𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐰𝐢

"11. Sleeping in Solace"

"Ek khwaish puri huyi
Duaon ke bagair
Vo aaye, seene lagaye
Ijazat ke bagair"

-fictionflare_

Rudraksh was speeding down the road, his face set in pure rage. His foot pressed down hard on the accelerator, as if it were Jayvardhan himself that he wanted to crush. The roar of the engine matched the storm raging inside him. Ruhanika’s innocent, smiling face kept flashing before his eyes, while Jayvardhan's vile words echoed in his mind. The memory of Jayvardhan's disgusting thoughts about his pure and innocent wife gnawed at him, causing an unbearable ache inside. It was as if Rudraksh was feeling the same pain that Ruhanika must have endured that night, and the guilt was suffocating him. He couldn’t stop thinking about how things could have been different. If he hadn't forced Vijaypratap into marrying Ruhanika, would she have ended up with that despicable man? The very thought tore at his heart. It pained him deeply to realize how cruel and twisted the world could be to someone as kind and pure as Ruhanika. His mind raced along with the car, consumed by regret and the need to protect her from the harshness of a world that had already hurt her too much. His car sped through the gates of his massive mansion, causing the guards to flinch in fear. If they hadn’t opened the gate in time, he would have crashed right through it. Rudraksh slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden, jolting stop. The force made him lurch forward, his head hitting his hand on the steering wheel. His chest heaved, breathing heavy from both the reckless drive and the storm of anger raging inside him. Without a moment's pause, he threw open the car door and slammed it shut with a loud thud. His feet barely touched the ground as he sprinted toward the house, the rage and frustration still burning in his eyes.

Rudraksh: "Uski himmat kaise huyi meri Ruh ka sauda karne ki, Jaan lelunga main us Vijaypratap ki."
(How dare he try to sell off my Ruh? I'll kill that Vijaypratap.)

With long, hurried strides, Rudraksh ascended the stairs, skipping several at a time in his rush to reach his room as quickly as possible. Anxiety crept in as he saw the door ajar. His heart raced with concern for Ruhanika. He stepped inside, scanning the room. His eyes immediately fell on Ruhanika, sitting on the bed, propped up by the backrest. She looked so small, her gaze lowered, nervously fidgeting with the sleeves of the oversized shirt she wore—his shirt. It seemed as though she was lost in thought, fragile and unsure. Ashvik was seated in front of her, speaking softly, likely trying to distract or comfort her.

Ashvik: "Teddy, tum na thik ho jao phir main tumhe bhi sikhaunga, hum dono sath me khelenge okay??"
(Teddy, once you're all better, I'll teach you too, and we can play together, okay?)

Ruhanika barely looked up, giving a small, subdued nod in response to Ashvik’s words. Her expression was a mix of resignation and sadness, her fingers still nervously playing with the sleeves of Rudraksh’s shirt.

Rudraksh: "Kya ho raha hai yaha??"
(What's going on here?)

Ruhanika and Ashvik turned their attention to the door as Rudraksh appeared in the doorway. His disheveled appearance told a story of turmoil—his hair was in disarray, his eyes red with anger and exhaustion, and several buttons of his shirt were undone. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, veins protruding from his arms, and sweat glistened on his forehead. Ashvik quickly grasped that Rudraksh's fury had been ignited by something significant. Meanwhile, Ruhanika’s eyes lit up at the sight of her husband. Her gaze softened with relief, and a small, barely perceptible smile tugged at her lips. The sight of her smile seemed to calm Rudraksh’s stormy emotions, his eyes softening in response to her innocent look.Ashvik, observing the shift in Rudraksh's demeanor, understood that Ruhanika's presence had a calming effect on him. With a knowing nod, Ashvik approached Rudraksh and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.