Page 222 of One Hellish Love

“Rudra, Kashish... let’s start the Haldi, shall we?”

Rudra reluctantly released her. They took their seats, ready for the ritual to begin. Anjali was the first to apply Haldi to Rudra, followed by Shekhar. Then, they both applied the turmeric paste to Kashish, who was beaming with excitement. Through the thin fabric separating them, Rudra stole glances at her, his heart swelling with the thought that tomorrow, she would finally be his wife. His life was about to change, and while the joy of being with Kashish filled his heart, the lingering pain of being separated from Daadi cast a shadow over his happiness.

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A while later, Anjali got busy discussing the wedding details with the priest and Shekhar overseeing the final touches on the bungalow’s decorations. Rudra seized the opportunity to find Kashish, who had retreated to her bedroom. He quietly entered, only to find her standing before a framed photo of her father, silently praying. The sight of her vulnerable, teary-eyed, tugged at his heart. He approached her, standing by her side without a word. Kashish sensed his presence and quickly wiped her tears.

“It’s every girl’s dream to have her father with her during moments like these… and he’s not here because of me.” Rudra’s voice was heavy with guilt.

Kashish turned to him, cupping his face in her hands.

“We’ve been through this before, Rudra. His absence isn’t entirely your fault. He made his own choices,” she reminded him gently.

Rudra let out a bitter sigh.

“It’s easy to say, but it doesn’t change the fact that I was the reason—”

“If you’re going to talk like this, I’d rather leave.” Kashish cut him off.

She tried to walk away, but Rudra caught her by the waist, pulling her back. He hugged her from behind, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder blade.

“I won’t bring it up again, just… don’t leave me,” he pleaded, his voice sounding almost childlike.

She turned around to face him.

“I will never leave you. If we’ve survived all of this, it’s because our love is real.”

“And real love only grows stronger with time,” he added, completing her thought.

She smiled through her own tears, wiping away the ones threatening to fall from his eyes. She couldn’t stand seeing him this vulnerable.

“Again?” came Anjali’s voice from the doorway, interrupting their tender moment. She stepped in with Shekhar, shaking her head with mock exasperation. “Will you two ever get enough of each other?”

Kashish felt her cheeks flush as she pulled away slightly, giving Anjali an apologetic look.

“I warned you both not to see each other after the Haldi,” Anjali scolded playfully, turning to Shekhar. “Are you just going to stand there, or will you say something?”

Shekhar grinned at Rudra.

“You should’ve locked the door, brother,” he teased.

The room erupted in laughter, but Rudra was the first to fall silent.

“Me and Kashish are really going to miss you both,” he said sincerely.

“Same here.” Shekhar nodded. “But let’s hope it won’t be for long.”

“And when Daadi finally accepts you two and brings you back to Raheja Mansion, we’re going to celebrate like never before!” Anjali chimed in.

Kashish’s heart swelled with gratitude as she embraced both Anjali and Shekhar. They had stood by her through every trial, and their support meant the world to her.

That night, Anjali stayed with Kashish at Bedi house, helping her pack her bags and gossiping like teenagers about the Raheja brothers. They laughed, talked late into the night, and finally drifted off to sleep, ready to face the dawn of the most important day of Kashish and Rudra’s life—their wedding day.

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The wedding was to take place at a beautiful temple on the outskirts of the city. Shekhar had already arrived at the temple to make sure everything was in place. Jay had been sent to fetch Rudra from Raheja Mansion, while Anjali was set to accompany Kashish from Uttam Nagar.

At Raheja Mansion, Rudra stood ready, dressed for his wedding, but before he could leave the house, he knew he had to do one thing—take Daadi’s blessings. He knew she would never give him her blessings for this marriage, but he couldn’t leave without seeing her one last time. It was the most important dayof his life, and despite their differences, she had always been a crucial part of it.

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