𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐀

Ch 17Bound by Trust, Guarded by Fire #3

A moment later, Rivanya stepped out of her room with Rudraksh beside her. She walked straight to the sofa where her Mamaji sat, and without a second thought, she sat down near his feet.

Mamaji frowned gently.

“Rivu, what are you doing? You know very well daughters here do not sit near our feet. Come up, sit beside me.”

Rivanya quickly got up and sat beside him. Then, like she had done since childhood, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him. She placed her head on his chest exactly the way she did when she was a little girl seeking comfort.

Mamaji smiled emotionally and hugged her back with the same affection. To him, she was still that tiny Rivanya who used to fall asleep on his chest, and he would sit the whole night without moving, just so her sleep wouldn’t be disturbed.

From a little distance, Rudraksh watched quietly.

For the first time, he truly saw how deeply this family loved her.

Even if her father was selfish, this family loved her like a child pure, unconditional love.

And in that moment, something shifted inside him.

His responsibility toward her felt even heavier.

He knew he couldn’t give her the full place of a wife in his life… not yet. Maybe not ever.

But he silently promised himself:

He would never let Rivanya lack anything.

She would live with him like a queen.

No sorrow would ever touch her because of him.

Still resting against Mamaji, Rivanya softly said,

“Mamaji…”

Mamaji stroked her hair.

“Yes, Rivu? Do you want to say something, my child?”

Rivanya lifted her head slightly.

Her voice was small.

“If I was rude today… please forgive me.”

Mamaji gave a sad smile.

“For the first time, you have asked me for something… and I’m hesitating to give it.”

Rivanya sat up straight and looked at him with teary eyes.

“I know all of you want the best for me. After Maa left, none of you ever let me feel the emptiness of a family.”

She looked at Mami.

“Mami gave me more love than even Maa.”

She looked at Mamaji.

“You held my hand like a father and taught me how to walk in life.”

Her voice trembled.

“Nanu and Nani love me more than their own life.”

Then she turned and looked at Dhara.

“And Dhara… she loved me more than a real sister and became my best friend.”

Everyone’s eyes turned misty listening to her.

Finally, Rivanya looked at Mamaji again and said,

“But Mamaji, believe me… Rudra will never let anything happen to me. He doesn’t want to hurt me.”

Her voice grew stronger.

“Even if this marriage began as a deal…

I want to fulfill it.

Because these are your values… your upbringing.”

Silence filled the room.

Everyone listened to her quietly.

Even Rudraksh stood watching her with a strange softness in his eyes, realizing how mature and understanding she truly was.

Rivanya continued,

“Mamaji, do you remember what Maa always said?

A girl plays many roles daughter, sister, daughter-in-law… but the biggest role she ever plays is that of a wife.”

Her eyes shone with determination.

“Being a wife is difficult. Our culture teaches us what ‘patni dharam’ means.

And now… I am Rudraksh’s wife.

I am the daughter-in-law of his house.

My responsibilities have increased.”

She took a breath.

“You may not know Rudra well… but give him a chance. You saw how he risked his own life today to save me. Please, Mamaji… trust me once. Let me go.”

At that moment, Rudraksh stepped forward.

His voice was steady strong.

“Sir, I know you’re worried for your daughter.

But I, Rudraksh Vardhan, give you my word…

Nothing will ever happen to her.

She will never lack anything.

Not as long as I’m alive.”

Mamaji thought for a long moment. Then finally he said,

“Fine. I am saying yes only because my daughter is asking.

My trust is not in you, Rudraksh.”

He took a deep breath.

“But for her sake, I let her go.

But remember if even one tear falls from her eyes”

Before he could finish,

A loud, furious voice echoed from the main gate.

“then you may shoot Rudraksh without hesitation!”

Everyone turned around in shock.

Standing at the main door, tall and unmoving like a mountain, was Pratap Vardhan, flanked by his authoritative presence that filled the entire hall.

Rudraksh’s brows tightened the moment he saw him.

What was his father doing here?

Pratap Vardhan walked straight toward Sandeep Rivanya’s Mamaji.

His voice was deep, commanding, and sharp as steel.

“If Rudraksh ever brings even a single tear to Rivanya’s eyes,”

he said,

“I will personally shoot him in front of you.”

The entire family froze.

Rivanya, seeing Pratap, immediately lowered her eyes and pulled the end of her saree over her head. She bent down to touch his feet for blessings, as she had been taught.

But Pratap stopped her midway.

He gently placed his hand on her head.

“Stay blessed, child,” he said softly.

“But daughters do not touch anyone’s feet.”

The whole family exchanged confused looks.

Who was this man?

Why was Rivanya touching his feet?

Sandeep stared at him for a moment, trying to recall where he had seen that face.

Then suddenly, he remembered.

“You… you are Pratap Raj Vardhan,” he said, stunned.

“Owner of Vardhan Industries… and the Maharaj of Vardhanpur, right?”

Pratap joined his hands respectfully.

“Namaste, samdhi ji. Yes, I am all of that… but today, I stand here only as the father of Rudraksh. And I have come to take the Lakshmi of your house back with me.”

Sandeep folded his hands as well.

“Namaste. Rudraksh… is your son?”

Pratap nodded once.

“Yes. Rudraksh is my son.”

Sandeep looked genuinely shocked.

“I knew he was from the Vardhan family… but I assumed he must be the son of one of your brothers. I never knew Rudraksh was your son.”

Pratap sighed deeply.

“Half the world still doesn’t know that Rudraksh is my son.”

His voice turned serious, protective.

“Because being the heir of Vardhanpur and the last surviving malewar of the Vardhan dynasty…

his safety has always been a matter of life and death.”

He looked at Sandeep with honesty.

“That is why he had to live in secrecy.

That is why you did not know.

Not out of disrespect

but out of protection.”

Rudraksh stepped forward, anger burning in his eyes, ready to say something to Pratap.

But before he could utter a single word, Rivanya rushed to him, placing her hand firmly around his wrist.

Her voice was soft but steady.

“No, Rudra… not now.”

She shook her head gently.

“You will not speak to Papa disrespectfully in front of everyone.

What is already complicated will become worse.”

Understanding the delicacy of the situation, Rudraksh stopped mid?step.

Pratap noticed everything.

The Rudraksh Vardhan whom powerful men feared, whom even his own father could never command

the man who bent before no one…

Stopped.

Stopped not because of fear.

Stopped because Rivanya asked him to.

A faint memory flickered in Pratap’s mind

of Agnishikha, the woman who had once changed his world in the same way.

How effortlessly she had shaped him, softened him, completed him.

And now, he saw that same fire, that same calming power, in Rivanya.

Pratap turned back to Sandeep with quiet authority.

“Sandeep ji,” he said,

“your daughter’s responsibility is mine. Please allow her to leave with Rudraksh.”

Sandeep took a long moment, weighing everything his fears, his doubts, his love for Rivanya, and the truth he had just witnessed.

Finally, he exhaled and nodded.

“Alright,” he said slowly.

“Only because you have said so… I permit Rivanya to go with Rudraksh.

It is your word I am trusting not Rudraksh.”