The Royal Silence

51. Claim & Clash

"Adhvait's drama is over. Can we perform the vidai now?" Bhai said, like we just wrapped up a small argument and not a full crime show.

"Sure," Yugant snapped instantly, striding towards him. "I've been waiting to throw you out of my sight."

Wow. Romantic.

"Yugant... stop this nonsense," Dadu stepped in, exhaling. "Adhvait has already stained the Raizaada name. I'm not expecting the same from you."

Yugant's jaw stayed tight, anger still sitting right there on his face, but he turned and came straight to me.

Before I could even react, he grabbed my chooda-filled wrist and started walking.

Fast.

I blinked.

Hello? Bride here. Human, not luggage.

I stumbled once, the lehenga deciding this was the perfect time to test my balance.

"Yugant... I can't walk this fast," I said, trying to keep up while holding my lehenga with my other hand. "This thing weighs more than me."

No response.

"Yugant..." I tried again, now basically jogging beside him.

Still nothing.

"Yugant-ouch!" My foot twisted in those heels and the next second.

He stopped instantly before turning and looked down at me kneeling in front of him.

Ohh... Is that where I actually belong?

My eyes stung as I noticed people staring.

I glanced back, bhai was already rushing towards me. I shook my head slightly.

I want Yugant's help.

"Can't you just walk properly?" Yugant snapped, dropping to his knees in front of me.

I blinked, not able to form any words.

He pushed my lehenga aside and grabbed my foot.

"Ouch-! It hurts," I hissed as he touched it.

He exhaled, shaking his head. "You could've told me to slow down."

I stared at him.

Now he doesn't even hear my voice?

"I did," I replied, softly even though that wasn't my tone at all. "But you were busy being angry so clearly you didn't hear."

He didn't argue, just quietly removed my heels.

"Can you walk now?"

I wanted to say no. Actually, I should've said no.

But no. Miss Strong Independent Bride nodded.

He removed another heel as well and held them both in one hand, before helping me up with the other.

The moment I stood my foot twisted again.

"Ah...." I groaned, gripping his arm tightly, my eyes went shut.

Karma. Isn't it? For hurting him everytime?

His eyes had softened. Not soft enough to pick me up, but enough to make me think.

"I'm fine," I forced out. "I can walk."

"Place your hand around my neck."

"What?"

"I said place your hand around my neck."

Bossy much. Still, I did it.

Thought maybe he'll help me walk like a decent human being.

The moment my arm wrapped around his neck he bent slightly, one hand under my knees and the next second I was in the air.

Okay. Correction, in his arms.

No... in one arm.

God.

Does this man want to kill me with a heart attack today itself?

"Me and my lehenga are too heavy," I muttered, holding onto him. "You won't be able to carry me for long."

He didn't even look at me.

"Not heavy enough to make me stop carrying my wife," he said steady and unbothered.

Okay! My wife?

All the blood rushed to my cheeks at once, my face turning warm in seconds.

God! I never thought this word could sound this good.

And here I was overthinking that what if he wouldn't accept me or he would refuse to even acknowledge me as his wife.

One line.

Just one... and every stupid doubt I had... started falling apart.

He walked us outside, towards the parking area and stopped near his car, which was decorated with flowers.

Wedding car.

He didn't look at me. Not even once. Just pulled out the keys, unlocked it, and opened the door.

My heels were still hanging from his fingers. He placed them inside first, then bent slightly and made me sit carefully before shutting the door. Then he walked to the driver's seat and wore his seatbelt.

I did the same, quietly. Within minutes, the car was running on the Mumbai highway.

The windows were open, and the air rushed in so fast my hair started flying everywhere. I pulled the dupatta off my head, it was practically attacking my scalp at this point.

Wait.

It was MY wedding and I didn't even click a single picture?

Ohh fuck.

What will I show my future kids when they ask how I married their father? A crime scene?

Great.

The second reason for wearing this heavy lehenga, jewellery, and makeup... wasted.

Also, this jewellery? It was definitely planning to stretch my ears permanently.

God.

My hair kept hitting my face. Irritating.

I tried to close the window but it didn't work. I turned towards Yugant. "Can you close the window?"

He looked at me for a millisecond. Then back on the road and silently pressed the button.

The window slid up, cutting off the noise instantly.

Finally some peace.

My eyes dropped to his hand on the gear. Without thinking, I placed mine over his.

But he jerked it away too fast.

Oh. So he's still mad.

"What happened?" I asked.

He let out a scoff. "After doing everything, you're still asking what happened?"

I swallowed.

"You're mad because I married you?"

"Yes," he said instantly. "I am mad. And you sitting here like this is not helping."

Wow.

"Then stop the car and leave me here. Why are you even taking me home?"

I looked away, annoyed.

"I can't risk headlines tomorrow the jewellery tycoon Yugant Raizaada leaves his newly wedded wife on the road at midnight." He shot back.

Now he cares about reputation but not me.

I stayed silent after that. He was mad, and there is no way I can calm him down at this point. Plus he was driving, I don't want to take any risk. We have our whole life to talk and sort things out.

I kept looking outside the window. Not that I didn't glance at him. I did, but not even once did I find him doing the same.

After half an hour, the car finally entered inside the gates of Raizaada Mansion.

I hoped for Dadi and Dadu to reach home, but there was no car except ours.

I just unbuckled my seatbelt and exhaled slowly when Yugant got down from the car and walked towards the main door with long strides.

Did he forget I got injured because of him and he should help like a decent human being? Or did he carry me in the hall just for his public image?

It's alright, Dhwani... it's alright.

I opened the door and threw my heels outside. Not going to touch them again. They just made me depend on others. Even if he is my husband... he doesn't want to carry me willingly.

Just as I placed one foot down and tried to move the other, a hand slid under my knees and behind my back again. I looked up to find Yugant.

My lips parted as he lifted me, my hands automatically wrapping around his neck as he stood straight, holding me in his arms.

"You were going, why did you come back now?" I asked.

"Can't leave my newly wedded wife to struggle here the whole night, can I?"

It was the third time he called me his wife, and again I felt all the blood rushing to my face.

His eyes stayed locked on mine this time, and I had to break eye contact, because suddenly everything felt different.

New. As if he never carried me before. As if we were never this close.

His touch, his breath, his voice everything felt like a magnet, and I was getting pulled towards him.

He closed the car door, and walked us inside the mansion.

It was empty, as expected. He didn't look around, just climbed the stairs.

I thought he would take me to his room, but he stopped outside mine.

"Wait... why are we here?" I asked.

"Isn't it your room?"

"Aren't we married now?" I raised my brows.

He looked at me for a few seconds, then said "You want to share the room with me?"

"Aren't we husband and wife?"

I didn't answer, just kept asking in his way.

"I'm sure you did that just to stop my marriage with Olivia. You can't possibly think like that."

Ohh... is this man mad? How many times have I told him I love him, and he still thinks I married him just to save him from Ms. Anabella?

"Take me to your room. I am your wife, and it's my right to stay with you," I said, looking away from him, even though I could feel his sharp gaze on me.

He didn't say anything after that, just turned towards his room with me still in his arms.

As he pushed open the door of his room, the lights were off and the only thing lighting it was candles, placed beautifully all around. Roses everywhere. Even the bed was decorated.

My heartbeat increased as he stepped us inside.

What is happening today? Why am I suddenly feeling awkward? It's not like I'm seeing this for the first time. It's not like we were never this close.

Then why does his touch suddenly feel so different?

He made me sit on the bed, my fingers instantly crushing the flowers spread over it.

His eyes followed that moment, then lifted to my face then he turned back, walking towards the door.

For a second, I thought he would leave me here alone.

But instead he shut the door and locked it.

Okay Dhwani... relax. Why are you suddenly shivering?

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.

I was doing that with my eyes closed when I felt his fingers grip my foot, and then my lehenga getting pulled up slowly towards my knee.

I quickly opened my eyes and held his hand.

"Wh-what are you doing?" My words tumbled over each other.

He looked down at my hand on his... then at my eyes. Then without saying anything, he started pulling the lehenga up again, my hand still resting over his.

I swallowed and looked down. My bare leg is now visible to him. His gaze fixed on the small wound on my knee.

Ohh... thank god. I pulled my hand back.

He opened the side drawer, took out a first aid kit, dipped cotton in antiseptic and pressed it against the wound.

It stung so much that I hissed, gripping his arm, my nails digging into his skin, eyes shut tightly.

Then I felt cold air blowing over it. I opened my eyes and it was him. My eyes stuck on his face.

Why is this man like this? One minute all angry, moody... and the next minute like this?

I kept looking at him, not even realising when he applied two band-aids and then lifted my ankle, placing it on his lap.

His gaze stayed on my foot. On my ankle maybe on the toe rings.

I don't even know.

But he kept looking...wait admiring, then he pulled out his phone and clicked a picture of my foot and placed it on the bed and clicked my feet again.

I frowned slightly. What is he even doing?

He looked up, like he read my thoughts, cleared his throat and said, "I have to send it to the doctor. He might suggest a good pain relief cream."

I gave a slight nod and waited but he didn't send anything.

Weird.

He simply took out a move spray, sprayed it on the swollen part of my foot, and wrapped a crepe bandage around it.

Then he unlocked the heavy anklet and removed it, placing it on the side table.

"Take rest," he said, shutting the first aid kit and placing it on the side table.

"Yugant..." I held his hand.

He looked into my eyes, then his gaze travelled to my hairline... then to my neck... like he was still trying to believe it was actually me.

"What?" he asked.

I wanted to say I was hungry. I hadn't eaten anything except that one cookie Ishaan gave me, but the words got stuck in my throat.

"Can you..." I couldn't find any reason to make him stay.

My gaze fell on my henna-covered hands.

I looked back at him. "Umm... see..." I lifted my hands in front of him. "I applied this for you. Can you find your initials in it?" I asked, a little hopeful.

His eyes dropped to my hands. He sat down in front of me, holding them gently. He turned them, pushing my bangles up, carefully looking through the design.

His brows furrowed.

"What happened? You didn't like the design?" I raised my brows slightly.

He looked up at me. "Why are there scratches and redness on your hands?"

I looked down. So they were visible.

"It's... just a little allergic reaction," I said, trying to sound normal.

His grip tightened instantly. " You're allergic to Henna?"

I gave a slight nod, not wanting to lie.

"Why the fuck did you even apply this when you know you're allergic to henna?" his voice rose, anger clear.

"I..." I hesitated, then forced the words out, softer this time, "I just wanted to admire your face... when you'd find your initial in my hands."

His hold on my bangles tightened, his gaze locking with mine.

"And you thought I'd admire this?" he said, his voice hard, controlled but cutting. "The same thing that's hurting you... you expected me to smile at that?"

My eyes stung. "I... I did this for you. To make you feel like I care for you, that I love you the same way you do."

"Did I ask you to do that?" His eyes hardened.

My lips trembled, a sob slipping out. "I... I just wanted to make you feel special. Feel seen. Feel loved. Feel that you matter."

"Why don't you understand?" his voice snapped, anger breaking through. "Things like this don't prove love. It's just... reckless."

Reckless? Okay.

I left his hand and looked down, not wanting to show him the tear that just escaped my eyes.

I didn't say anything. I just silently started removing my jewellery. He stood there for a second, then turned and walked into the washroom.

The moment the door shut, the emotions I was holding back finally spilled. I covered my face and let the tears fall, my hands trembling, my breath uneven.

I thought things would settle after marriage.

But within an hour... he called my efforts reckless.

Wiping my face, I removed my nose ring, necklace, hand bracelets... everything.

These were the same things that made me feel good a few moments ago. Now they were suffocating me.

After removing it all, I placed my feet carefully on the floor and stood. The pain was sharp. But I still managed to walk out of his room, slowly, with difficulty.

When your heart hurts more than your body... physical pain feels nothing. I pushed open the door of my room and looked around.

Not gonna lie, but this room feels like mine.

I've lived here for months. And even when I wasn't here... it still felt like my space.

Maybe this is what people call a safe space, where no one can replace you.

I sat there for a few minutes, trying to settle my emotions, when the door opened.

I turned.

Yugant stood there, hair slightly wet, messy over his forehead, wearing just a vest and trousers.

"Why did you come here?" he asked, stepping inside.

I looked away. "I wanted my night suit... so I came to get it."

"Have you taken it?"

"No."

He didn't say anything, just walked into the closet and came out with my night suit... along with my innerwear and a towel.

Then he moved to the bathroom and picked up my shampoo and other things.

After that, he went to the vanity, pulled out a basket, and started putting everything insid my lotion, night cream... etc.

How does he know every single thing I use at night?

Shaking my head, I opened the side drawer and took my thyroid medicine, the one I have to take hours before dinner and hid it in my fist.

When I looked back at him, his eyes were on my hand.

I quickly hid it behind my lehenga. I thought he would ask. But he didn't.

He just walked up to me and handed me the basket and my clothes.

"I was thinking of staying here tonight," I said quietly. "I might not be able to adjust in your room suddenly."

He didn't reply. Instead, he just picked me up in his arms.

"I'm not in the mood to leave my wife here," he said, looking at my face, probably expecting me to look at him.

I didn't.

Bipolar Man.

I kept my gaze down, holding the things tightly, not wanting him to see how much that word affected me. Again.

My grip tightened on the basket as he carried me back to his room.

Reaching inside his room, I placed the things on the bed and took out a tablet, gulping it down with water as he turned to close the door.

By the time he turned back, I pushed the medicine beneath the mattress. I don't want him to know about this... not until he tries to find out for himself.

I picked up my clothes and stood, walking towards the bathroom.

"Wait... let me help," he came beside me again.

"I can manage," I stopped him and walked inside, taking a little support from the wall.