Happier Than Ever

Chapter 16

Next chapter: when the book hits 20K VOTES!

AUTHOR'S POV

Rudra and Tara both left for the office. Tara was really sad because she didn't want to leave the kids, but Rudra reassured her that they would be fine at home. After a lot of scolding from Rudra, Tara was finally ready to go with him. She felt even sadder when she left the kids, but a stern look from Rudra prevented her from showing it.

In the car, Tara looked at Rudra, who was focused on driving. He could feel her gaze.

"Say it," Rudra said without lifting his eyes from the road.

"What?" Tara asked, playing with the hem of her saree.

"What do you want to ask, Tara?" Rudra inquired.

Tara glanced at him and then back at her lap. "Should I have worn something formal?" she asked, twirling the hem of her saree.

"No, you look pretty in this," Rudra said, glancing at her for a second before focusing back on the road.

"But I should have. Can we go back?" Tara asked hopefully.

"First of all, it's our office. We are the bosses, so no one is going to question your clothes. And second, don't try these tactics. I understand very well, you're missing the kids," Rudra said, shooting a glare at her before turning his gaze back to the road.

Tara pouted at him, wondering how he knew exactly what she was thinking. "Can we call and ask about the kids?" she asked, hoping he would say yes.

"It's been just fifteen minutes," Rudra replied with a sigh. He didn't know whether to feel happy or frustrated—happy that she loved the kids so much, but frustrated because her love seemed like an obsession.

"But..." Tara pouted.

"How were you living before meeting them, hmm?" Rudra asked, shaking his head.

"Ek zinda lash ki tarah." Tara mumbled, looking at her lap. She didn't know why those words slipped out of her mouth. She wasn't having any flashbacks from her past; it was just how she felt.

(Like a living corpse.)

Rudra held her hand and gave it a squeeze, making her smile as she looked at their intertwined hands.

They both reached his office, and this time the big, rude, scary bodyguards bent to wish her good morning. The whole staff greeted her with respect, but she frowned, noticing the change.

Once inside his cabin, she asked, "Why is there no one the same as that day?"

"I changed the whole staff," Rudra said, taking a seat in his chair.

"What!" Tara exclaimed in shock.

Rudra looked up from his laptop and motioned for her to come closer. Tara walked over and stood in front of him. He pulled her wrist, making her fall onto his lap.

Tara sat comfortably as Rudra wrapped one arm around her waist and with the other traced her finger adorned with their engagement ring. She looked at their intertwined hands, confused.

"Why did you change the staff so suddenly?" Tara asked, tilting her face to look at him.

"Because they misbehaved with my wife," he said, leaning back in his chair.

Tara's eyes widened in surprise. She abruptly stood up and looked at him with horror. Rudra lifted his face to look at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you mad?" Tara asked, placing her hands on her waist.