Page 46

The whole day passed as I waited for him, having heard no news.

I stared at the stars while the night grew darker, but the moon shone brightly high in the sky, intensifying a strange fear within me, like a storm poised to erupt.

The night breeze felt sharper, like a blade.

Despite the weakness in my knees and the throbbing in my chest, I stood quietly in the corner by a pillar of the courtyard, trying to swallow the anxious lump in my throat.

“, rest.

He will scold each of us if he finds out you haven’t taken proper rest,”

I heard Suman say, and I turned to look at her.

She looked worried, too.

I shook my head in response.

“I don’t know, but my fingers are shaking,”

I said, showing her my trembling hands.

I couldn’t explain it, but my instincts told me something was terribly wrong.

She held my hands and shook her head softly.

“It’s just weakness.”

Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks, and I didn’t understand what was happening suddenly.

Since morning—since he left—I had been feeling this constant twisting and turning in my heart and stomach. But —

“,”

His voice pulled the reins of all my thoughts.

I looked past Suman and saw him walking in toward me.

Unknowingly, my feet began to move.

It was really him.

He was here.

I saw him and stepped forward with a wide smile spread across my face, yet more tears streamed again.

The sound of my anklet bells echoed through the room as I scurried toward him, and he immediately caught me in his arms.

I wrapped my arms tightly around his shoulders, and he hugged me back, lifting me off the floor.

My face found its place in the crook of his neck, and with each shaky breath, I inhaled his intoxicating scent that instantly calmed me.

His touch sent a wave of peace through me.

I was still trembling, but I felt so calm now.

“Hey, what happened?”

he asked gently, caressing the back of my head.

I shut my eyes, trying to balance my breath slowly.

“I don’t know,”

I whispered, my heart hammering.

My fingers clenched the fabric of his clothes like I never wanted to let him go again.

I couldn’t even imagine staying away from him for a single day.

He held me tighter, and I didn’t even realise when he carried me to the bedroom and settled us on the couch, keeping me in his lap.

He slowly moved my head from his shoulder to look at me.

He cupped my cheek, and in the glow of the warm yellow candlelight, I spotted the bruises on his face.

A tear slipped down my cheek as I reached for him, my fingers trembling.

“What happened?”

I managed to ask.

He gave a soft smile, raising his brows.

“What? What happened? Something happened?”

I frowned and said, “You have bruises,”

He held my hand and kissed it lightly.

“These are the love marks you gave,”

he teased, and I narrowed my eyes.

“What? No,”

I said, remembering I hadn’t done that.

He leaned in and placed his forehead against mine.

I could feel his warm, fresh breath against my lips—he’d just bathed.

“How are you feeling, love?”

he asked.

My lashes fell shut from the comfort of him being so close.

I took a deep breath as he kissed my nose.

“Who did this to you?”

I asked, not opening my eyes.

“Have you had dinner?”

he counter-questioned, and I nodded for the reply.

“Words,”

he insisted. “Yes,”

I replied.

He gently brushed his lips against my cheek, and I clutched at his kurta.

“You’re in pain,”

he whispered.

I shook my head. “No,”

He sighed and lifted me in his arms again, standing up.

“I can feel your pain in your breaths, little bird,”

he said, and carried me to the bed.

Lying me down gently, he sat beside me, and I cupped his cheek.

“You met Abhinandan?” I asked.

He smiled.

“No.

He had already left for home by the time I reached,”

“Really? He went home?”

I asked, hardly believing it.

He nodded.

“Yes, he went home,”

A wide smile spread across my face as I felt so much lighter suddenly.

I laughed, and tears of relief streamed down my face.

“Thank God!”

I breathed.

“Do you want to visit him?”

he asked, and I nodded eagerly.

“Yes, yes, yes!”

I said, my voice filled with excitement.

He smiled and said, “You must leave as soon as you’re well,”

and I nodded in agreement.

But — “You won’t come with me?”

I asked and watched his smile fade.

His fingers gently played over my hand as he replied in a quiet voice, “I have to handle something.

But I’ll come soon—to bring you back,”

I smiled softly. “Ohh,”

It was a strange mix of feelings—excitement, happiness, and a bit of sadness.

I would finally see my brother, but Rudra wouldn’t be coming along.

“I missed him so much.

I can’t wait.

I want to talk to him,”

I said, and he nodded with a smile.

“Now, my little liar has to eat,”

he said, making me chuckle.

“How do you always know what’s in my heart?”

I asked, and he leaned in to kiss my forehead.

“Because you are my world,”

His words had me smiling shyly, and I watched him get off the bed.

Clapping twice, he called the attendants and asked them to bring us dinner.

Once they left, I grabbed his hand and pulled him closer to me again.

“When is Ranvijay’s wedding?”

I asked suddenly.

His smile faltered slightly.

“Can’t say anything yet.

The peace treaties are still pending, and in the middle of it, Surgami Dev Singh is stirring trouble,”

Furrowing my brows, I asked, “Why don’t you just kill him?”

He looked at me for a moment, then said, “It’s not that easy,”

“Why not?”

I asked, genuinely confused.

I didn’t understand.

If he was the biggest obstacle in our way, why couldn’t we end it? Why couldn’t we just… kill him?

“He’s not just my enemy—he’s my uncle by blood.

The husband of Badimaa.

And no matter how wrong a person is… life is still better than death,”

he said, and I swallowed hard, understanding the weight behind those words.

“So, you'll not kill him?”

I asked, and he shook his head weakly.

“When I attacked Suryagarh, I thought he laid hands on you even though I had warned him,”

“But, he did, he was ready,”

I immediately explained, but he shook his head again.

“No, .

You seduced him to do that.

You used to get revenge on me.

You promised him a hair for the throne.

He wasn’t completely wrong. You too were wrong, and so I cannot kill him because he was framed between us, by no one else, but you,”

I inhaled a deep breath.

“But, Rudra, he is wrong.

He’s a womaniser who sexually assaults young girls and treats them like trash,” I said.

“Until proven, he’s not guilty.

Right now, he's a commoner, which means he has no kingdom, no support.

If anyone raises an objection or files a complaint against him, then I can act.

But I cannot kill him just because you brought him between us.

That would be wrong,”

He spoke firmly, but I inhaled a sharp, disbelieving breath.

“But—”

I tried to object, but he cut in.

“, Badimaa matters.

To me.

To us.

And he's her husband.

I can't act against him after knowing nothing happened between you and him,”

Something in his voice felt off, and his words confused me.

It was like he was convincing himself more than me.

My heart tightened at the thought that he might have been hiding something from me.

“Did you meet Abhi?”

I asked quietly, searching his eyes.

His face flinched, barely, but I caught it.

His brows furrowed in mock confusion.

“What? No,”

I stared at him, deadpan.

“Swear on me,”

Immediately, his hand rose to cup my cheek gently.

“What are you saying, ? Of cou—”

“You're lying,”

I cut him off, my voice steady.

His hand froze mid-sentence.

“What?”

he asked, stunned.

I pushed his hand away, a fire building inside me.

“You met Abhi.

I can tell.

It’s written all over your face,”

He shook his head, but it was unconvincing.

“Tell me, Rudra.

What did he say? What happened between you two? Why do you have bruises? Did you fight? Is he alright? Is everything okay?”

His hands returned to my face, trying to calm me.

“Shhh… Yes, everything is okay,”

I held his wrist, shaking my head.

“No.

You're lying.

Everything is not okay.

Something happened. Tell me. Now,”

I said with strength in my voice, and he just stared at me, blank, silent.

Tears welled in my eyes and spilt over as he finally nodded.

“Yes, I met him,”

he confessed softly.

I stared into his eyes, but he lowered his gaze and exhaled.

“What did he say?”

I asked, my voice trembling.

Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.

I was terrified that something worse had happened.

He shook his head.

“Nothing...

He’s devastated by everything.

And he misses you,”

That broke me.

I collapsed into quiet sobs, and he wrapped his arms around me.

“Hey, he’s okay.

I promise,”

“He’s not,”

I hiccuped.

“I spoke to him.

He agreed to go back home.

You should go too, .

Be with him...

with your family,”

I pulled away and looked at him.

“Then come with me,” I said.

“No, ,”

He shook his head.

“This is about your family now.

All of this happened because of me.

Abhinandan is right.

After everything I did to you, your family still supported me.

No one even asked him what he went through. They chose my side. You chose me—your happiness, our happiness. That was a mistake. Now... now it’s time to choose him. He needs you. He thinks he’s the reason for everything—like I met you through him, like he lost you to me. This is your moment to bring your family back together. Be there until everything is back to normal again,”

I blinked, trying to understand his words.

“He agreed to come home.

He wants to give himself, his family...

and you, another chance.

And I won’t come in between this time.

I’ll come when he’s ready to see me. Whether you believe it or not, , I don’t deserve you. Your family loves you. He loves you. You proved your love to them. Now let me earn the right to stand beside you the way they would have wished,”

I shook my head slowly.

“I don’t understand.

If he’s agreed, why all this? You already deserve me.

I’m made for you.

You’re made for me. We can’t be apart like this,”

He cupped my hands gently.

“, we’ve only known each other for two years.

And in those two years, you’ve left everything behind for me.

That’s not love—it’s sacrifice.

You’re choosing me over everything else, and that’s selfishness in disguise. Your brother is not okay. Not every war is fought on the battlefield. Some are fighting inside, where no one can see. And Abhinandan... he’s battling something dark. And, for that battle, he needs your support. He is changing drastically, save him before it goes too far. Catch him, bring him back to the family,”

I nodded slowly, even though I didn’t fully understand.

“But I’ll miss you,”

I whispered.

He held my hands tighter.

“Please don’t.

Show your love to your family once more.

We have time, .

This time, give it to them before it’s too late,”

I looked at him, my brows furrowed.

“You’re scaring me,”

He shook his head.

“No.

I’m being honest.

We’re fine—you and I.

But your brother isn’t. Every day, when you look at me, I know a part of you aches for him, that he’s not home, suffering. Whether you show it or not, you love him the most. Remember, it wasn’t for me that you agreed to marry Surgami Dev Singh... it was for him, for Mahabaleshgarh. He’s the Prince. He’ll be king someday. But broken people... they bring more destruction if they’re not healed. Go to him before he breaks further,”

I nodded, slowly letting it sink in.

“Okay...

okay, I’m getting you,”

I said, wiping my cheeks.

“Come here,”

he murmured, and pulled me into a tight embrace.

“I’m sorry, .

All this pain is because of me.

I’m hurting you even when I don’t want to,”

I cried harder and shook my head.

“No, I understand.

I understand all of it.

I just...

I don’t know why I’m crying,”

He chuckled softly and kissed my forehead.

“You’re my baby,”

He cupped my cheek, lifting my gaze to his.

“I just want to take care of you the best I can before you leave,”

I blinked at him, confused, fear flickering in my chest. “What?”

My voice caught in my throat.

Something in his words chilled me.

Horror filled me.

He smiled at me.

“What, what? A husband can’t care for his wife now? Is it so strange to be loved like this?”

He wrapped me in his arms again, gently.

“No...

but there’s something behind your words.

Something I can’t explain.

It feels... heavy,”

He laughed softly.

“You’re an overthinker, little bird,”

Maybe he was right.

I smiled faintly and rested my head against his chest.

“It feels like a dying heart clinging to driftwood, bleeding from the cuts of iron blades, yet still somehow beating.

That’s what it feels like when you’re forced to choose between the two people who mean the world to you.

I don’t know the real reason behind this sudden shift… this quiet need for me to go.

But Rudra...

all I want to say is—”

I looked him in the eyes and continued,

“Hum apna hruday aapke samaksh chodkar jaa rahe hain, todiyega mat,”

(I’m leaving my heart behind with you, do not break it.)

The silence lingered for a few moments before he suddenly cupped my cheek and pressed his lips against my forehead.

“Never, . Never,”

he retorted, and I could feel his shaky breath against my skin.

His voice trembled like he was on the edge of breaking down.

“I can die or kill for you, my love,” he said.

I held his hand and intertwined our fingers.

Lifting his hand to my lips, I gently kissed the back of it as a lone tear slid down my cheek.

“I will miss you,”

I whispered.

He smiled weakly.

“Not more than I will,”

he replied.

I chuckled softly, and just then, the sound of approaching footsteps snapped us out of our moment.

We quickly sat up, straightening ourselves from the warmth of our romantic embrace.

“Bring it here,”

he said to the attendants, who entered with a plate of food.

They set it down near the bed, and Rudra offered them a polite smile.

“Thank you so much,”

Once they left, he looked at me again and leaned in to kiss me softly.

My lips curved into a wide smile, and a faint blush bloomed on my cheeks.

“That’s it.

Now you are officially my queen,”

he said with a grin.

I giggled, and he reached forward to break the food into bites for us.

We fed each other, talked about everything and nothing, just stared at each other like time had slowed down for us.

Somehow, the pain of my period was lighter this time.

Maybe it was his presence, perhaps the peace.

After finishing, he stood up to place the plate on the table, and I got up too, ready to wash my hands with him.

He kept looking at me with a smile, and without warning, he lifted me into his arms.

“Rudra!”

I gasped, caught off guard.

“What?”

he asked, amused.

I furrowed my brows.

“Do I weigh nothing to you? You keep picking me up like I’m a feather,”

He chuckled.

“No, I just don’t think so,”

he teased, and gently set me back on the bed.

He leaned against the pillows and pulled me into his arms.

I slid under the comforters and rested my head on his chest.

His fingers stroked my hair tenderly.

“Was the fight bad?”

I asked in a quiet voice.

He took a deep breath.

“What fight?”

I swallowed.

“The one that...

broke your nose,”

He chuckled.

“Is it that obvious?”

I nodded.

“Yes, it is,”

“He was angry.

And he should be,”

he said calmly.

I blinked.

“He’ll get better soon,”

I said, trying to convince both him and myself.

He kissed my head.

“Yes.

And for that, he needs his sister,”

“I know,”

I whispered, breathing him in until I drifted asleep.

***