59. Revelation

Rudraksh-Ishika fans assemble!

Which pair is your favourite?

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Rudraksh stood firmly in front of Ishika, his expression unreadable. Ishika looked up at him, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"Rudraksh ji? What—" she began to ask, but before she could finish, he swooped down and lifted her effortlessly into his arms.

Ishika gasped, startled by the sudden movement. “What are you doing? Put me down!”

Ignoring her protests, Rudraksh tightened his hold and began walking towards their room with a determined stride.

“Rudraksh ji! I said put me down!” Ishika demanded, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and confusion.

He glanced down at her, his face softening slightly as he spoke, "Not until you rest properly. I won’t let you hurt yourself anymore."

Her puzzled expression deepened. "Hurt myself? What are you talking about? I’m fine—"

"No, you’re not," he interrupted firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"You’re in pain, Dil. I know about the cramps, the body aches, the sleepless nights. I can see it on your face, even if you think you’re hiding it."

Her lips parted slightly, caught off guard by his words. She hadn’t expected him to notice, let alone address it so directly.

"I don't need—" she started, but he cut her off again.

"You don’t need to be strong all the time," he said gently, his gaze locking with hers. "Not with me. You can let me take care of you, Dil."

Her protests faded as his words sank in, leaving her speechless.

When they reached their room, Rudraksh gently placed her on the bed, arranging the pillows behind her for support.

He crouched down in front of her, looking up into her eyes with a tenderness that made her heart skip a beat.

"Stay here," he said softly. "I’ll be right back."

Before she could respond, he disappeared into the bathroom. Moments later, he returned with a hot water bottle and a warm towel.

“What... what are you doing?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

“Taking care of you,” he replied simply, placing the hot water bottle against her lower back and draping the towel over her feet.

"Ammu told me about the body pains. You shouldn’t have to deal with this alone."

Ishika stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. No one had ever gone to such lengths for her before.

“You didn’t have to—”

“I did,” he said firmly, sitting beside her on the bed. “Because you matter, Dil. Your pain pains me too.”

Her throat tightened as she tried to process his words. For someone who had always been fiercely independent, the idea of someone caring so deeply for her was both overwhelming and heartwarming.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rudraksh smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Always.”

For the first time, Ishika let herself relax, leaning against him as the warmth from the hot water bottle soothed her aching back.

And for the first time in years, she felt truly cared for, truly safe.

Rudraksh, noticing the slight discomfort in Ishika’s expression, crouched down beside her.

His hands reached for her legs, intending to massage her feet gently, hoping to bring her some relief from the exhaustion and pain she had been enduring.

But as his hands neared her feet, Ishika quickly pulled them back towards her chest, her movements quick but careful. She winced slightly as she did, her face tightening with discomfort.

“Hey! Careful!” Rudraksh immediately pulled back, sitting beside her on the bed with a concerned frown.

His eyes were soft as he watched her, unsure of why she had reacted that way.

Ishika shifted uncomfortably, her gaze not meeting his as she spoke.

“What were you doing, Rudraksh ji?” Her voice was a mix of surprise and confusion, though not in a way that suggested she felt hurt by him—just a bit flustered by the situation.

Rudraksh looked at her with a raised brow, still not understanding the sudden withdrawal.

“What? I was just trying to massage your feet… I thought it would help you relax.” He leaned forward, his tone soft and gentle, hoping to reassure her.

Ishika quickly shook her head, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she tried to explain. “You shouldn’t! Why would a husband touch his wife’s feet?”

Her words came out before she could stop them, the traditional belief ingrained deep within her mind.

She wasn’t in any pain from him; it wasn’t about that. It was simply a matter of propriety, something she had learned growing up—a belief that husbands and wives should keep certain boundaries.

Rudraksh sat back, his brow furrowed in confusion. He had never thought of it in that way.

“Why shouldn’t I?” he asked, his voice steady but filled with curiosity.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it. I just want to help you. If you’re in pain, I want to take that away, however I can.” His words were calm, trying to assure her that his intentions were pure.

Ishika blinked, caught between her ingrained beliefs and the warmth that Rudraksh’s words carried.

She couldn’t help but feel safe and comforted when he was around, especially in these moments. It wasn’t the touch that bothered her, but rather the notion of it.

Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade, unsure of how to convey her discomfort without sounding too harsh.

Rudraksh, seeing her hesitation, placed a hand gently on hers. “It’s okay if it makes you uncomfortable. I just… I just want to care for you. I want to make sure you’re okay.”

For a moment, Ishika was silent, the room filled only with the sound of their steady breathing.

She looked at him, her heart softening with the care he was showing her, and she felt her guard slowly lowering.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you,” she said finally, her voice quieter now.

“It’s just… Well, growing up, I always learned that husbands and wives should have boundaries. You’re not supposed to touch your wife’s feet, Rudraksh ji. That’s just how I was raised.” She avoided his gaze, embarrassed that she had reacted so strongly.

Rudraksh smiled, his eyes warm with understanding. “I get it, Dil. You don’t have to explain it to me. I know where you're coming from,” he said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

“But here, with me, you don’t have to worry about all those rules. If you’re hurt, if you need anything, I’m here for you. I just want you to feel comfortable.”

Ishika’s heart fluttered at his words. She had never known anyone who would break through the boundaries she had so rigidly set, but with Rudraksh, it felt different.

He didn’t push her; he simply wanted to take care of her in the way that made her feel safe and loved.

“I… I feel safe with you,” she whispered, her voice soft but sincere.

Rudraksh’s smile grew even warmer, and he leaned closer, gently cupping her face.

“That’s all I need to hear,” he said softly. “You don’t have to worry about anything else. I’ll always be here, no matter what.”

Ishika’s eyes met his, her expression softening, as if she had finally found the courage to let go of the old expectations she had held so tightly onto.

Ishika’s expression shifted once again. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she glanced down, her tone tinged with uncertainty. “But… our marriage is a marriage of convenience,” she reminded him softly.

At that moment, Rudraksh felt an overwhelming wave of regret rush over him.

He froze, and his heart sank, realizing how much those words had hurt her.

The weight of them came crashing down on him.

How could he have been so thoughtless, so insensitive?

His mind raced with a single thought: Why did I even say that?

Without thinking, he found himself letting out a deep breath, and then, in the quietest, most vulnerable voice, he spoke, “Dil... Let’s forget that I said it... Please?”

The words felt heavier than he anticipated, as though they were wrapped in layers of emotion, not just regret but an aching desire for things to be different.

He didn’t want her to feel as though their marriage was something mechanical, something devoid of real meaning.

He wanted her to know, deep down, that it was so much more than that to him.

Ishika’s eyes widened in shock. She had heard about Rudraksh—the man who prided himself on being bold, confident, and often indifferent to others' feelings.

The man who rarely, if ever, uttered the words please in any context, let alone to her.

But now, here he was, speaking softly, almost pleading with her.

His voice was tender, a contrast to his usual stern and unbending tone. And it was that softness—something she hadn’t expected from him—that sent a strange flutter through her heart.

She blinked a few times, unsure how to respond. The man before her, the one who she thought had only agreed to this marriage out of necessity, was showing her a side of him she hadn’t known existed.

The shift in his demeanor left her speechless. All she could do was offer him a soft, uncertain smile, unsure of how to handle the tenderness he was showing her.

Rudraksh noticed the change in her expression and immediately felt a strange sense of peace settle over him.

He wasn’t sure if the smile she gave him was filled with understanding or uncertainty, but he hoped it was the former.

For the first time, he realized how deeply he had started to care for her, and how much he longed for her to feel safe, cherished, and truly seen in this marriage—their marriage.

“Get some rest now,” he said, his voice gentle as he adjusted her pillows, trying to make her as comfortable as possible.

He didn’t want her to feel any discomfort. She needed to rest, to heal, and he would make sure she did.

Ishika closed her eyes slowly, the softness of his words and the tenderness in his actions making her heart race unexpectedly.

She settled back into the pillows, her breath starting to steady as the warmth from his presence enveloped her.

For the first time in days, she felt like she could truly let go, even just for a moment.

Rudraksh stayed close, watching her closely as she drifted off to sleep.

His hand moved instinctively to caress a strand of hair from her face, his fingertips brushing against her skin as if he were memorizing the way she looked in this moment of peace.

He needed to know that she was truly resting, that she was free from the worries that had plagued her.

After a while, when he was sure that she had fallen into a deep sleep, Rudraksh quietly reached for his phone.

With a swift motion, he sent a message to his brothers, letting them know he would be taking some time off for a few days.

He knew that his absence would raise questions, but right now, all that mattered was Ishika.

He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her alone when she was in pain.

With a quiet sigh, Rudraksh placed his phone down beside him, his gaze returning to Ishika.

He slowly moved from his seat and made his way to the foot of the bed.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as he gently placed her feet into his lap.

There was something deeply intimate about this act, something that made his heart thrum faster in his chest.

But as he began to massage her feet slowly, gently, he could see her expression change.

The tension in her face seemed to ease, and for the first time that day, a faint hint of relief crossed her features.

Rudraksh kept his touch soft, his movements deliberate and soothing, making sure he wasn’t too rough or fast.

He wanted to give her the comfort she so desperately needed, without overstepping any boundaries.

He couldn’t help but notice how soft her skin was, how delicate she looked in this state of vulnerability.

There was something about her that made him want to protect her, to care for her in every way he could.

Her face softened further as the relief spread through her, her breath becoming even and steady.

Rudraksh smiled softly, watching her as she relaxed more and more with each gentle stroke.

It was a small moment, but for him, it meant everything. It was proof that he could help her, that he could be the one to bring her peace when everything else felt chaotic.

As the minutes passed, Rudraksh continued to massage her feet, his movements slow and patient.

He didn’t rush—he couldn’t. This was his way of showing her that he cared, that he was there for her in ways that words couldn’t express.

He watched over her, silently vowing that no matter what came their way, he would always be there to take care of her.

And as Ishika slept on, a small sigh of relief escaping her lips, Rudraksh finally allowed himself to lean back and breathe, feeling the weight of the day lift off his shoulders, knowing that in this moment, he had done something right.

♪♪♪

So? How was it?

He Didn’t Realize When Her Smile Became His Peace.❣️🌸✨