24.

Weeks passed by, and Ketki and Rudra grew close. Her life was perfect, his life was perfect. Though both were dealing with their traumas, they were also learning to let go.

Rudra learned to let go of his guilt and cherish the people he had in his life instead of being cold to them. ketki was in the garden, playing with Simba.

She threw the ball for him to bring it back. Rudra went to work he said he had some important meeting, Simba brought the ball back and lay down on his back while ketki tickled his stomach.

Ketki giggles at Simba's cute behavior, she loves dogs. She was a part of Ngo where they rescue stray animals.

Simba was one of the rescued dogs. Ketki kept him with her after pleading with her mother. A sad smile formed on her lips.

She couldn't go when she turned blind because instead of rescuing animals people would have to rescue her.

Now she has again started going to the NGO. Simba got tired soon and lay on Ketki's lap. She felt someone's presence beside her. The familiar scent of cinnamon hit her nose.

She looked in his direction only to find her rudra staring at her.

"When did you come?" She continued patting Simba who was now asleep.

"Just now" she tucked the strand of hair behind her ear. He took a flower and tucked it behind her ear.

"Beautiful" he whispered and kissed her cheeks.

"You didn't go to the bakery, are you sick?" He asked checking on her temperature.

Ketki shook her head, "I am alright. I was just feeling a little tired"

Rudra got up and scooped ketki in his arms.

"You should rest," he said walking back into the mansion.

"But I am alright" she argued but will this stubborn man listen to her? Well no!

Rudra lay ketki on to the bed, "Wait here I'll quickly freshen up and come"

He covered ketki with the comforter and disappeared into the shower. Ketki just shook her head but stayed lying.

After showering Rudra walked out wearing his sweatshirt and pants. He took the thermometer from the first aid kit and checked her temperature. Well, she had a little fever. And immediately he called Devansh.

Devansh prescribed a few medicines to her. Though it was just a little fever he knew rudra wouldn't listen. Rudra sent his men to get her medicine and asked Maria to prepare soup for her.

"Now chashni like a good girl rest" ketki wanted to refute, he was overreacting but she also knew he wouldn't listen.

So she simply gave in and closed her eyes. Rudra watched her fall asleep. He pulled up the comforter so she wouldn't feel cold.

His men brought the medicine he would give her after she woke up.

Ketki:

I woke up after some time I felt better, and I adjusted my sight to get a clear view. Rudra was nowhere in the room. Wait I was not in our room.

I was in a weird-looking room. I looked around trying to figure out where I was but couldn't point at it.

I removed the comforter only to find my legs chained to one end of the bed.

I panicked, where was rudra? Who chained me? How did I end up here? What place was this? The room was full of my picture as if the person whose room this was kept a constant eye on me... what I do where I go.

Shivers ran through my spine. I tried removing the chains but they were locked.

"Help!!"

"HELP"

"RUDRA!?"

"RUDRA WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"DADA"

"PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME"

Soon a man walked in an unknown man I didn't know him I never saw him before. He had a plate in his hand which was covered with a cloth.

"WHO ARE YOU?"

"WHAT YOU WANT"

ignoring his smirk, I looked around desperately only wanting rudra to come to take me in his arms and save me.

"RUDRA!!"

"PLEASE COME!! PLEASE"

I broke down into tiny sobs. I cried but that man didn't back down.

He was saying something but I couldn't hear a single thing what was he talking about.

And he removed the cover, why eyes widened ... .i yelled...

***

I shot my eyes open only to meet Rudra's worried eyes. I wrapped my hands around his neck hugging him. My heart calmed down in his embrace. He caresses my hair trying to calm me. But I was anything but calm.

My heart was beating fast, I was breathless, I simply couldn't breathe.

"Ketki, what happened?You okay?"

I gulp down lump in my throat, it was a nightmare just a nightmare nothing to be worried about. But it scared the hell out of me.

"Do you want water?" He asked me, but there was no way I wanted him to go away.

I shook my head, tightening the hug. He cupped my cheek with one hand and the other was wrapped around my waist.

"It's okay chashni, it was just a nightmare... i am here with you nothing will happen" rudra calmly whispered in my ear.

He handed me a glass of water, my throat was dry, Iso took it and gulped it in one go.

I didn't say anything, I was scared for him. What was this horrifying nightmare... it was Rudra's beheaded face on that plate.

No no, don't even think about it. Nothing will happen to rudra. It's just a nightmare just a nightmare. Tears slowly threatened to fall off which I didn't stop.

I cried something happening to rudra I can't imagine I can't bear it. I pulled back cupping his cheeks I checked him.

If there was any injury though it was a nightmare I wanted to make sure he was okay.

"Chashni"

He called me but was I to listen to him? No! Once I was sure and fully sure that he was alright I again hugged him.

"Don't leave me... don't go away from me... don't leave my sight"

I whispered, scared.

"shh, I am not going anywhere... I'm here only" Rudra whispered in assurance but I didn't let him go.

He didn't say anything further, he just let me be in his arms. Frequently whispering to me 'It's okay im here'

Maria walked into the room worried seeing me, my face was stained in tears, my eyes red and puffy,

Rudra assured her, that Maria kept the bowl of soup on the table.

"Chashni here drink it hmm?"

He brought a spoonful of soup near my lips, which I drank. He made me finish up the bowl and then gave me my medicine.

I again hugged him tight not wanting to let him go. He simply wrapped his hands around me securing me in his arms.

I felt my eyelid heavy but I was too scared to even blink sleeping was out of the question.

Rudra must have noticed it, he lay me down properly covering me with a comforter.

"Rudra..i.."

"Shhh.. I am here" he lay down beside me I snuggled into his arms.

His hand went under my kurta and caressed my belly which surprisingly calmed me down.

And slowly sleep consumed me.

I woke up after some time, I sat up panicked, and looked around making sure I was in my room and rudra was sleeping beside me.

I calmed down, I saw rudra stirring in sleep, I stopped moving and lay back down. I gently caressed his cheeks.

Just the thought of losing him scared me, it was just a nightmare won't happen in real but my heart was not ready to calm down.

'I would die if anything happened to you... I can't let anything happen to you I can't