Page 50

I woke up feeling a heavy weight across my body.

Through dizzy eyes, I noticed his arm was wrapped tightly around me, holding me close.

My back pressed against his chest, and his warmth surrounded me.

I inhaled a slow, deep breath and tried to turn around to look at him.

But the moment I moved, a searing pain shot through my entire body, my knees, my ribs, my lower abdomen, and even my arms ached unbearably.

I whimpered, turning my head carefully to glance at him.

His eyes were still closed.

I reached out and touched his hand gently.

We were still naked, and even in his sleep, he leaned closer and pressed a tender kiss against my forehead.

“Rudra,”

I called in a low voice, and he stirred, inhaling a deep breath.

He rolled onto his back, covering his eyes with one arm, and hummed a sleepy sound.

I smiled at his cuteness and shifted carefully, resting my head on his chest.

“Uth jaaiye, bahut samay ho gaya hai,”

(Wake up, it's getting too late now.) I said, nudging him gently.

He cracked open his eyes, heavy with sleep, and mumbled, “For what?”

“You don't remember? I have to leave for my home,”

I reminded him.

He wrapped his arm lazily around me and murmured, “No...

don't go.

We'll go together tomorrow,”

I frowned. “What?”

I tried to sit up, but pain flared again through my body.

He inhaled deeply, half-asleep, and nodded. “Yes,”

I smiled, watching him drowsily agreeing, and pulled the comforter tighter around me.

As I shifted, it slid off him, leaving him completely naked.

“Cover yourself,”

I said, chuckling.

But he was too deep in sleep to respond.

Carefully, I moved to step down from the bed.

The moment my feet touched the floor, my legs buckled slightly under me, trembling and weak.

A burning soreness throbbed through my core, and I gritted my teeth to keep from crying out.

I steadied myself and limped toward the washroom, glancing out the window—it was already dark.

“Rudra, uth jaaiye, raatri ho gayi hai,”

(Rudra, get up, it's getting dark.) I called out.

From behind, his voice came, loud and insistent, “iiiii, lautkar aaiye idhar!”

(iii, come back here!)

I laughed, replying, “I got to pee!”

He grunted back, “Okay.”

I entered the bathing room, finished quickly, and took a fast bath, tying my hair into a tight bun despite the aching in my body.

Once done, I dressed in my nightgown, every movement reminded me of the bruising soreness he'd left behind.

Returning to the bedroom, I saw him still sprawled on his stomach, the covers barely clinging to his waist.

Smiling to myself, I pulled the comforter over him properly, when the sudden, loud knock startled me.

I called out, “Who is it?”

“Bhabhisa, it's Ranvijay,”

came the nervous reply.

I quickly grabbed my dupatta and covered my head before walking to the door.

Opening it, I found Ranvijay standing there, looking pale and anxious.

“What happened?”

I asked, frowning.

“Bhaisa…”

he choked out.

He looked so disturbed that I immediately stepped aside.

“There,”

I said, gesturing him in.

He rushed to the bed and called out urgently, “Bhaisa!”

Rudra's eyes flew open.

Seeing Ranvijay's face, he straightened up instantly.

“Ranvijay,”

he said sharply.

“What happened?”

Ranvijay took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

“We're under attack.

Surgami Dev Singh and Maasimaa are missing...

I think something is terribly wrong,”

Without missing a beat, Rudra ordered, “Alert the army.

I'm coming.”

Ranvijay nodded and hurried out.

Rudra swung off the bed and rushed toward the dressing room to change.

When he returned, I was still standing there, my brows knitted in worry.

“Hey,”

he said softly, pulling me into a tight embrace.

“Everything will be fine,”

he promised, pressing a hurried kiss to my forehead.

Looking into my eyes, he added, “You should rest, love,”

He pecked my lips briefly.

“I'll be back,”

he said, and I nodded wordlessly as I watched him leave.

Still stunned, I sat down on the bed, trying to process everything.

Immediately, I rose to my feet and ran out, ordering Suman to take the ladies to the safest quarters inside the palace, and closed my chamber door.

Night had fallen completely, and as I stared out of the window, distant sounds of clashing swords faintly reached my ears.

But I couldn’t make sense of it.

Why would Surgami Dev Singh attack like this? It was clearly a one-sided war; he had to know he couldn't win.

Why?

I paced the room slowly, the pain in my back sharp with every step.

Only one explanation made my body shiver: a setup, an illusion.

But what was it?

And then I remembered—Surgami Dev Singh had left Mahableshgarh the night before my wedding, and Rudra had returned late in the evening, just before the ceremony.

Also, Rudra fought overnight with the army, which meant he was here a night before our wedding, right after he talked to me.

He had the fastest horse, so he could arrive on time even while riding through the uneven path and hilly ways.

But how could Surgami Dev Singh leave in the middle of the night and still reach here to face Rudra?

Suddenly, a terrifying thought struck me, making my blood run cold.

'What the hell…?'

My body shook violently with the realisation creeping into my mind.

I couldn’t believe it.

“Suman! Reva! Is anybody there?”

I called out desperately, my voice cracking.

Panic surged through me.

I looked around, searching for something sharp, anything for defence.

Rushing to the dressing table, I yanked open the drawers with trembling hands.

He’d be here any moment.

And suddenly, the door to my chamber burst open with a loud crash—and I screamed in fright.

My sight fell on Surgami Dev Singh and a group of soldiers.

I stumbled back, frantically looking around for anything I could use to defend myself.

Where would he have hidden something?

My body was shivering, but I forced myself to think.

“Stay away from me,”

I roared as the soldiers stepped inside my chamber, moving towards me.

“Do not worry, my queen,”

the old king sneered.

“They won't harm you.

But I will,”

At that moment, my eyes landed on the table near the couch.

Yes! That’s where Rudra usually sat, where he would’ve kept a knife ready for emergencies.

The soldiers lunged toward me, but I sprinted to the couch, bending low and frantically feeling beneath the table.

Please, please, please… I chanted in my mind.

My fingers brushed against something hard and cold.

Without wasting a second, I pulled out the knife.

The nearest soldier reached for me, trying to hold my arm, but I plunged the blade into his throat.

Hot blood sprayed over my nightgown as he collapsed onto the floor.

“Bastard,”

I hissed under my breath, my heart thundering.

The other soldiers hesitated, momentarily stunned.

I tightened my grip on the knife, my jaw clenched.

“What are you looking at? She's just a girl,”

Surgami Dev Singh mocked.

I let out a cold chuckle. “Yes,”

I said, my voice steady.

“I’m just a girl,”

I inhaled deeply, tightening my hold on the dagger, and moved toward them.

Their swords gleamed under the dim light, and though they heavily outnumbered me, almost fifty against one, I could see it in their eyes: they weren't here to kill.

They wanted to kidnap me.

Suddenly, Suman slipped into the chamber.

Her horrified gaze met mine.

I shook my head sharply, signalling her to stay quiet and leave.

She understood and quickly disappeared.

As five soldiers charged at me, fear gripped me, but I stood firm with my defence ready.

The clash of steel echoed through the chamber as my dagger met their swords.

They were distracted, their eyes flickering to my dishevelled hair and nightgown.

I used that to my advantage, and when they faltered, I struck.

One soldier howled in pain as I buried the knife into his heart.

He collapsed instantly.

Another soldier swung at me, and I parried with my knife, but his strength pushed me backwards.

I was losing ground, the edge of his sword dangerously close to my throat.

Sweat trickled down my forehead, and my knees trembled.

I was slipping, losing my strength.

But then I spotted a knife tucked into his belt.

With a desperate surge of energy, I grabbed it, twisted it upward, and slashed his neck.

He fell to the ground, his blood splattering my face and neck.

Panting heavily, now armed with two knives, I turned to face the others, ready for more.

But then a man stepped forward.

He was over seven feet tall, reeking of filth, with teeth so rotten it seemed he'd never bathed or brushed in his life.

“Take her,”

Surgami Dev Singh ordered.

The monstrous man lunged and grabbed my hair in his massive fist.

And I screamed as pain ripped through my scalp.

“Leave me!”

I shrieked, trying to stab him, but he caught my wrists in a vice-like grip.

My bangles shattered, shards slicing into my skin.

Tears blurred my vision, and with my free hand, I managed to stab near his waist.

He let out an animalistic growl but tightened his grip even more, lifting me onto my toes by my hair.

“Leave me,”

I screamed desperately.

“I will kill you, bastard!”

But they only laughed.

“This way, Rakhtbhook. Quick!”

Surgami Dev Singh barked.

The giant, literally, dragged me by my hair through the hallway.

As he made his way out of the bedchamber, I looked at the bodies of fallen soldiers littering the corridor.

And we did stop before the ninth chamber.

A heavy iron door loomed ahead.

Twenty soldiers struggled to push it open.

“You know,”

Surgami Dev Singh sneered, “each one of you will be dead before sunrise,”

They shoved me inside as the massive iron door creaked shut behind us.

That bastard’s grip on my hair was firm, and I screamed throughout the path.

Total darkness swallowed me whole when I heard a sound—a relatively smaller door opening.

The soldiers carried fire torches and walked forward.

It was humid, foul-smelling, and deathly silent except for our footsteps echoing down a narrow underground passage.

My bare feet ached, scraping against the jagged stones.

After what felt like forever, the passage opened into a dense, black forest.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I was terrified.

I didn't know where they brought me.

“Where the hell are you taking me?”

I cried out.

“I will kill you!”

Surgami Dev Singh chuckled darkly.

“I think your mind is too old to understand the consequences of killing me,”

I spat back at him.

The giant yanked my hair harder, and a scream tore from my lips.

“Leave my hair! He will kill you!”

I warned him again, but they all laughed cruelly.

“You would not be alive to see that,”

Surgami Dev Singh's eyes gleamed with madness.

“Why are you doing this?”

I gritted, earning a sinister snicker from him.

“You took me for a fool and used me,”

he said.

“He betrayed me for the throne.

I will take you from him,”

he spoke like a lunatic.

“Can you even hear yourself?”

I snapped.

Suddenly, the giant man struck me with a powerful slap across my cheek.

Pain exploded across my face, and tears filled my eyes.

They laughed as he hoisted me over his shoulder like a sack.

“Leave me!”

I shouted, pounding my fists against his back, but it was useless.

They carried me deeper into the dark woods.

I tried to memorise landmarks, anything, but there was only endless darkness and towering trees.

Closing my eyes, I prayed to the mighty gods for protection.

Please, I whispered silently, save me from these monsters.

Suddenly, my eyes snapped open, and my sight fell on a dark shadow hiding behind the trees.

As the figure peeked out from the darkness, I recognised her.

It was Suman.

She had been following us.

I smartly showed her my palm, signalling her not to follow any further, but to go back to the cave and get help.

She understood and left silently, while the men continued dragging me deeper into an isolated, unfamiliar place.

Once they reached, they threw me down roughly.

I pushed my hair back from my face and chuckled, looking at them, all of them eyeing me like I was prey.

“Now, let's see how long your dear husband can protect you,”

Surgami Dev Singh said with a wicked smirk.

“We just have to wait till the first spark of morning,”

I didn’t know why, but his words made me laugh until my stomach ached.

“Such fools,”

I said, wiping tears of laughter from my eyes.

“If you want to kill me, kill me now.

Because once he arrives, you won't even have time to take your last breath,”

His smile faltered slightly.

Suddenly, the tall brute stepped forward and landed another hard slap across my cheek.

My face burned, but I only glared back, my anger rising.

Then I laughed again. Harder.

Their confusion grew.

I inhaled sharply and closed my eyes, feeling his presence drawing near.

I couldn’t save them if they were so desperate to die.

I smiled, peeking up at the dark sky.

He was close.

“One,”

I whispered. “Two,”

I breathed. “Three,”

I roared, opening my eyes wide just as the sound of galloping horses filled the air, growing louder by the second.

“Take your positions!”

Surgami Dev Singh shouted.

The soldiers scrambled, drawing swords and surrounding me.

The tall man, seething, grabbed a blade and pressed it against my throat.

“So you want to be the first to die, huh?”

I taunted him coldly.

I felt so bad for the poor man and the utterly oblivious soldiers, relying and working for this old skunk with a nose for nonsense.

The horses' thundering hooves shook the ground, and soon, shafts of light pierced through the trees.

And there he was—my Rudra, with a sword in hand, bloodstained clothes and jaw, eyes burning with rage.

Beside him, my brother Abhinandan, Ranvijay, Agastya, and a battalion of our soldiers.

As soon as they dismounted, Rudra's eyes found mine across the field, locking onto me with a fierce, possessive intensity.

He tilted his head slightly and smirked.

“Comfortable, little bird?”

he called.

I managed a faint smile.

“Clearly not,”

I replied dryly.

He chuckled lowly, but didn’t move.

His gaze shifted around, analysing the situation, especially the blade so dangerously close to my neck.

“It's good too,”

he said casually, causing everyone's eyes to snap toward him.

Abhinandan grabbed Rudra's collar in anger.

“Are you stupid? They'll kill her!”

he yelled.

Rudra didn't even flinch.

He just looked back at him and said, “Then let them,”

Shock swept through everyone, but a slight smile appeared on my face.

“What the hell?!”

Abhinandan shouted.

“You know what? She’s just trouble,”

Rudra said coldly.

I gritted my teeth.

“What? What did you just say?”

I snapped.

His intense gaze pinned me down.

“Yes. Trouble,”

he repeated.

“Whatever they’re doing is good.

She played with the old king to get back at me.

God knows if she is playing now or not.

She is adept at killing them all. She is just faking it,”

My brother and his brothers frowned at his behaviour.

“What are you saying, Bhaisa?”

Agastya asked, baffled.

Anger flared inside me like wildfire.

“Ohhh, so you think this filthy man holding a blade to my throat is with my consent? And this whole setup here is fake?”

I said.

“God! I did everything for you, and you dare show your true colours now, you bastard!”

Rudra stepped forward, not backing down.

“I am showing my true colours? Me? You’re the one who showed her true colours,”

he shot back.

I turned to Surgami Dev Singh, furious.

“You know what? Kill me.

Tell this brain-dead blockhead to move the blade already,”

I said fearlessly.

Panic rippled through the others. “NOOO!”

Ranvijay, Agastya, and Abhinandan screamed.

“What in the name of saving are you doing, Bhaisa?”

Ranvijay shouted.

Agastya looked visibly staggered, and Abhinandan seemed all set to murder him first.

“You know what? Let me kill you first,”

he said, lifting his sword.

“NOOOOO!!! Kill me first.

This man disgusts me.

I cannot believe I wished to marry him,”

I hollered.

I could sense that this irate verbal exchange left everyone utterly confused.

“Yes, kill her,”

Rudra said.

“Nooo,”

everyone screamed.

“Yes, kill me!”

I insisted, looking straight into Rudra’s eyes.

“Yes, kill her,”

Rudra said again, a sharp, dangerous glint in his eyes.

I clenched my fists and stared at him.

“Yessss, kill me!”

The corner of his lips curved up ever so slightly, and he slipped his hand to his waistband, pulling something small and sharp.

Our eyes locked, speaking without words.

He moved fast, flicking his wrist, and I caught the glint of a sharp pin sailing through the air toward me.

I closed my eyes instinctively.

“Aaaaaaahhhhhh!”

the tall man howled in agony.

He dropped the knife from my throat, clutching his side.

Without missing a beat, I snatched the fallen blade and stabbed it into his waist.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”

he screamed even louder, staggering back.

Blood poured out as he collapsed.

Chaos erupted, swords clashed, sparks flew, and the soldiers fought fiercely.

Through it all, Rudra fought his way to me.

When he reached me, I couldn't stop myself and slapped him hard across the cheek.

He blinked at me in shock.

“If your aim had missed, Rudra…”

I said, my voice shaking.

“If you had missed…”

He chuckled and pulled me gently into his arms.

“How could I?”

he whispered.

“Not possible, my love,”

He said, and I felt his palm gently caressing my head, sliding from the crown down to the back.

As his fingers met the tangled mess of my hair, he broke the hug, his brows tightening with concern.

He swallowed hard, and I could feel his heart beating rapidly.

Carefully, he tucked a loose strand behind my ear, his touch trembling with anger as he struggled to hide.

I lowered my gaze, glancing around at the chaos, but his gentle touch under my chin brought my eyes back to him.

He tilted my face sideways, inspecting the mark on my cheek.

A heavy breath escaped his chest, and I could feel his fury rising.

His fingers feathered softly over the bruise, and I closed my eyes at the tender touch.

The tall man was still screaming.

Rudra gently moved me aside, handing me his sword.

“Hold this for me,” he said.

I took it, instantly feeling its staggering weight, heavier than anything I'd ever lifted.

I watched as Rudra turned and strode toward the tall man whose hand still bled from the sharp pin.

Without hesitation, Rudra punched him square in the face, sending him stumbling back.

The man tried to fight back, throwing his fist toward Rudra, but he was faster, landing another brutal blow.

“Bastard.

How dare you touch her?”

Rudra roared, grabbing the man by the neck and slamming him against a tree trunk with brutal strength.

In the chaos, I heard Abhinandan's voice shout, “Kahaan, kaaka? (Where to, Uncle?)

I turned and saw him clutching Surgami Dev Singh's collar as he tried to flee.

Abhinandan landed a punch that sent him sprawling to the ground.

My eyes snapped back to Rudra just in time to see him force the tall man face down into the dirt.

Rudra planted his boot firmly on the man's back, grabbed a fistful of his filthy hair, and wound it tight around his palm.

I felt my heart hammering painfully in my chest.

Fear coiled inside me.

Rudra pulled with all his might, his veins bulging, his face flushed with rage.

The man’s screams tore through the forest.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

His head began to bleed under the brutal pull, and the soldiers and my brothers stopped fighting, stunned into silence.

The man’s shrieks grew wilder as Rudra yanked harder, and in one final, furious motion, the skin and hair tore away in Rudra’s hand.

The man fell, still dead, on the ground, and Rudra tossed the bloody mess aside, panting heavily.

“Don’t you dare touch my love,”

he growled, low and dangerous.

Then he turned to Surgami Dev Singh.

“Chain him.

Throw him behind bars,”

he ordered, and the soldiers obeyed without question.

My eyes dropped to Rudra’s blood-stained hands.

I didn’t know why, but a shiver of fear ran down my spine.

I blinked and felt Abhinandan pull me into a hug.

“I missed you, ,”

he said softly.

Tears welled in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around him tightly.

“I missed you, too, Nand,”

I whispered.

He stepped back and looked at me, guilt clouding his features.

“I’m sorry for whatever happened,” he said.

“And I’m sorry for how it happened,”

I replied, my voice trembling.

Rudra stepped forward then.

“We should head home.

You’re coming too, Abhi,” he said.

Abhinandan raised an eyebrow.

“Learn to request, man,” he said.

Rudra sighed, giving a tiny nod.

“Alright.

Please, come with us, Abhi,”

he requested as demanded.

I chuckled through my tears, and Abhinandan shook his head.

“I’ll never understand what you see in him.

Such an egoist,”

he muttered.

I laughed, tears rolling down my cheeks, and hugged him again.

“You’re coming, Nand,” I said.

He kissed the top of my head warmly.

“Alright, sister.”

Most of the enemy soldiers had fled.

I turned to see Rudra cleaning the blood from his hands with a cloth.

A sudden realisation struck me—my head was bare, my hair loose in front of all these men.

“Come,”

Rudra said, his voice gentler now.

I glanced at Abhi, who smiled and nodded encouragingly.

“We’re coming right behind,” he said.

I walked toward Rudra.

He helped me mount his horse and then climbed behind me.

I felt self-conscious as I noticed my brothers and the remaining soldiers watching us.

Rudra loosely wrapped his arms around me, gripping the reins, and steered the horse forward.

“We’ll see you there,”

he called out to them as the horse picked up speed.

Once we had put some distance between us and the others, he slowed the horse and stopped near a running stream.

He climbed down first, then helped me down gently.

“What happened?”

I asked, confused by the tension in his eyes.

The night was cool, the winds strong, and a heavy silence enveloped us.

He took my hand and led me to the edge of the stream.

Under the vast, dark sky, he held my fingers and kissed them tenderly, closing his eyes.

I swallowed hard, feeling him tremble slightly.

He pulled me into a tight embrace, lifting me off my feet.

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and nestled my face into the crook of his neck.

“Not finding you in the chamber...

made me feel fear for the first time in my life,”

he whispered.

“For the first time, I knew what it meant to feel that terrifying shiver down the spine, that choking lump in the throat, that blind panic, the thunder crashing inside your mind.

For a moment...

I thought I had died,”

His words shook me to my core.

He tightened his grip, kissing my neck with trembling lips.

“I’m sorry,”

I whispered, tears slipping down my face.

He breathed in deeply against my skin, trying to ground himself.

“I don’t know how to put it into words...

but I love you, .

I didn’t love you like this before.

Now, it feels like I can’t exist without you. I can’t stay away from you. I can’t breathe without you. When I saw you missing... it felt like my entire life had ended. The mere thought of something happening to you shook me beyond anything I’ve ever known. I’ve never felt this way for anyone. Never,”

His voice broke, turning hoarse with emotion.

“Please, I beg you—never leave me.

Even if you ever hate me so much that you want to kill me—kill me—but don’t leave me.

I cannot exist without you.

Rudra cannot exist without his , his queen,”

Tears streamed down my face as I clutched the back of his head, holding him as close as I could.

“I never will,”

I managed to whisper against his ear.

“Promise me, .

I was never able to understand this feeling before...

but now I do.

And I never want to feel it again.

Please, promise me,”

he mumbled, his voice trembling, his arms tightening around me.

I nodded quickly, feeling my own tears threaten to fall.

“Yes, I promise.

I promise, Rudra,”

I said, holding him tighter.

He stayed like that for a few moments, clinging to me, and I couldn’t stop myself from pressing a soft kiss against his neck.

“We should head back to the palace,”

I said gently.

He inhaled deeply and carefully set me down.

When I looked up, I saw his red, tearful eyes.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead, and I gave him a small, shaky smile.

“Yes, Abhi will get suspicious if we’re late,”

he said with a soft chuckle.

I laughed lightly.

“Yes...

I think he will,”

We walked back to the horse together, the night breeze swirling around us.

As he helped me up onto the saddle, he said, “I think I have to tell you something about Abhi,”

I frowned slightly, confused.

“What? I thought everything between you two was sorted now,” I said.

He nodded, though he was a little hesitant.

“Yes, kind of.

But this is something else,”

he said, climbing up behind me.

As the horse began to move toward the palace, I asked, “What is it?”

He leaned closer and said near my ear, “The man seems to be in love,”

“WHAT???”

I twisted around to look at him over my shoulder, my eyes wide.

I was amazed, surprised, and mostly utterly shocked.