Page 174 of One Hellish Love

As Rudra stepped into the house, Daadi welcomed him with open arms. Her fingers lingering on his face as she studied him with concern.

“You’ve become thinner. Did you not eat well in Paris?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.

“I’m learning martial arts, Daadi. I found a good trainer in Paris.”

“Martial arts?” she asked, confused. “Who are you planning to fight?”

Shekhar laughed at Daadi’s innocent questions.

“Daadi, people don’t learn martial arts just to fight. It’s for fitness too. Rudra, what made you take this up all of a sudden?”

Rudra shrugged nonchalantly.

“Just felt like it, Bhai.”

Daadi, though, had other concerns on her mind.

“Well, now that you’re back, I want you to stay as long as you can. But tell me, have you planned your return to Paris?”

A sarcastic smile flickered on Rudra’s face. He could sense the undercurrent in her words, her relentless mission to distance him from Kashish.

“Don’t you like me being here, Daadi?” he asked pointedly.

Daadi was caught off guard.

“Of course I do, beta. I pray for it every day. But you have… distractions here. I just don’t want you wasting your life chasing after them.”

Rudra sighed. “Her name is Kashish. And she’s not a distraction, Daadi. But I’m too tired to get into another argument about this now. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

With that, he hurried to his room, pulling his phone out of his pocket. He needed to know—had Kashish fallen asleep, or was she still awake?

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

Kashish lay on her bed thinking about everything that had happened in the last few hours. Thankfully, despite his intense display, he had respected her space, allowing her to stay at her own home. But along with that space came the most important decision of her life. They had two months to convince Daadi to accept her. If they failed, Rudra wouldn’t wait any longer—he would marry her.

For two long months, Kashish had cried herself to sleep, aching for Rudra’s forgiveness, praying he would come back. Tonight, for the first time, there were no tears, but neither was there peace. Last night, she had felt the crushing loneliness of this house. Tonight, her mind replayed every moment spent with Rudra earlier—his presence, his help in the kitchen, their shared dinner. She tossed and turned, her thoughts lingering on the kiss she had denied him. After two months of separation, the intensity of their love had only deepened. Her body trembled with the longing to be in his arms, a sensation she had never experienced so powerfully before.

She recalled his frustrated face when she had denied him that kiss. It must have taken every ounce of self-control for him to respect her boundaries. But what she didn’t know was whether his fear of touch—his Haphephobia—had improved. Had he worked on it during their time apart? Regardless, she wasn’tgoing to push him. If he couldn’t bear to be touched, then she would restrain herself. It was him she wanted, all of him—his flaws, his anger, his fears, his passion.

Once again, a deep blush crept over her cheeks as she remembered how his face had hardened when she refused to kiss him. Was she acting like a giddy teenager experiencing her first crush? Perhaps she was. And why shouldn’t she? Rudra was her first crush, her first love, her first everything. She felt proud and happy that the man who filled every role in her life was the one she would soon marry.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Rudra.

‘Missing you.’

Kashish sighed, her heart swelling. She missed him too. She typed back a reply.

‘Had you lost my number when you were in Paris? Not a single message. I didn’t expect that from the man who claims to love me beyond this universe.’

Rudra felt a pang at her words. He quickly typed back.

‘Watch your words. Get your facts straight. I don’t just claim to love you—I really do.’

He knew why she was upset. He should have reached out to her, even in his anger. His love for her hadn’t lessened. Why had he avoided contacting her? Kashish smirked at his response, intrigued.

‘Then why no message in the last two months?’she shot back.

Rudra grinned, shaking his head.

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