Ch39 The Awakening of RV #2
Naresh Bedi literally bought the entire school. He bribed the administration to ensure Alisha was handed the first rank in everything, manipulating my mind to make me feel inadequate. When my Mamaji found out about this toxic environment, he stepped in and took me away to Kashi,
where I completed the rest of my education."
She took a shaky breath, her knuckles turning white as she clutched the blanket. "But even when I returned to Mumbai to pursue my law degree, they couldn't stand it..."
As Rudraksh sat silently listening to her story, his blood began to boil.
A dark, dangerous fury flared within him as the absolute depravity of Naresh Bedi unfolded before him.
The urge to dismantle the man piece by piece took over his mind.
It was only Rivanya's fragile state that kept his lethal temper in check.
One thing was now set in stone: Bedi Industries was on borrowed time.
Rudraksh was going to ensure that Naresh Bedi was stripped of everything he held dear.
Suppressing his rage for her sake, Rudraksh reached out and gently wiped the remaining tears from her face. "No more crying now. If you weep any further, these tomato-like cheeks of yours are going to burst, Sugarplum."
A watery, breathless smile finally broke through Rivanya's grief. "And what about you walking around with a face like a rotten potato all the time, Mr. Hippopotamus?"
Seeing her mood lift slightly brought a wave of genuine relief to Rudraksh's heart. Without a word, he stood up and effortlessly scooped her into his arms. Startled by the sudden movement, Rivanya gasped, her hands flying to his shoulders. "Rudra! What are you doing?"
"Just watch, Sugarplum," he replied smoothly.
He carried her over to the vanity and gently seated her on the stool.
Placed before the mirror, he plugged in the hair dryer and began to meticulously dry her damp hair.
Rivanya sat entirely still, watching his focused reflection in the glass.
With every passing day, her heart was falling deeper for this man.
His silent, protective actions made it utterly impossible not to love him.
Rudraksh focused entirely on his task, his fingers gently parting her wet strands as the warm air filled the space between them.
"Look at how wet your hair is," he murmured without breaking his gaze from her hair.
"You'll catch a severe cold. Let's get this dried completely before we focus on anything else."
Rivanya's eyes remained locked onto him in the mirror, her gaze now swimming with an unadulterated, deep affection.
The love she harbored for him was starkly visible to anyone who looked at her visible to the entire world, except to the man himself.
Rudraksh was completely oblivious to her growing feelings.
Had he suspected that she was falling in love with him, his deep-seated defense mechanisms would have forced him to distance himself immediately.
He carried a heavy, unvoiced conviction that anyone who grew too close to him was destined for ruin or destruction, a curse that kept him isolated from the world and even from his own family.
Once her hair was completely dry, Rudraksh lifted her once more and settled her back comfortably onto the bed.
Right on cue, the bedroom door opened, and Dadimaa entered, followed closely by a maid carrying a tray with a bowl of hot soup.
The moment Dadimaa saw Rivanya awake, her maternal instincts took over.
Tears welled in her eyes as she rushed forward and pulled her into a tight, emotional embrace.
"What happened to you, Rivanya? Do you have any idea how terrified I was?"
Clinging to her tightly, Rivanya managed a reassuring tone. "Look at me, Dadimaa... I am completely fine now."
Dadimaa gently pulled back, her hand softly cupping Rivanya's pale cheek.
"Your face looks so exhausted, my child. I am not going to interrogate you about what brought this on right now. Your only job is to rest and recover. I brought some warm soup for you."
Turning her gaze toward her grandson, she instructed, "Rudraksh, make sure she finishes this soup, and then give her the prescribed medicines, alright?"
Rudraksh offered a silent nod, but Dadimaa didn't miss the chilling, intense look in his eyes. She could see that his mind was in a very dark, calculated place. I wonder whose destruction is written by his hands next? she thought to herself.
Knowing his expressions all too well, Dadimaa recognized the quiet, lethal anger masking his face a clear sign that someone's ruin was imminent.
Bidding Rivanya a gentle goodnight, she walked out of the room, guiding the maid out with her.
The moment the door clicked shut, the heavy silence returned.
Rudraksh picked up the warm bowl of soup from the nightstand and walked back over to the bed, sitting down quietly right beside her.
Rudraksh leaned forward, carefully blowing on the first spoonful of soup before offering it to her. Rivanya felt a sudden flutter in her chest. Looking down at the spoon, she spoke softly, "Rudra, don't worry. I can drink it myself."
She extended her hand to take the bowl, but Rudraksh smoothly pulled it back, completely out of her reach. He looked directly into her eyes, his expression unreadable, and countered, "Why? Will it taste bitter if I feed it to you?"
"That's not it at all, Rudraksh," Rivanya replied, a faint blush cutting through the paleness of her cheeks. "It's just that you have already done so much for me today. I can manage this small thing on my own..."
Rudraksh didn't back down an inch. He dipped the spoon back into the warm liquid, his voice low and unyielding. "There is absolutely no need for you to do anything right now. I am in no mood to argue with you, Rivanya. Just drink this quietly so you can take your medicines."
Leaving her with no room for a rebuttal, Rudraksh began feeding her the warm soup, spoonful by spoonful.
Each time, he meticulously blew on the liquid, waiting for it to reach the perfect temperature before letting her drink.
Rivanya sat in a state of quiet wonder, her eyes fixed entirely on him.
She was completely captivated by this hidden, protective side of his personality.
She had always known that Rudraksh wore a cold, unyielding mask to hide a completely different version of himself, but she had never anticipated this level of deep, unconditional tenderness.
Seeing his immense concern for her well-being brought a profound sense of security to her aching heart. After a lifetime of feeling abandoned, lonely, and unwanted, Rivanya felt a beautiful certainty settling into her soul she had finally found her true home.
Even though Rivanya remained quiet as she finished the soup, her mind was a turbulent storm of questions.
The absolute chaos in her thoughts demanded clarity. Setting the empty bowl aside, she looked up at him with a sudden, quiet determination. "Rudra... I want to go to Kashi tomorrow."
Rudraksh furrowed his eyebrows instantly, his gaze tightening. "I don't have a problem with you going, but look at your health first. Let yourself recover properly, and then I will personally take you there myself, alright?"
"No, Rudra," Rivanya insisted, her voice trembling but firm. "I need the answers to my questions as soon as possible. I have so many things I need to ask my family..."
Rudraksh sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly. "I know. I found the letter on the floor. That's how I realized what brought you to this state..."
At the mere mention of the letter, fresh tears broke past Rivanya's defenses and began to stream down her face.
"Yes... there are so many things that I absolutely must know. That is why I have to leave for Kashi tomorrow, no matter what."
Rudraksh looked at her tear-stained face and realized that until she uncovered the full truth, her mind would find no peace. Leaving her alone with these thoughts would only deteriorate her health further. Making a swift decision, he said, "Fine. Then I am coming with you."
Rivanya immediately reached out, stopping him.
"No, Rudraksh. First of all, this is my battle. Please let me face this on my own. Besides, you have just joined the office today after a very long time. You must have an immense backlog of work waiting for you. I overheard Vyom bhaiya mentioning that you have several critical meetings lined up.
So please, let me go alone. Whatever happens there, I promise I will come back and tell you everything, alright?"
Rudraksh remained silent for a long moment, weighing her words carefully.
Finally, he looked at her with a reluctant nod. "I completely dislike the idea of letting you go alone. But I will not stand in the way of you fighting your own battles. Just remember one thing if you need me for even a single second, call me immediately, and I will be there. Understood?"
Rivanya nodded softly, a wave of gratitude washing over her.
Rudraksh then reached for the bedside table, picked up her prescribed medications, and gently helped her take them.
Within minutes, the heavy sedative effect of the injection and the pills took over, and Rivanya drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Once she was completely fast asleep, Rudraksh gently pulled back the heavy duvet to check on her.
His heart clenched when he noticed that her feet and ankles had swollen significantly from standing under the freezing water for hours.
Unable to see her in any kind of discomfort, he sat down at the foot of the bed.
Slowly, with the utmost care, he lifted her swollen feet and placed them gently onto his lap.
Using his warm palms, he began to massage them with firm, soothing strokes, trying to ease the physical tension out of her body.
He knew she must be in a massive amount of physical pain from the chill, and even if he couldn't fight her emotional battles for her, this was one small thing he could do to absorb her suffering and bring her peace.
I don't understand why looking at your pain causes an actual, agonizing ache deep inside my own chest...