13

He left with his family. I was in the drawing room with Bhaiya and Barkha.

"Barkha, you should go; it is getting late. Uncle and Aunty must be waiting." I reminded her, and she left, saying she would be back tomorrow. Bhaiya was staring at me with narrowed eyes, and I pretended not to notice.

"Go to your room and get some rest; you are going to be very busy with wedding preparations."

"No! I want to talk. Why didn't you say something? When he said he would take care of everything," I said, my tone filled with irritation.

He could have stopped him, and we can handle the arrangement from our end. "Well, I can't argue with my boss, can I?" Bhaiya said it with the same annoyance.

"Bhaiya, he was not here as your boss! He was here as a man who came to ask permission to marry your sister. And from what I know, we are not poor or financially unstable. We can manage, just fine." I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the air.

When Bhaiya remained silent, I went on. "You can tell him off in the office tomorrow. Just tell him we will manage, okay?" I said, wishing he would agree and just do it.

"Why don't you do it yourself? Come with me to the office tomorrow and do whatever you want. I am sure he will listen to you. Since you so desperately wanted to marry him." Bhaiya said, mocking me.

I could not say anything, so I just nodded and went to my room. I opened the balcony gate and then locked the door. When the door is shut, I feel as if I am suffocating.

That is exactly what happened when he shut the door. I changed into shorts and a tee before beginning to remove my makeup. His handprints had left bruises on my neck.

Taking a look at the bruises, I notice that my arm, the back of my hand, and now my neck have his handprints from today. A new one for every encounter. I don't know where the next one will be. I closed my eyes and looked up.

After spending a long time in the bathroom and regretting going out that day because of the weather and meeting that moron, I sighed and climbed into bed to relax. I tried to sleep by closing my eyes, but I could not because I was too stressed about everything that was going on.

I looked down at the gift boxes on the floor and reminded myself that I needed to take them with me the next day. So I can give them back to him. My phone's screen lit up, and I saw a message from Barkha.

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Barkha🦋: What was the mark on your neck? That was not there before? I am concerned, Chandini. Are you okay?

Me: What mark? There was nothing around my neck. Do not be concerned about me; I am perfectly fine. Sleep now.

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My eyes were stinging from the unshed tears. I have never had to hide anything from her before. I touched my neck, remembering how tightly he gripped it. All of those unforgettable moments flashed before my eyes. He did all that, so I don't misbehave, and he wants me to respect him.

How am I supposed to? When all he does is... cause me pain?

I wiped my cheek with the back of my hand. I got up from the bed, took a sleeping pill from the side table, and fell asleep after a few minutes.

•*•~•*•

I awoke because my phone was constantly ringing. I answer the phone without seeing who is on the other end.

"He–llo," I said drowsily.

On the other side, I heard breathing sounds, followed by a heavy sigh. "You are still sleeping."

Hearing his commanding, deep voice. I sat up straight, wide awake, the sleep long gone from my eyes. "Now you have a sleeping problem as well." My voice is croaky from sleeping.

"Behave, darling. I am downstairs, waiting for you. Get ready, and you have fifteen minutes, starting right now." and then he hung up.

How can someone be so rude?

I looked around my room, still trying to figure out what was going on in my life and why.

I dashed to the bathroom and rushed through getting ready. I braided my long hair and combed it. I adore my hair. I chose a simple kurti, paired it with a maroon dupatta, and wore my sandals. I rushed down to the drawing room.

He was standing in the middle of the room as if he owned the place. He is dressed in a black polo shirt, cream-coloured pants, and white shoes.

The sleeves tightened around his biceps, exposing a little of his chest and making him look incredibly handsome. I should not find him handsome and attractive after everything this moron has done to me, but it is difficult to ignore his presence.

My gaze travels down his body and comes to a halt at his shoes. My intrusive thought was to step on them and dirty them.

"When you are done staring, darling, then we can get to the point—why I am here," he said, his tone humorous.

His good looks were long gone. Everything was nice, and he looked attractive until he opened his mouth.

"I was not staring," I said, clearly lying.

"Of course."

"Why are you here so early in the morning?" He glanced at his watch before turning to face me.

"It is 8 a.m., which is not early—never mind," he said flatly, shaking his head, and I shrugged.

It is still early in the morning for me. I don't get to work until late in the afternoon. I have already informed my manager that I will no longer be working for him, and I will miss working for him and the aroma of the coffee.

My life is dependent on coffee; I can't function without it.

"Samay called to tell me that you appear to be having a problem with me and my family managing the wedding arrangements," he said through a clenched jaw.

I looked into his sharp, piercing eyes and lowered mine. His eyes were a lovely shade of light brown. But they were so empty—filled with coldness. He must have experienced something terrible.

I was fiddling with my dupatta, afraid that if I said anything, he would become angry.

"Umm... It is not like you said I have a problem with your family or them doing everything. I just do not want you to do it. We are perfectly capable of affording the needs for the wedding," I said quietly.

"Look at me." I raised my head to look him in the eyes.

"I said we would take care of everything because the preparations had already begun with my sister's help," he said slowly and calmly.

Then he could have informed us of this in some manner. "And you guys can't match our status".

I looked up and closed my eyes. God, let me kill him; without this man, the world will be at peace.

"A complete moron," I muttered under my breath.

"I heard you, darling." I looked at him with alarming eyes.

"Oh, um, you did not tell me why you are here. You could have called to let me know." I said, trying to avoid his gaze.

"You are coming with me to my office. Muktha and Mom will pick you up and take you shopping," he said as he moved towards the door.

"But why am I going with you when I can meet your sister and mom at the shopping place?" I rushed up to him, but he abruptly stopped, and I bumped into his back.

"Sorry," I said as I rubbed my nose.

He turned and looked down at me because of our significant height difference. I'm just around his chest; he's a giant.

"You are getting married to the richest man in the country. We need to be spotted together before marriage," he said

"But Rudra."

"No buts, darling, we are late already," he said in a hurry, holding my hand.

But I removed my hand from his hold as waves of sensation ran through my arm. What happened just now? He sighed but did not say anything. We left the house after locking the door.

He walked over to his car, wearing sunglasses, and opened the door for me. I looked up at him with raised eyebrows, and he gestured for me to get inside. We both got into the car, and he started driving. I was looking out the window as the car came to a stop at a red light. I turned to my side, feeling his burning gaze on me, and he abruptly looked away.

"Why are you dressed so casually today?" I wanted to ask him from the start.

"I wanted to. Am I not allowed to wear something other than a suit?" He said it rudely, and his eyes narrowed.

"I was just asking," I said quietly.

"Well, don't Chandini," he said, with an edge in his voice, and I did not say anything else.

He is bipolar or has some serious issues at his top level. He speaks like a normal person one moment and like a rude, arrogant man the next. I huffed and folded my arm, staring out the window.

"I do have a request, though," I said quietly. I continued as he raised his eyebrows.

"I don't want a lot of people at the wedding. Your family and close friends are fine, as are ours, except that we don't have many people in our family. Is it okay with your parents? I don't like crowds or being around people—" he said, cutting me off by placing his hands on mine.

His touch caused goosebumps to form on my arms. I pulled my hand away from him and smiled awkwardly. There is this strange sensation of tingles that washed over me with a simple touch of his.

I rubbed my arms up and down with my hands, and he looked with furrowed brows but did not ask any questions. I do not like the sensations I get when his hands brush against mine.

"That is fine with me; I was thinking the same thing. But you have to get permission from Mom. If she is okay with it, no one can stop it." He said as he drew his hand back.

I smiled, nodded, and looked out the window, watching the cars go by. We had fallen into a comfortable silence until he broke it.

"Do you have a problem with me holding your hand? You are always avoiding it," he asked casually.

He should ask himself that!

"I don't like it when people touch me," I said, looking out the window.

"You didn't seem to have a problem with others," he observed quietly. I stared at him in disbelief.

Because they do not harm me!

"I can decide who can and can't touch me, right? And I never, ever want you to be one of them!" My voice was tinged with bitterness as I spoke. He gave me a sidelong glance and nodded his head without saying anything.

His face and body language, on the other hand, said otherwise; his jaw was clenched and a muscle ticked in it. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, and his knuckles were turning white. It was quiet until he decided to break it again.

"You will need to hold my hand when we are out in public." I nodded my head in understanding.

"All right, fine. I will let you hold my pinky," I said, smiling cheekily as I showed him my pinky.

Now he looked in disbelief but still nodded his head. We didn't talk after that.

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