Ch33 The Shield of Devotion
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While the entire family was secretly thrilled with Rivanya's fierce, commanding attitude, the atmosphere inside the bedroom was entirely different. The moment Rudraksh and Rivanya stepped inside, his bottled-up anger finally exploded.
What on earth was that disrespect, Rivanya?" Rudraksh snapped, his voice tight with rage. "Just because I choose to stay quiet doesn't mean you can pull off stunts like this! And what kind of absurd way was that to drag me back from the office?
Trying her best to maintain her composure, Rivanya took a deep breath and replied calmly, "Rudra, everything I am doing is for your own good. The doctor explicitly ordered ten days of strict bed rest, and yet, not even two days have passed, and you snuck off to the office without telling anyone."
Before she could even finish her sentence, Rudraksh cut her off sharply.
"So what? Am I supposed to take your permission before doing anything now? And who even are you to question me? Have you forgotten that this marriage is nothing more than a mere arrangement? I have never accepted you as my wife!"
Tears welled up in Rivanya's eyes at his harsh words, but she blinked them back, her voice trembling yet resolute.
"Yes, Rudra, I know. I am well aware that you don't accept me as your wife.
But surely you consider me a human being?
Just look at it this way a stranger is showing some basic humanity and caring for your health.
And honestly, you don't need to keep reminding me of our reality.
This marriage has taken a far greater toll on me than it ever has on you.
So, for God's sake, stop trying to prove our marriage a mistake at every given opportunity!
Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Rivanya stormed out of the room.
Left alone, a frustrated Rudraksh grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it violently against the floor, shattering it into pieces.
He hadn't thought twice before lashing out, but now, the heavy weight of regret was starting to settle in.
Perhaps it was just his stubborn nature, or perhaps it was the confusing reality he was refusing to face.
The truth was, Rivanya's presence was changing him in ways he couldn't comprehend, leaving him utterly bewildered as to why he suddenly cared so deeply for her.
Exhausted by the emotional turmoil, Rudraksh lay down on the bed. Before he knew it, he drifted off into a deep sleep.
When he finally opened his eyes, evening was just around the corner.
Outside the window, the sky had painted itself in vibrant hues of yellow and orange, and the distant chirping of birds returning to their nests signaled the end of the day.
Everything around him was serene and still except for his own mind, which remained restless and deeply unsettled after his bitter fight with Rivanya.
No matter how stubborn he had been earlier, Rudraksh could no longer deny the nagging weight of guilt in his chest.
Deep down, he knew that Rivanya only had his best interests at heart.
His explosive anger earlier that morning hadn't truly been about her actions; rather, it was a clash with his own fiercely independent nature.
Rudraksh had never been one to follow anyone else's rules.
He had spent his entire life doing exactly as he pleased, with no one in the family ever daring to question him.
His authority had only solidified when he became the head of the Vardhan family at an incredibly young age, rendering everyone else silent out of sheer respect and fear.
The only exception to this rule had been his mother in his childhood, Agnishikha.
She was the sole person whose words held any weight with him, but after her passing, Rudraksh had completely closed himself off, retreating into a shell of absolute isolation.
Now, having Rivanya suddenly step into his life and assert authority over him was an entirely foreign experience. His irritation was simply the friction of his old habits breaking down a necessary storm that had to pass for him to finally let his guard down.
Determined to set things right, Rudraksh headed straight to the bathroom to freshen up. He resolved that he needed to speak with Rivanya immediately. The moment he stepped out of the room to look for her, a cold pang of anxiety hit him.
Scanning the house, he noticed Dadimaa and Dadaji sitting in the main hall, but the kitchen was completely empty, and there was no sign of Rivanya in the courtyard or on the terrace. A sudden, irrational fear gripped him had she left the house in a fit of anger?
Trying to mask his concern, he approached his grandmother and asked, "Dadimaa, have you seen Rivanya? I can't seem to find her anywhere."
Dadimaa smiled gently and replied, "Yes, I believe she went upstairs. Dev, Vyom, and Raaj were with her, discussing something. Check in Dev's room; they should all be there.
Relieved but still anxious, Rudraksh didn't utter another word and headed straight upstairs toward Dev's room. As he approached the door, the muffled sound of lighthearted laughter drifted out into the hallway and he could distinctly hear Rivanya's voice among them.
Instantly, Rudraksh's fists clenched at his sides. A surge of possessive frustration rushed through him as he thought to himself, *'Here I am, losing my absolute peace of mind because of her, and she's in there laughing as if nothing happened? Just wait, Mrs. Vardhan. Let me show you.'
Without knocking, Rudraksh threw the door open. The sight inside, however, caught him completely off guard.
Rivanya was comfortably seated on the sofa, while Dev sat on the floor right by her feet. She was gently massaging oil into his hair, treating him with the fond affection one would show a young child. Meanwhile, Raaj and Vyom were completely absorbed in a video game on the TV.
Breaking the cozy atmosphere, Raaj looked up, surprised to see his older brother standing at the threshold. "Oh, Bhai Sa? What brings you here? Do you need something?"
Dev and Vyom also turned their attention toward Rudraksh, but Rivanya didn't even bother to look up. That deliberate indifference pierced through Rudraksh's heart like a sharp blade.
Unable to contain himself, he declared flatly, "I am here for my wife. I have come to take her back.
The room fell into an awkward silence as everyone exchanged uneasy glances. Without breaking her rhythm or sparing him a glance, Rivanya retorted coldly, "How convenient. First, you say whatever vile thing comes to your mind to insult someone, and then you just casually walk in demanding to talk."
Sensing the thick, suffocating tension between the couple, Vyom and Raaj immediately realized that a major storm had brewed between them. However, our dear Dev Babu was completely oblivious to the fact that his older brother's burning gaze was practically drilling holes right into him.
Completely unaware of the danger, Dev closed his eyes in bliss and said, "Bhabhisa, your hands seriously have magic. My headache has completely vanished! Thank you so much.
Rivanya offered him a warm, genuine smile. "There is absolutely no need for a thank you, Devar-sa. You are just like a younger brother to me; this is the least I can do. Though, there *is* one thing I want in return...
Dev instantly puffed up his chest and replied, "Just command me, Bhabhisa! Your brother-in-law is ready to bring you anything you ask for.
You know I only ever want one thing," Rivanya chuckled softly. "Ice cream. So, instead of a thank you, just get me some ice cream, Devar-sa.
"Your wish is my command, Bhabhi-sa! Within the next ten minutes, your ice cream will be served," Dev promised enthusiastically.
As the two of them bantered, someone in the room was practically burning alive with jealousy. Yes, it was none other than our mighty Rudraksh Vardhan. It was infuriating to him how Rivanya was showering attention on absolutely everyone in the house except for him.
Trying his hardest to maintain his composure, Rudraksh commanded, Rivanya, come with me. We need to talk.
Rivanya completely ignored him, acting as if he were nothing but thin air. Taking a deep breath to rein in his soaring temper, Rudraksh made one final attempt. "I am telling you for the very last time, Rivanya. Come along, or else..."
When she still refused to acknowledge his presence, Rudraksh didn't waste another second. He stepped right in front of her, bent down, and in one swift, powerful motion, scooped Rivanya up into his arms right off the sofa.
Gasps echoed through the room. Every single person present stood frozen in absolute shock, but no one was more stunned than Rivanya herself.
As she instinctively began to squirm and protest against his solid chest, she hissed under her breath, "What on earth is this misbehavior, Rudra? Put me down this instant! Have you lost your mind? You are forgetting that you are still injured you are going to hurt yourself!"
Completely ignoring Rivanya's protests, Rudraksh looked down at her with a challenging glint in his eyes. "How convenient, Mrs. Vardhan you stay angry with me, yet you can't help but worry about me either. Well, I am definitely not letting you off easy today."
Holding her firmly against his chest, Rudraksh strode out of the room. Behind them, Vyom, Dev, and Raaj stood frozen, completely dumbfounded by this entirely new avatar of Rudraksh Vardhan.
Breaking the stunned silence, Vyom smirked. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't someone explicitly state recently that he would "never" accept Rivanya?"
Raaj chuckled, shaking his head. "And look at him now. The very same man just carried his 'nominal' wife away with absolute, unquestionable authority. Incredible."
Dev, looking entirely perplexed, scratched his head. "Wait, what on earth is going on here? I am so confused..."