18

"Who is he to you?" he gritted through his clenched teeth.

I looked at him, confused, before realising what he was asking and who he was referring to. I don't know how to tell him, or if I even want to tell him. I can feel my breathing rate increase just thinking about him.

"Um, my ex," I said quietly, trying to control my breathing and looking down.

"Look at me," he said commandingly, sending shivers down my spine.

I raised my head and looked him in the eyes; he walked forward, lowered himself to my level in front of me, and took my trembling hand in his. My hand was cold with sweaty palms, while his hand was warm but rough and hard.

"Darling, he is not your ex; there is more you are not telling me; you do not have panic attacks just looking at your ex's image," he said aggressively, but his tone did not match his touch, which was gently caressing the back of my hand with his thumb.

"Please, I do not want to talk about him. He is just my ex, nothing more," I said, leaning back and closing my eyes, a tear falling from my eye.

When I felt his hand on my cheek, gently grabbing it and rubbing the tear away, I opened my eyes and lifted my head. His touch was feather-light.

"You should know this—he is my business rival." After saying this, he stood up and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and in shock. How is this possible given that he was not in India? Why am I even living? I had no idea about Rudra, who is a big figure in India, and now that horrible person is back.

I still don't know anything.

I dropped myself on the couch with a thud and exhaled a shuddering breath. I pinched my forehead because of the pain. That man is one of the causes of my misery and is now Rudra's business rival.

When you do not forget or move on from your past, it always comes back to haunt you in the present.

I heard the door open and his footsteps, but I did not move from where I was. I could feel him close to me.

"Get up, Chandini; let me drop you off at your house, and then I have to go to mine," he said.

I moved my face to look at him after hearing footsteps again; he was standing by his desk, his back to me. He took a file and his phone. I got up from the couch but quickly sat back down due to the pain in my head. He quickly turned and walked towards me.

"What happened?" he worriedly asked.

"Nothing; I just felt a little dizzy," I said, a small smile on my face.

"Okay, hold my hand," he said, extending his hand. But I shook my head.

"No, I am fine," I said politely. He nodded his head as he moved towards the door and opened it for me to leave first.

We left his office after saying our goodbyes to Rahul. I rested my head back on the seat in the car because of an insane headache. When I looked at his side, I noticed him moving uncomfortably, and I remembered that I had pushed him, and he had back pain.

"Umm, Rudra?"

"hmm..."

"I think you should see a doctor about your back pain. I'm really sorry," I said, my voice low and small.

He gave me a nod and a glance.

"Rudra?"

"Yes, darling."

"I don't want to marry you," I said, what's on my mind.

"Chandini!" he warned, casting a quick glance at me.

"What, Chandini? I don't want to marry you! I don't love you or even like you!" I said it sharply.

Everything is happening because of him. I had two panic attacks within a week of meeting him. My last attack was two years ago. He did not say anything and just kept driving.

We soon arrived at my house, and I moved quickly to get out of the car, but he stopped me. Rudra clutched my hair in his fist and drew me closer to him, his face close to mine. "You do not have to love or even like me to marry me!" he sneered.

And the psycho is back!

"Rudra, please! Don't do this; please understand that I don't want this marriage. For me, marriage is only complete when you love your partner, and there is no love between us. I don't even have hope for you and me," my voice brittle and cracking a little in the end.

He did not say anything and just stared at me, his eyes bright red and a muscle in his jaw ticking.

"You can have whoever you want on the planet! Why me?" I asked quietly.

"Because I do not want to be with anyone else!" he exclaimed.

"Oh... please! And what exactly am I getting out of this?" I said, my voice cracking and my eyes stinging with tears.

"What are you getting out of this? You are getting everything—Kapoor's title, money, and luxury. You said you wanted to marry someone you love. You will grow to love me," he said arrogantly as he tightened his grip on my hair, causing me to hiss in pain.

"Yeah? Like this, with you—grabbing my hair and causing me pain every time I see you!"

He relaxes his grip and looks me in the eyes—his eyes are slightly moist, but he blinks and closes them tightly. But when he opens them, his eyes are filled with rage.

"Why don't you get it? Darling, I want you and only you!"

His gaze is drawn to my mouth as I scoff at his remark. He moves his eyes between my eyes and my lips.

"Rudra."

"Hmm..." he hummed throatily, his gaze fixed on my lips.

I moved a little forward, almost touching his lips, and his startled eyes snapped to mine, his breath fanning my lips.

"I do not want your title, your money, your luxury, or you. I want to be happy, and you can't give it to me. I would never love you because I really hate you," I said quietly against his lips, maintaining eye contact.

I jerked his hand away from me, releasing myself from his clutches. I turned to leave the car, but then turned around and looked him in the eyes. "Remember this, Rudra—my silence is not my weakness. I am keeping quiet because you are threatening to ruin my brother's career. And I can't take the risk because my siblings are my only family."

I walked out and slammed the door shut. I dashed inside my house and shut the door behind me. My heart was racing as I slid against the door, sat on the floor, and banged my head against the door a little harder than I had intended.

I was worried about that stupid moron who is only concerned with himself.

Standing up, I entered my room and went straight to the bathroom. I took a long shower, washed my hair, and went about my business. After a shower, I put on a loose shirt that I stole from Bhaiya and crawled into bed.

Someone knocked, and Taara opened the door and stood there, yawning. I motioned for her to come, and she climbed into bed with me. She rested her head on my chest.

"Weren't you at your friend's house?" I said it sluggishly.

"Mhmm, Bhaiya came and picked me up from Ishita's house. He is downstairs and was about to call you, but we noticed your dupatta on the floor. So I came upstairs to you." Her voice sounded tired and drowsy.

"Okay, now sleep," I said.

"Can we go meet Athwa?" she asked, looking up at me with wide eyes, and there was no trace of sleep in her eyes like before.

"Okay, we'll see about that tomorrow. "Now, Taara, go to sleep," I said. She wrapped her arms around me and cuddled up next to me.

After some time of staring at the ceiling, I picked up the phone and texted Barkha and Rohit.

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Me: Hey guys!

Barkha: Hello, soon-to-be bride.

Rohit: Hello to both of you.

Me: How are you two doing? I missed you!

Barkha: Aww I met you yesterday night only.😒

Rohit: Oh, you miss us, including me? Barkha informed me that you are getting married, Chandini. I am hurt, Birdie! I did not expect you to dump me for another guy.

Me: Rohit, not now! I need to tell you guys something, and it's serious.

Barkha: What happened, Whose face do I need to break? 😉

Rohit: First, Barkha, listen to Chandini.

Me: Aditya is Rudra's business rival.

Barkha: what!!???

Rohit: Who is this Rudra guy?👀

Me: the man I'm getting married to, Rohit.

Rohit: Ohh mene yeh naam kahi suna h?
(I have heard of this name before.)

Chandini: Of course you have. He is the CEO of the Kapoor Company.

Rohit: Rudra Kapoor! The business tycoon, Rudra Kapoor! You are ditching me for him!

Barkha: How did you know about it?

Me: Rudra told me! I think something happened because he was angry when he told me!

Me: This is not good.

Barkha: We will figure it out. Don't worry. Rest well; your wedding is only five days away.

Rohit: What, five days? What the fuck, guys? Chandini, when were you going to tell me?

Me: Bye guys!😊

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I kept my phone aside and took a breath. Laying straight, pulling Taara closer to me. looking at the ceiling with thoughts running through my mind. How will I ever love that devil of a man? Will I ever? I do feel something when close to him; it's not hate, as I had told him.

Unknown

"Hire someone; I need two men looking after Chandini at all times, like a shadow. I want them to report directly to me. Make sure she doesn't notice or see them. Otherwise, they are dead."

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