Scarred Love - Chapter 27

“I love you.”

Ishani’s whole being trembled and her heart drummed in her chest with panicked energy as his words slowly filtered in her brain. She jerked her hand off from Rudra’s and quickly moved away. The seconds passed breathlessly as she stared at him with alarm.

You can’t do this. Tell him the truth, her conscious bickered her.

Shaking her head, she got up from the bed and stepped away from him.

“Ishani!” his wretched call stopped her.

“I need to leave,” she said, her voice quivering with effort.

“Why? Is it because of what I said?” he asked as he got up from the bed.

Rudra came near her and pulled her towards him but she squirmed and stepped away.

“Is it me?” she heard him ask in a confused tone.

She shook her head as words failed her.

“Is it because I am a Sangawat?”

She again shook her head and looked at him with resignation. Biting her lip, she tried to control the tears that begged to fall and slowly turned towards the door.

Almost instantly she felt his hand stop her.

“Don’t go, please.”

“Rudra, I—”

“Shhhhhh! don’t say anything. I know I startled you. I should have waited. I shouldn’t have blurted it out like that. Sorry.”

She saw him rake his hand through his hair in frustration.

“When they attacked me, I thought I will never see you again. And, believe me, Ishani that scared the hell out of me.”

Her eyes widened as she heard him. His words were weaving a web of feelings and sensations that she couldn’t give into but didn’t have the strength to run away from them also.

“If you hadn’t come here, I would have come to you.”

She felt Rudra pull her more into him and grab her left palm in his. As he placed their clasped hands on his heart, her fingers automatically curled around his.

Cupping her face with his wounded hand, Rudra said in a grave voice, “I don’t think I have much time left with what is going on. I don’t know when I’ll be lying on the next street de—”

Ishani free hand landed on his mouth before he could finish. He moved her hand and continued.

“Dead. And, I haven’t had any time with you. I don’t have any memories of you to take with me.”

He tipped her face closer and her gaze instantly messed with his.

“Ishani, will you help me create some memories?”

When she did not reply, he just stared at her, willing her with his eyes to say yes.

But somehow she was too choked up to speak.

“I don’t want to die with just your face in my head,” he said looking away for this was becoming more difficult than he’d thought.

Suddenly Ishani’s eyes misted over and her scared gaze landed on their linked hands as her lips wobbled with torment.

O Mahadev! Please don’t take him away. Not him too, she inwardly pleaded.

“I don’t want to lose………,” she muttered incoherently under her breath. 

“What?”

“I don’t want to lose you,” she said in one breath, stealing her eyes from him.

Rudra smiled inside as his eyes shone with a sly glint. Finally, he sighed inwardly. Now it’s time to put the nail in the coffin.

“You will never ever lose me, I promise. You will always have a part of me to hold on even if I am not there,” he said in a serious tone as he lifted her face towards him.

Slowly he released her and instantly she felt a certain sense of loss.

“Ram Singh!” she heard him call and immediately stiffened.

As Ram Singh came inside, Rudra saw him stop uncomfortably looking at Ishani.

“Ram Singh will drop you home,” he said nodding at the man, who gaped at him with shock.

As he went out, Rudra looked at her and saw her eyes narrowing with distress.

Within seconds he was beside her and she was pulled closer. As he raised his eyes questioningly, she breathed hard trying to control her anger.

“What is Ram Singh doing here? You know he was the main accused in the robbery that killed Ve……Ve……Ve—”

“Veera! I know.”

“Then why is he here?” she asked him eyes flaring with aggravation.

“Everybody needs a second chance, Ishani. Plus he is Manna’s brother and I trust him. So, stop worrying.”

“I am not worrying,” she grumbled under her breath.

“Okay for your comfort, I’ll also have someone else escort you other than him. Is that fine?”

Ishani nodded relaxed as she knew he would call Manna but her relief vanished as she heard him.

“Scar!”

Oh no! Not the dog.

“She will go with you,” Rudra said smiling at her.

“She doesn’t like me.”

He just smiled and caressed her cheek tenderly as he said, “She will; give her some time. She is slow but she is hell loyal.”

Ishani sighed and started towards the door followed by Scar. But before she stepped out of the door, she heard her name behind.

As she looked at him, she saw him standing with a tender grin on his face.

“I don’t want to spend any of my waking hours away from you now. Can we meet tomorrow for lunch, say at 2 pm?”

She nodded and saw him smile with satisfaction.

The door closed behind her and immediately Rudra’s smile disappeared. He needed a bath. He needed to take her touch off him. He entered the bathroom and started to shed his clothes. Everything was going according to plan.

Do you really think she would give in so easily? His inner self counter questioned him.

She will, I know she will, he answered willing his mind to believe it.

You are a big fool if you think that. She hasn’t forgotten anything. He will come back again and again between you guys, remember that. Veera is within her, you can’t take him away from her.

Dammit! Shut up, Rudra scolded silencing his inner voice.

**************************

Ishani plopped on the sofa tired, the moment she reached home. She closed her eyes and in her mind’s eye saw Rudra smiling at her. She was about to smile back when the face morphed into another.

Veera looked at her accusingly.

I did not betray you.

Yes, you did, Ishi, you did.

Bye Ishi! You don’t need me anymore.

Saying this, he walked away and she opened her eyes with a jerk.

Copyright © Paromita Majumder. All Rights Reserved.