Chapter-31

Author's POV,

After Rudra left for his office, the room felt like a sanctuary to Pihu, a place where she could momentarily escape the opulence and unfamiliarity of the mansion. She spent the morning alone, her fingers caressing the delicate locket that held a treasured photo of her family. It was her lifeline, a source of both comfort and heartache.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow through the curtains, Pihu's thoughts remained fixed on the locket. The room was silent except for the soft ticking of a nearby clock, a constant reminder of the passing hours.

As noon approached, there was a gentle knock on the door, and it slowly swung open, revealing Madhu with a tray of delicious-smelling food in her hands. Her eyes held a mixture of sympathy and understanding as she looked at Pihu.

"Pihu, my dear," Madhu began softly, "it's lunchtime. I've brought your meal. Come, you must be hungry."

Pihu's gaze, which had been locked on the locket, shifted to Madhu. She was hesitant to speak, her voice fragile, but she nodded in agreement, unable to deny the food as Rudra's clear warning echoed in her mind.

Madhu placed the tray carefully on the small table near the window, creating a makeshift dining spot for Pihu. She arranged the dishes with care, and the aroma of the freshly prepared meal began to fill the room.

As Madhu worked, Pihu moved toward the table where Madhu was arranging her lunch. She watched Madhu's action, finally found her voice, though it quivered with emotion. "Thank you, Aunty."

Madhu kindly smiled and stood beside Pihu, ready to serve her if needed. As Pihu prepared to eat, she extended an invitation. "Aunty, please, sit and eat with me."

Madhu hesitated for a moment, but Pihu insisted, "Please, I don't like to eat alone."

With a warm smile, Madhu agreed and took a seat beside Pihu. They began to eat their lunch together, and as they enjoyed the meal, Madhu's eyes fell upon the locket that held a precious family photo.

Madhu couldn't help but inquire, "Are these your family members in the photo?"

Pihu's eyes lit up at the question, and she responded with a hint of cheerfulness, "Yes, it's a photo of my parents and brothers."

Pihu, wanting to shift her thoughts from her own predicament, turned the conversation towards Madhu. "What about your family, Aunty?"

A small smile formed on Madhu's lips as she began to share a glimpse of her own family. "I have a son, a daughter-in-law, and a 2-year-old granddaughter."

For half an hour, they shared stories of their families, and Pihu found solace in their conversation. She momentarily forgot about her own sadness as she immersed herself in Madhu's anecdotes. Madhu spoke fondly of her granddaughter, describing how the little one loved to play and how her smile could make even the hardest days better.

As Madhu mentioned having to return to work, a sense of reality began to creep back into Pihu's thoughts. The small smile that had adorned her lips faded, replaced by a furrowed brow.

Then, a question arose in her mind, one that had been nagging at her since she arrived here. She felt a need to ask, to understand, even if it meant confronting uncomfortable truths. Without thinking too much, she inquired hesitantly, "Did you... do you know anything about Rudra or his past, Aunty?" Her voice quivered with both curiosity and apprehension.

Madhu's reluctance to reveal Rudra's past was palpable. She hesitated, her eyes reflecting the inner turmoil she felt about sharing such sensitive information. Pihu's pleading and her promise not to inform Rudra, however, seemed to sway her decision.

With a deep sigh, Madhu began to recount a troubling chapter from Rudra's past, her voice laden with sorrow. "I used to work for Rudra's mother, Amara Singh Rathore, a formidable businesswoman and the sole heir of the Rathore Empire. She married Yashvardhan Sinha, who was a managing director in the Rathore conglomerate. At first, it seemed like a match made in heaven, and Yashvardhan pursued her relentlessly. Ma'am, seeing his sincerity, eventually accepted his proposal, but that was the beginning of her greatest mistake."

Madhu's voice quivered as she continued, "After a year of marriage, their son, Mr. Rathore, was born. I remember how overjoyed Ma'am was. She wanted to spend every moment with her baby, and her declining health forced her to give more control to Mr. Sinha to manage the company. She started spending her time with their child."

Madhu's eyes welled with tears as she recollected those painful memories. "But, after three months, she began to notice changes in Mr. Sinha's behavior. He constantly discouraged her from returning to work, insisting that she focus on her health and spend more time with their child."

Madhu's voice trembled as she continued with the painful narrative, recounting the turning point in Amara Singh Rathore's life. "One day, there was news on TV that 'Drugs found on the Rathore Hotels.' Upon hearing this, Ma'am instantly moved to the office to know about the case. She reached the door of her office where Mr. Sinha was, and she heard him shouting furiously."

Madhu's eyes glistened with tears as the memories unfolded. "He was livid, yelling about how the news of drugs had reached the media when he had paid hefty amounts to the police and ministers to keep it hidden. He ordered his associates to move the drugs from the farmhouse which is one of the property's of Ma'am and make sure no one knew about it."

As Madhu continued her harrowing account, Pihu was captivated by the unfolding tragedy. The room felt heavy with the weight of the past, and Madhu's voice quivered with emotion.

"By hearing this, Ma'am entered his office to confront him," Madhu continued, her voice laced with anger, "and she told him that she would make sure he would be jailed. But Yashvardhan was a cunning person; he had already taken Ma'am's signature on a power of attorney. He somehow, without anyone noticing in the company, brought her back to the mansion and made sure that Ma'am was unable to leave. However, as he still didn't get an entire share of the Rathore Empire, and with the media continuously monitoring their lives, he couldn't kill her. Later, Ma'am got to knew about his mafia connections too. She tried to escape many times, but every time, she got caught."

Pihu's heart ached at the image of Amara Singh Rathore enduring such torment. The woman who had once been a powerful business tycoon had been reduced to a prisoner within her own home.

Madhu's voice grew heavier with each word. "Suddenly, after one year, he brought another woman, the daughter of another mafia, to increase his power. Ma'am's condition became worse than that of a servant. She became a punching bag for that woman and him. She endured this torture for four years, but one day, she got a chance to escape. I remember that night vividly. Mr. Sinha went to some party, and there were very few guards. I gave her some money and helped her escape somehow. She fled with the 4-year-old Mr. Rathore."

Pihu was left in stunned silence, her mind grappling with the horrors of the past. She couldn't imagine the strength it must have taken for Amara Singh Rathore to endure such a nightmare. The realization that Rudra's mother had suffered so greatly at the hands of her own husband filled her with a deep sense of empathy and sadness.

"After two days," Madhu continued, her voice heavy with sorrow, "I got the news that Amara Ma'am and Mr. Rathore died in an accident. After that, Mr. Sinha gained control of Ma'am's property and changed the name of the Rathore Empire."

Pihu couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. She needed to understand more about Rudra's past, about how he had survived such turmoil and become entangled with the mafia. She asked, her voice trembling slightly, "But how is Rudra still alive, and how did he end up joining the mafia?"

Madhu's eyes clouded with uncertainty as she replied, "I don't know what happened afterward. All I know is that he grew up in an orphanage, but I don't know how he got in contact with Mr. Sinha. Suddenly, seven years ago, he was introduced as Mr. Sinha's second in command. When I saw him, I knew he was Amara Ma'am's son, as he mostly resembled Mr. Sinha with some features of Ma'am. After a year, suddenly, he became the mafia king and CEO of the Sinha Empire, which he later renamed the Rathore Empire. After that, he expanded the business manifold, as you can see today with the thriving Rathore Empire."

Then, unexpectedly, Madhu added, "I know what I'm about to say, you may not agree with. But I just want to ask you to give Sir a chance because I can see that he loves you deeply. I believe you have the power to change him."

Pihu's eyes, however, hardened as she said firmly, "I understand what you're saying, Aunty, but I can't give him a chance. Even if I sympathize with his past, it doesn't mean I can forgive him for what he did to me in these past months. I can't forget that. Even if I were to forgive him, I know one thing for sure—I can't become a part of this dark world. And as for him loving me, no, he is just obsessed with me. Because if he truly loved me, he wouldn't have thought about hurting me. I'm sorry, Aunty, but I can't give him a chance."

Madhu nodded with a heavy heart, accepting Pihu's decision. "I understand, dear. It's your choice, and I respect it. Just remember, once you enter this dark world, it's nearly impossible to leave."

With those words, Madhu left Pihu alone with her thoughts, the weight of their conversation lingering in the room.

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In the evening, Rudra sat back alone in his car, his eyes fixated on his phone screen with an intensity that bordered on adoration. Through the surveillance cameras scattered throughout the mansion, he watched Pihu's every move with an insatiable hunger.

The entire day at his office had been an agonizing ordeal, every moment away from his "Pearl" feeling like an eternity. Restlessness gnawed at him, wanted to be back home as swiftly as he could.

Upon entering the mansion, he wasted no time and made a beeline for the library, a place where Pihu sought solace after eating her lunch.

As he stepped into the dimly lit room, he found her there, her presence consuming his senses. She sat lost in her thoughts, the weight of her contemplation more captivating to him than any book she might have been reading. She remained oblivious to his arrival, and a surge of possessiveness welled up within him.

Pihu, on the other hand, wrestled with her thoughts. Madhu's revelations had stirred a maelstrom of emotions within her. While she empathized with Rudra's past, she couldn't bring herself to offer him a chance. The pain he had inflicted on her loved ones was etched too deeply into her heart.

Her own suffering was one thing, but the agony he had brought upon her family was a wound that might never fully heal. She couldn't fathom becoming a part of Rudra's world, no matter what secrets from his past remained hidden. Moreover, she couldn't comprehend how someone who had experienced pain in his own past could consciously inflict it on others.

Suddenly, Rudra moved closer to her, his silent approach making her oblivious to his presence until his warm breath tickled her earlobe. His voice, like a seductive caress, sent shivers down her spine. "What are you reading, Pearl?" he whispered, his words carrying an undeniable allure.

Pihu's heart raced as she stood up abruptly, startled by Rudra's sudden closeness and whispered words. In her haste, her shoulder collided with his jaw, and she winced at the unintended impact.

Rudra, despite the accidental bump, remained unflinchingly close. His obsidian eyes bore into her, the darkness within them mirroring the turmoil in her own soul. He didn't move away; instead, he seemed to relish the proximity, the electricity that crackled between them.

"What are you reading, Pearl?" he repeated his voice a low, seductive murmur that sent shivers down her spine.

Pihu, her heart racing and her breath shallow, didn't respond to Rudra's whispered question. Instead, she made a swift, almost desperate move towards the library's exit. But before she could get far, Rudra's hand shot out like lightning, wrapping around her wrist in a grip that was both commanding and possessive.

With a deft, firm tug, Rudra pulled her back towards him, their bodies now dangerously close. His obsidian eyes held her gaze captive, their depths swirling with an unsettling mix of darkness and desire. The proximity seemed to intoxicate him, and he made no effort to hide the effect she had on him.

His tone turned sharply dominant, anger simmering beneath the surface as he declared, "When I ask you something, Pearl, I demand an answer. I won't tolerate your silence when I expect a response. Do you understand?" His voice carried a commanding force that brooked no defiance, the anger in his eyes smouldering like a volatile fire.

Fear gripped Pihu as she saw the same red intensity in his eyes as she had seen when he had brought her to the basement. Goosebumps pricked her skin as his grip tightened around her wrist. Lacking the courage to provoke him further, she nodded in acquiescence.

Rudra pressed further, his voice relentless, "Words, Pearl. I want to hear your sweet voice."

Pihu gulped, her throat constricting with anxiety. She finally managed to utter a timid, "Yes."

Rudra satisfied with her answer said further "You know pearl how much I miss you whole day in a office. I just want to leave my work and come back to you."

Suddenly there is soft knock on the door which broke their conversation as maid inform them that dinner is ready. Rudra said to Pihu "Come let's eat dinner with me then we will go to the garden and spend some time there."

Suddenly, Rudra took Pihu in a bridal-style hold and began moving out of the library. Pihu squealed due to his unexpected action and started wiggling in his arms, insisting, "Put me down, Mr. Rathore. I can walk myself."

But upon hearing the formal address "Mr. Rathore" from Pihu's lips again, Rudra came to an abrupt halt. He fixed her with a raised eyebrow and spoke in a cold, stern voice, "What did you call me again, Pearl?"

Pihu looked puzzled and glanced at him with confusion, but Rudra leaned closer and whispered in a deep, husky voice near her ear, "Did you forget what I did this morning?"

Realization struck Pihu as she remembered the morning incident. Rudra's breath on her ear sent a shiver down her spine, and a blush crept onto her cheeks due to their closeness. She corrected herself quickly, "Put me down, Rudra."

Upon hearing his name from Pihu's lips, Rudra's heart filled with ecstasy .It was as if he had found a piece of his lost family, someone who could call him by his name .Apart from Veer, there was no one else who could refer to him in such an intimate way, and it made him feel truly alive and connected once more. With Pihu in his arms, he tenderly kissed both her cheeks to silence her protests and then proceeded to the dining area.

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To be continued......................