Always Yours

she is upset

This is my first time writing so please tell me in the comment box how today's chapter is?...keep reading

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"Are you happy now, Dadi?" Raaj and Harsh muttered as they begrudgingly touched Mahak’s feet, the air thick with unspoken resentment.

Mahak didn't look back as Rudra led her out of the mansion. The heavy oak doors closed behind them, shutting out the glares and the judgment. They reached the sleek, black sedan a mobile fortress and settled into the plush leather of the backseat.

The moment the driver started the engine, Rudra reached forward and slid the privacy partition shut.

The world outside disappeared.
In one fluid, possessive motion, Rudra pulled Mahak into his lap. He cupped her face with hands that were usually used for iron-fisted governance, his thumbs tracing the line of her jaw with agonizing gentleness.

"Tell me, babydoll," he whispered, using the pet name that only he was allowed to breathe. "Why are you so upset? What’s weighing on that beautiful heart of yours?"

Mahak tried to look away, shaking her head. "It’s nothing, Rudra. Really."
But Rudra saw right through her. He could read the sadness in her eyes like a map of her soul. His voice dropped to a low, husky velvet. "Baccha... look at me. Tell me what happened."

Mahak stared at him for a long, silent minute, her lip trembling. "I just... I didn't like it. I hated that you had to stand against your own father because of me."

Rudra’s lips curled into a soft, devastating smile. "Look into my eyes, babydoll" He waited until her dark gaze locked with his piercing one. "Is that why you’re hurting? Because I protected what is mine?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Listen to me carefully," Rudra’s voice turned like steel wrapped in silk. "If anyone and I mean anyone says a word against you, I will not tolerate it. Not even my own blood. Let it go, baccha. You are the only thing that matters."
He felt the tension leave her body, and he smoothed her hair back. "Now, tell me how did you feel meeting the rest of the family? Put the drama aside for a moment."

Mahak’s face brightened slightly. "Everyone was so kind! But... I realized I forgot to ask something important."
"What’s that?"

"What should I call them? I don't want to be disrespectful."

Rudra let out a soft, rare chuckle. "You can call them whatever you wish. No one in the Singh family will dare to correct you. You have my word."

A playful smile finally bloomed on her face. "Then... I’ll call them Raj Bhaiya, Harsh Bhaiya, Gauri Di, Preeti Didi, Vikram Jiju, and Neel Bhaiya."

Rudra watched her list the names, his heart tightening at her innocence. As long as she was happy, he would burn the world down to keep it that way.

The Farmhouse ~
The car slowed to a halt in front of the secluded farmhouse. Located 50 kilometers outside Lucknow, it was a hidden paradise of endless greenery, far from the prying eyes of the city and the  whispers of the Singh Mansion.
The driver cleared his throat. "We’ve reached, Saheb.

Rudra didn't move immediately. He held Mahak for a heartbeat longer, then leaned down to press a lingering, soft kiss against her forehead. "Take care of yourself. Eat your lunch on time. Don’t make me come back here just to feed you."

"I will," she murmured, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
She stepped out of the car and watched as the sedan sped away toward the CM’s office. She was safe here, in the middle of nature, tucked away in the sanctuary Rudra had built for her.

Back at the Singh Mansion, the atmosphere was far from peaceful. Dadi had retreated to her room, exhausted by the day’s wars. But in the main hall, a silent storm was brewing.
Raj, Harsh, Preeti, Vikram, and Gauri stood in a semi-circle, their eyes fixed on Neel like hunters stalking prey.

Neel held up his hands, taking a nervous step back. "I swear! I don't know anything! All I know is that Rudra got married. That’s the beginning and the end of my knowledge!"

He looked at their angry, suspicious faces and gulped.

"Only one person truly knows the full story," Neel whispered, his voice trembling. "And he’s the one currently running the state."

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Thank you♡