Bonus Chapter-6

Author's POV

As everyone gathered around the dining table for breakfast, the atmosphere remained warm and lively. Plates were passed around, and laughter filled the air, with everyone immersed in their conversations. Pihu sat between Rudra and Shivani, her heart swelling with contentment. Rudra, as always, was watching her closely, adding more food to her plate despite her mock protests.

"Pihu, eat more," Rudra whispered in her ear with that familiar mischievous smile. His voice dropped lower, teasing her as he added, "You'll need the energy tonight."

Pihu's face instantly turned a deep shade of red, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She tried to focus on her food, but the meaning behind Rudra's words had her feeling self-conscious. Her grip on the fork tightened as she glanced at him, her lips trying—and failing—to suppress a smile.

Shivani, sitting next to Pihu, caught the entire exchange, her sharp eyes noticing the playful glances between the couple. Never one to miss an opportunity for teasing, she leaned in, her voice just loud enough for only Rudra and Pihu to hear. "Pihu, why is your face so red? Are you feeling feverish from all the hard work you did last night?"

Pihu nearly choked on her food, her eyes wide with shock. Coughing and sputtering, she glared at Shivani, who was biting her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. The heat in Pihu's face only intensified, and she could feel Rudra stiffen beside her as he tried not to laugh, his ears turning red.

On the other side of Shivani, Veer frowned but understand the glances passed between them.

Neha and Dev, completely oblivious to the exchange between the younger trio, continued their conversation with Aakash and Ankit. Shivani, however, wasn't done teasing. She leaned in again, this time her voice even lower as she whispered to Pihu, "You better be careful, or everyone will notice. Your face is giving everything away."

Pihu shot Shivani another death glare but couldn't hide the way her face burned brighter. She quickly glanced at Rudra, who gave her a comforting smile, his hand brushing against hers under the table. His touch, though small, was enough to calm her nerves.

As the breakfast continued, Rudra took a bite of khadai paneer, one of the dishes, savouring the flavour as memories of his childhood flooded back. He paused for a moment, his expression softening. The warmth of the food reminded him of the meals his own mother used to prepare for him with such love and care.

He looked across the table at Neha, who was chatting animatedly with Dev, and with genuine appreciation, he said, "Thank you, Maa, for this delicious food."

Neha, noticing the emotion in his voice, turned to him with a gentle smile. She understood the depth behind his words, the memories they stirred. "It's nothing, beta," she said warmly, her voice full of motherly affection. "If you ever want to eat more in the future, just let me know, okay?"

Rudra smiled back at her, feeling an unexpected warmth in his chest. Neha's kindness reminded him of the love and family he had missed for so long, and he silently vowed to cherish every moment he had with Pihu and her family.

As the meal wound down, everyone was served kheer, and Rudra, after taking a bite, turned to Pihu with a grin. "Pearl, it's really amazing."

Aakash, who was sitting nearby, chimed in with a teasing laugh. "Jiju, you should be grateful you even got to eat it! Di only knows how to eat, not cook."

Ankit, not wanting to miss out on the fun, added, "Yeah, Jiju! She never cooks for us at home."

Pihu shot them both a fiery glare, her eyes narrowing in mock anger. "Why should I cook for you two, jungli bandars?" she retorted, her tone sharp but playful.

Before the brothers could reply, Shivani jumped in to defend her friend. "Hey, you two! Pihu is my lifesaver. Don't say anything about her cooking skills!" she said dramatically, wrapping an arm around Pihu in an exaggerated show of support.

The table burst into laughter, with Veer shaking his head at the friendly banter between them. Pihu, though trying to appear annoyed, couldn't help but smile at the camaraderie. The playful teasing and jokes lightened the mood, and even with the impending departure of her family looming, the warmth of the moment lingered in her heart.

Finally, as breakfast came to an end, Dev cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "We have something to tell you," he began, his tone serious. "We'll be leaving for Varanasi this afternoon."

Pihu's eyes widened in surprise, her earlier smile fading. "Leaving? Why? What? How?why no one told me!"

Dev sighed softly, his gaze softening as he explained. "Your brother has exams coming up, and we need to get back. We didn't want to tell you sooner because we knew it would make you sad."

Neha nodded in agreement, her expression apologetic. "We wanted to stay longer, beta, but we have so many responsibilities back home. We thought it would be best not to mention it until now."

Pihu's heart sank. She had been looking forward to spending more time with her family, especially now that things were starting to settle between her and Rudra. She longed for more moments like this—surrounded by her loved ones, laughing, teasing, and sharing meals.

"But... can't you stay just a little longer? Just a few more days?" she asked softly, her voice filled with hope.

Dev shook his head gently. "I wish we could, Pihu, but we really have to go."

Pihu looked at Rudra, silently pleading for him to do something, but he only gave her a small, understanding smile. His hand found hers under the table once again, squeezing it gently. "It's alright, Pearl," he whispered. "We'll visit them soon."

Despite her disappointment, Pihu eventually accepted the decision. After a few more minutes of conversation, it was settled: her parents, brothers and Shivani would be leaving for Varanasi that afternoon. Though her heart ached at the thought of saying goodbye so soon, she knew they had responsibilities back home. And as much as she wanted to keep them close, she couldn't hold them back.

As the breakfast wrapped up and everyone started to disperse, Pihu and Rudra exchanged a quiet look. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a shared sense of the bittersweetness that came with the morning.

But through it all, there was also a sense of peace. Rudra's presence, his silent support, reassured Pihu that while her family might be leaving, she wasn't alone. They would visit, they would stay connected, and she had to build her family more now—with him.

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As the evening settled in, Pihu and Rudra found themselves alone with Veer after the family had left. The quiet calm that followed contrasted sharply with the lively breakfast earlier. The bond between Pihu and Rudra felt more tangible now, especially as they navigated this new phase of their relationship.

Rudra, his usual calm demeanor in place, looked at Pihu with a glint in his eyes. "Pihu," he said softly, "will you come somewhere with me?"

Pihu, catching the subtle mystery in his tone, tilted her head. "What do you mean by 'somewhere'? You know I'll go with you anywhere."

Veer, who had been sitting nearby, rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by the couple's affectionate exchange. "Can you guys talk normally for once?" he muttered, shaking his head. "Before You used to fight all the time, and now you both can't stop flirting."

Pihu, lost in her gaze towards Rudra, hadn't even realized Veer was still sitting there. Rudra, however, smirked. "If you have such a problem, Veer, you can close your eyes and ears," he teased and he added, "I seem to recall telling you to get lost earlier. What are you still doing here, after putting idiotic ideas into my wife's head?"

Pihu looked at Rudra, confused. "What? Why did you say that to Veer Bhai?"

Rudra's smirk widened. "For the stunt he pulled—trying to keep you away from me on our wedding night."

Veer merely grinned, unfazed by Rudra's remark. I thought you'd end up sleeping in the garden. Too bad. But knowing you, Rudra, I'll get my wish one day. I'm sure Pihu will throw you out eventually."

Rudra glared at Veer, recognizing the seed of an idea being planted in Pihu's mind, but Pihu only chuckled. Their playful banter lightened the mood, and soon they were on their way.

After a brief drive, they arrived at a place that seemed to hold deep meaning for Rudra. He stopped in front of an old, but well maintained orphanage. His expression shifted as memories flooded his mind—the place where his mother had left him, where he found his sister, his "Flower," Anaya, his friend cum brother Veer and where the path that had made him who he was began.

"Go inside," Rudra instructed Pihu and Veer, his voice quieter than usual. "I'll catch up after making a call."

As Pihu and Veer disappeared into the orphanage, Rudra's attention shifted. His sharp gaze cut through the dim street, focusing on a pitiful figure slumped in the shadows across the road. The man, barely recognizable under layers of dirt, bruises, and festering wounds, sat pathetically, missing both legs and one hand. His skeletal frame was a grotesque testament to the horrors he had endured.

Rudra walked toward him, his steps heavy, deliberate, as his bodyguards followed like silent predators. The few people scattered along the street quickly scurried away, sensing the foreboding aura that clung to the powerful man.

The disfigured man on the ground, hearing the approach of polished shoes, initially raised his head in hope—a beggar's reflex for pity, perhaps expecting a coin or a scrap of food. But as recognition dawned in his glazed eyes, a sickening wave of terror swept over him. His body, what was left of it, trembled uncontrollably. The memories, the pain Rudra had inflicted, all came rushing back. He tried to scream, but no sound emerged; his tongue had been torn out long ago. Helpless, he collapsed forward, his face hitting the dust at Rudra's feet.

Yashvardhan.

The once-feared mafia lord, who had destroyed families and bathed in blood, was now a broken, mutilated shell of a man. His existence reduced to crawling and begging, his dignity obliterated.

Rudra's lips twisted into a cold, predatory smile. The satisfaction that coursed through him was dark, primal. He gestured with a casual flick of his hand, and one of his men immediately stepped forward, grabbing Yashvardhan by his filthy hair, forcing him to sit up. A hard slap cracked through the air as the guard struck Yashvardhan across the face, silencing his pitiful, wet whimpers.

Rudra crouched down, his eyes burning with a mix of hatred and satisfaction as he examined the pathetic creature before him. His hand reached out, gripping Yashvardhan's hair, forcing their eyes to meet.

"Look at you," Rudra's voice was a low growl, each word soaked in venom. "The great Yashvardhan. Trembling like a worm. You're nothing now. Less than nothing. But you know what, Yashvardhan? This is just the beginning. You're going to suffer for every second of your miserable life, just like you made my family suffer."

Yashvardhan's breath came in short, ragged gasps, his disfigured face a mask of horror. He tried to recoil, but Rudra's grip tightened, fingers digging into his flesh.

Rudra's eyes darkened further, the beast inside him roaring with satisfaction as he remembered the screams of his mother, the silent tears of his sister. He leaned closer, his breath cold against Yashvardhan's scarred face.

"Do you remember Rudraansh?" Rudra's voice dipped to a near whisper, the malice in it like a knife cutting through the tension. "Your beloved son... Do you remember how I made you watch as I carved him apart, piece by piece? How I left his corpse to rot right in front of you for a month, while you lay there, helpless? Screaming, sobbing, unable to save him?"

Yashvardhan's body convulsed violently at the mention of his son. The memory—his child's mutilated body left to decay before his eyes—was a torment that clung to his mind like a curse. His eyes bulged, wide with terror, and his body tried instinctively to crawl back, to flee the monster looming over him. But the guard's grip on his hair tightened, dragging him back, forcing him to confront Rudra's unrelenting gaze.

Rudra's smirk deepened, his breath ghosting over Yashvardhan's ravaged face. His hand extended, almost gentle, as he gripped Yashvardhan's throat, forcing him to meet his eyes. The cruelty that shimmered in those dark orbs was the embodiment of the beast Yashvardhan had helped create.

"Do you remember what I did to you, day after day, Yashvardhan?" Rudra whispered, his voice cold as winter's breath. "I didn't just beat you. No, I made sure each limb of yours was broken, crushed, and left to fester. I let the infections crawl through your flesh until you were on the verge of death. But I didn't allow it to end there, did I? No... I cut those limbs off myself, one by one. And then I had you treated, only to torture you again."

A dark chuckle escaped his lips. "You never begged for mercy—no, you begged for death. But death was too kind. Too easy."

Yashvardhan's trembling became more violent, his tear-filled eyes pleading for an end he knew would never come. Rudra could feel the fear radiating off the man in waves, just as he had hoped. This was the fear he had once seen in his mother's eyes, in his sister's eyes. Now, it was Yashvardhan's turn to tremble like the broken animal he was.

"I've kept you alive all this time," Rudra continued, his grip on Yashvardhan's chin tightening until the man's breath came in shallow gasps. "Not out of mercy. No. You think this is mercy?" Rudra let out a low, chilling laugh. "I kept you alive because watching your suffering is my salvation. Every time I see you like this—pathetic, terrified, broken—I feel some small piece of the peace you stole from me."

He released Yashvardhan, letting him slump forward, collapsing in the dirt. Yashvardhan's feeble body convulsed with sobs that made no sound. His mind was consumed with the agony Rudra had inflicted upon him over the years—an agony that had no end, no reprieve.

Rudra stood, cleaning his hands with handkerchief as if he had merely disposed of a piece of trash. His voice, now calm and almost mocking, carried a chilling finality. "Do you know why I keep you here, Yashvardhan?" He paused, his eyes flickering to the orphanage in the distance. "Right outside this orphanage, where I saw my mother for last time... because of you."

He took a slow, deliberate breath before continuing, his gaze returning to the broken man before him. "This is where I lost everything—where my life was ripped apart. Every time I visit, I'll see you... and that will be my reminder. My reminder that even the most monstrous of men can be broken."

Yashvardhan, a hollow shell of the mafia lord he once was, lay trembling at Rudra's feet, his wide eyes reflecting a terror too deep to voice. He wanted to scream, to beg for death, but no sound came from his ruined mouth.

Rudra turned his back on him, his steps slow, deliberate, as if the moment had sealed something final within him. "Make sure he gets food and water," Rudra ordered his men without looking back. "But just enough to keep him alive. I want him to feel every second of his miserable existence."

With that, Rudra turned, the remnants of a dark chuckle lingering in the air. His footsteps echoed down the street as he walked toward the orphanage, where Pihu and Veer were handing out gifts to the children. His mind, however, lingered on the broken man he left behind—on the revenge that had been years in the making, now complete.

Behind him, Yashvardhan lay in the dirt, a man who had once ruled an empire, now reduced to nothing more than a living corpse, haunted by the torment Rudra had meticulously crafted for him.

Behind him, Yashvardhan lay discarded in the dirt—a man who had once commanded fear and respect, now reduced to a pitiful, broken figure. The empire he had built, the fear he had instilled, meant nothing now. He was nothing more than a living corpse, haunted by the slow and meticulous torment Rudra had so carefully crafted for him.

But as Rudra stepped away from the scene of his vengeance, the darkness began to lift from his heart, like a heavy cloud dissipating under the warmth of the sun. And that sun, that light, was waiting for him—Pihu.

Her face lit up with a radiant smile the moment she saw him, her eyes sparkling like the first break of dawn. "Where did you go?" she asked, her voice soft and filled with affection. "Come help me distribute the chocolates!"

Rudra's heart softened at the sight of her. The cold, ruthless exterior he had worn so comfortably slipped away as he approached her, his soul soaking in the warmth she effortlessly radiated. The children ran around them, laughing, their voices filling the air with joy. Even the staff came up to him, offering congratulations on his marriage, their eyes full of happiness and hope for the couple.

In the midst of it all, Rudra found himself feeling something he hadn't felt in years—peace. The orphanage, with its worn walls and creaking doors, was filled with love and innocence, a stark contrast to the life he had led. But with Pihu by his side, it felt like the promise of something new, something pure. His fingers laced with hers as they stood beneath the old tree, its leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze.

"Do you like it here?" Rudra asked, his voice tender as he looked down at her.

Pihu's gaze followed the children playing, their laughter infectious. "Yes," she said, her smile soft and genuine. "The children are so full of life. They remind me of what it means to be free."

Rudra's lips curled into a mischievous grin. He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Well, if you love them so much, we can always have as many as you want."

Pihu's cheeks flushed with heat, and she swatted his chest playfully. "When did you become so shameless?" she teased, though her eyes sparkled with affection.

His grin only widened as he held her closer, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "I've always been like this. You just bring it out more." His voice dropped, more serious now, as his eyes locked with hers. "I love you, Pearl."

Pihu's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name on his lips, the weight of his love wrapping around her like a warm embrace. She blinked back the rush of emotion and whispered, "I love you too, Rudra. I just... I hope we can always be like this. I don't ever want to lose this."

Rudra cupped her face gently, his eyes softening as he pressed his forehead to hers. "We will," he promised, his voice firm with conviction. "Nothing will ever separate us—not life, not death. You're my heart, my soul, my possession... my obsession. Forever, Pearl. I'll love you until my last breath."

His lips met hers in a kiss that was soft but filled with the depth of his vow. The world around them faded, the noise of the children, the rustle of the leaves, the distant sounds of the city—everything vanished in that moment. There was only them, their hearts beating as one, their souls intertwined.

As he pulled back, his thumb brushed over her bottom lip, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Together, Pearl," he murmured, his voice a soft caress. "We'll face everything together. No matter what come our way, nothing will break us. You are mine... till the end of time."

Pihu's eyes shimmered with unshed tears of happiness as she wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his chest. In that moment, everything felt right—like all the pain, all the suffering they had endured, had led them to this. A place where they could start anew, together.

And as they stood there, under the shade of the giant tree, a sense of calm settled over them—a peace that neither had felt in years.

Rudra's final words whispered against her hair, sealing the promise of their eternal bond. "My obsession had only just begun, satiated for now, but never truly extinguished. For in the depths of my love, I found a new obsession—to protect you, to cherish you, to be yours until eternity. Because Pearl, you are my obsession till eternity."

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THE END.

I hope you all enjoy reading my book. I tried to write as best as I could. It is my first time writing a story and I enjoyed very much. Thank you for those who read my book and vote and comment.

I hope in future I can write too. I can say, it definitely give me peace and help me escaping the real world.

Please comment, if you like my book and one scene you loved the most.

Once again Thank You.