Chapter-32

Author's Pov,

As Rudra reached the dining room with Pihu in his arms, he settled into the head chair with her in his lap. Pihu attempted to rise, but his firm hold kept her in place. She looked up at him and, her voice gentle but insistent, said, "Rudra, please let me go. I'd like to sit in one of the chairs."

Rudra's grip didn't waver, and his dark eyes bore into hers with a mixture of longing and possessiveness. He spoke, his tone low and intense, "No, Pearl. I want you right here with me, close to me. So I am not letting you go."

Pihu felt a swirl of emotions – a combination of frustration, confusion, and a small undercurrent of attraction. She wasn't used to someone being this determined to have her close. Despite her reservations, a part of her was drawn to his intensity.

Before Pihu could argue further, the maids entered, setting the dinner table. Pihu was overcome with embarrassment due to her current position. She lowered her gaze, attempting to conceal her discomfort.

Rudra observed her endearing gesture with admiration, his eyes never leaving her. After the maids left the room, he took a morsel of food and offered it to Pihu. She recognized the futility of resisting and accepted the gesture.

Once she had consumed the bite, Rudra surprised her with a request, "Feed me too, Pearl."

The unexpected nature of his plea caught Pihu off guard, causing her to choke slightly and start coughing. Rudra quickly offered her water and gently helped her regain her composure. Pihu glanced at him, searching for any hint of jest, but instead, he reiterated in a deep, low tone, "Feed me, Pearl," Rudra's voice dropped into a sultry, heated tone. "Unless you want me to devour something else, because I'm very hungry right now."

His words and the sudden peck on her lips left Pihu in a state of shock. She hesitated but eventually complied, picking up a morsel and feeding it to him.

Throughout the entire meal, Rudra experienced a contentment that had long eluded him. He had discovered a newfound peace, and he was resolute in preserving it. After their dinner, they strolled into the garden, and Pihu was overjoyed at the chance to step outside. She had been confined within the mansion for two days.

That evening, Pihu attempted to visit the garden, but Rudra's guards prevented her. They explained that she couldn't go outside without his permission. Pihu found this rule a bit absurd since she only wanted to explore the garden within the mansion. However, she decided not to argue and let it go to maintain the peace of the moment.

As Pihu wandered through the garden, she found herself entranced by its beauty. She discovered an array of flowers, each with its unique charm. However, what drew her in the most were the multicolored roses that seemed to glow with an ethereal radiance beneath the gentle moonlight. The fragrance of the roses filled her senses, enveloping her in their sweet aroma.

Without a second thought, she gravitated towards the roses, their fragrance delighting her senses. Rudra watched, pleased that Pihu had found something she enjoyed in the mansion beyond the library. Her soft smile, the glow of her face under the moon's tender embrace, and her presence amidst the roses left him utterly captivated. He couldn't help but absorb every detail of her beauty.

As she lost herself in the sea of roses, Rudra couldn't resist the urge to embrace her from behind, revelling in her presence. Pihu tensed slightly but didn't react. He spoke softly, his warm breath tickling her ear, "When I proposed at the party, I saw your fascination with the roses. So, I had this garden created especially for you. Do you like it?"

Pihu, still captivated by the garden, nodded with a soft smile. However, their moment of bliss was interrupted by Rudra's ringing phone. He reluctantly stepped away to answer it, maintaining a distance from Pihu.

While Rudra stepped away to attend his phone call, Pihu found herself irresistibly drawn to the garden's enchanting beauty. She continued her exploration, moving towards the rear of the mansion. The fragrance of the blossoms lingered in the air, creating an atmosphere of profound serenity as she wandered among the splendid flowers.

Pihu ventured deeper into the garden, relishing the sensation of being surrounded by these exquisite blooms. As she gazed further towards the back of the garden, she noticed that just beyond the garden's boundary wall lay a vast expanse of lush greenery. Stretching out before her, a line of trees extended for several kilometers, their silhouettes painted against the moonlit sky. The moon's gentle light bathed this picturesque scene, and Pihu couldn't help but feel a deep sense of tranquility. The garden, with its alluring charm, was slowly finding its place in her heart.

Pihu, lost in her thoughts, was suddenly jolted by a loud growl. She spun around, her voice trapped in her throat by the terrifying sight that lay before her. Her legs rooted to the ground, eyes wide with shock, she froze in place. In front of her, a sleek black panther stood with predatory eyes fixated on her. In a swift and deadly motion, it lunged at her, and an ear-piercing scream escaped from Pihu's trembling lips.

Upon hearing her piercing scream, Rudra and his guards rushed to the back of the garden. Rudra's voice boomed through the tranquil garden as he commanded, "STOP, SCAR."

Scar had been poised above Pihu, his menacing presence casting a shadow of fear over her, as her tears flowed unabated. In an instant, Rudra arrived and with tremendous strength, threw Scar to the ground. He then swiftly helped Pihu to her feet, providing her with support and protection.

Rudra's grip on Pihu was reassuring, but her eyes were still locked on the black panther, Scar, who now lay on the ground, his predatory aura somewhat subdued in the presence of his master.

Pihu was trembling, her voice barely a whisper as she stammered, "Rudra, what... what is that?"

Rudra gently stroked her trembling hand and spoke in calm, soothing tone, "Don't be afraid, Pearl. This is Scar. He's my pet. He must have escaped from his enclosure due to the guards' negligence."

However, when Scar saw his dad holding Pihu and recognized her scent, he realized she was important to his dad. His initial protective instincts waned as he understood she meant no harm to Rudra. Instead, she was his mom, causing him to transform from a fearsome predator into a giant, affectionate kitten. His eyes sparkled with newfound playfulness, and he began to approach Pihu with curiosity.

Pihu, still frightened, instinctively hid behind Rudra, using him as a shield from the imposing panther. Her heart raced as she watched Scar's approach, her mind filled with unease and fear of the unknown.

As Scar gradually transformed from a fearsome predator into an oversized, affectionate kitten, his imposing presence began to feel more like that of an overgrown house cat. He blinked at Pihu with big, curious eyes, his whiskers twitching.

Rudra couldn't help but chuckle at the comical sight of his usually formidable pet acting like a giant ball of fluff. "See, Pearl, he's just a big softie only for you once he gets to know you."

Pihu peeked out from behind Rudra, a hesitant smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a pet panther, Rudra." Rudra grinned, his arms still protectively around her.

Scar padded over to them, his enormous head nuzzling Pihu's hand with surprising gentleness. She hesitantly scratched behind his ear, a mix of trepidation and amusement dancing in her eyes as she mumbled, "Who would've thought I'd be giving chin scratches to a panther under the moonlight?"

The guards, who were trained to remain stoic and vigilant, were utterly dumbfounded by the sight before them. They exchanged bewildered glances, their jaws nearly hitting the ground as they witnessed Scar, the usually relentless panther, transform into a docile kitten under Pihu's gentle hand.

One guard whispered to another in disbelief, "I've seen it all now. The boss's pet panther is acting like a house cat."

Another guard chimed in, "Yeah, and he's letting Ma'am scratch his ears! What's going on here?"

They stood frozen, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement, watching as Scar purred and nuzzled Pihu, behaving nothing like the fierce predator they were accustomed to seeing.

As Pihu tenderly scratched behind his ear, Scar's thoughts "Hmm, Mom is different. She's got the magic touch, and she's lovely. No wonder Dad chose her. I think I'll let her pamper me a bit more. It's not so bad being a giant, fearsome panther with a soft spot for chin scratches!"

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When Pihu emerged from the washroom after changing into her nightclothes, she was momentarily taken aback. She had completely forgotten that she would be sharing the bed with Rudra tonight. In the previous two nights, she had fallen asleep before Rudra had joined her, which made the situation easier to handle. However, now that she was fully conscious, the idea of sharing a bed with him made her feel uneasy.

Pihu, still determined to avoid sharing the bed with Rudra, decided to grab a pillow quietly and head toward the sofa. Rudra, engrossed in his phone, seemed unaware of her movements. As she picked up the pillow and began her retreat to the sofa, the silence in the room was disrupted by the resounding command of Rudra's voice.

"What are you doing, Pearl?" he demanded, his tone sharp and dominative. Pihu swallowed nervously, her hesitation evident. However, she chose to continue toward the sofa, hoping he might not intervene.

Her hopes were short-lived when Rudra's authoritative voice echoed through the room once more, piercing the air, "Come back here, Pearl," as he patted the space beside him on the bed. Pihu tried to ignore his command and placed the pillow on the sofa before lying down.

Rudra couldn't let this defiance stand. In quick, determined strides, he approached her and effortlessly picked her up. Pihu yelped, her voice filled with urgency, "Let me go, Rudra!" But he paid no heed and deposited her back onto the bed, looming over her with a stern and intense glare. The room crackled with the tension between them.

"Rudra's voice was a low growl, his eyes burning with rage. "Pearl," he hissed. "How many times must I tell you not to defy me? Don't test my patience. You will not like the consequences. I just want you to accept me with your heart. You will spend the rest of your life with me, and it is entirely up to you how you choose to spend it. Because you are mine, and mine alone."

Pihu's heart pounded in her chest as she looked at him, her eyes filled with defiance and fear. "Who do you think you are?" she demanded, her voice trembling with anger. "Do you think I will just bend to your will because you forced me to marry you? You're wrong. You can never make me accept you."

"You say you love me," she spat, her eyes flashing with anger. "But you don't have a heart. I will never love a heartless man like you. Remember that."

Rudra's hand formed a fist as he listened to Pihu's words. "You will soon accept me, Pearl," he vowed, his voice hard. "And you will do it with your heart. That is my promise. Because RSR never fails in life."

Despite his words, Rudra climbed into bed and pulled Pihu close, wrapping his arms around her possessively. She tried to resist, but he was too strong. He turned her so that she was facing him, her head resting on his chest. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment.

"Sleep, Pearl," he whispered.

Pihu closed her eyes and tried to relax, but her body was still trembling with anger. But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of security in his arms. It was a feeling she had never experienced before.

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