Page 125 of One Hellish Love

Kashish felt a knot tightening in her stomach. His eyes gleamed with mischief, as if he had something far greater planned than she could imagine.

“Why?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Because I want you all for myself,” he replied, his tone filled with certainty. “I want you to think about us. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted, Kashish, and I want to be the only man who puts the world at your feet.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she absorbed his words. Any woman would have melted under such a declaration, but not her. Their past loomed like an insurmountable wall between them. Rudra’s jaw clenched as he gently wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek.

The way his fingers lingered on her face, the depth in his eyes—it was almost too much. Kashish felt her body relax under his touch, the tension draining away. He opened the door to her room and stepped back, giving her space.

“Good night,” he said softly.

She glanced at him once more before stepping inside. This man was weaving a spell around her, and if it continued, she feared it wouldn’t take long before she reconsidered his proposal.

CHAPTER 42

Jaipur – Next Day

Kashish woke up earlier than usual. Despite Rudra’s persistent request to consider his proposal, she had somehow managed to get some sleep. However, those first few minutes in bed were plagued by unsettling thoughts of what might happen if she actually entertained the idea. She had envisioned Daadi’s furious, bloodshot eyes berating her for even considering Rudra’s proposal. That single imagined scenario was enough to snap her back to reality and keep her mind from wandering any further down that path.

After brushing her hair quickly, she headed downstairs to check on the breakfast arrangements. The unfamiliar surroundings of the bungalow meant she’d need to take charge and make sure everything ran smoothly for both of them. What startled her was how much attention she was giving to Rudra’s comfort—something she hadn’t done ever. But it was the least she could do to repay the debts his family unknowingly carried on her behalf. Kashish squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to shake off thoughts of the past. There was no time for it today.

When she entered the kitchen, she found the maid preparing aloo parathas.

“Parathas?” Kashish asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

“Yes, Ma’am,” the maid replied. “These are the specialty of this place. I thought you both would enjoy them.”

Kashish sighed. “I’m sure they’re delicious, but Rudra doesn’t like parathas for breakfast.”

The maid immediately grew nervous. “Oh, what should we make for him, Ma’am?”

“Pancakes,” Kashish replied confidently, surprising even herself. How was she so sure of his preferences? Since Rudra had returned from Paris, she had noticed him opting for pancakes every morning. Not that she had been deliberately paying attention, but when you eat with the family, you start noticing who eats what.

“Pancakes? I’ve never heard of those. How do you make them?” the maid asked nervously.

Kashish realized the maid had no idea how to prepare pancakes. So, she quickly took control.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make them. Just show me where everything is.”

Half an hour later, Rudra descended the stairs, looking for her. He had already checked her room and found it empty, so he followed the faint sound of her voice leading him to the kitchen. Standing just outside the doorway, he paused. There she was, talking to the maids and effortlessly preparinghisbreakfast. Rudra leaned against the wall, his heart swelling at the sight. For a brief moment, he imagined her as his wife—cooking for him, making their mornings together. In his daydream, he would have quietly dismissed the maids, approached her, and wrapped his arms around her from behind, thanking her with a kiss she wouldn’t have expected. A faint smile spread across his face.

The maids noticed him standing there and discreetly left the kitchen. Kashish, unaware of their departure, continued focusing on the pancakes, flipping them expertly. Rudra decided not to disturb her just yet. Instead, he quietly walked away, sending a maid back in to let Kashish know that he was ready for breakfast.

A few minutes later, Kashish entered the dining room, noticing Rudra pretending to be busy on his phone. He looked up briefly, smiled, and wished her good morning. Kashish simply nodded and sat down across from him, silently serving herself. The maid approached to serve Rudra, but he waved her off.

“I’ll serve myself, thank you.”

As the maid left, Rudra decided to have a little fun. He opened the dish of parathas and began serving them on his plate. Kashish noticed it and immediately pushed the dish of pancakes toward him, clearly indicating what he should be eating. Rudra stifled a grin and stubbornly continued serving the parathas.

“Why are you eating parathas?” Kashish frowned, unable to contain her frustration any longer.

“Because I want to. And they’re delicious,” he said, casually taking a bite.

“Silly me,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “I made pancakes because I thought you wouldn’t want parathas in the morning.”

Rudra raised an eyebrow.

“Really? Why did you go through all that effort for me? Thinking about my preferences and all?”

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