16.
{Third person's pov}
Kiara was in the kitchen preparing dinner for everyone, although Ekansh tried stopping her many times but she assured him that she will manage it all, and he doesn't have to worry about it.
She was handling everything smoothly, when she heard footsteps approaching she shifted her glance towards the door just to witness his Grandmother. She smiled sweetly at Kiara and Kiara smiled back.
"Handling everything all alone?" His grandmother asked and Kiara nodded, his grandmother nodded before speaking again.
"taking over the responsibilities of the elder daughter in law, that's great... I wish your mother in law did the same, if she handled everything well, she would have been alive."
Her statement confused Kiara, she knew his grandmother was talking about his mother, but why was she blaming his mother when actually it was Ekansh and his mother who suffered.
"What was her fault?" Kiara asked, focusing on the food which was on the stove.
"Everything was her fault, She couldn't satisfy her husband and when he went to another woman she took her own life leaving her kid all alone.
" His grandmother said, Kiara was shocked, she wasn't even angry.
She was disappointed.
It was nothing new, people often blamed the woman, but this was stupid.
"Dadi, I know you are older and I respect you but you are just blinded by the love for your own son and that love is forcing you to believe that your daughter in law was at fault, when it was actually your son." Kiara explained, she knew no one ever showed them the reality.
"Now you will teach me?" She raised an eyebrow, kiara could tell she hit the nerve of the old woman standing in front of her.
"I am not teaching you, I am stating the facts I have heard from the man, who was a child when his mother left this world in front of his eyes, and you guys always blamed his mother." Kiara calmly explained again.
The old woman was now breathing heavily, she was definitely angry, she stepped towards Kiara. Her hands raised in air and Kiara closed her eyes waiting for the slap to land on her cheeks.
But that never happened, she opened her eyes just to witness Ekansh holding his grandmother's hand.
He was fuming with anger, his jaw clenched so tightly he feared his teeth might crack. He couldn't believe the words that had come from his grandmother's mouth, the casual way she had slandered his mother's memory.
And now, she had raised her hand to hit Kiara? His blood boiled at the very thought.
He gripped her wrist tightly, his voice low and dangerous, "Don't you dare lay a hand on her."
"Ekansh? You are fighting with me for your wife?" His grandmother raised her eyebrows, hoping the same from Ekansh, the same as his father did... The way his father never took stand for his mother.
He clenched his jaw even tighter, his grip on her wrist tightening to the point of pain. "You bet I am," he said coolly. "Kiara is my wife, and I'll fight anyone if they dare to harm her."
He stepped closer to his grandmother, his expression hardening. "Your words aren't just about my wife. You're disrespecting my own mother too, and I won't tolerate any of it."
Kiara held Ekansh's arms, "Ekansh! Let her go, she is your grandmother."
He gritted his teeth and slowly uncurled his fingers, letting go of his grandmother's wrist. He took a step back, his gaze still hard and cold.
He looked at Kiara, his anger slightly abating at her touch, but his irritation was still present. "Fine," he said through his gritted teeth, "But she needs to apologize."
"Ekansh, let it be... Let's go to the room." She held his hands and dragged him towards their room.
He begrudgingly let her lead him towards their room, his mind still reeling from the confrontation with his grandmother.
Once they were inside the room, he collapsed onto the bed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He still couldn't believe the things his grandmother had said.
"Should I bring something for you?" Kiara raised an eyebrow. He looked at her, his eyes softening slightly as he took in her concerned expression.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "I just need a moment to calm down."
He let out a sigh and leaned back against the headboard, closing his eyes briefly.
"Ekansh, why do you still live here even though you hate all of them?" She sat next to him.
"I've got my own way of making them suffer." Kiara sighed, she knew he was broken.
He met her gaze, noticing the sadness in her eyes. He knew she understood the pain he was feeling.
He took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. "I can't forgive them for what they've done...for how they treated my mother."
"I understand," she slowly hugged him, hiding his face in her bust. "Calm down."
He wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face in her chest. His anger faded, replaced by a mix of exhaustion and comfort.
He inhaled deeply, the scent of her skin soothing his agitated mind. He held her tighter, feeling her fingers gently rubbing his scalp, providing a calming sensation.
.............
"Kiara" Ekansh entered the kitchen, as Kiara heard his voice she turned around.
"Are you done with everything?" He asked and Kiara nodded, he nodded and held her hand, dragging her towards their room.
"Let's go," he stated making her confused, "where?" She raised an eyebrow.
"We aren't attending this gathering full of people who dislike my mother and me." He explained.
"Go get ready, I will take you somewhere. Also pack a few pair of clothes, we may stay the night there."
"But where are we going?" She asked, "that we will know once we have reached there."
............
Kiara and Ekansh Walked downstairs with Rookie just to witness his father, grandparents, step mother and her son along with Richa sitting in the living room.
"Where are you guys going? The guests will be here soon," his grandfather asked.
"You all should enjoy, we will come tomorrow or maybe a few days later," he explained and walked away with kiara.
He Opened the door for her and she sat on the passenger seat, he took the driver's seat and stayed driving.
The ride was silent and Kiara was occasionally glancing at him, "do you want to say anything?" He asked making her eyes go wide. She shook her head and focused on the road too.
Ekansh slowly took her hands and placed it on the car's gear before placing his hands on top of her.
Kiara looked at their hands with a smile and then shifted her gaze out of the window. Meanwhile Rookie was peacefully sleeping at the back seat.
...........
The car stopped in front of a huge mension, it has a beautiful garden, but it was all to dirty, like it have never been used.
Kiara looked at Ekansh as he stepped out of the car and opened the door for her.
"What is this place?" She asked as she came out and Ekansh took Rookie out.
"This is where we used to live, dad, mom and me.
And then after mom was gone we shifted, Nidhi belived mom's spirit is still here.
But I never felt that. She just wanted to move out of this house, and then I didn't had courage to face this place again.
But I guess I am ready now." He held her hands and guided her towards the entrance.
As the door opened, Kiara held his hands tightly it was dark inside, he switched on the lights, Thankfully it was working.
All the furniture were still there just covered with white clothes, she looked at the wall that still has their family pictures.
The mansion was huge but old, but Kiara was deeply attracted to these kind of interior, she took off the covers from couch and looked around.
"This place is beautiful." She smiled, "where was your room?" She asked.
He smiled and guided her, the ground floor had four rooms, and a kitchen, while the first floor had Eight rooms.
He showed her all the rooms expect one, "you can choose any room you want Mrs. Shekhawat, this mension was gifted by my maternal grandfather to my mother and then mom gave this to me, and now I am giving this to you."
Kiara smiled and walked towards the most beautiful room of the mension, the one with huge balcony that have view of whole garden.
"Are we shifting here?" She asked, Ekansh looked at her for a second and said, "Do you want to?"
She looked at him and nodded, "I want you to move on and live a happy life with me and Rookie, and in future maybe our kids. Just love and no one hating on us."
Ekansh's eyes soften and he walked towards her before wrapping his hands around her waist, "If my wife wants it then sure, we will move here."
Kiara smiled and hugged him back, "the staffs will come tomorrow, let's just clean this one room and order something to eat." He said and Kiara nodded.
...............