33-Love me
The atmosphere in the room had changed completely.
The torrential rain outside and the heat inside were both at their peak.
Samrat and Vaidehi were lost in each other's arms, as if every clock in the world had stopped.
Samrat's heartbeat could be felt on Vaidehi's chest. He wanted to encompass his entire world in that single moment.
Vaidehi could also feel his madness and passion.
Just then, Samrat's phone, kept on the nightstand nearby, started vibrating.
Vaidehi gestured for him to ignore it, but the phone continued to ring.
Samrat picked up the phone, annoyed; he intended to switch it off, but his face went pale the moment he saw 'Mom's' name on the screen.
He picked up the call. From the other end came Rukmini Devi's sobbing and tearful voice.
"Samrat... beta... come quickly, your dad...
I am taking him to the hospital, there is so much blood...
I cannot bear to see this, beta!"
Samrat's body turned to stone.
Hearing Rukmini Devi, who always remained strong like a rock, break down like this for the first time was like a thunderbolt for Samrat.
Vaidehi, who was watching Samrat's grip loosen, saw the changing expressions on his face and grew scared.
She leaned in and listened near Samrat's phone.
As soon as she heard that Raghav ji's condition was critical, her heart began to race.
Raghav ji had loved her more than a daughter; the feeling of his affection was like a divine blessing for Vaidehi.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Samrat immediately said, "Mom, don't lose heart, I am leaving right now!
I will reach there in just a few hours."
He immediately took out his other phone and ordered his secretary to prepare the private jet.
Vaidehi got up in a hurry and said in a trembling voice, "Samrat ji, let's go!
Let's go quickly! Papa... nothing will happen to Papa, right?
"
Just then, the phone rang again. This time it was Sitam's call.
Sitam said in a panicked voice, "Bhai, where are you?
Uncle has been brought to the City Hospital immediately, his condition is very critical.
I am right here, you come quickly!"
Samrat took a deep breath, his voice filled with a cold fire.
"I am in Tamil Nadu. It will take time to reach.
Until then, try your best to keep him stable; I am leaving by private jet.
"
Inaya and Vishwaraj, who had come downstairs upon hearing this commotion, were stunned to hear everything.
They also got ready to accompany Samrat and Vaidehi to Rajasthan, as they had to meet Raghav ji and Rukmini Devi, after all, they were the parents-in-law of their only daughter.
Everything was happening so fast that no one got a chance to collect themselves.
The private jet was trying to cover the distance from Tamil Nadu to Rajasthan in three hours.
Vaidehi sat holding Samrat's hand for the entire journey, her prayers were for Raghav ji.
Samrat was silent, but his fists were clenched in such a way as if he were fighting an invisible enemy.
He suspected that his father getting shot was not a coincidence, but a well-planned conspiracy.
Three hours later, when they reached the hospital, the atmosphere there was heavy.
Sitam was pacing in the corridor. Seeing Samrat, he ran towards him.
Without saying anything, Samrat stepped straight towards the ICU.
Inside, Raghav ji was on the bed, with a bandage on his shoulder.
He was conscious and Rukmini Devi was sitting beside him wiping her tears.
Vaidehi ran inside and knelt beside Raghav ji.
"Papa! Are you okay? You... how did all this happen to you?
" There was pain in her voice.
Raghav ji slowly placed his hand on Vaidehi's head.
He looked very weak, but he smiled and said, "Beta, I am perfectly fine.
It's just a small wound, it will heal. Why are you crying?
"
Samrat was watching everything. He knew that his father was hiding the truth.
He did not want Rukmini Devi or Vaidehi to know who had carried out this attack.
Sitam pulled Samrat into a corner.
"Bhai, the doctor says the shot was fired from very close range.
This was not a robbery. This was a professional job.
"
Blood rushed to Samrat's eyes. He said in a cold and calm voice, "I will look into it in the study room.
Everyone stay calm for now. No one here should suspect what has happened.
"
Inaya and Vishwaraj also reached Raghav ji and comforted him; although they were all strangers to each other, Samrat had already informed Rukmini Devi and Raghav ji about Vaidehi's family background.
Raghav ji knew that Avinash was the younger brother of his college friend, but he only knew that he had died.
Samrat stepped out of the hospital; it was still raining.
He took out his phone and opened a very old file containing information about 'Rudr'.
He was now convinced that Rudr was not just after Vaidehi, but was on a mission to wipe out her entire lineage.
Just then, Samrat received a message on his phone from an unknown number-"The first strike was just the beginning, Samrat Pratap Singh.
Next time, I won't miss the target. And very soon, I will come to take my possession.
"
As soon as he saw the message, Samrat squeezed the phone hard, its screen cracked.
He knew that the time had come to end this game.
He signaled his bodyguards and ordered them to tighten the hospital's security further.
Inside, Vaidehi was still sitting next to Raghav ji, giving him water.
She felt that everything would be fine, but standing outside, Samrat knew that the storm was yet to come.
He would now have to go to such an extent to save Vaidehi from which there was no way back.
He had decided-if Rudr wanted to enter his world and destroy his family, then he would have to burn Rudr alive in his own trap.
Samrat went back inside; he had a fake smile on his face so that Vaidehi wouldn't get scared.
He went near Raghav ji and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Papa, you take rest. I am outside, no one is allowed to enter.
"
The moment Raghav ji saw him, he realized that his son had now stepped onto the path he never wanted him to see.
But Samrat had no other option now. This was not just a battle of love; this was now a fight against a devil who was beyond law, police, and fear.
The night was growing deeper; everything seemed blurry in the hospital lights.
Vaidehi, who used to be troubled by Samrat's possessiveness, felt relieved today just by his presence.
She did not know that her husband, in whose love she was drowned, had become a ruthless predator at this moment.
Samrat's eyes were looking for something in the darkness outside the window.
Rudr was nearby, he was watching. He was enjoying this destruction.
And Samrat, he was prepared to turn this enjoyment into a noose around Rudr's neck.