Page 166 of One Hellish Love

Kashish calmly zipped the last bag.

“I’m doing what I’ve always known would happen, Shekhar.”

“I know the court’s custody orders end today, but none of us want you to leave. Even Daadi isn’t forcing you out. Why are you doing this?” he demanded.

“You and Anju love me too much to push me out. But that doesn’t mean I can take advantage of that love. My time here is up, and I don’t want to extend my stay unnecessarily.”

Anjali, who had been watching helplessly, now stepped forward, grabbing Kashish by the shoulders.

“Unnecessarily? Kashish, this isn’t about legality or court orders. You’re a part of us, part of this family. Why are you pretending like none of this matters?”

Kashish’s face softened, but her resolve remained. She turned to Shekhar.

“Rudra wanted me to be independent, to be happy. Staying here… after all that’s happened… wouldn’t bring me happiness. He would never want that.”

Shekhar’s frustration deepened.

“You too are running away. Think about Rudra. What do you think he’ll do when he finds out you left?”

“He’ll understand. He always does. This is what I need to do to keep my promise to him—to be strong, to be independent. He won’t like seeing me unhappy here. This is for the best.”

Shekhar watched her, feeling powerless. Kashish had made up her mind, and nothing he said would change that. Ram Prasad entered to collect her bags, taking them downstairs to thewaiting cab. Daadi, secretly pleased but outwardly composed, watched as Kashish prepared to leave.

Kashish hugged Shekhar and Anjali one last time.

“I’ll be staying at my house in Uttam Nagar. It’s not far. You can visit me anytime, and we’ll still see each other at the office.”

Tears welled up in Shekhar’s eyes as he embraced her.

“You’ve never stayed alone, Kashish. You don’t have to start now.”

Kashish smiled weakly, her own tears threatening to spill.

“I have to learn, Shekhar. I’ll manage.”

Anjali broke into sobs as she hugged Kashish tightly, unable to say goodbye.

The court personnel arrived, and Kashish signed the final papers, officially ending her custody with the Raheja family. Daadi offered her superficial blessings, and with a final glance at the home that had once been her sanctuary, Kashish left. The cab drove away, leaving behind a family distanced by circumstance.

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Paris

Rudra was in the middle of his conference when his phone rang. It was Shekhar. He excused himself and took the call, his face hardening as Shekhar recounted what had happened—Kashish had left Raheja Mansion. She was heading back to her old home in Uttam Nagar, determined to live alone.

His hand clenched the phone so tightly he thought it might break. How could she do this without consulting him? She knew how much it meant to him that she stay with the family. How could she make such a huge decision on her own?

She wanted independence. She wanted to fulfill her promise to him, to be strong, but this wasn’t strength—it was isolation. He knew she wouldn’t be able to adjust to this new life so easily,after being surrounded by family for so long. Who would ensure she was safe, that she ate, that she slept?

Rage and frustration surged through him. Enough was enough. He wasn’t going to let this go on. Whatever it took, he was going back to India. He had never stopped caring for her, and if it meant ending their separation sooner than planned, so be it. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being alone—he was going to fix this.Now.

CHAPTER 54

Bedi House – Uttam Nagar

Kashish unlocked the door and dragged her trolley bag inside, switching on the lights. The house felt lifeless, covered in dust, a stark contrast to the warmth of Raheja Mansion. Living alone, without the constant presence of a family, was going to be harder than she had imagined. The silence wrapped around her like a heavy blanket, suffocating her. She sat on the sofa, burying her face in her hands. How did Rudra survive the years he spent alone in Paris? He must have felt the same crushing isolation, the same emptiness. Unlike her, he had no family to lean on during those years. But now, she was about to experience that desolation firsthand, and it was only the thought of his love that gave her the strength to face it.

Wiping her tears, she suddenly remembered the gift Rudra had sent. She pulled it from her purse and carefully unwrapped it. Inside was another small box with a note. She opened the box first, and her breath hitched.A Mangalsutra.The sacred symbol of marriage. Her fingers traced the delicate black beads and gold pendant as tears welled up in her eyes. Why had he sent this? Of all the things he could’ve gifted her, he chose something that symbolized commitment, love, and permanence.

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