CHAPTER 67
Raheja Mansion
When the Rahejas returned home, they were greeted by the sight of a doctor exiting Daadi’s room, with Ram Prasad trailing behind.
“Doctor?” Rudra’s voice was laced with concern. “What are you doing here?”
The doctor approached them calmly.
“Savitriji wasn’t feeling well. Ram Prasad called me,” he explained.
Panic set in for both Rudra and Shekhar, while Anjali rushed upstairs to check on Daadi.
“What happened to her?” Shekhar asked anxiously.
“Why weren’t we informed?” Rudra snapped, turning his frustration toward Ram Prasad.
Ram Prasad lowered his gaze.
“Daadi didn’t want me to inform you,” he explained hesitantly.
“And you listened to her?” Rudra’s anger was palpable.
The doctor quickly intervened.
“Rudra, calm down. Savitriji’s blood pressure spiked, but she’s stable now. You know stress is the main cause. Just ensure she takes her medications on time, and call me if needed.”
Shekhar nodded, and the doctor left. Rudra, still fuming, turned back to Ram Prasad.
“If something like this happens again, and you don’t tell us, you’ll be fired. Understand?”
“Yes,” Ram Prasad stammered, quickly retreating to the kitchen.
Shekhar placed a hand on Rudra’s shoulder, trying to calm his brother.
“She’s upset with everything we’re doing right now. That’s what’s causing her stress. I don’t know what to do, Rudra. On one side, we have Daadi’s stubbornness, and on the other, your love for Kashish. It’s tearing everything apart.”
“Let’s go see her,” he muttered, heading toward the stairs, Shekhar right behind him.
When they entered Daadi’s room, they were greeted by the sight of her scolding Anjali, who was trying to help her.
“Just leave me alone, Anjali,” Daadi snapped, her voice frail but filled with bitterness.
“You don’t need to yell at her,” Rudra intervened. “If you’re angry, scold me.”
Daadi turned her head away, refusing to look at either of them.
“Daadi, why didn’t you call us?” Shekhar asked softly, his worry evident.
“There’s no point expecting anything from you all anymore,” Daadi retorted. “I’ve fought all my battles alone, and I will continue to. I don’t need anyone.”
Rudra swallowed the lump in his throat, his heart aching at her words. Tears welled up in Daadi’s eyes, and her voice cracked as she continued.
“You both were the light of my life, and now, neither of you care for me. I’m just a burden to all of you. It would be better if I died.”
“Enough, Daadi,” Rudra interrupted, angry by her choice of words. He sat beside her on the bed and took her hand.
“Death won’t touch you anytime soon,” he said softly. “You still have to meet your great-grandchildren.”
Daadi pulled her hand away from his, her face hardened with sorrow.
“What’s the point? You three don’t care about me anymore. My words, my feelings, my decisions mean nothing to you now.”
Rudra sighed deeply.
“We love you more than you know,” he replied, trying to reach her.
“It’s a lie,” Daadi spat, her gaze falling to the Mehndi stains on Rudra’s hand. It only fueled her anger further. “If you truly cared, you wouldn’t have gone ahead with your pre-wedding rituals.”
Rudra’s eyes narrowed in frustration.
“You’ve supported me my whole life. You know me better than anyone. Why are you ignoring my feelings now?”
But Daadi remained silent. She had explained her reasons countless times, and she wouldn’t do it again.
“Just leave me alone,” she pleaded.
Shekhar signaled to Rudra and Anjali to honor her request. Pushing her any further would only worsen her condition. They quietly left the room, but the frustration and helplessness hung heavy in the air.
“She’ll come around,” Shekhar tried to reassure his brother. “Once the wedding is done, she’ll have to accept Kashish eventually.”
Rudra didn’t respond. He stormed off toward his room, his silence more telling than any words could be. Shekhar and Anjali stood there, feeling the weight of the situation press down on them.
“How are we supposed to handle all of this?” Anjali asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.
“I don’t know,” Shekhar admitted, his frustration clear.
“We don’t want to take sides, but it feels like we have no choice.”
Anjali nodded, worry creasing her brow.
“Tomorrow is the Haldi ceremony,” she reminded him gently.
Shekhar nodded, his mind racing with thoughts.
“Yes, you should stay with Kashish tomorrow. She’s the bride—she’ll need someone by her side.”
“And Daadi?” Anjali asked, her concern evident.
“I’ll handle it,” Shekhar replied.
Anjali agreed, her mind already racing with preparations for tomorrow. There was so much to take care of, and the bungalow where Rudra and Kashish would start their new life still needed finishing touches. But despite all the planning, there was one lingering worry in both their minds—Daadi. They knew she wouldn’t give up easily, and the thought of what she might do next weighed heavily on them both.
******************
Next Day
Kashish had officially taken a week off from work, grateful that no one at office had pried into her reason for the sudden leave. While most of the staff had suspected something brewing between her and Rudra, none of them had the faintest idea that their wedding was the very next day. She dressed in the elegant white lehenga adorned with intricate floral accessories, which Anjali had lovingly designed for her Haldi ritual.
“Kashish… are you ready?”
Anjali called out as she stepped into the room, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw her.
“Oh my God, you look absolutely stunning today,” she exclaimed.
Kashish smiled softly as Anjali came closer and dabbed a little kohl behind her ear for good luck.
“Anju… thank you,” Kashish held Anjali’s hands. “You’ve been my biggest support through all of this.”
“And I always will be,” Anjali replied warmly. “Not just because Rudra is Shekhar’s brother, but because you two are doing the right thing. If you had decided not to marry because of Daadi’s objections, that would’ve been the true mistake.”
Kashish’s face softened, but worry still clouded her expression.
“Daadi is still upset, though. And even if Rudra doesn’t say it, I know he’s hurting because of it.”
“Ssh…” Anjali hushed her gently. “Rudra knows what he’s doing. He’s made his choice, and now you need to focus on today. Even though it’s just us four here for your Haldi, we’re going to make it perfect.”
The doorbell rang, and Anjali quickly glanced toward the entrance.
“They’re here. Come on.”
Anjali rushed to open the door for Rudra and Shekhar. Both brothers were dressed in crisp white, and as soon as Anjali saw them, she couldn’t resist teasing.
“Men in white! You two look dashing,” she quipped with a mischievous grin.
Shekhar raised a brow.
“You started flirting now?”
Anjali playfully shrugged.
“Just testing my new skill.” She dragged them both inside the house.
“Where’s Kashish?” he asked, eager to see her.
“She’ll be out soon, but remember—once the Haldi is over, you’re heading straight home. You won’t see Kashish again until the wedding tomorrow. Got that?”
Rudra frowned at the idea.
“Disapproved,” he grumbled. “I don’t follow these rules.”
“But I do,” a soft voice chimed in. Kashish stepped out of her room, radiant in her white lehenga. Rudra’s eyes widened, mesmerized by her beauty.
“It’s considered inauspicious for the bride and groom to see each other after the Haldi ceremony,” she explained.
“Says who?” Rudra challenged, wasting no time as he slid his arm around her bare waist, pulling her closer. Kashish’s breath caught in her throat.
Shekhar and Anjali exchanged knowing glances, trying to contain their smiles at the intimate scene unfolding before them.
“No one can take that right away from me,” Rudra murmured, his gaze intense.
Shekhar cleared his throat, breaking the moment.
“Rudra, Kashish... let’s start the Haldi, shall we?”
Rudra reluctantly released her. They took their seats, ready for the ritual to begin. Anjali was the first to apply Haldi to Rudra, followed by Shekhar. Then, they both applied the turmeric paste to Kashish, who was beaming with excitement. Through the thin fabric separating them, Rudra stole glances at her, his heart swelling with the thought that tomorrow, she would finally be his wife. His life was about to change, and while the joy of being with Kashish filled his heart, the lingering pain of being separated from Daadi cast a shadow over his happiness.
******************
A while later, Anjali got busy discussing the wedding details with the priest and Shekhar overseeing the final touches on the bungalow’s decorations. Rudra seized the opportunity to find Kashish, who had retreated to her bedroom. He quietly entered, only to find her standing before a framed photo of her father, silently praying. The sight of her vulnerable, teary-eyed, tugged at his heart. He approached her, standing by her side without a word. Kashish sensed his presence and quickly wiped her tears.
“It’s every girl’s dream to have her father with her during moments like these… and he’s not here because of me.” Rudra’s voice was heavy with guilt.
Kashish turned to him, cupping his face in her hands.
“We’ve been through this before, Rudra. His absence isn’t entirely your fault. He made his own choices,” she reminded him gently.
Rudra let out a bitter sigh.
“It’s easy to say, but it doesn’t change the fact that I was the reason—”
“If you’re going to talk like this, I’d rather leave.” Kashish cut him off.
She tried to walk away, but Rudra caught her by the waist, pulling her back. He hugged her from behind, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder blade.
“I won’t bring it up again, just… don’t leave me,” he pleaded, his voice sounding almost childlike.
She turned around to face him.
“I will never leave you. If we’ve survived all of this, it’s because our love is real.”
“And real love only grows stronger with time,” he added, completing her thought.
She smiled through her own tears, wiping away the ones threatening to fall from his eyes. She couldn’t stand seeing him this vulnerable.
“Again?” came Anjali’s voice from the doorway, interrupting their tender moment. She stepped in with Shekhar, shaking her head with mock exasperation. “Will you two ever get enough of each other?”
Kashish felt her cheeks flush as she pulled away slightly, giving Anjali an apologetic look.
“I warned you both not to see each other after the Haldi,” Anjali scolded playfully, turning to Shekhar. “Are you just going to stand there, or will you say something?”
Shekhar grinned at Rudra.
“You should’ve locked the door, brother,” he teased.
The room erupted in laughter, but Rudra was the first to fall silent.
“Me and Kashish are really going to miss you both,” he said sincerely.
“Same here.” Shekhar nodded. “But let’s hope it won’t be for long.”
“And when Daadi finally accepts you two and brings you back to Raheja Mansion, we’re going to celebrate like never before!” Anjali chimed in.
Kashish’s heart swelled with gratitude as she embraced both Anjali and Shekhar. They had stood by her through every trial, and their support meant the world to her.
That night, Anjali stayed with Kashish at Bedi house, helping her pack her bags and gossiping like teenagers about the Raheja brothers. They laughed, talked late into the night, and finally drifted off to sleep, ready to face the dawn of the most important day of Kashish and Rudra’s life—their wedding day.
******************
The wedding was to take place at a beautiful temple on the outskirts of the city. Shekhar had already arrived at the temple to make sure everything was in place. Jay had been sent to fetch Rudra from Raheja Mansion, while Anjali was set to accompany Kashish from Uttam Nagar.
At Raheja Mansion, Rudra stood ready, dressed for his wedding, but before he could leave the house, he knew he had to do one thing—take Daadi’s blessings. He knew she would never give him her blessings for this marriage, but he couldn’t leave without seeing her one last time. It was the most important day of his life, and despite their differences, she had always been a crucial part of it.
He headed toward her room, knocking gently at first. Silence. He knocked again, harder this time, but still no response. A sense of unease crept over him as he reached for the door handle and realized it was unlocked.
Pushing the door open, he stepped inside. The room was eerily empty.
“Daadi?” he called out, scanning every corner. No answer.
That’s when his gaze fell upon a note lying on her neatly made bed. A bad feeling shot through him as he strode to the bed, snatched the note, and began to read. His heart pounded harder with every word.
Rudra... I know you will not stop this marriage nor can I bear to see you separate from us, from this family, from Raheja Mansion. Shekhar and Anjali love you, too, but I’ve come to realize that my presence or absence no longer matters to any of you. Instead of watching you leave, I have decided to go away from all of you. By the time you read this note, I may have already made the decision to leave. I am old, Rudra, and I see no brighter future, especially if you are not part of it... I will love you always. – Your Daadi.
The note crumpled in his fist as he stumbled back, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. His vision blurred with panic and disbelief. She couldn’t be serious. How could Daadi, the pillar of their family, do something so drastic? Had her pride pushed her this far?
Without wasting another second, he ran out of the room, down the stairs, and straight toward the front door, his pulse thundering in his ears. He spotted Ram Prasad in the hallway and rushed to him.
“Ram Prasad,” Rudra bellowed. “Did you see Daadi? Where is she?”
Ram Prasad, startled by the urgency in Rudra’s voice, quickly responded.
“She left somewhere about half an hour ago.”
Rudra felt his world collapse around him. He couldn’t lose her—not now. Panic clawed at him as he bolted out of the house, frantically scanning the street. Daadi couldn’t just vanish from his life like this. He had to find her—he would find her. Every second was slipping away.
But how would he look for her? His driver, Mohan, was out picking up Kashish, and Jay wasn’t here yet. He couldn’t wait. Not with Daadi’s life hanging in the balance.
His stomach twisted in knots as his gaze darted to the car in the garage. He hadn’t driven since long. Just the thought of driving, made his hands tremble as he recalled the stormy night, the crash, the guilt. Could he drive again? Could he take that risk?
But Daadi—what if she was serious? What if she intended to harm herself?
A surge of terror ripped through him, erasing every fear except the one of losing her forever. Gritting his teeth, he ran to the garage and threw himself into the driver’s seat. His heart raced as once again the memories of that horrific night flashed in his mind—Keshav Bedi lying on the ground, the rain, the blood.
He hesitated and gripped hard the steering wheel.
I can’t do this. I can’t.
But Daadi’s face haunted him. The thought of her being in danger outweighed everything. He had to do this. For her. There was no other choice.
His hands trembled as he started the engine. It roared to life, and he shifted the gear into reverse nervously. The car lurched back, hitting the wall with a jarring thud, but Rudra didn’t care. He had to keep going. He would keep going.
He pressed the accelerator, launching the car forward. He was back in control, or at least he had to believe he was. There was no room for fear, not now.
Rudra tore through the streets, his mind focused on only one thing—finding Daadi before it was too late.
******************
More than an hour had passed since Kashish and Anjali arrived at the temple, but there was still no sign of Rudra. Anxiety weighed down every second. Shekhar had been trying to reach him, but his calls went unanswered. A sense of dread filled the air. Where could Rudra be? Why hadn’t he arrived yet? Shekhar had already sent Jay to Raheja Mansion to check what was going on.
“Jay should be at the house by now,” Shekhar said to Anjali, though it sounded more like he was reassuring himself. “We’ll get some news soon.”
Anjali nodded, but her gaze kept drifting toward Kashish, who sat before the holy fire, isolated and broken, her despair deepening as time ticked on.
Shekhar’s phone finally rang, breaking the tense silence.
“Yes, Jay? Did you find Rudra?” Shekhar asked.
“No, boss,” Jay replied, sounding equally perplexed. “Rudra’s not here. Ram Prasad says he left a while ago.”
“What? But he hasn’t come here. Where could he have gone?” Shekhar’s frustration grew as he tried to piece together what was happening.
“That’s the strange part,” Jay added. “He left his phone at the mansion, so we’ve got no way to reach him.”
“Did Ram Prasad see him leave with anyone? What mode of transportation?” Shekhar’s concern escalated, hoping for some clue.
Jay relayed the question to Ram Prasad, who admitted that he hadn’t seen Rudra leave and had no idea how or with whom he had gone. Jay passed on the message to Shekhar, leaving him frustrated and concerned.
“Jay, something’s not right. Keep searching for Rudra. I need to know where he is,” Shekhar ordered.
“Yes, boss,” Jay responded before disconnecting.
Just as Shekhar lowered the phone, they all heard a voice cut through the tension.
“So, Rudra has finally made his choice,” Daadi declared, her tone sharp and filled with triumph.
Kashish’s heart sank as her tear-filled eyes met Daadi’s. It was like she was living a nightmare.
“I knew it,” Daadi continued, her eyes narrowing on Kashish with disdain. “He’s my grandson, after all. My blood. He would never betray me for a woman like you.”
“Daadi, we don’t have time for this,” Shekhar interrupted, his voice laced with urgency. “Where is Rudra?”
“How would I know where he is, Shekhar? All I know is that he was supposed to be here to marry her , and he isn’t. He’s finally shown who matters to him.”
Kashish’s hands trembled as she fought back her tears.
“He will come,” she murmured, her voice barely audible, as if speaking it aloud would make it true.
Anjali’s heart broke at the sight of Kashish’s torment. “What did you say?” Daadi asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Kashish raised her head and met Daadi’s eyes.
“He will come,” she repeated, her voice louder and firmer.
Daadi laughed, a cold, mocking sound that made Kashish’s resolve tremble.
“You really believe that, don’t you?” Daadi sneered. “He’s realized that you are nothing compared to his family. He knows my worth, and these meaningless relationships you think you have with him are just temporary. The sooner you understand that, the less you’ll suffer.”
Before Kashish could respond, Shekhar’s phone buzzed again. He immediately answered.
“Jay, any news?”
“Boss… Rudra took the car from the Raheja Mansion garage. It’s missing.”
Shekhar froze. “What? But Mohan’s here, and the other driver is on leave. Who’s driving him?”
Jay’s voice dropped.
“I think… he’s driving himself.”
Shekhar felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. Rudra… driving? Again?
“Jay, find him!” Shekhar’s ordered in panic. “I don’t care what it takes—find him before something happens!”
Just then, Ram Prasad came running to Jay, holding something. Jay’s voice changed, filled with tension.
“Boss... there’s something else. Daadi’s missing too. And Rudra might be chasing her. I found a note in her room.”
“What note?” Shekhar’s heart pounded as Jay read the contents aloud. The moment Shekhar heard it, everything clicked. He ended the call and turned to Daadi, fury blazing in his eyes.
“What kind of game are you playing, Daadi? You planned this, didn’t you?”
Daadi blinked, her expression innocent.
“What are you talking about?”
“You left a note for Rudra, threatening to disappear, and now he’s out there looking for you—driving himself, no less!”
“Note? What note? I didn’t write any note!” she protested.
“Then explain this!” Shekhar snapped, shoving his phone in her face, displaying a picture of the note Jay had sent him.
Daadi’s face paled. Kashish and Anjali rushed over, and Kashish snatched the phone, reading the note with growing dread.
“Shekhar,” Daadi stammered, “I didn’t do this. I swear…”
“Then who did?” Shekhar growled. “Do you even realize what you’ve done? Rudra read this and probably thinks he’s about to lose you. That’s why he’s out there, recklessly chasing after you. And worse—he’s driving! If something happens to him, Daadi, you’ll have no one but yourself to blame.”
Kashish staggered back, her heart sinking. Rudra is driving? Memories of his fear of driving flooded her mind. What if he lost control again? What if he crashed? Panic clawed at her, but before her thoughts could spiral further, her eyes landed on something that shattered her.
Rudra.
He was here… and walking toward them, but something was horribly wrong. His steps were slow, uneven. Blood trickled down the side of his face from a gash on his forehead. He was hurt—badly.
“Rudra!” Kashish cried, rushing toward him, her heart in her throat.