VAANI - His Deadliest Desire

CHAPTER 20

The heavy echo of Rudra's footsteps filled the grand hallway as he marched toward the exit, his phone clutched in his fist. His jaw was clenched, his patience hanging by a thread. He needed to get to Mumbai. Now.

But just as his hand reached for the door handle, a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?"

Rudra stiffened. His grandfather's voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable authority in it.

Turning around, he found Prithviraj Rathore standing at the top of the staircase, arms crossed, his sharp, knowing eyes watching him with curiosity.

"Just some work, Dadu," Rudra muttered, his grip tightening on his phone as he tried to mask his frustration.

Prithviraj let out a dry chuckle as he descended the stairs. "Now you've started lying to me too?" His tone was casual, but there was an edge to it that made Rudra's fingers twitch.

Rudra sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to see Vani," he admitted.

"You shouldn't have allowed her to go back. Just a few weeks there, and she's already forgetting her place."

That made Prithviraj stop in his tracks. His eyes darkened, and his brows furrowed. "Her place?" he repeated, his voice now filled with disapproval. "What place, Rudra?"

For a brief moment, Rudra was speechless. He hadn't expected his grandfather to question this.

Clearing his throat, he straightened his posture. "Her place as my fiancée. My to-be wife."

Prithviraj exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "And how do you plan on reminding her of this... 'place'?"

Rudra's fists clenched, already knowing where this conversation was heading.

"Tell me, Rudra," Prithviraj continued, stepping closer, his gaze piercing. "Are you going to remind her by scaring her? By threatening her? Or worse—by raising your hand?"

The last question made Rudra's jaw tighten. His nostrils flared, and anger flickered in his eyes. "Dadu, please," he ground out. "Stay out of this. This is my personal matter."

Prithviraj sighed, rubbing his temple. "Vani is a nice girl, Rudra. If you want her to love you back, you need to love her the same way."

That made Rudra snap. His fists slammed against the wooden table beside him, making a loud thud. "I do love her, Dadu!"

Prithviraj didn't even flinch. He merely studied his grandson with quiet disappointment. "No," he said simply, shaking his head. "From what I see, all I see is your need to keep her with you. Not because you love her... but because you refuse to let her go."

Rudra scoffed, looking away, but his grandfather's words gnawed at him.

Prithviraj stepped even closer, his voice dropping to a grave tone. "There's a difference between loving someone and possessing them. You may force her to stay with you... but her heart and soul? Those will never be yours, Rudra. Not like this."

With that, Prithviraj turned and walked away, heading towards his study.

Rudra stood frozen, anger and confusion warring inside him.

Why was Dadu saying all this? Of course, he loved Vani. He had always loved her. She was his.

But then... why did his words bother him so much?

His fingers twitched as he turned back toward the door. He needed to leave. He needed to see Vani.

But his steps faltered.