Page 200 of One Hellish Love

Kashish anxiously waited for Rudra’s call, desperate for an update on Daadi’s health. But when the phone remained silent, her worry intensified. Unable to take it any longer, she decided to call Anjali instead.

“Anju... how is Daadi now?”

“She’s still unconscious, Kashish. Her fever is so high. I just hope she pulls through soon,” Anjali whimpered, fear evident in her tone.

“Anju, don’t lose hope. Daadi is strong. This is just stress... she’ll recover soon. I know it,” Kashish reassured, though her own heart was heavy with worry.

“I hope so,” Anjali whispered, wiping her tears. “I need to make some soup for her when she wakes up. I’ll call you later.”

“Please, keep me updated,” Kashish insisted.

“We will,” she replied softly before ending the call.

Kashish set her phone aside. If Anjali was that distraught, she could only imagine what Rudra must be going through. Thethought of him, emotionally shattered, made her stomach knot with concern.

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

Hours passed before Savitri Raheja finally opened her eyes. She felt weak, her body still burning with fever. The dim light in the room barely illuminated her surroundings, but she could feel someone gently holding her hand. She slowly turned her head and found Rudra gazing at her, hope and worry battling in his eyes.

“Daadi… thank God you’re awake,” he murmured, as he kissed her hand and moved closer.

Shekhar and Anjali, who had been sitting on the couch nearby, rushed to her side.

“Daadi, how are you feeling?” Shekhar asked gently.

Savitri blinked, too exhausted to speak much, but her eyes were filled with pain. Anjali hurried to the kitchen to fetch the soup, hoping it would help.

But the moment Savitri felt Rudra’s touch, she recoiled slightly, shrugging his hand away. She refused to look at him, her expression cold. Rudra’s heart sank.

“Daadi, it’s me... your Rudra.”

“Shekhar...” Her voice barely audible as she murmured weakly

Shekhar immediately took her other hand.

“I’m here, Daadi.”

“Ask him to leave.”

Rudra froze. Shock rippled through him, unable to believe what he was hearing. Shekhar hesitated but finally spoke, trying to ease the tension.

“Daadi, Rudra is here for you...”

“Tell him to go away,” she repeated, more insistent this time, refusing to even look in Rudra’s direction.

Rudra’s body trembled. The woman who had always been his rock, his constant source of love and strength, was now rejecting him.

“Rudra, please… let’s not upset her any further,” Shekhar urged quietly.

With a heart heavy with sorrow, Rudra nodded. As much as it tore him apart, he couldn’t bear to stress her more. He stood up, his chest tightening with every step as he walked out of the room. Tears filled Savitri’s eyes, but she still wouldn’t turn to look at him.

Once in the solitude of his room, Rudra struggled to compose himself. Never had Daadi turned away from him like this. No matter how lost he’d felt, no matter how dark his days had been, she had always been there to pull him out. And now, she didn’t even want him near her. All because he loved Kashish... because he wanted to marry her.

His phone buzzed with yet another message from Kashish, who had texted him several times, worried sick about Daadi. He finally picked it up, needing her comfort more than ever.

“Rudra, are you there? What happened?”

He took a shaky breath.

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