Page 98 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“Leave me,” I struggled to get away, but he tightened his hold on my wrist. He was hurting me, making me sob. I couldn’t take it anymore, because his grasp almost crushed my wrist, and so, inhaling a deep breath, I expressed my agony in a steady voice,

“You are hurting me, Rudra.” I squirmed to get loose, but he had my wrist locked in a deadly grip.

“How dare you let him call you his wife?” He asked again, his voice deeper and serious than before.

“So what if he called me his wife? Surely he’ll make a thousand times better husband than you,” I seethed, staring him in the eyes. A stoic look etched onto his expression, devoid of any emotion, and in an instant, he let go of my hand. His fingers left a crimson imprint on my wrist, and I caressed my hand to ease the ache.

A strained quiet descended into the room.

A few moments later, I looked at him, taking his steps, slowly moving closer to me. However, moving past me, he unbolted the door, and without a word, he walked out. I realised what I had said, feeling the sting of regret.

Tears blurred my vision, and my heart felt heavy with emotion, experiencing disappointment in him for walking away again and in myself for saying such things.

A sob escaped my lips as I watched him leave me behind again.

It aggravated me… it aggravated me immensely the way he walked away every time we were supposed to talk it out, that he chose not to resolve our issues by discussing them.

Why were our conversations always incomplete, hanging by the thread of ego and rage? Why was it that the love we felt couldn’t foster trust, respect, and a deeper connection between us? Why did he always choose to leave, and why did I continually prefer to stand numb, gazing at his back?

My hands balled into fists and I inhaled a heavy breath. Wiping my tears away, I turned on my heels and chose to follow him.

As I marched out, I found him in the hallway. So, going behind him, I stood before him to stop him midway.

“I’m no slave for you to drag me through the corridors down to your chamber. I’m a woman, no object. And above all, I am the queen of this empire. Hence, you must learn to treat me with respect,” I was heaving heavily while venting my anger, pointing my finger at him. But I didn't stop because he had to know,“What we do behind closed doors in our chamber is a different matter, butI'll never tolerate such disrespectful behaviour again. I’m your wife, so treat me like one,” I pointed out his unruly behaviour in an unwavering and determined tone, locking eyes with him unflinchingly.

“Wife? I don't even know how many people call you their wife,” he scoffed.

Anger caught the best of me at such a derogatory remark, and I reacted by raising my hands, landing my palm right onto his cheek, and striking his face sideways with a firm slap.

“How dare you?” I rumbled at him breathlessly, and he broke into an abrupt laugh. My brows knitted together as he went ballistic, laughing scornfully.

It frightened me when I saw his eyes glistening with tears while laughing, as if he were trying to cope with his anger through it. His breathing had elevated, and his gaze became extremely cold and sharp.

He stopped laughing and bowing in front of me, and asked in a really low voice,“I apologise, Ranisa.” His tone panged my heart with a stabbing pain. I stared at him blankly when he added,“Now, if you allow me, may I please leave the quarters of your chamber?”

Your chamber? It's our chamber.

My lips wobbled when he turned around and walked away. I didn’t know why, but it felt unusual. Out of all the times he had walked away from me, this time left a different impression.

“Rudra,” I tried to call out for him with misted eyes, but my voice emerged as an inaudible breath, impossible to reach his ears or his heart, for he was eager to distance himself from me.

“Nandani,” Suddenly, Suman’s voice caught my attention, and I glanced back at her.“Hey, what happened? Why are you crying? Is everything okay?” As she held me by my shoulders. There was an urge in her voice.

I immediately hugged her and fell apart in her arms, breaking down into wails of torment. I cried and cried, letting out everything and allowing tears to flow freely down my face because it was unbearable—him not letting me go out and our fight over the same issue.

“It’s okay, it’s alright, don’t cry. What happened? Did Ranaji hurt you? Did he do something?” she asked, patting my back comfortingly, and I wept uncontrollably.

“Bhabhisa,” Suddenly, Ranvijay’s voice caught my attention, and I pulled away from Suman to look at him. Washing off my tears, I plastered a smile and greeted him.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern lacing his voice, and I nodded. With an insistent look, he asked me again,“Really, Bhabhisa? If there’s anything you can tell me?”

I gave him an assuring smile and said,“Really, it’s nothing!” I spotted Agastya behind him, entering the chamber in his regular clothes.

Standing in front of us, he greeted me,“Pranaam, Bhabisa.” his sorrowful tone didn’t go unnoticed by me.

“Bhabhisa, Bhaisa has asked us to escort you wherever you want. Please let us know how long it will take for you to get ready?” Ranvijay informed me, and I frowned at him.

Rudra said so?

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