Page 64 of One Hellish Love

Kashish froze, the accusation hitting her like a slap. Shekhar looked pained but focused on helping Daadi. Together, they got her back onto the bed, but Daadi’s anguish didn’t stop.

“My Rudra… he left me again. He left his home, his family. Why must he always suffer? Why does God punish him like this?”

“Daadi, please calm down. You’ll make yourself sick,” Anjali whispered, trying to soothe her.

“Let me fall sick. Let me die. If Rudra goes back to Paris, I don’t want to live. Let me die!” Daadi wept bitterly, her cries tearing through the room.

Kashish clenched her fists around her dupatta, her knuckles white with tension.He’s gone. The realization hit her hard. That’s why Daadi was in such torment—because Rudra had left. She spun on her heel and rushed out of the room, dialing Rudra’s number with trembling fingers. The phone rang, but he didn’t pick up. Panic rising, she hurried to the kitchen.

“Ram Prasad, where’s Rudra?” she demanded, her voice strained.

“He’s gone to the airport with Jay Sir,” he replied.

“When? How long ago?”

“It’s been about 30 minutes, Kashish Didi.”

She checked her watch, then bolted for the door. There was still time. She couldn’t let him leave like this. She asked the driver to take her to the airport and kept redialing his number, but he wasn’t answering. She didn’t even know why she was so desperate to stop him. Was it because Daadi needed him? Or had she finally realized that pushing him away was a mistake—that she was hurting him in ways neither of them deserved?

All she knew was that she had to stop Rudra Raheja from boarding that flight.

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

Rudra stepped out of the car at the airport, his face a mask of stoic determination. Jay followed closely behind, while Mohan pulled the bags from the trunk.

“Mohan will drop you back, Jay,” Rudra said, his tone flat.

“I can wait a bit longer. We’re early anyway, and the pilot’s still doing the final checks,” Jay replied, sensing the tension in the air.

Rudra glanced at his phone. Kashish was calling—again. His thumb hovered over the screen, the urge to hear her voiceburning through him, but he couldn’t let himself give in. He knew, without a doubt, that hearing her voice would change everything. His decision to leave for Paris was fragile, and if he heard her now, it might crumble. Whatever she needed to say, she could say it to Shekhar or Anjali. Jay, sensing Rudra’s silence, didn’t press for details but could tell something was off.

Minutes passed, and Jay’s phone buzzed. He excused himself and answered, a little wary.

“Yes, Kashish, tell me,” Jay said, his eyes flicking toward Rudra.

“Is he with you?” she asked sharply, her voice laced with urgency.

Jay paused, realizing exactly who she meant. “He?”

Kashish clenched her jaw, hating how she had to ask for him.

“Rudra. Is he still with you?” Her tone was tight, every word strained.

“Uh… yes, but he’s about to head inside. Why?”

“Stop him,” she demanded.

Jay blinked in confusion. “Stop him? Why? What’s going on?”

“Just stop him, Jay. Tell him he doesn’t need to be so damn generous all the time,” she barked, her frustration boiling over.

“I don’t understand. What’s he being generous about?”

“Jay, I don’t have time to explain. Just stop him. Don’t let him go. I’ll be there soon,” she snapped before abruptly hanging up.

Jay stared at his phone, his pulse quickening. How the hell was he supposed to stop Rudra?

He walked back over, his nerves kicking in.

---