THE PRINCE WHO LOVED ME

21

Rudransh caught it. He wasn't sure why, but the look that Vasuki gave him, those wide eyes filled with unease struck him like a sudden cold wave. He didn't comment on it, though. His instincts told him to keep quiet for now. Whatever was going on in her mind, it was clear she was holding something back. But he wasn't the one to probe. Not today.

Yamini : Alright ! 

 Yamini said and the firmness is returning to her voice as she helped her mother sit up carefully. 

Yamini : Let's get you home, Mom.

Rudransh gave a nod of agreement, stepping forward to assist with the discharge paperwork. He could tell that Yamini had taken charge in the way she always did, calm, collected, but there was an underlying exhaustion in her eyes that hadn't escaped him. She had been carrying this burden, not just for herself, but for her mother, and it was starting to show. It was a side of Yamini he wasn't used to, and it made him want to be more than just a bystander. He had seen her fight so hard to keep her life intact, but now, there was a vulnerability she hadn't allowed anyone to see.

As the discharge papers were completed, Rudransh moved towards the car. Yamini was already in the backseat with her mother, who had been helped into the car with gentle care. The atmosphere in the vehicle was quiet, almost tense, as Rudransh drove toward the apartment. Vasuki, sitting beside Yamini, had her eyes focused outside the window, her gaze distant and unreadable.

Yamini tried to make small talk, her voice softer than usual. 

Yamini : Mom, we'll stop by the pharmacy to pick up your medication. You don't have to worry about anything, I've got it all handled.

Vasuki didn't respond immediately. She sat in a trance-like silence, her fingers curling and uncurling around the fabric of her shawl. Rudransh could feel the weight of her discomfort, and the tightness in the air made it feel as though the smallest word, the slightest movement, could shift the balance of the whole situation.

For a moment, Yamini glanced up at Rudransh, meeting his gaze briefly before she turned her attention back to her mother. There was something unspoken between them, something that didn't need to be addressed aloud. Yamini appreciated his quiet support in the midst of this storm, even if she couldn't fully show it yet.

The drive was silent except for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of Vasuki's clothing as she shifted in her seat. Every now and then, Rudransh would glance at the rearview mirror, catching snippets of the expression on Vasuki's face. The unease in her eyes had only grown since they'd left the hospital. It unsettled him.

They arrived at the apartment, and Yamini helped her mother out of the car. Rudransh lingered a moment, offering assistance with the bags, but the tension still lingered in the air. Yamini seemed to be on autopilot, moving quickly and efficiently, but Rudransh could tell that, beneath her composure, she was carrying more than she was letting on.

As they entered the apartment, Yamini began settling her mother onto the couch, arranging pillows and making sure everything was within reach. The space felt both familiar and foreign to Rudransh. He had never been in Yamini's personal space like this before.

Vasuki didn't speak much during the process, still seemingly lost in her thoughts. She glanced at Rudransh once more as he helped with the bags, her eyes quickly darting away when they met his. It was clear she wasn't fully comfortable with his presence, but Rudransh knew better than to press her. Whatever history lay between them, it was not something he could understand at a glance.

After settling her mother in, Yamini turned to Rudransh. 

Yamini : Thank you for helping.

She said quietly. Her voice held a note of gratitude, but there was something else in it, something a little weary, as if she were still processing everything.

Rudransh smiled gently, giving her a reassuring nod. 

Rudransh : Of course. You don't have to thank me.

 He paused, his gaze softening as he met her eyes. 

Rudransh : I'm here, whenever you need me.

Yamini looked at him for a long moment before offering a small, almost imperceptible nod. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

As he stepped toward the door to leave, Rudransh cast one last glance at Vasuki, who was now sitting on the couch, staring at the floor with a distant look in her eyes. The weight of her unspoken thoughts lingered in the air, thick and unyielding. There was a story there, one that neither he nor Yamini had fully uncovered, but it was clear now that whatever it was, it was bound to come to light soon.

Yamini : thanks a lot Rudransh .

Rudransh : please stop thanking me .

Yamini smiled.

Rudransh : Bye ! See you in office.

Rudransh joined yamini's company a couple of days ago. 

With a final nod to both of them, Rudransh left, his mind heavy with the questions he knew he had to ask, though not yet. He could wait for Yamini to be ready to share. But something told him that the road ahead wasn't going to be as smooth as it seemed. There were deeper currents running beneath the surface, and Rudransh wasn't sure he was prepared for what they would uncover.

As Rudransh drove home, the rhythmic hum of the engine seemed to match the steady rhythm of his thoughts. His mind wandered, pulling him back to memories he hadn't visited in months , memories of his family. He hadn't thought much about them lately, not with all the chaos surrounding Yamini and her mother, but now, alone in the car, the memories crept in like a slow tide.

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel as his thoughts shifted to the pain of being abandoned. There had been a time when he had been just a boy, desperate for his parents approval, desperate for the family he thought he could rely on. But they had left, each in their own way, leaving him behind in a world that felt colder and more distant every day. His father, Shivarama Raju, had chosen duty over family, his head buried in the affairs of the village, always busy, always distant. His mother, Khaatyayini Devi, had seemed like a figure out of reach, wrapped up in her traditions and prayers, a woman who placed family honour above everything else. A woman who would never speak a word against her mother-in-law and husband. 

.............

How's the chapter ? 

Yamini is thanking him a lot right ?

Any guesses on what rudransh have done to get kicked out of his house by his grandmother ?