His Rooh

23 | His Manipulation

Rudraksh

People often say that the truth has a way of unraveling even the most carefully woven lies. Today, I learned just how true that is. Seeing the hurt in Aruhi's eyes shattered me. The pain I saw there was a direct result of my actions, my decisions, and it cut me deeper than I ever thought possible.

After giving Aruhi some space for the past few hours, I knew I had to face her, to apologize and make amends. I walked to our room, my heart heavy with regret. As I entered, I found her standing on the balcony, holding Cookie, just like she had on our wedding night. The scene felt painfully nostalgic, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me.

Stepping closer, I gently wrapped my arms around her from behind, feeling her stiffen slightly. "Aruhi," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry."

She turned to face me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Rudraksh, how could you keep this from me?" she asked, her voice a mixture of hurt and confusion. "Why didn't you trust me enough to tell me the truth?"

"I was scared," I admitted, taking her hand in mine and kneeling down in front of her. "Scared of losing you. Scared that you would see me differently."

Before I could say more, there was a sudden, urgent knock on the door. The sound was so jarring that it startled both of us. I stood up quickly and went to open it. A royal guard stood there, his face etched with urgency and concern.

"Sir, there's been an attack on one of the nearby villages," he said quickly. "It's from Jai Rathore's forces."

My heart sank, dread washing over me. "Jai Rathore," I muttered, the name bringing a fresh wave of anxiety. I turned to Aruhi, her face pale with worry. "I need to go," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

She stepped closer, her worry palpable. "Rudraksh, please be careful."

Seeing the fear in her eyes made something snap inside me. I couldn't bear to leave her feeling this way, especially not after everything that had happened. An idea crossed my mind—extreme, but perhaps the only way to make her forgive me completely. I needed to do something that would reassure her of my love and dedication, something that would make her realize how deeply I regretted my actions.

"Aruhi," I said softly, taking her hands in mine. "I promise I will come back to you. But I need you to promise me something in return. Stay with Kiara or the rest of the family while I'm gone. I can't focus on the battle if I'm worried about your safety."

She nodded, her grip tightening on my hands. "I promise. Just come back safe."

I turned to the guard. "Ensure there are extra guards around the mansion," I ordered. "I don't want any danger near my family, especially not near Aruhi."

The guard nodded and quickly relayed my orders to the others. I turned back to Aruhi, giving her one last reassuring look before stepping out of the room. As I left, my mind was consumed with thoughts of the attack and the safety of my loved ones. But most of all, I was determined to come back to Aruhi, to make things right and protect her from the shadows of my past.

As I approached the village, the acrid smell of smoke filled my lungs. The once serene landscape was now marred by chaos and destruction. Homes were ablaze, and the cries of the villagers echoed in the night. I could feel my blood boiling, the rage within me growing with each passing second.

"See to the damage," I ordered my men, who quickly dispersed to aid the villagers and extinguish the fires.

I made my way through the chaos, my eyes
scanning the area for any sign of Jai Rathore. The moonlight cast an eerie glow on the scene, highlighting the devastation wrought by this cowardly attack. As I neared the center of the village, I saw a group of my men surrounding a figure on the ground.