Page 67 of One Hellish Love

Shekhar studied her.

“Why did you go through all this trouble for us?”

Kashish blinked, clearly taken aback by his question. “How could you even say that, Shekhar? This isn’t a favor. Do you think I’m so selfish that I’d stand by and let you and Daadi suffer because of Rudra leaving? I couldn’t let him go.”

Her words were exactly what they had anticipated. Despite her hatred for Rudra, Kashish had put the family’s love for himabove her own feelings. She hadn’t let her animosity blind her to what mattered most—the Raheja family’s unity.

“Thank you, Kashish,” Shekhar said softly, genuinely grateful.

She managed a weak smile, but beneath it, her mind was racing. If what Anjali had told her was true about Rudra’s feelings, her life in this house was about to get even more complicated.

Inside Daadi’s room, Rudra immediately rushed to her side and hugged her tightly.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me about Daadi’s health earlier?” he demanded, his voice thick with frustration. Anjali stayed silent, while Daadi gave him a pale, tired smile.

“Would you have come for me?” Daadi asked quietly.

Rudra’s throat tightened. He kissed her forehead gently.

“Of course I’d come for you, Daadi. Kashish may have stopped me from going to Paris, but I only agreed because she told me about your condition. You’re the most important person in my life. Don’t ever hide something like this from me again.”

Happiness flooded Daadi’s heart. She hadn’t liked the idea of faking her illness, but it had brought her grandson back, and for that, she was grateful.

“I’m already feeling better,” Daadi murmured.

Rudra pulled away from the hug, guilt washing over him.

“I should’ve been taking better care of you. But not anymore. Tomorrow, I’m calling Dr. Banerjee to do your full check-up. We’ll get every test done before I think about returning to Paris.”

Shekhar stepped into the room, pleased to see Rudra connecting with the family in this way. His presence brought a sense of completeness, a glimpse of what their family could be.

“Saw, Daadi?” Shekhar teased. “Your youngest grandson thinks Anjali and I haven’t been taking proper care of you.”

Rudra’s eyes widened in protest.

“Bhai, that’s not what I meant!”

Shekhar chuckled, patting Rudra’s back.

“I know, I know. But I’m just glad you’re back. Now we’re a complete family again. Promise us you’ll never leave us, no matter what.”

A pang of regret hit Rudra. He’d nearly abandoned everything—his family, his home—just to avoid confronting Kashish’s hatred. How foolish he had been to consider leaving them behind. He took Daadi’s hand and squeezed it gently.

“I promise I’ll never leave you,” he vowed, his voice steady.

Shekhar, Daadi, and Anjali embraced him, the warmth of the family wrapping around him like a safety net.

At the doorway, Kashish watched the reunion unfold, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She realized just how much this family meant to Rudra—and how close she’d come to tearing him away from them.

As they embraced, she silently thanked fate for stopping her from making a terrible mistake. In that moment, she understood one undeniable truth—despite everything, this family needed Rudra, and he needed them just as much.

For the first time, she had set aside her hatred and thought selflessly. That man—Rudra—had a family, bonds, and responsibilities toward them, and she was no one to keep him from them. She promised herself she would never hurt the family that had given her shelter and so much love by taking their beloved member away from them. In just a few months, she would leave this house forever, and she didn’t want to look back with regret for having caused them more pain.

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Kashish woke up the next morning and prepared for work. She had neglected her office duties over the past few days since the incident with the knife. It was time to focus again. But what about the complaint Daadi had filed against her? Had it beenwithdrawn? While she wasn’t sure she could fully trust Daadi, she was certain that Rudra wouldn’t let the issue linger. The way he had stormed into the police station with his lawyer and taken her away without hesitation—she knew he would never allow the investigation to touch her again.

That thought brought her back to what Anjali had confided about Rudra’s feelings for her. Could it really be true? Was that why he had quietly relocated her male colleague at work after noticing they were getting close? Was that why he had brought her home when she was accidentally drunk at a party, always watching out for her in ways that didn’t make sense to her before? Was that why she had often caught him glancing at her, both at home and at the office? The realization tightened like a knot in her throat. It seemed absurd, almost ridiculous. He knew the history between them—how deeply responsible he was for her father’s death, how fiercely she hated him. How could someone harbor such feelings after all that?

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