Page 87 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“Why the hell did you lie to me?” His brows creased together, face contorted with fury.

“Because I was hurt… and angry,” his neck muscles tensed as he inhaled sharply at my reason.

“That doesn't justify you lying to me. You know I hate it when people lie. I hate it the most,” He spat, and I held his wrist to loosen his grip.

“Rudra, please calm down,” I tried to tame him, but he stepped back, swatting my hand away. He palmed his face, and I just stood there, staring blankly at him, tears streaming down my face.

“Rudra,” I called him. He looked at me, his face flushed red.

“Don't talk to me. Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you lie to me? All this while, I thought I had made an immense mistake. I was guilty, because I thought you slept with him because of me, that I caused everything that happened to you. You cannot imagine what I felt. And, here you’re now, humouring me,‘Oh it was just a joke’,” He yelled, turning breathless by the end, and I tried to step closer to him, my legs shaking badly.

“Rudra, listen to me,” I tried to say, but retracing his steps, he pointed his finger at me to keep from getting closer to him.

“Stay away from me. I hate liars. I opened my heart to you only to discover that this was all a joke for you. Me, killing thousands of people was just a joke for you,” His voice grew louder as he fumed his words out.

“It wasn't a joke; it's my life,” I tried to say, but tears blurred my vision. He nodded, clenching his fists. Without saying a word, he stormed out of the dressing room.

“Rudra,” I quickly set my dupatta on my head and dashed out. I almost ran behind him, but he just walked away.

“Ranaji,” I called out, but he was gone, and I just stood there numbly, looking at him, going away from me, again. A lone tear fell down my cheek.

“Bhabhisa,” I suddenly heard a familiar voice call out to me. I instantly spun away to wipe my cheeks and turned to find Agastya standing at the door. Adjusting my dupatta, I plastered a smile, and he stepped inside the chamber.

“Devarsa,” I said, and he plopped on the couch.

“What happened to Bhaisa?” He asked casually, picking up the grapes from the basket, before having a bite.

“He’s angry with me,” I sighed, slumping down on a couch across from him.

“He hates kids, I believe,” he commented with a smile, and I shifted awkwardly in my seat, a strained smile etched on my face.“Don’t worry; I know how to help you make it up to him,” he said, moving his fingers animatedly in the air.

“Really?” He nodded, and I asked,“How?”

“Annoy him until he listens to you.” He grinned evilly, chewing the grapes, and I knitted my brows together.

“Annoy him?”

Sitting back relaxedly, he hummed.

“He will kill me if I do,” He chuckled at my words and shook his head.“He will not. He likes you. And you are much younger than he is. You can bother him like a kid,” He said, and I swung my head in denial,

“That's not a good idea,” I replied.

“This is the best idea, Bhabhisa. I have always used this trick. Whenever Bhaisa was mad at me, I'd pester him, not letting him work or do anything. Just give it a try.”

?? ? ??

After an‘insightful’discussion with Agastya, I returned to my chores to distract myself from whatever happened with Rudra, which, to be honest, did not work.

It hadn’t been a week since we married, yet we were magnetically drawn to each other. We worked through our personal issues together, trying to fight the world. But I was in a dilemma.

A part of me felt angry about what he did and was reluctant to forgive him, while another part wanted to overlook everything and simply love him.

I loved him; there was no room for doubt. But at what cost? At what cost did I love him? My dignity? My self-respect?

As a daughter, I was responsible for preserving not only my family’s honor but also my empire’s image as a princess. I knew that if rumors reached the old king’s ears about my affair with a young man, it was certain that the hearsay would spread throughout Indira.

And so I failed, both as a daughter and as a royal.

---