Ch40 Unveiling the Dark Hues of the Past
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After getting completely exhausted last night, I had no idea when I drifted off to sleep, but when my eyes opened this morning, Rudraksh was already fully dressed and ready.
I slowly pushed myself up and sat against the headboard.
Compared to yesterday, I did feel slightly better, but the constant crying and staying under the freezing water for hours had left my head thumping and my legs aching intensely.
The sedative effect of the medicine last night had put me into a deep slumber, but the moment I woke up, the exact same haunting questions flooded my mind all over again.
Yesterday, a massive, world-altering truth had unraveled before me a truth about myself, about my mother, and about Pa... no, about Naresh Bedi.
Now, the biggest question echoing in my mind was: if my biological father was someone else, why did Mumma marry Naresh Bedi in the first place? There were so many missing pieces, and the answers to all of them would only be found at my maternal home in Kashi, from my Nanu-Nanima and Mama-Mami.
While I was deeply lost in these thoughts, Rudra's deep, heavy voice broke the silence of the room.
"Sugarplum, you're awake?" he asked, looking at me through the mirror.
He immediately walked over, sat down on the edge of the mattress close to me, and gently pressed the back of his hand against my forehead to check my temperature. "The fever seems to have gone down, but still, if you feel even slightly uneasy, tell me right now. I'll call the doctor back."
The moment he pulled out his phone to dial, I quickly reached out, wrapping my fingers around his hand to stop him. "No, Rudra, I am perfectly fine now. There's no need to call the doctor, don't worry."
Rudraksh narrowed his eyes, searching my face with intense scrutiny. "Are you absolutely sure? Look, if there's anything bothering you, just say it."
I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, looking into his eyes. "Rudra, don't worry, I am genuinely feeling better. And... thank you for last night. Thank you for the way you handled everything. If you hadn't been there, I don't even know what would have happened to me."
Rudraksh immediately cut me off, his expression tightening.
"What would have happened? Absolute nonsense. I would have never let anything happen to you in the first place, Rivanya. So, you don't need to thank me at all. Just recover quickly; you look terrible looking like a crushed tomato. You only look good when you are actively picking fights with me."
Hearing his words, a genuine smile finally broke across my face for the first time since yesterday's storm.
"You never miss a single opportunity to tease me, do you?"
I chuckled softly, before my tone turned incredibly quiet and vulnerable.
"Rudra... can I ask you for something? You won't misunderstand me, right?"
Rudraksh looked at me, his gaze softening into a profound, unwavering respect.
"Rivanya, you know very well that I never turn down your requests, and I hold immense respect for you. So, tell me, what do you want? With just one command from you, I can bring everything in this world and lay it directly at your feet."
A gentle, emotional smile touched my lips as I looked at the only anchor left in my dissolving world, and I whispered, "Could you please hold me in your arms just one more time?"
Rudraksh froze for a fraction of a second, his dark eyes widening slightly in surprise.
For a moment, the room fell into a heavy, breathless silence, and I worried that I had overstepped or made him uncomfortable.
But before that doubt could settle into my heart, his expression softened completely.
He didn't say a single word. He simply leaned forward, slid his powerful arms around my waist, and pulled me flush against his solid chest, burying his face into the crook of my neck.
I instantly wrapped my arms around his shoulders, clinging to him tightly as if he were the only solid anchor keeping me from drowning in my own thoughts.
Being in his embrace felt entirely different today; it wasn't driven by a frantic panic like last night under the shower, but by a quiet, protective warmth that wrapped around my soul like a shield.
I rested my cheek against his broad shoulder, closing my eyes as the comforting scent of his premium, woody perfume washed over me, instantly silencing the chaotic storm in my mind.
"You never have to hesitate to ask me for this, Rivanya," his deep, velvet voice rumbled softly against my skin, sending a gentle shiver down my spine. "As long as I am here, this shelter is always yours."
We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, completely shut off from the rest of the world. The unyielding, unapproachable Rudraksh Vardhan had completely lowered his guards for me, holding me with a gentleness that healed a piece of my broken spirit with every passing second.
Slowly, he loosened his grip and pulled back just enough to look into my face, his warm thumbs wiping away a solitary tear that had escaped my eye. He gave me a reassuring nod before his expression shifted into something more focused and serious.
"Now, let's talk about Kashi," he said gently, keeping his hands reassuringly over mine. "If you are absolutely certain about going today, I will have Vyom handle the flight bookings immediately. But you have to promise me that you will take your medicines on time and call me the moment you land."
I nodded softly, a wave of profound gratitude washing over me. "I promise, Rudra. Thank you for always understanding me, even when I don't have the words to explain myself."
Rudraksh gently placed his large, warm hand over mine, squeezing it reassuringly.
He looked deep into my eyes, locking his gaze with mine as he spoke with absolute conviction, "There is no need for any thank you. I am always standing right beside you in every single decision you make. Even today,
I would have dropped everything and traveled to Kashi with you without a second thought. But I genuinely want you to fight this battle on your own terms. Just remember one thing the very moment you feel overwhelmed, look right behind you. You will always find Rudraksh Vardhan standing there,
acting as your immovable shield."
His powerful words acted like a soothing balm, instantly healing the raw, bleeding wounds festering inside my soul.
A beautiful, bittersweet ache bloomed in my chest.
On one hand, he explicitly refuses to accept me as his true wife and constantly pushes me away to keep his distance.
Yet, on the other hand, his actions constantly betray his spoken words, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he harbors deep, unvoiced feelings for me in his heart. He is simply too stubborn to accept it.
But I promise you, Rudra, I thought to myself, staring into his intense gaze.
One day, you will realize that our union wasn't just a mere coincidence.
Our destinies are irrevocably tied to one another.
A day will surely come when our bond won't just be an arranged arrangement on paper, but a true merging of our hearts.
It will be a story completely dedicated to us the story of Rudraksh and Rivanya, forever known as Rudravanya.
Sustained by this newfound silent hope, I slowly gathered myself and walked into the bathroom.
I turned on the handle and took a long, relaxing hot shower, letting the steaming water wash away the lingering fatigue and physical soreness from last night.
Once I finished, I dried off and changed into a highly comfortable, elegant ethnic suit for the long journey ahead.
Tucking a few stray strands of hair behind my ear, I walked back out into the main bedroom area. I paused near the threshold when I noticed that Rudraksh hadn't left for the office yet; he was still standing right there, waiting patiently to ensure I was fully prepared to face the world.
Rudraksh closed the distance between them, his voice dropping into a steady, reassuring register as he sought to ease her mind.
"Don't burden yourself with any of this. I will handle the family and manage everything. From this day forward, your name will never be linked to Naresh Bedi again. Don't worry."
Rivanya nodded, comforted by his promise, and turned back around to finish the final details of her packing. What she completely missed, however, was the dangerous flare of raw fury that instantly ignited in Rudraksh's eyes the very moment Naresh Bedi's name left her lips.
Naresh Bedi had made the fatal mistake of severely underestimating Rudraksh Vardhan.
There was a definitive, terrifying reason why every corporate tycoon in the country feared crossing paths with him it was his absolute, calculated ruthlessness.
No sane individual willingly chose to invite the enmity of Rudraksh Vardhan; in fact, people trod carefully even when trying to maintain a friendship with him.
He had chosen to fly under the radar for the past few months, but the whisper networks across the country had just received a seismic shockwave: Rudraksh Vardhan was back, and an icy atmosphere of absolute terror had officially settled over his enemies.
The moment Rivanya closed the zipper on her small travel bag, signaling that her packing was finally complete, Rudraksh stepped in, completely taking charge of her morning routine.
Despite her endless protests and gentle reassurances that she was feeling much better, he remained absolutely stubborn.
He made her sit down, ensured she ate a light, nutritious breakfast, and personally handed her the morning doses of her prescribed medications.
He stood right there over her, watching intently until she swallowed the pills.
Once satisfied, he bent down and effortlessly picked up her heavy luggage.