𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐰𝐢

"16. Ties that Bind together"

"inki kismat me hi tha milna likha
Varna pehli nazar me hi pyaar
Itna khoobsurat ehsaas,
Itefaaq nahi hota"

-Fictionflare

A week had passed, and Ruhanika was now completely back to her normal self. Her voice, which had been weak and fragile, had returned to its sweet and melodic tone, leaving all the men in her life utterly amazed. Rudraksh, in particular, was taken aback by her soothing voice, and with each passing day, one wish became stronger in his heart—to hear her speak for the rest of his life. During this time, Ruhanika had grown more comfortable around Rishwik, Ashvik, and Amandeep. The initial hesitation and shyness she had felt around them had slowly melted away, and now she interacted with them more freely. The bond between her and the three men grew stronger, her trust in them deepening. They, in turn, were careful with her, always respectful of her boundaries, ensuring she felt safe and valued. Rudraksh, ever protective of her, had instructed the household helpers to maintain a respectful distance from her as she was still anxious around unfamiliar faces. While the world outside was still daunting for her, she was beginning to adjust to everything within their home.Rudraksh had also taken extra precautions with the house helpers, instructing them to work in areas away from Ruhanika to help her adjust at her own pace. While she was still wary of unfamiliar faces, her progress was undeniable. She was beginning to feel at ease in the house, slowly but surely adapting to her surroundings. Earlier, when Rudraksh had left her alone, Ruhanika viewed everyone in the house as family and treated them with the utmost respect, as though they were elders deserving of her reverence. Despite that, she had been scared—terrified, even. Now, however, that fear was fading. Though the process was slow, she was adjusting, finding her footing, and learning to embrace the love and safety that surrounded her.

Now that Ruhanika knew the truth—that the people she once thought of as family were, in fact, house helpers—she began to keep a noticeable distance from them. The trauma of her past experiences had left her wary of strangers, especially after the terrifying night when Rudraksh had saved her. In her mind, anyone unfamiliar could pose a threat, just like Jayvardhan. She hadn't met him before, and that memory left her associating all strangers with potential danger. One evening, Ruhanika and Rudraksh were sitting in the living room together. Rudraksh was engrossed in his work, typing away on his laptop, while Ruhanika sat beside him, quietly admiring his hands as they moved over the keys. She found peace in watching him, the steady rhythm of his work calming her nerves. Suddenly, one of the house helpers entered the room carrying a cup of tea for Rudraksh. As soon as Ruhanika noticed the worker approaching, she instinctively shifted closer to Rudraksh, her body tensing up. She clutched his arm lightly, seeking the reassurance that only his presence could provide. Her anxiety was palpable. Noticing her reaction, Rudraksh glanced up from his work and saw the nervousness in her eyes. He accepted the tea and dismissed the helper, but his focus was now entirely on Ruhanika. He could sense something deeper was bothering her.

That day, he asked her why she seemed so scared of them. Ruhanika opened up, explaining that she had once thought they were family, but when she discovered they weren't, she felt the need to keep her distance. She shared that her Nima had taught her to stay away from strangers. Ruhanika then recounted the unsettling events of that night, describing how a stranger claimed that Rudraksh had sent him to bring her back and then tried to touch her. Rudraksh gently patted Ruhanika's cheeks, understanding the weight of her fears. He recalled the letter he had found in the envelope, revealing Nima's wise words about the dangers of the world. It struck him how profoundly that incident had affected Ruhanika, embedding a deep-seated fear within her. He wanted to reassure her that not everyone was a threat, that there were good people in the world who genuinely cared for her. But he comforted her, assuring her that not everyone is bad. He encouraged her to open her heart a little more, reminding her that there were people who genuinely cared for her. Now, she was making an effort to adjust, gradually learning to trust again and embrace the new relationships forming around her.