Page 149 of One Hellish Love

He kissed her forehead again, coaxing a sleepy smile from her before she snuggled deeper into the pillows. As Rudra left for his morning routine, Kashish drifted back to sleep, feeling a strange sense of contentment she hadn’t felt in her life ever.

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“Daadi, please,” she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation. “Let me see him just once.”

Tears streamed down her face, and her hands shook as she clasped them together, begging for a moment with Rudra.

“No!” Daadi’s sharp tone cut through the air like a blade, instilling more fear in Kashish’s heart. The time had come. Rudra was healed, his fears gone, and now, the truth about the promise she had made to Daadi had been laid bare. But the moment she feared most was here—Rudra’s reaction. Instead of gratitude, he had taken her promise as the ultimate betrayal. The man who loved her more than life itself had turned away, refusing to see her, hurt that she would ever make such a vow to his grandmother, knowing how much he loved her. Now, he had made up his mind. He didn’t want to see her ever again.

Her bags were packed, her belongings ready to be cast out of Raheja Mansion, and all she wished for was a final glimpse of Rudra. But Daadi stood firm, blocking her path, her expression hard and unforgiving.

“Get out of this house!” Daadi screamed, her voice echoing with rage. “You have no place here. This family was never yours. Rudra was never yours. Get out!”

Kashish’s heart shattered at Daadi’s cruel words. She dropped to her knees, still pleading, sobbing uncontrollably. But Daadi remained unmoved, dragging her to the door witha cold fury that sent a chill down Kashish’s spine. Her luggage was thrown out, and the heavy door of Raheja Mansion slammed shut with a thunderous finality.

“Daadi... please! Don’t do this. Let me see him once,” Kashish’s voice broke as she pounded her fists against the door, her pleas falling on deaf ears.

She shot up from the bed with a gasp, drenched in sweat, her breathing ragged. It was a nightmare, but it felt so real. She looked around in a panic and found Rudra sitting beside her, his hand gently caressing her hair. The warmth of his touch was a stark contrast to the icy rejection she’d just experienced in her dream.

“Kashish? Relax,” he whispered softly, pulling her into his arms as she clung to him tightly, her heart still racing.

The relief of seeing Rudra next to her was overwhelming. She buried her face in his neck, holding him as if he might disappear. It was as if the universe had granted her wish to see him one last time, even though in reality, she was still in his arms.

“I was just back from the gym, heading for a shower, and then I heard you screaming in your sleep,” Rudra murmured. “Was it a bad dream?”

He tried to pull away slightly to meet her gaze, but Kashish wouldn’t let him go. She held him tighter, knowing these moments were fleeting. Soon, she would be gone, leaving him forever. This was the painful reality she had to face, and she couldn’t bear the thought of it.

Rudra sensed her distress and stroked her back gently, trying to calm her racing heart.

“If you don’t want to talk about it now, that’s fine. Just calm down.”

He held her until she finally eased her grip and leaned back, still trembling.

“It... it was a bad dream,” she replied shakily.

“I heard you pleading with Daadi,” Rudra said softly, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What were you pleading for?”

Kashish didn’t dare meet his eyes, knowing she couldn’t tell him the truth. Not now. Rudra noticed her hesitation and cupped her face gently, turning her to face him.

“I know why you’re having these nightmares,” he said, trying to console her. “You’re always worried about whether Daadi will accept us, accept our relationship.”

She nodded, but it wasn’t the whole truth. The fear wasn’t just about acceptance; it was about knowing that her time with him was running out. Daadi had promised to tear them apart, and Kashish knew that moment was fast approaching.

“I have a solution to get rid of that fear once and for all,” he said with a grin that momentarily made her heart skip for a different reason.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll find out soon. But for now, get ready. You have those designs to present today, remember?”

The reminder of work pulled her back to reality, and she hurriedly got off the bed, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. As she left the room, Rudra watched her. Something was wrong, and he could sense it. Kashish had been different ever since she had confessed her feelings for him. What was she hiding?

As if on cue, his phone rang. It was Jay. He answered quickly, hoping for some distraction.

“Yeah, Jay?”

“Boss, I checked the name of the passenger who traveled to Jaipur the day before I did,” Jay said.

Rudra’s heart quickened. “I’m listening.”

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