Chapter 28 #2
Letting out a shaky breath, she said, ‘Years ago, a week before I started grad school... I had this huge fight with Siya because she refused to let me go to a party thrown by some family friends.’
Her fingers curled tighter into his shirt. ‘Maybe she’d heard things, or maybe she really is my guardian angel, but she was completely against it. And I still ignored her.’
‘So you went to the party?’
She nodded. ‘She was staying over at Meera’s that night, and I knew she wouldn’t come home till morning. So I snuck out with some friends.’
Even now, Kashvi could remember the smell of beer and cologne lingering in the air when she’d walked into the massive bungalow. She closed her eyes as she forced herself to continue.
‘I had barely been there ten minutes when a guy stumbled into me and spilled beer all over my clothes. I shouted at him, but he just walked away with a wink.’
‘Let me guess. Viraj?’ he asked, the cold understanding sharpening his voice.
She nodded. It was getting harder to speak, but she refused to stop now.
Be brave.
‘I panicked because Dad or Dhruv would notice the smell of beer, so I went looking for a bathroom. I took off my top to rinse it under water, and that’s when I heard it... the click of a camera.’
Swayam went rigid, cursing under his breath. His fingers curled into a fist before he forced himself to resume rubbing her back. ‘I’m right here. You’re safe with me, Kash,’ he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
Even in his arms, Kashvi still couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. ‘At first, I thought maybe I imagined it. But then I heard it again. I checked around the sink, the mirror, everywhere, and I found a small camera hidden inside the empty shower rod holder.’
‘I acted on impulse and stomped on it with my heel until it shattered.’ The memory of that fear still hammered like a pulse in her throat.
‘I told myself it was over, tried to put it behind me, but then I began to receive creepy, vulgar messages. Do you remember when you called me at the office on my birthday and I snapped?’
Swayam gave a grim nod.
‘I was paranoid because some stranger had sent me orchids, and then the texts got worse, talking about wanting to fuck me. I know I was stupid not to take it seriously, because at the house party I finally realised it was Viraj behind all of this, when he hurt my elbow and threatened me.’
‘I’ll rip apart that bastard piece by piece for putting his hands on you. What did he say?’ Swayam asked calmly, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it.
‘He showed me my pictures from that party. Apparently, there had been another hidden camera in the bathroom. Viraj said he’d leak them if I didn’t break your heart and push you to marry Aisha,’ she added bitterly.
‘Why didn’t you tell me about it after the party?’
Her throat felt dry. ‘I didn’t have any proof.’
Swayam frowned. ‘Why would I need proof? Just your word would’ve been enough.’
Her eyes widened and her lips trembled. ‘I thought once you knew, you wouldn’t believe me... that you would leave me.’
He met her gaze head-on, intensity burning in his eyes. ‘Nothing you could tell me would ever destroy me more than how close I came to losing you tonight. That’s the only thing I know I’d never survive.’
A sob caught in her throat, and she threw her arms around him in a fierce hug. ‘I was so scared, Swayam. God, I was so scared you wouldn’t believe me.’
‘I believe you, baby, and I’m not going anywhere,’ he whispered, burying his face deeper into her hair. ‘And I swear I’ll make him regret making you feel like this. Tell me. What does he want?’
Her breath faltered. ‘He wanted me to force you to marry Aisha. Her father was willing to pay Viraj fifty lakhs if he made you agree to the match. Now he wants money from me.’
Swayam went completely still. Fury blazed in his eyes as he said, ‘I see.’
She searched his face, gently caressing his cheek. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I don’t think I can be after finding out he hurt you because I refused to let myself be sold off to some rich family as a son-in-law,’ he said through gritted teeth.
‘It wasn’t just that. I ended up telling Dhruv everything because I got drunk at his bar, and he and Vihaan went after Viraj. They beat him up and stole his phone.’
‘Is that so? I owe them a huge thank you then.’
Kashvi shook her head reluctantly. ‘I do too. But it didn’t work because he has backups. Viraj came here specifically to show me that, and then he took my phone. He’ll leak my images through it if I don’t give him hundred crores and leave you.’
His eyes went wide with disbelief when he heard Viraj’s demand. ‘The bastard knew exactly where to twist the knife,’ Swayam said, livid.
‘Is that why you didn’t go to the engagement last night? Did you suspect something about him?’
‘No, I didn’t know then,’ he said.
‘Then why didn’t you go?’ she asked carefully, no longer able to hold it back.
With a sigh, Swayam gently eased her onto the pillow before getting off the bed. Kashvi straightened as he walked to the toppled dresser and picked something up from the floor. He briefly touched the object to his forehead before coming back to her.
Swayam stopped in front of her, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to look at him.
Then he opened her tiny silver sindoor box, and her breath caught.
Swayam dipped two fingers into the crimson powder and gently dragged it along the parting of her hair. A shiver ran through her at the touch as it claimed every broken part of her heart, just like he did when they got married.
‘I hope that answers your question.’
‘I...’ she tried, but the words dissolved beneath the steady intensity of his gaze.
A faint smile broke across his face. ‘You really made it your mission to make me work hard to get you, huh?’
‘I’m not trying to...’ she began, but he shook his head. His gaze moved slowly over her bruised face, as if it physically hurt him to see her injured.
‘I know you’re not, but you still don’t truly understand how much you mean to me.’ He tilted her chin up with his finger as he leaned down. ‘I didn’t go because I can never be with anyone else. I already belong to you. Only you.’
Her lips parted, but he pressed his thumb gently against them. ‘This isn’t easy for me to say, and I need to say it before you decide anything about us.’
She couldn’t find a single word to explain the storm of emotions surging through her, so she simply nodded.
His eyes shone as he said, ‘I know things have been chaotic lately, but through all of it, one thing never changed. I’m married to the woman I love, and I never want to let her go.’
She looked at the man who had every reason to walk away, yet still held onto her, his gaze full of love. Tears burned instantly behind her eyes, and she had to press her lips together to stop them from trembling.
‘Even if you decide this is just friendship, even if that’s all you ever want from me, I’ll still always be yours. There has never been anyone else for me, and there never will be. I love you, and only you, Kash.’
A sob tore out of her chest, thick with disbelief, guilt, and hope.
All this time, she had been so consumed by fear, survival, and protecting everyone around her that she had failed to see the man who loved her quietly with everything he had.