Scarred Love - Chapter 48

“Rudra!” Ishani called out as she shook him.

Holding his slumped body weight was getting a little too impossible for her.

“Rudra!” she again called out and this time shook him harder than before.

He stirred a little and opened his eyes, which were clouded with intoxication.

“The……bed,” he stammered blinking hard trying to get his head to work but just couldn’t.

She placed her arm around his body and somehow helped him to move towards it. Just as they reached the bed, he collapsed into it. She picked up his head a little and adjusted it gently on the pillow. Then, she adjusted his legs on the bed and pulled on the covers.

As she turned away, she felt him pull her.

“Don’t go!”

Smiling, she sat down next to him and said, “I am not going anywhere.”

Dragging her to him, he turned around and pressed his head into her throat.

“Say it again.”

“I love you,” she said wrapping her arms around him as she slid next to him on the bed.

He wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her close and instantly felt her fingers caressing his scalp. Suddenly his inner demons started to melt against her touch; the anger inside him silenced and a certain kind of peace and serenity settled in its place.

You are home, Rudra, his soul whispered in his ears and for once his inner self did not argue. Sighing, it just went off to sleep.

He didn’t want to think about his intentions, about his game, nor did he want to think how much he hated Ishani. Right now, in this night all that mattered was this feeling of her body pressed to his.

Rudra closed his eyes and drifted into blissful and dreamless sleep, something which he had never had before.

Ishani smiled just as she heard his slumbered breathing. She closed her eyes knowing that finally, Veera had faded into oblivion. She didn’t want to think about the past nor about the future. Right now, all she wanted was to keep this man safe in her arms forever.

Nothing else mattered.

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

The rays of the sun fell on his face and Rudra stirred up. Turning away from its impact, he pressed his head more into the pillow. Suddenly as his senses came back, he jolted up on the bed.

What happened last night?

He remembered Ishani confessing her love but what happened after that?

Somebody had taken off his coat and shoes but otherwise, he was still wearing his trousers and the same shirt.

A little perplexed, he threw back the covers and got up from the bed and instantly everything around him just swirled uncontrollably.

What the hell!

Had he really drunk that much?

Doggedly, he tried getting up once again and sat down immediately.

“Hey, relax!” Viman said as he came near him and handed him his daily dose of coffee.

“I need a swim,” Rudra said in an irritated tone brushing his hand away.

“Nope! No swimming. You are still a little muzzy so, no swimming today. Drink this you will feel better,” Viman said placing the coffee on the nearby table.

Rudra picked up the mug and took a sip and instantly felt something churning inside his stomach. Cursing hard, he somehow rushed to the washroom and spewed everything out.

Viman shook his head in aggravation as he saw his brother coming out of the washroom clutching his head. He was about to help him to the bed when his glare stopped him.

“Feeling better?”

Ignoring him, Rudra picked up the mug and started sipping the coffee. Somehow he felt a little better than before.

“Okay, now that you are feeling better, would you care to tell me since when did you start drinking?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Viman scowled and sat down next to him.

“And what was this emotional selfless shit all about?”

“That is also none of your business.”

“Rudra—”

“Where is Ishani?”

Viman looked at him and for a teensy moment thought about not answering but he knew his brother too well. He could easily get the answer from anywhere.

“She went home.”

Instantly Rudra looked at him and got up from the bed. Slipping into his shoes, he thrust the mug back to Viman and started to walk towards the door swaying a little.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Viman asked alarmingly, following him.

“Manna!” Rudra called out as he ventured outside.

Manna and Ram rushed towards him followed by Mayank.

“Get the car ready now,” he commanded collapsing in one of the chairs.

“Rudra, you need rest. Please, get some sleep,” Viman said as he came near him.

Breathing hard, Rudra glared at Manna and Ram warningly.

“What are you guys waiting for? I said get the car ready. NOW!”

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

Ishani rubbed the towel on her wet hair as she came out of the washroom. A soft smile spread on her face as she remembered the way Rudra had slept hugging her. Every time she had tried to move away, he had tightened his grip and pulled her closer. Finally, when his sleep had become much deeper, she had somehow managed to loosen his grip on her. But after removing his shoes and coat, she hadn’t been able to resist the urge to again slip into bed and hug him to sleep.

Sighing and shaking her head, she pulled her hair and wound the towel around it, and went towards the small temple in her room.

Oh, Mahadev, keep him safe please, she prayed giving the Shivling its customary morning bath.

Done with her morning prayers, she entered the kitchen and started to make some tea and breakfast for herself.

The tea was bubbling and the toast was almost done. She poured the tea into her mug and was about to press the button on the toaster to make the bread pop out when the ringing of the doorbell sounded in the house.

Who is it now?

Guessing it must be her maid, Lata, she rushed to unlock the door.

But as she jerked it open, her eyes widened with a mixture of shock and surprise.

Rudra took two long steps and pulled her into a warm hug and instantly she melted against him. She felt him bury his nose in her neck and inhale hard. But suddenly he looked up and started to sniff.

“Is something burning?” he asked looking worried.

“Oh crap!”

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