Chapter-40

Author's POV,

In the evening, after resting and freshening up, Pihu heard a knock on her door. Opening it, she found Claire standing there, her belly supported by her hands and a charming smile on her face. "Can I come inside, Pihu?" she asked.

Pihu nodded, smiling faintly. "Please, come in."

As Claire entered, a maid followed with a trolley of snacks, setting up a table on the balcony. Claire said, "I know you must be hungry after waking up, so I brought these. If you want anything else, just let me know."

As they sat on the balcony, the warm glow of the setting sun casting a golden hue over the surroundings, Pihu couldn't help but admire the view. The cityscape stretched out before them, bustling with life yet serene in its own way.

The maid set out a delightful array of French snacks on the table. There were flaky, buttery croissants, freshly baked and still warm, served with a selection of jams and preserves. A plate of assorted cheeses offered a mix of flavors and textures, from creamy brie to sharp Roquefort.

Claire poured them each a cup of fragrant tea and a steaming cup of rich, aromatic coffee. The tea was a delicate blend of herbs and flowers, while the coffee had a deep, earthy flavor that lingered on the palate.

As Pihu sampled a bit of everything, savoring the flavors and the relaxed atmosphere. Claire took a sip of her tea and leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. "So, tell me about yourself, Pihu."

Pihu, caught off guard by Claire's question, nearly choked on her bite of croissant. The unexpected warmth in Claire's eyes, devoid of fear or judgment, sent a wave of emotions crashing through her. It was the first genuine conversation she'd had in weeks, she had interacted with someone who wasn't intimidated by Rudra's shadow, someone who genuinely wanted to know about her.

"Me?" she echoed, her voice barely a whisper, as if testing the sound of her own name after months of forced silence.

A kaleidoscope of emotions swirled within her: relief, apprehension, and a flicker of something akin to hope. For so long, she had been guarded, her voice a mere whisper in the face of Rudra's imposing presence. But here, with Claire's warm smile and kind eyes, a part of her yearned to shed the mask, to share a piece of herself, however small.

Claire, her eyes twinkling with warmth, reached out and placed a gentle hand on Pihu's. "Yes, you," she said softly. "Tell me about your life in India, your dreams, your aspirations.

Hesitantly, Pihu began, "There's not much to tell, really. I lived in Varanasi with my family before moving to Mumbai for my studies. I pursued my MBA there." Her voice trailed off, the weight of her current situation threatening to overwhelm her.

As they continued their conversation, Pihu found herself drawn in by Claire's warmth and genuine interest. She spoke about her life in India, her family, and her dreams for the future, weaving a narrative that revealed parts of her life but carefully avoiding the details about her forced marriage to Rudra.

Claire, in turn, shared stories of her life with Laurent, her experiences as the wife of a mafia boss, and the challenges and joys that came with it. Then, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she began to share a particularly amusing story.

"Did you know, Pihu, when Laurent and I first met, we didn't like each other at all?" Claire began, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

She continued,"I remember the day I went to Laurent's mansion for the party where he was to be announced as the next heir of the French mafia. My father, being one of the biggest gangsters in France, saw this as the perfect opportunity for me to settle down. According to their family tradition, the king, or leader, has to choose a partner when they ascend. My father thought Laurent was the perfect candidate."

"But I had no interest in settling down, especially not with someone I barely knew. So, I decided to rebel a bit. Instead of wearing the dress my father had picked out for me, I showed up in black pants and a loose t-shirt. You should have seen the look on my father's face when he saw me like that! He was furious."

Claire chuckled at the memory, shaking her head slightly. "I thought my outfit would make Laurent ignore me, considering mafia men tend to prefer more submissive women."

Pihu, listening with growing curiosity and suspense, couldn't help but smile. "So, in trying to avoid Laurent's attention, you ended up catching it instead?"

Claire's laughter bubbled up, filling the air with a light, infectious energy. "Oh, but that's not the end of it," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Suddenly, Laurent strolled over to where my dad and I were standing and asked me to dance. Desperate to avoid dancing with him, I quickly fabricated a story, telling him I already had a boyfriend."

Pihu's eyes widened with intrigue, urging Claire to continue.

Claire leaned in, her voice filled with animated excitement. "So, I started scanning the room for someone to play the part of my fictional boyfriend. And then, I spotted Rudra. He was at the party too, being a part of the Indian mafia and invited."

As she recounted the scene, Claire's expressions and gestures painted a vivid picture of the moment. "Remembering a favor I had done for him years ago, I thought of using that to my advantage. I confidently walked over to Rudra and informed Laurent that he was my boyfriend."

Pihu chuckled, imagining the scene unfolding.

Claire's playful tone added a lightness to her words, but beneath the humor, there was a hint of admiration for Rudra's character. "However," she continued, "Rudra, true to his nature, flatly denied knowing me. He left me there to deal with the aftermath of my little charade. But I'm not surprised by his reaction; I know he is aloof and ruthless. So, when I moved toward him, I knew it."

Pihu's chuckle died in her throat, replaced by a flicker of surprise. This glimpse into Rudra's past was like a missing puzzle piece, showing a different side to the stoic and powerful man she knew.

"He just...rejected you?" Pihu asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Claire threw her head back and laughed, a sound full of amusement. "Oh, it gets better," she said, wiping a tear from her eye."Well, as you can imagine, I was quite embarrassed. Everyone's gaze was on me, and my father was fuming. But then, something unexpected happened."

Claire paused, taking a sip of her tea and savoring the last rays of the setting sun. "Laurent, instead of getting angry, started laughing," she continued. "He said he admired my spirit and found my little act of rebellion refreshing. He told my father that he wouldn't force me into anything and that he would have to win over me."

Pihu's eyes widened in surprise. "He said that?" she exclaimed.

Claire nodded, a fond smile playing on her lips. "Yes, he did. And from that moment on, Laurent and I began to see each other in a different light. We started spending more time together, getting to know each other.But what attracted me the most was his genuine personality, his sense of humor, and his respect for me which slowly chipped away my walls. Eventually, I realized I cared for him deeply. And, well, the rest is history."

As Claire finished her story, the balcony was bathed in the soft glow of twilight. The city lights twinkled in the distance, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves.

Claire leaned back in her chair, a contented smile on her face. "Life has a funny way of bringing people together, don't you think?" she said, breaking the silence. "Who would have thought that a simple act of rebellion would lead me to the love of my life?"

A comfortable silence settled between them as she absorb the story but a question bugged her so she asked, "So, you mean you know Rudra from even before and did him favour?"

"Yes, we met years ago," Claire began, a nostalgic smile gracing her features. "Rudra was barely eighteen then, barely more than a boy forced into the ruthless world his father, Yashvardhan, created. Yashvardhan, as you know, held a notorious reputation in the Indian mafia, and my father wasn't exactly a shining beacon of morality in the French drug trade."

A wistful glint appeared in her eyes as she start reminiscing past.

Flashback Starts,

In the dimly lit VIP room, the music throbbed, blending with the haze of smoke and the intoxicating scents. People danced in a hypnotic frenzy while others huddled in corners, their hushed conversations punctuated by the clinking of glasses.

Seated at a marble table, Luca, a man exuding an air of cold authority, puffed on a cigar, his gaze sweeping the room with a calculating glint. Beside him, Claire, her features mirroring her father's steely resolve, watched the scene unfold with a practised indifference.

Suddenly, a young man, barely a man at eighteen, yet with a determined set to his jaw and a fire in his eyes, cut through the crowd. He approached Luca's table, his companion lingering respectfully at the doorway. Claire sensed something different about this young man, something that set him apart from the usual clientele her father dealt with.

As the young man neared their table, the air around him crackled with unspoken tension. Unlike the others who approached Luca with a deferential manner, this young man held his head high, his eyes meeting Luca's with an unwavering defiance.

"Mr. Delacroix," the young man greeted, his voice surprisingly firm for someone his age, "my name is Rudra Singh Rathore. I am here representing... the boss." He pointedly avoided using the term "father" when referring to Yashvardhan.

Luca chuckled, a humorless sound devoid of warmth. "Yashvardhan sending a mere boy to negotiate? It seems your boss has lost his claws."

Rudra's jaw clenched, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Negotiation is not weakness," he countered coolly. "My... boss proposes a continuation of our current partnership. However, he finds the recent decrease in supply... unacceptable."

He was interrupted by Luca slamming his fist on the table, making the glasses jump, his voice boomed "Unacceptable? Who dictates terms here, boy? This is my business, my product. I decide the price and the quantity."

Claire watched, a mix of apprehension and curiosity swirling within her. This young man, barely a wisp compared to her father's imposing presence, stood firm amidst the blatant intimidation. His courage, however misplaced, was undeniable.

Suddenly, two of Luca's burly enforcers materialized behind Rudra, their expressions devoid of any human emotion. One of them grabbed Rudra roughly by the arm.

"Stand down, Rajveer," Rudra commanded Veer, who was standing at the door, his voice laced with concern. He didn't want him to face the wrath, especially since he was innocent. Rudra didn't want to bring Rajveer into this, but as Rajveer was stubborn, Rudra didn't have any choice but to bring him along.

The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. Claire felt a surge of panic, fearing the violence that was about to erupt. Before anyone could react, Rudra lunged forward, landing a swift kick on the enforcer's knee. The man howled in pain, releasing his grip.

A chaotic scene unfolded in the following seconds. The other enforcer lunged at Rudra, but the young man dodged with surprising agility. A brutal fight ensued, the VIP room echoing with the sounds of punches and grunts. Despite his youthful appearance, Rudra fought with a ferocity born of desperation, his movements quick and precise.

However, he was clearly outmatched. The enforcers were larger and more experienced, their blows raining down on Rudra with relentless force. Claire watched in horror as he was thrown against the wall, his face contorted in pain.

Just as one of the enforcers raised his fist for another blow, Claire's voice rang out, sharp and unwavering.

"Stop!" she commanded, her voice echoing through the stunned room.

Luca turned towards her, his face contorted with rage. "Are you questioning me, girl?" he bellowed.

Claire stood up, her gaze unwavering. Ignoring her father's fury, she marched towards the enforcers, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Take him to the infirmary," she ordered, pointing at the battered Rudra. "And tend to his injuries, properly."

The enforcers exchanged confused glances, then hesitantly lowered their fists. Luca glared at his daughter, his face a mask of conflicting emotions.

"Take him away," Claire repeated, her voice firm despite the tremor running through her.

Slowly, the enforcers helped a barely conscious Rudra out of the room. As the door closed behind them, Claire met her father's gaze, a she remarked dryly, "Dad, leave it, why are you beating a teenager?" Trying to pacify her father.

She never went against her father, as she was just as ruthless when it came to business dealings. However, witnessing Rudra's courage, Claire admired him. She sensed that he didn't have any experience in the underworld but still stood against his father, a feat that even big bosses wouldn't dare to attempt.

[End Flashback]

Claire's voice softened as she reminisced. "That's how I first encountered Rudra," she began. "He arrived battered and bruised, courtesy of my men. The next day, I found him in the infirmary, lost in thought. Approaching him, I offered a simple 'hello,' hoping to spark conversation."

Her gaze turned introspective. "His eyes held a hardened glint as he looked up. My attempts at conversation were met with a curt thank you and a request to be left alone. I thought I'd try again the next day, believing he might open up, but he was already gone, vanished like a wisp of smoke."

Claire fell silent once more, the weight of the past settling on her shoulders. Pihu watched, a new understanding dawning in her eyes. She could almost see the young, defiant Rudra through Claire's words, his vulnerability hidden beneath a facade of toughness.

Distant memories flickered in Claire's eyes. "It became clear then that Rudra was just a boy, thrust into the darkness of our world for reasons I couldn't understand. Even then, in his hospital room, I saw a storm brewing in his eyes, as if a piece of him was being eroded with each passing day."

Pihu's gaze softened, a flicker of empathy replacing the initial animosity she harbored towards Rudra. She could almost feel the weight of his past, the invisible scars that hardened his exterior.

Her gaze shifted to Pihu, filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. "And when I saw him years later at Laurent's party, the innocent boy was gone, replaced by a hardened man. We've crossed paths many times since, always on business terms. Though he might not consider us friends, there's a certain trust there. Why else would he entrust you, his 'precious pearl,' to our care?" Claire finished with a smile, a hint of melancholy lingering in her voice as she spoke the last words.

Pihu listened, her heart strangely lighter. The image of the ruthless Rudra she once knew was replaced by a glimpse of a wounded soul, shaped by a harsh past she could only begin to imagine.

As Pihu sat in silence, a single question bloomed in her mind, fueled by a newfound curiosity: What had truly shaped Rudra into the man he was today?

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To be continued.....