CHAPTER 61
Kashish stepped out of the cab at the multiplex, where her colleagues waited. Roma spotted her first, waving energetically.
“Kashish, over here!”
Kashish hurried toward the group, plastering a smile on her face.
“Hi, guys. Hope I’m not too late.”
“Not really. We’re just glad you made it.” Roma grinned.
“Me too. Let’s head in.”
Two team members went to buy popcorn and coffee for the group while Kashish checked her phone, disappointed to see no message from Rudra. With a smirk, she typed one herself.
Why no message? Or has the successful implementation of Plan B dulled your interest in your favorite subject—me?
She hit send just as Roma handed her the popcorn.
“Thanks. Which screen?”
“Screen 2. Recliner seats are waiting for us,” Roma replied, leading the way.
Kashish faked a smile, but her mind was elsewhere, focused on her phone, eagerly waiting for Rudra’s reply. Once they were seated, she hurriedly checked her phone again. His reply beeped.
I can never get enough of my favorite subject—YOU. I’m in an important meeting, clearing my mind, heart, and time for you so nothing distracts me later. Enjoy your movie… and don’t drool over the actor too much. Save your eyes for me.
Even from a distance, Rudra knew exactly how to make her blush. Roma noticed her sudden change in demeanor and leaned over.
“Everything okay? You seem... different today.”
Kashish shut her phone, forcing a casual smile.
“All good, Roma. Just a little tired.”
It wasn’t a complete lie. She hadn’t slept much last night, and it showed. Roma raised an eyebrow, curious.
“Lack of sleep? What were you up to? Work?”
Flashes of the night before surged through Kashish’s mind, and her face turned crimson again.
“Yeah… household work,” she lied quickly.
“Oh, right! You moved out of the Raheja house recently, didn’t you?”
Kashish nodded, feeling relieved that the conversation had shifted. Moving out of Raheja Mansion had been the catalyst that brought Rudra back from Paris. In a strange way, it had all worked out.
As the movie began, Kashish tried to focus on the screen, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Rudra. Every romantic scene reminded her of him—of their love, their intimacy, and the night they had shared. It was impossible to concentrate. Her heart was too consumed by him. True love had a way of making everything else seem small. Crushes, exes, even favorite movie stars—all paled in comparison to the person who made you feel what real love was.
*****************
Just as the movie ended and they were leaving the multiplex, Kashish heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Kashish.”
She turned, and there he was—Rudra Raheja, casually dressed, walking toward her, taking off his sunglasses with that effortless confidence that always made her heart race. He looked different, more relaxed, glowing even. She wasn’t used to seeing him in casual clothes, and the sight sent her pulse soaring.
“Oh my God, what is our boss doing here?” Roma whispered, straightening up along with the rest of the group.
“Good afternoon, Sir,” they greeted.
He greeted them all back before his eyes were locked on Kashish alone.
“How was the movie?” he asked only her. Of course.
Kashish felt every eye on them, surprised that Rudra knew about their movie plans, and even more shocked that he was asking only for her opinion.
“It was… good,” she managed to reply.
“If you all don’t mind, I need to take Kashish with me. We have some plans,” Rudra announced casually, sliding his arm around her waist in a way that made his claim over her crystal clear.
Kashish’s heart skipped a beat at his touch, and she bit her lip, trying to contain the surge of emotions his presence stirred inside her. Her colleagues exchanged glances, taken aback by the display of affection.
“Of course, Sir. Bye, Kashish!” Roma waved awkwardly, trying to wrap her head around what she had just witnessed.
“Bye. Thanks for inviting me. It was fun spending time with you outside the office,” Kashish said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the electric sensation of Rudra’s fingers brushing her waist.
As they walked toward his car, Kashish shot him a sideways glance.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” she teased.
“Didn’t you like the surprise?” He gave her a sly smile.
“I did… but did you have to make it so obvious in front of them?”
“They had to find out sooner or later.”
“Yeah, but not today.”
Rudra stopped too, turning to face her.
“They’ll be even more shocked when they see the ‘Raheja’ tag after your name in two months. This was just to prepare them for what’s coming.”
Kashish rolled her eyes.
“Rudra…”
“Are you going to argue with me, or can we move on to the rest of our day?” He cut her off, his tone firm but playful.
“Plans? I don’t remember us making any plans for today.”
“I made plans for us,” he said with that same enigmatic smile, taking her hand and leading her toward the car.
As they settled in, Kashish’s curiosity got the best of her.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” he replied, keeping their fingers intertwined.
But there was something else on her mind.
“Did Daadi notice you weren’t home last night?”
“Yes.” Rudra raised her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly.
“What? What did you tell her?” Kashish froze, pulling her hand back.
“I told her I was with you,” he said nonchalantly, “the whole night.”
Her face flushed instantly.
“Rudra! Why would you tell her that? You know she’s already against us. Now you’ve given her another reason to hate me. She’ll think I’m trying to trap you.”
Rudra’s gaze softened as he reached for her hand again.
“She already thinks that, but I don’t care. We both know the truth. It’s not you trying to keep me —it’s me who doesn’t want to let you go.”
His words were like a balm, soothing her anxieties, but she still worried about the consequences.
“Stop overthinking about Daadi.” He tilted his head slightly, studying her.
“You wouldn’t say that if you were in my shoes,” she retorted, frustrated.
Rudra grinned, his amusement only irritating her more.
“What are you grinning at? I’m serious.”
“You really need some sleep, Kashish. You’re overthinking everything.”
Maybe he was right. Maybe she just needed to rest, to ease her mind. After all, they had already decided—nothing and no one would come between them. She trusted him completely. Why let the world’s opinions get in the way? She leaned her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
“Wake me up when we get there.”
As she relaxed against him, Kashish knew one thing for sure—Rudra was her home. No other place could bring her the peace and comfort she found in his arms.
*****************
“We’ve arrived,” Rudra whispered softly, waking her from the light sleep she had drifted into while resting on his shoulder.
Kashish blinked her eyes open, disoriented at first, trying to recall when she had fallen asleep.
“How long did I sleep?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.
“About 40 minutes,”
He unlocked the door of the car. “Come on.”
As she stepped onto the pavement, her gaze fell upon a beautiful, modern bungalow. The architecture was sleek, with clean lines and wide windows that allowed the moonlight to pour over the white walls, giving the entire house an ethereal glow.
“Where are we?” she asked, scanning the exterior of the house.
There was something so serene about the place, away from the city’s usual hustle and chaos.
“Close to the southside of Delhi, and far from the city noise. It’s still a developing area,” Rudra explained casually, though there was a quiet excitement in his tone.
Her curiosity deepened as they approached the entrance. Rudra pulled out a key and handed it to her.
“I want you to open the door.”
Kashish was confused. Whose house was this? Why had they come here? And why did he have the key to this place? She looked at him with questions in her eyes, but his reassuring smile urged her to trust him.
“Go on,” he nudged.
Hesitating for only a moment, she inserted the key into the lock, feeling a strange rush of anticipation as the door clicked open. Hand in hand, they stepped inside. The interior was modern, sophisticated, and luxurious, yet it had a warmth that made it feel like a home. Rudra watched her carefully as she took it all in—the polished floors, the tasteful furniture, the soft lighting.
“Do you like it?”
Her opinion meant everything to him.
“Yes, it’s beautiful,” she murmured, still overwhelmed and unsure of what this meant.
“This...” he whispered, stepping closer, “is going to be our home. After we marry.”
Our home? She turned to face him, her eyes wide with surprise.
“And Raheja Mansion?
“You know we can’t live there, not until Daadi accepts you willingly.”
“So you mean... we’ll stay apart from your family?” Her voice wavered, and she pulled back from his touch. “How long will that be, Rudra? Can you even guess how long this will last?”
“Kashish, I don’t want to be apart from you, and I can’t keep spending more time convincing Daadi to accept us. This is the only way, at least for now. I will divide my time between you and her, making sure she doesn’t feel neglected. But this is the only solution for us right now.”
She wanted to argue, to push back, but the truth was, she couldn’t come up with a better plan either. Rudra cupped her face, his thumb gently wiping away the tear that escaped.
“I can’t risk keeping you both under the same roof,” he continued. “Nor can I delay our life together any longer. I want you. I need you. We’ll make this work, even if it’s hard.”
Overwhelmed, Kashish wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself against his chest. She didn’t know what else to say. She wasn’t entirely convinced by this idea, but she understood. She couldn’t keep delaying their marriage either. They both wanted each other too much to wait. If this was the only way, then so be it.
“She’s not going to be happy when she finds out about this arrangement,” she replied, lifting her head to meet his eyes. “Have you told Shekhar and Anjali yet?”
“Not yet,” he admitted. “I wanted to talk to you first. I’ll speak to them tonight.”
Kashish’s heart broke a little for him. She knew this wasn’t going to be easy for Rudra. He loved his family, especially his grandmother. It was going to be difficult for him to have this conversation. Daadi had been his pillar of strength ever since his parents passed away. But now, Kashish was that pillar too. And no matter what she would always stand by him.
“Show me our bedroom,” she whispered, trying to lighten the mood.
“I thought women usually wanted to see the kitchen first,” he teased, his smile returning.
“You’re right, most women do,” she replied with a playful smirk. “But I’ve already found my way into your heart, and that’s not through your stomach anymore,” she said, trailing her fingers across his chest, resting her hand over his beating heart.
Rudra didn’t move. He stood still, captivated by her touch as her fingers grazed his neck, shoulder, and then his nape. There was an almost reverent silence between them, broken only by the soft sound of their breathing.
“Why are you so perfect?” she whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Rudra didn’t respond, but the dark, hungry look in his eyes said more than words ever could. Her fingers traced along his jaw and then to his lips. He surrendered to her touch, and before he knew it, their lips met. The kiss was slow and deep.
“Before you distract me again,” Rudra said as they pulled apart to breathe and then swiftly lifted her into his arms, “let me show you the rest of the house.”
“Like this?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck for support.
“Yes, exactly like this,” he replied, carrying her toward the stairs, his heart full and his mind already envisioning the future they would build together.