Page 32 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

I woke up to a blaring knock on my door.“Nandani, open the door.”

Ruhani's voice reached my ears with a tinge of urgency and worry, prompting me to immediately step down from the bed and open the door. She was panting and appeared anxious.

“What happened?” I asked, and she closed the door.“You did not tell me. How dare you?” she exclaimed, shooting me a deadly glare. I frowned, not understanding what she meant.

“What?” I asked, and as she walked closer, she said,“Your lover, Rudra.” Something just dropped in my stomach hearing his name from her.

“There wasn't anything to tell,” She raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her.

“Really? I want to know everything,” she demanded, and I sighed tiringly.“Wait, what?” She brought her hand close to my chin and tilted my face to the side.

“Don't tell me he was here last night,” she murmured in shock. I sat on the couch, palming my face.“Yes, he was here last night and gave me a warning about the wedding,” I said, looking at her. She sat beside me and spoke cautiously,“Do you even know what he is planning? And first of all, what actually happened between you two?”

“Ruhani, I was in love with this man, like, so much in love. I was ready to do anything for him—anything! One night, I slept with him, and later that morning, he left with a letter that screamed,‘an eye for an eye.’Revenge,” I answered, and she shrieked with wide eyes.

“What?? What did he do? I mean, what happened?” she questioned. I sighed in exhaustion.

“We decided to spend a night together, but he gave mesomething which caused me to fall unconscious, and I'm not sure if he did something. He finally left with a letter which read‘A scar your family gave to mine and a scar I give back to yours’, and now I hate him so much. Like, he crossed all the limits for revenge,”

“What revenge?” she asked.

“Well, my mother was promised to his father some twenty years ago,” I started,“Back then, my mother didn't know that it was just his dirty game and that he was a man in his late forties. My father ended up marrying her forcibly, and his father decided to take revenge, which my mother almost ended by killing him when he abducted her. So, Rudra is avenging his father, who died because of my parents. And in all of this, he has now involved me. So I decided to marry….” I braced myself and revealed the truth to her.

“... his uncle, who is around eight years old, and Rudra is so furious about it. He doesn't want me to get married to him,” I finished, and an instant scream left her mouth.

“Why the heck are you marrying his uncle? That’s such an absurd decision, Nandani. Stop this,” I swallowed a heavy lump down my throat.

“No, I can't, Ruhani. It's really complicated. Rudra is a hot-headed and wicked man. He knows nothing but his revenge. If I didn’t stop him, he would win the throne of Suryagarh, a kingdom whose king is an old man, and after getting a kingdom that is practically stronger than us, he would attack us,”

She cut me off in the middle,“Then let him attack. Maamujaan is strong, your brother is strong, they will take care of it. You do not have to do this.”

“No, I cannot sacrifice a thousand soldiers and risk my brother's and father's lives for a mere revenge. He must understand that what he is doing is wrong and that his thoughts of revenge are completely unfounded. His realisation will be of no use after thousands die. It will muddle everything up. I simply chose a way that is easy to stop him,” I stated. She held her head in exasperation.

“Do you know what he is planning?” she asked concernedly. She was upset and angry, altogether.“What?” I asked cluelessly.“He is planning to kidnap you,” She informed me, and I rose from the couch.

“What?????”

“Yes. He met Aahil last night and talked about it,” Sheexplained.

“What??? When?? Why?” I asked and she stood up.

“Because what you are doing is wrong, Nandani. You cannot just put your life at stake. What option have you left him with? I’m with him in this. You don't want war, but you're not listening to anyone, and you're being stubborn. Why don't you understand that no one wants to see you getting married to that old man just because you want to teach him a so-called lesson? This is not done. Forget him, I will kidnap you and plan your escape from this wedding,” she spewed, angrily, and suddenly, what he said last night made sense.

How could he kidnap me? How could he come up with such a plan? It was wrong. Why wouldn't he just leave me be?

“But, how can he kidnap me?” I asked, and she sighed.“I do not know. Aahil does,”

“And what did he say?” I asked, referring to her husband, Sultan Aahil.

“He did not say anything. However, upon examining the situation, I believe it is best to support him rather than you. Because you clearly have decided to ruin your life. At least someone is trying to make things right for you,” my eyes widened as I listened to her.

“How can you say that? You are my cousin, my friend. How can you take his side? This is so wrong,” I stated, and she looked at me with determination.

“Either you are calling off this wedding with that old man, or when Rudra does something to stop the wedding, Aahil and I will be by his side. Do you understand?” She warned me, and I gave her an incredulous look.

“What do you mean?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I mean, if we cannot do anything to stop the wedding, we surely wouldn't do anything if he tried to abduct you,” She finished, and I gaped at her statement.

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