CHAPTER 62
A few minutes Later
Rudra shook hands firmly with the builder of the bungalow that would soon become his and Kashish’s home once they were married.
“Thank you, Mr. Patel. We loved the house.”
“I’m glad it meets your expectations, Mr. Raheja. I’ll proceed with the paperwork,” Patel replied.
“Absolutely. Jay will get in touch with you soon.”
As Patel left, Rudra turned his attention to Kashish, who was standing in the garden, her eyes locked on the flowers swaying in the breeze. She knelt down, carefully re-rooting a small plant that had been uprooted from the soil. Rudra approached her quietly, watching as her delicate hands worked to fix the plant.
“We seem to be sharing hobbies now?” he murmured, kneeling beside her to help.
“This became my little pastime while you were away in Paris,” she confessed. “I used to water your plants in the garden, nourish them... talk to them, even. It made me feel closer to you.”
Rudra felt a deep pang in his chest at her words. He swallowed hard, struggling to contain the emotions welling up inside him.
“I hope you didn’t take out your anger on my poor plants,” he teased, trying to lighten the moment, though his heart ached for the loneliness she had endured.
Kashish groaned playfully and lightly hit his arm. Before she could do it again, Rudra caught her wrist, pulling her close into a hug. His arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her as if he never wanted to let go.
“I punished you too harshly. I shouldn’t have left you.” He pressed a soft kiss into her hair.
Kashish snuggled closer cherishing their togetherness. They stayed like that, silently communicating their pain, their love, their unspoken apologies, until Rudra’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
“Yes, Bhai?”
Kashish could tell something was wrong by the way his grip on her arm tightened.
“Rudra, come home. Daadi isn’t well,” Shekhar’s voice pleaded, heavy with worry.
Rudra’s heart lurched.
“What happened to her?” he asked, nervously dragging Kashish toward the car.
“She has a high fever. She was fine this morning, but she suddenly got dizzy, and now she’s burning up. I’ve called the doctor, but you should come home right away.”
“I’m on my way. Keep me updated.”
Rudra ended the call and opened the car door for Kashish. She had already pieced together what had happened.
“Take us to Uttam Nagar first, Mohan,” Rudra commanded the driver as he slid into the car beside Kashish.
Kashish squeezed his hand gently.
“I want to come with you, Rudra. I need to see her,” she urged softly.
“Not now, Kashish.” Rudra shook his head, his gaze locked on the road ahead. “She won’t be happy to see you, and I don’t want her condition to worsen. I’ll drop you home.”
She understood. Daadi’s disapproval weighed heavily on Rudra’s mind, and bringing her along could make things worse.
“Okay,” she conceded. “But don’t waste time dropping me off. Just leave me anywhere in the city, I can manage. You need to get to her.”
Rudra appreciated her understanding and didn’t argue.
“She’ll be fine,” Kashish reassured him, but Rudra only nodded uncertainly.
Tonight was supposed to be the night he spoke to Daadi about his plan for them to live away from Raheja Mansion after the wedding. But now, that conversation would have to wait until Daadi recovered.
After dropping Kashish off in the city, Rudra sped back to Raheja Mansion. The moment he entered, he made his way to Daadi’s room, where Anjali and Shekhar stood by her bedside.
“Daadi,” Rudra stepped closer, his heart sinking at the sight of her pale, unconscious form.
Shekhar held him back.
“She’s sedated, Rudra. The fever was so high, the doctor had to give her something to make her rest,” he explained.
Rudra clenched his fists, guilt and helplessness overwhelming him.
“How is she Doctor?” he asked the Doctor who was packing up, ready to leave.
“She’s under stress. This fever is a direct result of that. Whatever is stressing her mind is manifesting in her health. She’ll be fine, but she needs complete rest.”
“We’ll need a nurse to monitor her,” Rudra suggested, desperate to ensure Daadi’s recovery.
“I’ve already arranged for one,” Shekhar replied.
Rudra sat by Daadi’s side, brushing his hand over her frail form. Her face was pale, her breathing labored. Seeing her like that broke him.
“Daadi,” he murmured, gently kissing the back of her hand.
Tears filled his eyes, but he held them back, realizing that her condition now was largely his doing. All her life, she had taken care of him, supported him, protected him after the accident that changed his life. She was his rock, and now he felt like he was betraying her by not fulfilling her last wish—to let go of Kashish.
But how could he? Kashish was his love, his lifeline. He couldn’t imagine a world without her. The conflict was tearing him apart inside.
“Please be okay, Daadi,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I need you. We all need you.”
As he sat there, caressing her hand, Rudra felt torn between two worlds. One that held the woman who raised him, and one that held the woman who completed him. How could he possibly choose between them?
****************
Kashish anxiously waited for Rudra’s call, desperate for an update on Daadi’s health. But when the phone remained silent, her worry intensified. Unable to take it any longer, she decided to call Anjali instead.
“Anju... how is Daadi now?”
“She’s still unconscious, Kashish. Her fever is so high. I just hope she pulls through soon,” Anjali whimpered, fear evident in her tone.
“Anju, don’t lose hope. Daadi is strong. This is just stress... she’ll recover soon. I know it,” Kashish reassured, though her own heart was heavy with worry.
“I hope so,” Anjali whispered, wiping her tears. “I need to make some soup for her when she wakes up. I’ll call you later.”
“Please, keep me updated,” Kashish insisted.
“We will,” she replied softly before ending the call.
Kashish set her phone aside. If Anjali was that distraught, she could only imagine what Rudra must be going through. The thought of him, emotionally shattered, made her stomach knot with concern.
****************
Hours passed before Savitri Raheja finally opened her eyes. She felt weak, her body still burning with fever. The dim light in the room barely illuminated her surroundings, but she could feel someone gently holding her hand. She slowly turned her head and found Rudra gazing at her, hope and worry battling in his eyes.
“Daadi… thank God you’re awake,” he murmured, as he kissed her hand and moved closer.
Shekhar and Anjali, who had been sitting on the couch nearby, rushed to her side.
“Daadi, how are you feeling?” Shekhar asked gently.
Savitri blinked, too exhausted to speak much, but her eyes were filled with pain. Anjali hurried to the kitchen to fetch the soup, hoping it would help.
But the moment Savitri felt Rudra’s touch, she recoiled slightly, shrugging his hand away. She refused to look at him, her expression cold. Rudra’s heart sank.
“Daadi, it’s me... your Rudra.”
“Shekhar...” Her voice barely audible as she murmured weakly
Shekhar immediately took her other hand.
“I’m here, Daadi.”
“Ask him to leave.”
Rudra froze. Shock rippled through him, unable to believe what he was hearing. Shekhar hesitated but finally spoke, trying to ease the tension.
“Daadi, Rudra is here for you...”
“Tell him to go away,” she repeated, more insistent this time, refusing to even look in Rudra’s direction.
Rudra’s body trembled. The woman who had always been his rock, his constant source of love and strength, was now rejecting him.
“Rudra, please… let’s not upset her any further,” Shekhar urged quietly.
With a heart heavy with sorrow, Rudra nodded. As much as it tore him apart, he couldn’t bear to stress her more. He stood up, his chest tightening with every step as he walked out of the room. Tears filled Savitri’s eyes, but she still wouldn’t turn to look at him.
Once in the solitude of his room, Rudra struggled to compose himself. Never had Daadi turned away from him like this. No matter how lost he’d felt, no matter how dark his days had been, she had always been there to pull him out. And now, she didn’t even want him near her. All because he loved Kashish... because he wanted to marry her.
His phone buzzed with yet another message from Kashish, who had texted him several times, worried sick about Daadi. He finally picked it up, needing her comfort more than ever.
“Rudra, are you there? What happened?”
He took a shaky breath.
“Daadi... she doesn’t want to see me.”
Kashish’s heart twisted in pain.
“What? What did she say?”
Rudra relayed the events, each word dragging him deeper into despair. Kashish was stunned by the cruelty of it all. How could Daadi, who had always been Rudra’s greatest support, take such a severe stance?
“I don’t know what to do anymore,” Rudra confessed. He felt lost, powerless.
“Rudra, listen to me. She’s angry now, but she loves you deeply. This isn’t about you... it’s about the fear she’s carrying. She’ll never truly hurt you.”
“But I can’t let go of you. I’ll never give you up, Kashish!”
“I know. And I’m not asking you to. Right now, you need to focus on Daadi. Once she gets better, we’ll find a way to help her understand. She has to see that we belong together.”
Rudra exhaled, knowing she was right, though it pained him. He had to be there for Daadi, no matter how much she was pushing him away.
“She doesn’t even want me near her, Kashish. How am I supposed to bear that?”
Kashish thought for a moment, then a small smile touched her lips as an idea formed.
“Remember how stubborn you were as a teenager?”
“I was,” he admitted, confused. “But why does that matter now?”
“Because you need to be that stubborn again. Don’t let her push you away. Be there for her, even if she doesn’t want it. Just... don’t do anything to stress her more. But make sure she knows you’re not going anywhere.”
Rudra felt a spark of hope ignite in his chest. She was right. He needed to stay by Daadi’s side, even if she didn’t want to see him.
“You’re right.” His resolve returned. “I know what I need to do now. Thank you.”
Her heart lifted, hearing the shift in his voice. “Anytime.”
There was a pause, and then his voice dropped, filled with yearning.
“I wish I could see you.”
Kashish’s heart fluttered. “I wish I could see you too,” she admitted, “but right now, Daadi needs you more. Let’s meet on Monday at the office, okay?”
Rudra sighed, leaning back against the chair.
“How am I supposed to survive another day without you?”
“Just like I’ll survive without you,” she whispered.
****************
The next morning, Rudra entered the kitchen to find Anjali preparing breakfast for Daadi.
“Keep the juice here,” Anjali instructed the maid, who placed the glass on the tray. Anjali was about to take the tray into Daadi’s room when Rudra stopped her.
“I’ll take it,” he said.
“Rudra, but Daadi doesn’t want—” Anjali started to protest, concern flashing in her eyes.
“I know,” he interrupted gently but decisively. “I’ll handle her.”
She hesitated but ultimately handed him the tray. She knew once Rudra made up his mind, there was no changing it. As he walked toward Daadi’s room, Anjali hurried to inform Shekhar.
Rudra pushed open the door to Daadi’s room. She was sitting in bed while the nurse checked her vitals. The moment she saw him, she was startled, but she masked it quickly, turning her gaze away from him.
“Good morning, Daadi,” he greeted her casually, as though the tension from the previous day hadn’t existed at all.
Daadi didn’t respond, her silence colder than the room’s air.
“How is she doing today, nurse?” he asked.
“She’s stable. No fever. The medicines are taking effect,” the nurse replied.
“Saw, Daadi? Nothing can keep you down for long. You’ll be up and about soon, just like always.”
But Daadi still refused to meet his eyes, her expression distant, almost indifferent. Rudra walked over to her bed and placed the breakfast tray in front of her.
“That’s your soup,” he said softly. “Remember how you used to feed me soup when I was a kid? You’d tell me stories about animals and birds, and I’d always ask for more.”
Daadi’s eyes flickered, memories surfacing. She swallowed hard, remembering a time when Rudra, even at eight years old, still craved those stories. Despite being beyond the age for such tales, he’d loved them anyway. Rudra dipped the spoon into the bowl and held it up to her lips.
“Today, it’s my turn to feed you. Only... I don’t have any stories to tell,” he said with a soft chuckle, hoping to break through the cold wall she’d built around herself.
Before Daadi could respond, Shekhar entered the room and asked the nurse for a moment alone. Daadi glanced at Shekhar, her gaze sharp.
“Shekhar... ask him to leave,” Daadi commanded.
Shekhar hesitated, his eyes meeting Rudra’s, torn between Daadi’s wish and the pain written across Rudra’s face.
“Rudra, maybe we should—” Shekhar began, but Rudra cut him off.
“I’m not leaving, Daadi. I’ve spent too long running away—from your commands, from this world that judged me for my mistakes, and even from the love of my life. I’m done running. I want to face it all.”
Daadi’s eyes flared with anger as she looked at him, her fury unmasked.
“Look at him, Shekhar!” she spat. “He’s already bought a house to move in with that woman after their marriage, and yet he claims he’s not running away from me?”
Rudra was momentarily stunned. How did she find out about the house? Was that why she had fallen ill so suddenly? The weight of guilt settled in his chest as he nodded slowly.
“Yes, it’s true. I was planning to tell you yesterday, Daadi, but—”
“Don’t lie!” Daadi snapped. “You weren’t going to tell us. You don’t care about anyone anymore—just that woman, that woman who has poisoned your mind since the day she entered your life.”
Rudra clenched his teeth, struggling to control his temper. He could never tolerate false accusations against Kashish, but he knew he needed to remain calm.
“I will never accept her in this house,” she declared with finality.
Rudra’s heart ached, but he couldn’t let her hatred of Kashish’s father continue to poison everything.
“You can’t blame her for her father’s actions,” he still argued. “Kashish isn’t responsible for what he did.”
“That’s not the only reason I despise her,” Daadi shot back. “You’ve conveniently forgotten how she insulted you every chance she got, how she hurt you—physically and emotionally. That scar on your forehead,” she pointed angrily, “that was her doing, wasn’t it?”
Rudra instinctively touched the scar. It was true—Kashish had thrown that stone at him when they were children. But she had changed. And their love had healed so many wounds.
“Kashish has nothing to do with the phobia I have,” Rudra insisted. “She’s the one helping me overcome it, Daadi. She’s the reason I’m finally finding peace. She’s my solace.”
“Peace?” she echoed bitterly. “Is that what you think this is?”
Rudra exhaled sharply, trying to hold onto his patience.
“Fine. Let’s not talk about Kashish anymore. For the next few weeks, let’s just... be like we used to. Like the old days. No more fights, no more arguments about her. Please, Daadi. Can we just try to be a family again?”
Daadi remained silent for a long moment studying his face. Finally, she nodded, but her agreement came with a condition.
“But on one condition—you have to meet Suman.”
Rudra’s fists clenched involuntarily. He glanced at Shekhar, who silently urged him to comply, at least for now.
“You said you want to act like Kashish doesn’t exist in this family, didn’t you?” Daadi continued. “Then meet Suman. She’s the girl I believe is right for you.”
“You know that’s impossible, Daadi. I’m already in love with someone.”
“Just meet Suman. Spend time with her and decide for yourself. You’ll never regret my choice, Rudra.”
Rudra sighed heavily, and finally he gave in.
“Fine. I’ll meet her,” he agreed reluctantly.
Daadi’s smile returned.
Without another word, he dipped the spoon into the soup and brought it to Daadi’s lips. She accepted it, and though the tension remained, there was a small, fleeting sense of peace in the room. As Rudra continued feeding her, his mind drifted to Kashish. He knew there would be a storm when she found out about this agreement, but part of him believed she would understand why he had to do it. And he was certain of one thing—no matter how many women he met, his heart belonged to Kashish. And it always would.