Page 139 of One Hellish Love

For now, Kashish was determined to give Rudra everything he deserved, even if it meant ignoring the heartache that awaited her. He had earned her 100%, and she was prepared to give it to him while she still could.

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The Mehtas had invited only a few close guests to their home that evening, and as Rudra and Kashish entered, they were warmly welcomed with genuine affection. Kashish felt a waveof unease as all the attention centered on her, a sensation she wasn’t used to.

“Rohini, this is Rudra, the client I was telling you about, and this is Kashish, the lead designer from his company,” Mehta introduced them to his wife.

Rohini, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, greeted them warmly, and as pleasantries were exchanged, Mehta gestured toward Rudra.

“Come, Rudra, let me introduce you to a few more people,” Mehta suggested.

Rudra glanced at Kashish, hesitant to leave her side.

“You go,” she said, reading his thoughts even before he could voice them.

“You sure?” he whispered. “I know you aren’t comfortable around new people.”

Kashish rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“I’ll be fine. And stop worrying so much about me, Rudra… because now, it’s my turn to care for you,” she added.

Rudra stood frozen for a moment, taken aback by her words.Her turn?What did she mean? Kashish turned back, joining a group of women, but not before catching his bewildered expression. She had given him enough of a hint to keep him guessing.

“Rudra, come over here,” Mehta called again, pulling him into the crowd.

But Rudra couldn’t focus. His mind was solely on Kashish, on the subtle shift in her demeanor, the quiet confidence she now carried. He pulled out his phone and quickly texted her.

“Now it’s my turn? What did you mean by that?”

He glanced up at her. She checked her phone, read the message, and threw him a quick look before typing a response.

“You’ll know soon.”

His phone buzzed. He read her message, frustration and curiosity swelling inside him.

“I hate games.”

“Pay attention to your business partner; he’s talking to you,”she shot back.

Rudra tore his gaze from her and turned to Mehta, who was indeed talking about the early days of his business. Rudra feigned interest, his mind still spinning around Kashish’s cryptic words. Once Mehta was done, Rudra couldn’t resist texting her back.

“What have you been up to all day?”

Kashish thought of Daadi’s unexpected visit and the stormy conversation that had followed. But there was no way she could share that with him. Not yet. So, she decided to reply with something that would keep him occupied.

“I’ve been thinking about your proposal.”

A spark ignited inside Rudra as he read her reply.

“Kashish, stop playing around. Tell me.”

“I will,”she texted back.

The Puja soon began, and both Rudra and Kashish respected the sacred moment by ceasing their playful exchange. Rudra sat among the men, while Kashish joined the women. The air was filled with the soft hum of prayers, and for an hour, everything stilled. When the time came to offer flowers, Rudra and Kashish stood together at the front, the last to make their offerings.

As Rudra closed his eyes and placed his flowers before the deity, he opened them to find Kashish standing next to him, her palms joined in silent prayer. He watched her, surprised. He knew her faith had waned after her father’s death, and seeing her pray so earnestly now moved him. She must have felt his gaze because she opened her eyes, finding him admiring her.

“These prayers won’t bring my father back,” she murmured softly, “nor will they restore the childhood you lost. But myfather always used to say, ‘Whenever you want to do something good, start with a small prayer.’”

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