Page 111 of One Hellish Love

He grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the dining room. She resisted, but his grip was firm, dragging her along. The rest of the family exchanged confused glances, shocked by the scene unfolding before them.

“What meeting was that about, Shekhar? You didn’t mention anything,” Daadi asked, her suspicion growing.

Shekhar shook his head. “I don’t know, Daadi. There’s nothing pressing at the office that would stop Kashish from taking a day off.”

Daadi’s suspicion deepened, but she said nothing more, quietly leaving the table to return to her room.

*****************

“Let go of me!” Kashish shouted as they reached the parking area.

Rudra released her hand, scanning the surroundings to make sure no one was around.

“What do you want?” she yelled.

“Stay quiet about yesterday.”

“Why? Why are you so desperate to keep it hidden? It’s not just your fault. They all need to know that!” she argued.

Rudra’s eyes flared. “How does it matter now? Your father is dead, Kashish. And even if he planned it all, I’m still responsible for that accident. I’ve already paid the price. Nothing changes if you tell them the truth. So just shut your mouth.”

Kashish was left speechless but she wasn’t ready to back down.

“Don’t act like some martyr, Rudra,” she spat. “Even if you’ve been punished, your family deserves to know that all of this could have been avoided if we had found that letter during the investigation. It’s not just you or them who should feel guilty—it’s me. My father orchestrated this mess! He ended his life by his will.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to hold back her sobs. She buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed by guilt. Seeing her break down made Rudra’s chest tighten with guilt. He couldn’t stand it. He stepped closer, gently pulling her hands away from her face so he could see her eyes.

“I don’t blame your father, Kashish,” he murmured, his voice softer now. “He was only trying to protect you. He did what any father would have done. And if I had known you back then, I would’ve wanted the same.”

Her heart skipped a beat. His words left her shaken.

“His actions were wrong, but if he hadn’t done it, we wouldn’t have met,” Rudra continued, his eyes locking with hers.

She couldn’t take it anymore. “Stop it,” she whispered, looking away, trying to distance herself from his words, from the intensity in his gaze.

Rudra stepped closer, forcing her to face him.

“If you want to ease my guilt, then don’t make things worse by revealing that letter. Keep it to yourself.”

“I can’t hide it,” she pleaded in a trembling voice.

“You have to,” he insisted, tightening his grip on her. “That letter changes nothing for me.”

“You can’t protect me forever,” she shot back.

“I can,” he growled. “And I will—until my last breath. Now, get in the car.”

The vehicle pulled up, and Rudra opened the passenger door for her. Reluctantly, Kashish got inside, feeling a storm brewing between them. He had managed to temporarily dissuade her, but how long could he keep her from acting on her next move?

*****************

The entire day, Rudra kept a close watch on Kashish. He could see that she wasn’t herself—her mind was elsewhere, and she barely engaged in the meetings. It was as if she were mentally battling some inner conflict, and whatever it was, it wasn’t sitting well with her. After one of the meetings, she returned to her cabin, only to find Rudra sitting in her chair, looking over her designs.

Her eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing?”

Rudra looked up, standing from her chair. “Good work,” he complimented. “Did Ruchi call you?”

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