Tears welled in her eyes.
Why did he have to do this? Why did he always have to make everything so complicated? This wasn’t love, was it? It felt more like desperation, a drastic move to claim her. Yet even as these thoughts swirled in her mind, something deeper stirred - a recognition of the passion behind his gesture, the intensity of his need to keep her in his life.
The sound of movement at the door broke through her tumultuous thoughts. They both turned to see Shekhar and Anjali standing there, completely stupefied. They hadn’t expected Rudra to return, let alone to take such a drastic step.
Rudra looked back at Kashish.
“And now we have witnesses. You don’t need any more excuses to deny this, do you?”