Page 5 of One Hellish Love

She tried to brighten his spirits, but Rudra’s expression remained blank. He moved her arms away from his neck with a distant look in his eyes.

“Are you ready?” he asked flatly.

“Almost,” she replied, grabbing her purse and walking out with him from the backstage room.

Tonight was a major event for RR Designs in Paris, and after it wrapped up, they would be heading to India. Lavina was the Head of Marketing for the brand, a position she had earned through her hard work and natural talent. She was bold, confident, and had the perfect face to represent the company on a global stage.

After the event, she and Rudra had some last-minute shopping to do before catching their flight.

As they browsed through the stores, Lavina watched as Rudra selected gifts for his family.

“A watch for Shekhar, a dress for Anjali, spiritual books for Daadi…” she murmured, checking off the list. Then her eyes landed on something else—Rudra, standing still, gazing intently at a simple diamond bracelet. It was delicate yet striking, a piece of jewelry that seemed to stir something deep inside him.

“Wow... and who’s this for?” Lavina asked, intrigued by his sudden attention.

Rudra couldn’t answer—not because he didn’t want to, but because even he didn’t know if he would ever have the courage to give it to her.Kashish.The name echoed in his mind, a name he hadn’t allowed himself to speak for over a decade. Would she even accept it if he tried to offer her this token of... what? Apology? Guilt? He wasn’t sure. They had only crossed paths once since the accident, and both had kept their distance, doing everything they could to avoid each other. But now, with him returning to Delhi for four months to oversee the next major event for Raheja Designs, he couldn’t avoid her anymore. Could they bridge the chasm that had grown between them, or would that distance remain forever?

His hand closed around the bracelet, a surge of doubt crashing over him.This is madness.He placed the bracelet back on the counter.

“What happened? You’re not buying it?” Lavina asked, watching him closely.

Rudra didn’t respond. Without a word, he walked straight to the billing counter to pay for the other gifts. Lavina sighed, frustrated by his silence. She was certain there was someone in his life—someone connected to the dark storm brewing in his heart. But who? And was this mystery woman the reason for his coldness, his distance?

Maybe, just maybe, their time in India would reveal the answers she had been waiting for.

CHAPTER 3

Back in India

Savitri Raheja’s heart raced with excitement. She never thought this day would come. After years of pleading, Rudra had finally agreed to return home. For over a decade, she had practically begged him to come back, but he always dismissed the idea, hiding behind excuses of work, ignoring her requests. He hadn’t even attended Shekhar’s wedding, and the distance between the two brothers—once inseparable—seemed irreparable since the accident. Shekhar, as the older brother, had always extended a hand, reminding Rudra that no matter what, his family would always stand by him. But Rudra never accepted that hand. To him, it wasn’t support—it was sympathy, a kindness he refused to accept.

Despite maintaining professional communication, their personal bond was fractured. Whenever Shekhar tried to reach into Rudra’s private life, he was met with a wall. Rudra would change the topic or abruptly end the conversation. Over time, Shekhar stopped trying, waiting for the day Rudra would finally open up, as he once did when they were children. Even with Shekhar’s wife, Anjali, Rudra remained distant—he had spoken to her only a few times on video calls. Though he admired her gentle nature and believed she was the perfect match for his brother’s simple life, he never let anyone close enough to see the storm inside him.

It was a business deal that had finally lured Rudra back—nothing else. A new client was offering Raheja Designs 40% of their contracts, and Rudra’s presence, as the CEO and Managing Director, was essential. It was the only thing that could bring him back to India.

Despite being the youngest between Shekhar and Rudra, it was Rudra who held the reins when it came to the major management decisions in the company. His fire and ruthlessness in business, coupled with his razor-sharp focus and unmatched decision-making capabilities, had earned him the role of heading the empire. Shekhar, though powerful and skilled, didn’t possess the same cold, calculated edge that Rudra wielded effortlessly—a quality that was crucial in expanding and managing such a vast enterprise.

Shekhar had always been a bit softer in his approach, preferring balanced decisions over the ruthless ones that Rudra was willing to make. It was for this very reason that both Shekhar and Daadi had mutually decided to let Rudra take charge of the key business decisions. They knew it wasn’t just about his brilliance—it was also a way to keep his mind busy, to keep him distracted from the darkness of his past.

In the kitchen, Savitri was bustling with excitement, overseeing preparations for Rudra’s welcome dinner. Her grandson had always been a foodie, and she was determined to make this meal special.

“Ladoos—make them sugar-free,” she instructed the cook. “And tell Chanda to add plenty of walnuts in the kheer. Rudra loves it.”

The energy in her voice, the light in her eyes—it had been missing for the past 11 years. Shekhar walked into the kitchen and found her almost breathless with anticipation.

“Daadi, you need to calm down,” he said, gently guiding her to sit at the small dining table. “Your blood pressure will shoot up.”

She sighed but couldn’t contain her happiness.

“Shekhar, I’m so happy. These next four months are going to be the happiest we’ve had in years. I’ve already made plans...” She paused, her eyes lighting up with an idea. “You know Anjali’s uncle, Ram Verma, the textile factory owner?”

Shekhar raised an eyebrow, confused about where this was going. He nodded warily.

“He’s looking for a match for his youngest daughter. I’m thinking of introducing her to Rudra—”

“Hold on, Daadi,” Shekhar interrupted he in a serious tone. “Isn’t this going a bit too far? Rudra hasn’t even landed yet, and you’re already planning a marriage proposal? We don’t want to overwhelm him... He might run straight back to Paris if you push too hard.”

Savitri’s smile faltered, her excitement dimming.

---