CHAPTER 56
Raheja Mansion
As Rudra stepped into the house, Daadi welcomed him with open arms. Her fingers lingering on his face as she studied him with concern.
“You’ve become thinner. Did you not eat well in Paris?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.
“I’m learning martial arts, Daadi. I found a good trainer in Paris.”
“Martial arts?” she asked, confused. “Who are you planning to fight?”
Shekhar laughed at Daadi’s innocent questions.
“Daadi, people don’t learn martial arts just to fight. It’s for fitness too. Rudra, what made you take this up all of a sudden?”
Rudra shrugged nonchalantly.
“Just felt like it, Bhai.”
Daadi, though, had other concerns on her mind.
“Well, now that you’re back, I want you to stay as long as you can. But tell me, have you planned your return to Paris?”
A sarcastic smile flickered on Rudra’s face. He could sense the undercurrent in her words, her relentless mission to distance him from Kashish.
“Don’t you like me being here, Daadi?” he asked pointedly.
Daadi was caught off guard.
“Of course I do, beta. I pray for it every day. But you have… distractions here. I just don’t want you wasting your life chasing after them.”
Rudra sighed. “Her name is Kashish. And she’s not a distraction, Daadi. But I’m too tired to get into another argument about this now. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
With that, he hurried to his room, pulling his phone out of his pocket. He needed to know—had Kashish fallen asleep, or was she still awake?
******************
Kashish lay on her bed thinking about everything that had happened in the last few hours. Thankfully, despite his intense display, he had respected her space, allowing her to stay at her own home. But along with that space came the most important decision of her life. They had two months to convince Daadi to accept her. If they failed, Rudra wouldn’t wait any longer—he would marry her.
For two long months, Kashish had cried herself to sleep, aching for Rudra’s forgiveness, praying he would come back. Tonight, for the first time, there were no tears, but neither was there peace. Last night, she had felt the crushing loneliness of this house. Tonight, her mind replayed every moment spent with Rudra earlier—his presence, his help in the kitchen, their shared dinner. She tossed and turned, her thoughts lingering on the kiss she had denied him. After two months of separation, the intensity of their love had only deepened. Her body trembled with the longing to be in his arms, a sensation she had never experienced so powerfully before.
She recalled his frustrated face when she had denied him that kiss. It must have taken every ounce of self-control for him to respect her boundaries. But what she didn’t know was whether his fear of touch—his Haphephobia—had improved. Had he worked on it during their time apart? Regardless, she wasn’t going to push him. If he couldn’t bear to be touched, then she would restrain herself. It was him she wanted, all of him—his flaws, his anger, his fears, his passion.
Once again, a deep blush crept over her cheeks as she remembered how his face had hardened when she refused to kiss him. Was she acting like a giddy teenager experiencing her first crush? Perhaps she was. And why shouldn’t she? Rudra was her first crush, her first love, her first everything. She felt proud and happy that the man who filled every role in her life was the one she would soon marry.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Rudra.
‘Missing you.’
Kashish sighed, her heart swelling. She missed him too. She typed back a reply.
‘Had you lost my number when you were in Paris? Not a single message. I didn’t expect that from the man who claims to love me beyond this universe.’
Rudra felt a pang at her words. He quickly typed back.
‘Watch your words. Get your facts straight. I don’t just claim to love you—I really do.’
He knew why she was upset. He should have reached out to her, even in his anger. His love for her hadn’t lessened. Why had he avoided contacting her? Kashish smirked at his response, intrigued.
‘Then why no message in the last two months?’ she shot back.
Rudra grinned, shaking his head.
‘That was your punishment. And I could ask you the same—you had my Paris number. Why didn’t YOU message me?’
Kashish frowned at his response. She quickly typed back.
‘I was just respecting your punishment.’
Rudra chuckled.
‘Smart woman. Now, go to sleep and meet me in our dreams.’
Kashish blushed as she placed her phone down, knowing that if she replied, their conversation would continue, and none of them would sleep tonight. He wanted her to rest, and for once, she would obey.
******************
As Kashish prepared for work, an unusual spark of excitement coursed through her. After enduring two long months without him, she finally had the chance to see Rudra again—every single day. It felt like an unexpected blessing, a chance to be near him once more. But she still grappled with the question that haunted her: was Rudra content with her love, or did he still harbor complaints?
The doorbell rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. Confused, she wondered if it could be Rudra, even though she had told him not to pick her up. Why couldn’t he respect her boundaries? The bell rang again, more insistent this time. She hurried to the door, only to freeze when she saw who was standing there.
“Daadi?”
Kashish instinctively stepped back as Savitri Raheja entered the house, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings with an air of judgment.
“You seem to have settled in,” Daadi remarked with a scrutinizing gaze.
“Yes... Would you like to sit? I’ll make some tea,” she offered, trying to remain polite despite the tension in the air.
“No need. I didn’t come here for tea,” Daadi’s voice cut like ice.
Kashish knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant visit. Daadi had always been determined to keep her away from Rudra, and she could feel the weight of that disapproval pressing on her now.
“You’ve played your trick again, haven’t you?” Daadi’s words were sharp, accusatory.
“What trick?” she frowned
“I thought, maybe, just maybe, when you left Raheja Mansion, you finally realized that Rudra wasn’t meant for you—that you were stepping back for the greater good. But I was wrong. You left knowing full well that he’d come running back to you the moment he found out. Clever, Kashish. If it weren’t about my grandson, I’d almost admire your tactics,” Daadi sneered.
Kashish didn’t flinch. She had grown accustomed to Daadi’s bitterness, but this accusation felt particularly cruel.
“You’ve always misunderstood me, Daadi. That’s not your fault or mine—it’s the circumstances we’ve all been caught in for years. But I assure you, I don’t play tricks. If I wanted Rudra back so desperately, I wouldn’t have let him leave for Paris in the first place.”
Daadi blinked, momentarily stunned by her calm and direct response.
“Your explanations won’t change my mind. This is your last warning—don’t cross the line. Rudra is far beyond your reach. Let him go.”
The harshness of Daadi’s words stung, but Kashish refused to let her see the hurt.
“I’ll tell you this for the last time, Daadi—don’t try to pull Rudra away from me. He won’t survive it. I’ve considered your words before, knowing the pain my father caused your family. I’ve even thought about leaving him for his own good. But I can’t. Even if I die, he’ll never stop loving me. And I refuse to push him back into the darkness after I’ve given him a reason to hope again.”
Daadi’s eyes flared with anger, but Kashish remained calm, unshaken.
“I’m getting late for work,” Kashish added, her tone polite but firm. “If there’s nothing else, can we leave this here?”
Daadi’s pride prickled at Kashish’s composed defiance. She couldn’t understand where this girl drew her strength from—perhaps it was Rudra’s love that fortified her resolve. It infuriated her.
“I’ll still give you time,” Daadi said, one last attempt to assert control.
Kashish didn’t miss a beat.
“Two months. That’s all the time you have to accept me for your grandson. We agreed yesterday. I convinced Rudra to give you that much. If you accept us by then, we’ll marry sooner. If you don’t, we’ll still marry after two months. The choice is yours—decide when the wedding happens.”
Daadi stared at her, stunned by the revelation. How could Rudra have made such a drastic decision without her knowledge? Without another word, Daadi stormed out of the house.
Kashish exhaled deeply, her hands trembled slightly from the confrontation, but she felt a sense of relief. She had made it clear to Daadi—this time, there would be no turning back.
******************
Raheja Office
Rudra watched Kashish step out of the elevator, his eyes tracing her every movement. She looked different today—more formal, more polished. Her crisp white shirt was neatly tucked into a fitted grey pencil skirt that ended just below her knees, accentuated by black stockings and perfectly shined black heels. He had never seen her in such an outfit before, and it stirred something inside him. He waited outside his cabin, hoping she would walk straight to him, acknowledge him first. But she didn’t.
Instead, she went to her colleagues, greeted them, collected her agenda from her assistant, Preeti, and then made her way to the pantry. He knew she had seen him—felt his gaze—and yet, she had chosen to ignore his presence entirely. That didn’t sit well with him.
Frustrated, he followed her. As she stood there, stirring her coffee, alone, he finally broke the silence.
“It’s not very polite to ignore your boss first thing in the morning.”
Kashish almost spilled her coffee, startled. She hadn’t expected him to follow her here. Composing herself quickly, she turned around and took a slow sip from her cup, meeting his gaze.
“I’ve just been warned to stay clear of you,” she teased, her tone light but laced with a hidden edge.
Rudra’s expression shifted. She noticed the change immediately—he was not in the mood for games. He stepped closer to her.
“Daadi?” he asked, already guessing who had given the warning.
Kashish nodded, confirming his suspicion. His fists clenched, a storm brewing in his eyes. He should have known his grandmother wouldn’t stay quiet for long. Daadi was fighting the wrong battle.
“What did you say to her?” he demanded to know.
Kashish’s lips curled into a soft smile as she playfully tugged at his tie.
“I told her I’m not leaving her grandson. Ever.”
Rudra’s expression softened, and a slow, pleased smile spread across his face. Just that look from him made her entire morning worth it—brighter than she could have imagined.
“Smart reply,” he murmured, taking her hand in his.
Just then, someone from the staff walked into the pantry. Kashish immediately pulled back, shifting away from him, and Rudra stepped back too, maintaining a professional distance.
“You need a coffee?” she asked, trying to appear casual for the sake of the other employee.
Rudra had already had his morning coffee, but he wasn’t about to pass up this opportunity.
“Yeah, get it to my cabin,” he replied before turning to leave.
Kashish smirked, seeing through his plan. He just wanted to get her into his cabin. She couldn’t deny him now, not without making it obvious. She quickly prepared another cup of coffee and made her way to his office. On the way, Shekhar greeted her.
“Hey, nice outfit. You look like a true businesswoman today,” he remarked.
“Thanks, Shekhar. This has been sitting in my wardrobe forever. I bought it with my first paycheck, thought I’d finally wear it today.”
Shekhar grinned. “I’m sure your admirer has already complimented you.”
Kashish bit back a blush.
“Not yet,” she said, her tone playful. “Now, excuse me—he asked for a hot coffee, not cold.”
Shekhar chuckled and let her pass. When Kashish entered Rudra’s cabin, he was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the city. He turned as she stepped inside, taking the coffee mug from her hand.
“What took you so long?”
“I ran into your brother. He was complimenting my attire,” she replied nonchalantly.
Rudra’s eyes traveled over her, from head to toe, but instead of the praise she was expecting, he gave her a look that said, “It’s okay, but not perfect.”
“You don’t like it?” she asked, slightly annoyed.
“Something’s missing,” he said, his gaze locking onto her forehead. “Where’s the Sindoor?”
“I don’t remember us getting married,” she stammered, trying to keep her voice steady.
Rudra took a step toward her, his eyes darkening with purpose.
“You don’t?” His voice was dangerously soft, a challenge in every syllable.
She instinctively stepped back as he advanced.
“Do you need me to remind you?”
Kashish’s breath hitched.
“Rudra… we talked about this yesterday. That wasn’t a marriage,” she stammered again, her words barely holding their ground.
Rudra set her coffee mug down.
“I still consider you my wife,” he stated with a finality that made her knees weak.
Before she could respond, he gently touched her lips, stroking them with his thumb. The gesture was intimate, electric. Then, with that same thumb, he touched her forehead, smearing a light mark of lipstick as if it were Sindoor. Kashish closed her eyes.
“There. Now you look like my wife,” he whispered possessively.
Her heart pounded in her chest as this tension between them was too much to handle. When she finally opened her eyes, Rudra was gazing at her with an intensity that made her feel like she was the most precious thing in his world. His hands cupped her face, holding her gently but firmly, his eyes scanning her features as though memorizing every inch of her.
“I could look at you like this for the rest of my life.”
Kashish’s breath hitched again, her body betraying her. He still craved her, that much was clear, and she knew she felt the same. But there was a storm between them that hadn’t calmed yet. Her eyes fluttered with the surge of emotions she tried to contain.
“If you think I’m just going to let you get your way with me after you abandoned me for Paris, then you’re wrong, Mr. Rudra Raheja,” she shot back. “I have plenty of scores to settle before I even consider that.”
Rudra’s brow lifted in amusement, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he released her.
“I admire your determination,” he mused. “But I promise you, it won’t last long.”
Kashish rolled her eyes, knowing he wasn’t someone you could easily argue with. She cast a glance at her reflection in the glass wall of his office and froze. The lipstick mark on her forehead looked eerily like Sindoor. How had she chosen red lipstick today of all days?
“Rudra, I can’t go out like this,” she exclaimed, panic creeping into her voice. “What if someone notices?”
“I don’t care,” he replied, completely unconcerned.
“Well, I do,” she countered sharply.
His playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a harder edge.
“You don’t want people to know about us?”
Kashish immediately regretted her words and softened her tone, not wanting to wound him.
“It’s not that, Rudra. I just don’t want unnecessary attention, especially about this... Sindoor. We still have two months, right?”
“Two months for Daadi to accept you,” he clarified, his voice gruff. “For the rest of the world, I don’t give a damn!”
Kashish’s frustration simmered beneath the surface.
“I believe in completing the rituals, not the half-measures we went through last night.”
“I can finish those rituals for you right now if you want,” he growled, his impatience palpable.
Kashish took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. He always wanted things his way—there was no middle ground with Rudra. She glanced at the clock on his desk, realizing she had work to finish. This argument wasn’t going to end any time soon.
Without another word, she untied her hair and let it fall over her forehead, hiding the lipstick mark. It was the only solution to avoid unnecessary questions.
“I’ll ask Jay to get you another coffee. This one’s probably cold by now,” she muttered, reaching for the mug.
But before she could take it, Rudra grabbed her wrist, snatched the mug from her hand, and downed the cold coffee in one swift motion.
“Why did you drink it?” she asked, baffled.
“I didn’t want your effort to go to waste,” he said, finishing the last drop and handing the mug back to her. “Finish your work quickly. I have plans for us this evening,” he added.
“What plans?”
“You’ll find out.”
He returned to his chair, picking up where he had left off. Kashish sighed, still not understanding him fully, but knowing better than to push for answers. She walked out of his office, making sure her hair still covered the lipstick mark.