23.

After dinner, everyone settled in the living room talking about old days, and good memories. Ketki had never laughed this much.

Zayn and Devansh were sharing old funny stories of Rudra. Rudra did not like it but seeing ketki laugh this much didn't say anything.

"Okay okay it's getting late we should leave now"

Zayn spoke,

Rudra nodded and he went to send them off.

"It's good to see you smile again"

Devansh pats Rudra's shoulder and Zayn hugs rudra.

"Just be happy like this and keep her happy too"

Zayn and Devansh left for their respective apartments.

As they leave Samarth and Arya walk out along with Ketki.

"Take care"

Samarth said to Rudra, and his gaze softened as it went to ketki.

"Sunshine take care"

He pats her cheeks, ketki smiles and hugs him.

"You too eat on time don't overwork yourself Lata didi will inform me if you do"

Samarth chuckles and gets in his car driving off. Arya hugs ketki.

"See you tomorrow..."

Ketki nods hugging her back.

"Do you need me to pick you up like before or..."

Arya was in a mood of teasing,

"No I'll come myself...don't worry"

Arya chuckles and gets in her car driving off. Ketki looks at rudra.

"It's late... someone should have gone with her."

Rudra wraps his hands around Ketki's shoulder pulling her close.

"Aryan will go behind her and make sure she reaches safely"

He signals Aryan, understanding that Aryan gets in his car following Arya's car.

Rudra and ketki walk back in,

Rudra was sitting in bed reading some books. While ketki was showering.

After showering she got dressed in her nightwear.

She sits on the bed beside rudra. Rudra puts a bookmark in the book and keeps it aside.

He lays his head on Ketki's lap. Naturally, Ketki's hand went to Rudra's hair caressing them.

"Thank you"

Rudra whispered, ketki frowned.

"Why?"

Rudra holds her hand,

"For bringing light in my dark life"

Ketki's heart swelled with happiness hearing rudra.

"I just want you to be happy"

Rudra sits up hearing ketki.

"I'm already happy and content"

He cups Ketki's cheeks,

"Wait I didn't give you your gift"

She got up and went to her bag. Taking out a small box she hands it to rudra.

"You didn't have to chashni"

Ketki shook her head.

"Just open it"

Rudra chuckles and opens the box, it was a watch. He took out the watch and wore it around his wrist.

"Now whenever you look at your watch you'll remember me every minute, every second"

Rudra pulls ketki in a hug,

"I miss you every minute, every second"

Ketki buries her face in his neck, And slowly they both drift off to sleep.

Meanwhile:

?? Pov:

I just landed in India, and as soon as I got to know my angel got her eyes back I had to come here to say my hellos personally.

I Need to meet my best friend too, I heard he left a life of crime and living as a businessman coward! On top of that, he married her off, how dare he?

Did he not know last time when he defied me he lost his mother, his love, now what he wanna lose his sister too?

My driver drove towards my apartment, now that I was here there would be blood and terror everything would be destroyed again and this time it would be for good.

I reached my apartment and took a cig lit it up i called my best friend or should I say, my enemy. Well, technically I used to be his best friend.

He picked up my call,

On Call:

Samarth: Hello?

??: Remember me?

There was a silence on the other side, was he processing? Or thinking it's a prank call?

Samarth: How can I Forget you, Kartik...

Kartik: ah so you remember me... I thought you forgot the mafia and its relations to it.

Samarth: I can never forget you... never... until I take my revenge.

Kartik: Says the one who like a coward ran away, couldn't protect your love ah I remember her face when I was shooting her. Till the end, she thought her lovely boyfriend would come to protect her.

Samarth: How would I? When my sister was fighting for her life?

Kartik: Well I chose those days purposely? So that you'll understand how weak and worthless you were without me. Anyway, I am back now we'll have many instances together... this time either my angel will be in my arms alive or dead.

With that I hung up, I haven't been to India for years, and I need to collect my intel now. My gaze fell on my angel's big portrait.

'My angel I am coming for you this time you'll be mine all mine'

***

Rudra:

My sleep broke due to my phone ringing. Who must be calling me this late? I quickly pick up my phone so that my chashni won't wake up.

She already had insomnia and finally was able to sleep properly. I gently removed her head and covered her properly.

Stepping aside I looked at the caller Id. 'samarth?' why would he call me in the middle of the night?

I picked up the call,

On call:

Samarth: He's back

As soon as I picked up he gave me the news. 'He's back' These two words weren't just words they were signs that I had to get back to work... to punish him for his sins.

Rudra: No not on call, meet me tomorrow

Samarth: Alright text me the time and place.

He hung up,

'Finally, you are here Mr Kartik.. You have stepped in your grave by stepping im this country... I have waited for this day for so long... now finally it is time for you to pay for your sins finally'

I messaged Devansh and Zayn about tomorrow's meeting. I looked at my Chashni who was sleeping peacefully.

If it was before there was nothing for me to be scared of but now she's with me my wife, I need to take care of her, make sure she's never alone unprotected...

I went to sit beside her removing hair from her face, my chashni was sleeping peacefully.

'I wish i could hide you I wish I could hide everything from you but you deserve the truth of all things that happened to us, we were bound by a tragedy where we both lost everything but before that, I need to make sure you are strong enough to take it all in... path ahead will be tough for you, for me, for us... but I am here with her at every moment every step with you for you. Just trust me.'