CHAPTER 63
Raheja Office
The next day Rudra shared the latest development with Kashish at office. He had just finished telling her about Daadi’s health and how she was insistent that he meet her friend’s granddaughter, Suman. The moment those words left his mouth, Kashish burst into laughter.
Rudra stood frozen, watching her in disbelief. He hadn’t expected this reaction—certainly not laughter.
“You... and... Suman?” Kashish could barely get the words out between her laughter. She laughed so hard that her eyes teared up, and she had to hold her stomach from the ache. Rudra, however, wasn’t amused. He walked over and grasped her arms, trying to steady her, making her look at him.
“What’s so funny?”
Kashish tried to stifle her laughter but failed, erupting into giggles again. Rudra’s eyes narrowed, his arms folding across his chest as he waited for her to calm down.
“Sorry... I’m sorry,” she managed, wiping away her tears. “But the thought of you... with any other woman… cracked me up.”
“Cracked you up?” he muttered. “It nearly knocked the breath out of me when I promised Daadi I’d meet her.”
Kashish shook her head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips again.
“I get it, I do. It must have been hard for you. But honestly, Rudra, the idea is just... ridiculous.”
Rudra’s expression softened slightly, though a trace of frustration lingered.
“I thought Daadi would eventually accept me,” Kashish said, her voice more somber now. “But this proves she’s determined to keep us apart. She hates me enough to push you toward someone else.”
That hit Rudra hard. Kashish noticed the conflict etched into his face and stepped closer, her fingers threading softly through his hair.
“Hey... don’t lose hope,” she whispered, gently. “She’ll realize soon enough that no one else can keep you as happy as I can.”
A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
“And what if I start liking Suman?”
Kashish rolled her eyes, recognizing his attempt to test her. She wasn’t fazed.
“If that happens, I’ll happily step aside. All I want is your happiness, Rudra. If someone else can give that to you, then I’ll let you go. Even if it kills me.”
Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. Without warning, Rudra gripped her by the nape of her neck and kissed her with an intensity that left no room for doubt. She didn’t resist, her body melting into his. When he finally pulled back, his face was flushed with anger and passion.
“That will never happen,” he growled. “You and I... we’re meant to be together.”
“Forever,” Kashish whispered back, meaning it with every fiber of her being. Nothing—no one—could ever change that truth for her, not even Daadi.
They held each other close, the moment stretching in silence until a knock at the door broke them apart. Kashish quickly moved away, pretending to busy herself with papers as Shekhar stepped in.
“Hey,” Shekhar said, noticing the tension in the room. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No, Bhai, come in,” Rudra replied, regaining his composure as he sat behind his desk.
“Rudra, Daadi called me since your phone was unreachable. She said she’s fixed your dinner meeting with Suman at Raheja Mansion tonight,” Shekhar explained.
Kashish’s amusement at the whole Suman situation was starting to wane. The reality of it—Rudra actually sitting down with another woman, even if it was just to appease Daadi—began to settle in, and it wasn’t as funny anymore. She glanced at Rudra, who caught the shift in her expression and turned back to Shekhar.
“I’ll be there for dinner,” Rudra said evenly.
Shekhar sighed. “Yesterday, when I saw Daadi’s health, I agreed to this whole thing. But, Rudra, this isn’t right. Daadi’s demands won’t stop here. She needs to accept that you and Kashish are a unit, that you can’t be pushed toward someone else like some toy. You’re human. Your feelings can’t be swayed so easily. I don’t understand why she’s so adamant.”
“It might be her age, Bhai,” Rudra replied, trying to justify Daadi’s stubbornness.
“Or her insecurity,” Kashish added quietly, drawing both brothers’ attention.
“Insecurity?” Shekhar asked, curious.
Kashish stepped forward.
“Think about it. Rudra’s love for me is so deep. Daadi fears losing her place in his heart. She wants a woman she can control, someone like Suman, who won’t challenge her or threaten her bond with him. In her eyes, I’m a threat because I share something with Rudra that no one else can.”
She had a point. Both Rudra and Shekhar considered that.
“She’s afraid of losing me,” Rudra muttered, rubbing his temples. “And the fact that we’re planning to live separately only amplified her fears. That’s why she’s pushing for Suman. She can’t bear the idea of losing control.”
Shekhar nodded in agreement.
“It makes sense. I’ve seen how Daadi has always been overly protective of you. This might just be her way of keeping that control.”
“But how did she find out about the other house?” Rudra asked, still perplexed.
“She must have heard it from Mr. Patel, the builder. His team contacted Raheja Mansion when they couldn’t reach you, and that’s how she found out,” Shekhar explained.
Rudra exhaled deeply. “It doesn’t matter, Bhai. I’m still marrying Kashish at the end of next month. Daadi will have to accept it, sooner or later.”
“Good. That’s all I needed to hear,” Shekhar said, smiling as he excused himself to head to a meeting.
After Shekhar left, Rudra noticed the flicker of doubt in Kashish’s eyes. He stepped closer, lifting her chin so their eyes met.
“If you keep looking this worried, I won’t go meet Suman at all,” he said softly.
Kashish shook her head.
“No, don’t do that. I’ll be fine.”
He kissed her forehead tenderly.
“I can’t wait to marry you.”
“Me neither,” she whispered, her heart swelling. “But let’s focus on Daadi for now. Remember what I told you? Relive those moments with your family that you’ve lost.”
Rudra nodded, pulling her close for another kiss.
“And don’t forget, no matter where I am, my heart and soul belong to you.”
“I know,” she smiled, her confidence returning. “Now, let me get back to work.”
“See me before you leave for home,” Rudra requested.
“I will,” she promised, before stepping out of his office.
As she left, Rudra knew she was trying to stay strong for him, even though the thought of him meeting Suman didn’t go well with her. It was hard for her, just as it was for him.
*****************
Raheja Mansion
Daadi was brimming with excitement as she prepared for the dinner. Suman was going to arrive soon, and Daadi was thrilled at the thought of introducing her to Rudra. The moment Rudra stepped in from work, Daadi practically glowed with anticipation.
“Thank God you’re here. I thought you might purposely arrive late tonight,” she said, rushing toward him.
Rudra smiled, putting his arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the living room.
“How could I break a promise I made to you?”
Daadi beamed, clearly pleased.
“I assure you, Rudra, my choice for you is perfect. Suman is a wonderful girl.”
“I’m sure she is,” he replied, knowing that Daadi’s ideal match for him would embody everything she wanted in a daughter-in-law. “I’ll freshen up quickly and be right back,” Rudra said, ready to escape to his room for a moment of solitude. But before he could leave, a voice rang out from the doorway.
“Namaste, Daadi.”
Everyone turned toward the door, and there stood Suman, smiling brightly.
“Oh, Suman!” Daadi exclaimed, rushing to greet her. “I’m so happy you accepted my invitation. Please, come in.”
Rudra’s entire body tensed. The charade had begun. He would have to play the role of the gracious host, ask all the polite questions, and feign interest in a conversation he had absolutely no desire to have. Daadi led Suman inside, introducing her to Shekhar and Anjali first. Rudra stayed rooted where he stood, his face carefully neutral.
“This is my elder grandson, Shekhar, and his wife, Anjali,” Daadi said with pride.
“Hi,” Suman greeted them with a warm smile, hugging Anjali and exchanging pleasantries. Then her eyes fell on Rudra, and a spark of excitement flickered in her gaze.
“And this,” Daadi continued, “is the one you’ve come to meet. My youngest grandson, Rudra.”
Rudra offered a polite smile.
“Hi, Suman,” he greeted her, showing no signs of the internal turmoil that raged beneath his calm exterior. As he looked at her, his mind drifted to Kashish. If she were here witnessing this scene, she would be burning with jealousy. And if he ever saw Kashish cry because of this, it would tear him apart.
“Rudra, Suman asked you something,” Daadi’s voice pulled him back to the moment.
He blinked. “Oh, sorry. What was it?”
Suman blushed, clearly a bit flustered, and repeated her question.
“I was asking if you work late often. You seem to have just come from the office.”
Rudra forced a smile.
“Yes, meetings and all that. But I try to come home earlier when I can. Please, make yourself comfortable. I’ll go change.”
Daadi was practically floating with happiness at how smoothly things were going. Rudra, however, could barely breathe. Every moment felt suffocating. He excused himself and walked toward his room. He didn’t want Suman. He wanted Kashish—only Kashish. Meeting this woman only reinforced how deeply he felt for her.
After changing into his night clothes, his eyes fell on the bedside table. There was something missing—Kashish’s photo. He had framed it during his time in Paris and kept it beside him, needing to see her face every morning and night. But now it was gone. Rudra quickly searched the drawers, panic rising in his chest. His door opened, and Daadi stepped in.
“It’s in your closet,” she explained.
Rudra clenched his jaw, realizing that Daadi had hidden it on purpose. He walked to the closet and found the photo, exactly where she said it would be. As he held the frame in his hand, Daadi came closer.
“I didn’t want Suman to know about your... attachment. She’s here to meet a man who’s available, not someone already in love with another woman.”
Rudra let out a bitter laugh, turning to face her.
“She’s going to find out eventually, Daadi. Why hide it? I thought we agreed to be honest with each other. You know I hate lying.”
Daadi’s expression hardened.
“Just this one lie, Rudra. Just pretend for tonight that you’re single and not involved with any other woman. Can’t you do that much for me?”
“The woman who always told me to be truthful is now asking me to lie?” he countered, his voice low but cutting.
Daadi looked pained, as if his words had struck her deeply. Rudra sighed, but the sight of her vulnerability made his heart soften. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Fine,” he relented. “I’ll do this for you. But only because I can’t stand to see you hurt.”
Before she could respond, Ram Prasad appeared at the door, announcing that dinner was ready. Rudra led Daadi out, and they joined the others at the table.
As they began eating, Daadi couldn’t help herself.
“Rudra,” she called, “why don’t you ask Suman something? She’s eager to talk to you.”
Suman smiled again, her eyes darting shyly toward Rudra. He cleared his throat, forcing himself to play along.
“So, Suman,” he began, “I hear you work as Assistant Director in your father’s company.”
“Yes. I’m their only daughter, so I’ll keep supporting their business even after marriage.”
Rudra’s stomach churned. She was talking as if their marriage was already a done deal. He forced a smile and took a sip of water, his mind elsewhere.
Daadi, eager to promote Suman’s virtues, chimed in.
“Suman is very religious. She attends Satsang regularly with her grandmother. That’s how we met, and I instantly liked her.”
Rudra’s thoughts drifted back to Kashish, knowing that her connection with religion had always been complicated after losing her father at such a young age. But she was trying. She was making an effort, slowly reconnecting with faith. He admired that about her.
Suman’s voice pulled him back to the conversation.
“I’m glad that girl—what’s her name? Kashish, right?” she asked in a dismissive tone. “I’m glad she’s out of this house. You should fire her from your company as well. It’s the best way to get rid of her completely.”
Rudra froze, his blood boiling. Did Daadi tell Suman about Kashish’s father and the accident? His gaze turned to Daadi, but she avoided his eyes, continuing to eat in silence. Suman, however, continued speaking, oblivious to the tension in the air.
“Daadi told me how you are not fully responsible for her father’s accident. That girl doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near you. Her father ruined your family. She’s no different.”
Rudra’s fist tightened around his fork. He couldn’t take it anymore.
“What did Kashish do to deserve this hate?”
Suman blinked, confused by his sudden change in tone. “Her father—”
“I was the one driving the car that day,” Rudra cut her off. “I didn’t have a license. I was speeding. That’s my fault. Not hers.”
Suman stared at him, speechless. Daadi tensed, knowing she had triggered Rudra’s wrath.
“Kashish lost her father that day—through no fault of her own,” Rudra continued, his eyes burning with anger. “She was forced to grow up without him. Forced to stay with an unknown family. She has been blamed, judged, and shamed for something that wasn’t her doing. And now, you expect me to punish her even further by firing her? That’s not happening.”
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Daadi knew she had pushed too far. Rudra, breathing heavily, wanted to push his chair back and leave. Every fiber of his being wanted to walk away from this dinner, but he knew that would only upset Daadi further—and he couldn’t afford to hurt her more than she already was.