𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐀

Ch 17Bound by Trust, Guarded by Fire #2

“Rai Veerendra Singhnia!

Rai Veerendra sent us!”

Rudraksh didn’t react.

He had expected this.

Veerendra Singhnia had been illegally exporting guns and narcotics to Thailand. Rudraksh had intercepted the entire shipment destroying half, handing the rest to the police. Veerendra was arrested. Before that, he had gone on the run.

This attack was his revenge.

This was the very mission Rudraksh had come to Kashi for keeping Rivanya close, where she might be safer.

But even then… he had almost failed.

A flicker of guilt passed through his chest.

Just a flicker.

And then it was buried under rage.

Rudraksh took a deep breath, his face carved from stone.

“Burn them alive.”

The guards stiffened.

“Sir alive?”

“Alive,” Rudraksh repeated, his voice quiet… deadly.

“They dared to touch my wife.”

Without looking back, he turned and walked away.

The alley filled with terrified cries, but Rudraksh didn’t stop, didn’t flinch, didn’t feel.

Even after learning the truth

even after hearing the name he expected

the fire in him did not calm.

Because tonight…

someone had tried to kill Rivanya.

And for Rudraksh Vardhan,

that sin had only one punishment

complete destruction.

Rudraksh might be the head of the Asian Mafia, but the truth about him runs far deeper than anyone can imagine.

After all, the one who carries Mahadev’s blessing can never walk the wrong path.

There are countless secrets buried within Rudraksh’s chest secrets so dark that even their shadow has never touched another soul.

While walking back, Rudraksh suddenly noticed the blood stains on his kurta.

If Rivanya saw it, she would panic instantly and what explanation could he even give her?

Thinking this, he quickly removed the kurta.

It was better to return shirtless than to walk in front of everyone wearing a blood-soaked garment.

---

Meanwhile, the aarti was about to end, yet Rivanya’s heart was restless.

Why hasn’t Rudraksh returned yet?

Worry twisted in her chest, and she kept glancing toward the pathway anxiously.

And then… she saw him.

Her breath finally returned to her lungs only to leave again the very next moment.

Rudraksh was walking toward her… shirtless, wearing only a white dhoti.

The flames of the nearby diyas flickered against his skin, making his body look like it was sculpted from fire itself.

His shoulders, his chest, the sharp lines of his abs every inch of him looked dangerously divine.

Rivanya’s throat went dry.

Her eyes widened.

Why… why is he coming like this?

As if he wasn’t already handsome enough, now he had to come looking like this?

Those abs… that broad chest… hey Bhagwan… what am I even thinking?!

Sharam kar Rivanya! Standing at the ghat and staring at your own husband like this? Ram Ram Ram…

Before she could gather herself, Rudraksh was already standing in front of her.

Lowering her gaze, she asked softly,

“Are… are you alright?”

“Haan, I’m fine,” he replied.

“But I’m asking one last time let’s go to the doctor. What if you got hurt and didn’t realize it?”

Looking into his intense eyes, Rivanya said,

“If I was hurt, wouldn’t I know? I’m perfectly fine.

But… you left wearing a kurta. How did you return without it?”

Rudraksh thought for a moment and said,

“Well… my shirt tore completely. So I had to take it off.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“Tore? How?”

Rudraksh sighed internally.

Yeh toh peecha hi nahi chhod rahi… what am I supposed to say?

He shrugged lightly.

“You ask too many questions. And anyway, my body is good enough let people admire it.”

Rivanya glared at him, and Rudraksh smirked mischievously.

“Oh please, don’t tell me you fell for my hotness. I can’t blame you, though…”

Rivanya’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

She scoffed.

“You really think I’m like those girls? Why would I look at you? What is so special in you that I would stare? Stop dreaming with your eyes open.”

Rudraksh chuckled.

“Your mind says something else and your mouth says something else. Look at this figure so many girls die for it. Don’t lie, you must have looked too…”

Rivanya thought,

To deal with him, I’ll have to switch to full wife-power mode.

“Acha ji,” she said sweetly, “so how many girls have you shown this muscle-factory to? I knew it you must have been with so many girls before. Who knows?”

Rudraksh narrowed his eyes.

“You doubt my character a lot, don’t you?”

She crossed her arms.

“Didn’t YOU just say many girls are crazy about you? Obviously there must be so many who saw you like this from up close.”

Rudraksh’s voice dropped low, deep, serious.

“You are the first.”

Rivanya blinked.

“…What?”

He stepped closer, his eyes locking with hers.

“You’re the first girl who has ever stood this close to me.”

She fell silent, completely lost in the depth of his black eyes.

“How do I believe that?” she whispered.

Rudraksh answered calmly,

“I remember when Alisha accused me of being involved with so many women… and even your Mamaji’s face had fallen after hearing it.

So listen carefully, Rivanya

Since I was seventeen, I have followed celibacy.

Till today, I have never touched a woman…

And no woman has ever come this close to me.”

Hearing that, Rivanya froze in shock, her eyes widening. She couldn’t form a single word. She simply kept staring at Rudraksh, completely stunned.

Rudraksh narrowed his eyes slightly and asked,

“What happened? You do know what celibacy means, right?”

Rivanya swallowed, still taken aback.

“Yes… I know. But I’ve never seen… anyone actually following it for real. Especially someone like you.”

Rudraksh smiled calm, confident, and slightly amused.

“Every man in the Vardhan family was required to follow celibacy earlier. With time, things changed. But I never allowed this tradition to end.”

Rivanya was still speechless. Talking about such things with Rudraksh of all people felt unbearably awkward. Her cheeks heated up, and she immediately lowered her gaze.

Seeing her discomfort, Rudraksh softly said,

“Look… I didn’t say all this to make you uncomfortable. But fingers were being pointed at me, and I didn’t want you to doubt me because of others. People who say I’ve been with countless women don't know the truth. But since the world sees you as my wife… you deserve to know.

That’s the only reason I told you.”

Rivanya, still looking down, quietly asked,

“When… when are we going back?”

Rudraksh replied,

“Whenever you say. If you tell me now, we can leave right now.”

Rivanya nodded quickly.

“Then let’s go today. In one or two hours, I’ll inform Mamaji. I won’t let anyone stop me.”

Rudraksh simply nodded in agreement.

But suddenly, Rivanya noticed a group of girls standing nearby, shamelessly staring at Rudraksh. Their eyes kept traveling from his face to his shoulders to his physique, and they couldn’t stop whispering compliments about him.

A spark of anger flared inside Rivanya.

In her mind, she fumed,

“These shameless girls! Why are they staring at my husband like he’s some sweet dish and they’re a bunch of flies? Even if he doesn’t accept me as his wife yet… I consider him mine. And now, I’ll show these flies their place.”

Without thinking twice, she took off her shawl and wrapped it around Rudraksh’s shoulders, covering him completely.

Rudraksh blinked.

“What are you doing?”

Rivanya replied sharply,

“Saving your dignity.”

A soft chuckle escaped Rudraksh.

“And who exactly is going to steal my dignity?”

Rivanya huffed,

“You don’t understand. Those girls were looking at you with very bad intentions.”

With that, she turned and glared fiercely at the girls. The girls instantly panicked, looked away awkwardly, and hurried off.

Understanding everything now, Rudraksh smirked.

“Oh? So Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan is getting jealous?”

Rivanya snapped,

“Why would I get jealous, huh? I was just helping you. Nowadays, even good deeds aren’t appreciated.”

Rudraksh looked at her with a soft, lingering gaze.

“You know… when you start ranting like this, I can never win against you.”

Rivanya lifted her chin with pride.

“Of course. A husband must always lose to his wife. You should get used to it it’ll benefit you.”

Suddenly, Rudraksh stepped very close too close.

His towering presence immediately made her breath hitch.

Her heart thudded against her ribs. Whenever he came close, she completely lost her ability to think, speak, or breathe normally.

Rudraksh was 6’3, while Rivanya was 5’3. Standing this close, she felt like a tiny sapling beneath a mountain.

Her eyes dropped to the floor as she stammered,

“W-What… are you doing?”

Rudraksh smirked, his voice low.

“You said I should obey my wife because it benefits me… so I obeyed. Now I’m just taking a little benefit in return.”

Rivanya felt heat rush through her face she was practically melting with embarrassment.

He had never talked to her like this before. Earlier, he used to speak to her coldly. Then slowly, he became normal.

But now… now he was flirting.

This was a completely new side of Rudraksh.

Rudraksh lifted his hand and gently placed a finger under her chin, raising her face toward him.

His deep eyes held hers, unblinking, intense.

For a moment, Rivanya forgot where she was. She forgot who she was.

She almost drowned in his gaze.

Then suddenly reality struck her.

She pushed at his chest, cheeks crimson, and ran off in embarrassment.

Rudraksh let out a soft laugh, shaking his head at her adorable reaction. Then, with that smirk still tugging at his lips, he followed after her.

After some time, everyone had reached home. But even inside the house, a heavy tension lingered.

Each family member carried the same worry

Should they let Rivanya go with Rudraksh or not?

What would happen to her future?

Everyone was seated together in the hall. The silence in the air felt suffocating.