Scarred Love - Chapter 63

Ishani was tying her hair in a bun when there was a knock on her door. Hastening, she shoved pins in her hair to secure the bun. Taking a last look at herself, she picked up her mobile and opened the door.

Rudra flicked his gaze up just as he heard the door open and simply froze. She was wearing a cream coloured kurti with red palazzos and even though it was nothing designer still she looked nothing short of a million dollars.

He wanted to touch her and fell the smoothness of her skin. As he started to go towards her, his brain just stopped his feet.

What the hell! Stop it! His inner voice rattled chidingly.

He stamped out the urge ruthlessly and took a step back. But still he smiled and stretched his hand towards her and she took it instantly.

Their dinner was silent and she could feel this unsettling energy pulsing around them. Every time she looked at him, she found him eating, which was generally unlike Rudra. Unable to take it anymore, she cleared her throat noisily trying to get his attention. However, it didn’t seem to have any effect on him. Grunting, she kept her fork down on the plate a little too hard; so hard that it made a loud clanking sound and then fell on the floor.

One of the waiters rushed towards them and gave her another fork. Just as he left, Rudra looked up at her and found her glaring at him.

“What?”

“That’s exactly my question. What’s wrong?” she asked folding her arms over her chest.

“Nothing. I am just tried,” he replied as he kept the fork down.

Instantly, waiters came and cleared the table and he got up.

Sighing, Ishani also got up from the chair and followed him out of the dining room.

Just as they reached their suite, Rudra straightaway went to his room.

A little disappointed, she slowly strode towards hers and opened the door. Before going inside her room, she looked at his door hoping that it will open and he would come proudly towards her to say good night. But it remained closed.

Letting out a deep sigh, she stepped into the room and closed her door.

30 minutes later, she came out of the bathroom, mopping her hair with the towel. Discarding the towel on the bed, she ventured towards the balcony and looked out at the night sky.

A light breeze started to blow and wisped through her still-wet hair making her shiver a little. But the breeze or her wet hair were not the reason for the uneasy chilliness gripping her. Wrapping her arms around her, she sat down on the chair and looked beyond at the temples.

What’s happening, Mahadev?

Why do I feel so cold inside?

I know he loves me then why do I still have doubts?

Why does he suddenly become someone else?

Why does he become so distant all of a sudden?

“You are a freak. You will never find anyone in your life. Nobody will ever love you, remember that, Ishani. You will always be alone.”

Manik’s words again rang in her ears and she squeezed her eyes shut to block them.

I am not a freak.

Mahadev, I am not, right?

Maybe Rudra has finally realised that he had made a mistake of being with her. Maybe that’s why he is avoiding her.

Her back straightened the moment the thought registered in her mind. If that is the case then she will make it easier for him.

Right in the morning, she will tell him to cancel the rest of the trip and return home.

Why morning, Ishani? Why not now?

Yeah, why not now?

She wanted to get up and tell him but her body refused to move. It seemed as if it had resolved to not listen to the commands of her brain.

No tears fell from her eyes even though her heart was screaming the cause of him distancing himself from her again and again.

You should have known this was too good to be true.

Instinctively, she picked up her phone and dialled Annie’s number.

“It better be good, Ish, otherwise I am strangling you for ruining my beauty sleep,” Annie said as she answered the call.

“Sorry! Go off to sleep.”

“Hey, hey, hey! Ish, I was joking, you know me. But you sound a bit down. What’s wrong? Tell me.”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, out with it. Now.”

Ishani sighed and spilt her guts out to the only person she knew would understand.

Apart from the occasional verbal nods, she did not hear Annie say a thing.

“You are thinking too much. What if he is really tired? I mean you guys have just reached today and then all that sightseeing,” she heard Annie justify but still her mind was telling her differently.

“But, Annie, why would he—”

“Oh come on, Ish. You are really thinking too much. Okay listen, if he is still the same tomorrow morning then speak to him. I am sure that will sort out everything. And stop having these negative thoughts. Sheesh! You sound like a pessimistic paranoid witch.”

“Bull crap!” Ishani retorted with a smile.

She was still speaking to Annie when suddenly she heard a knock on the door.

“Hey Mama Bear, I got to go. Bye,” she said disconnecting the call.

Before she could reach the door, there was another knock, this one a little louder.

And frankly, she did not need superior intelligence to know who it was.

But somehow she wanted him to suffer as she had for the past hour. So, she stood in the middle of the room looking at the door.

Again two knocks louder than the earlier ones.

But still, she did not move.

She heard him sigh and then the retreating footsteps.

Serves him right for ignoring her for so long.

What the hell is wrong with you, woman? Her heart screamed at her.

Now that the man is at your door, you don’t want to speak to him.

Suddenly she heard his footsteps again approaching the door.

“Ishani!”

His desperate plea was enough to make her feet move towards the door. She jerked it open and looked up.

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