32.

Ketki

"That's it for the day," Rudra said and I settled on the floor. As usual, my training went by. At first, my legs were in pain and my whole damn body was in pain but as the training went by I got used to it. In fact, I loved it because my dear husband pampered me after tiring practice.

He wiped the sweat off my forehead, "tired" I shook my head

"Not like before" I replied, grabbing the napkin and wiping my sweat.

As usual, he picked me up and walked to our room, putting me in the bathroom and handing me my towel. This was our regular thing. Now after training rudra will carry me around the house feed me breakfast and at the end of the day, he'll massage my feet.

I took a warm shower, and my body relaxed in contact with warm water. After showering I wore simple wide-leg jeans and a t-shirt layered with a jacket, my go-to outfit. Tying my hair in a high ponytail.

I stepped out of the closet, Rudra just stepped out of the shower he was just in a towel. His perfectly built body is view to watch. Especially his tattoo on the abdomen. I usually don't like tattoos on men but his lion tattoo is a treat to watch.

He glanced at me through the mirror raising an eyebrow, "Like what you see chashni"

Butterflies erupted in my stomach, his husky voice would be the death of me.

"Get dressed I'm hungry" I spoke ignoring my fluttering heart and crimson red cheeks.

He walked towards me wrapping his hands around my waist. He pulled me closer our bodies touching each other.

"First answer my question you like what you see" He whispers sending shivers down my spine.

My cheeks turned red even more, I just nodded shyly.

"Words chashni" He lifted my chin by placing his forefinger under it.

"Yes Happy" I huffed looking away. He always teases me.

He kissed my cheeks "very much" and he cupped my cheeks.

"Sit here I'll get dressed then we'll go to have breakfast" Bopping my nose he went into the closet to get dressed.

I sat on the bed waiting for him while going through the interior designer's profiles.

I frowned when I got a text from Zayn. I opened his text.

Zayn: Sorry for disturbing you but I wanted your guidance on an issue.

Me: Sure bhai what happened?

Zayn: there's this conflicting feeling in my heart, I met a girl at a wedding and she gave me a tight slap due to a misunderstanding... but instead of getting angry im intrigued by her i wanna see her... again apologize to her, and clear the misunderstanding.

Me: So bhai, without wasting your time go apologize to her and clear your misunderstanding...

Zayn: the thing is whenever I see my heart beating so fast that im scared that I might end up in ER.

I laughed, I know how it feels. I cleared my throat and replied to his text.

Me: bhai have you fallen in love or something?

Zayn: Is it that easy to guess?

Me: huh your description says it all.

He sent me a shy emoji. This guy is dramatic. After explaining to him how to apologize and stuff rudra walked out of the closet fully dressed.

"Chalein?" He asked, walking towards me. He picked me up and took me downstairs to the dining room.

Maria served us breakfast, and before eating his breakfast he fed me. I told him not to but this stubborn man doesn't listen to me when it comes to me.

After finishing our breakfast he took me to the car, aryan was already waiting for us. Rudra puts me on the backseat.

"Aaj ek important meeting hai late ho skta hai wait mat karna khana kha lena hm?"

(I have an important meeting today, so I may be late, don't wait for me to have your dinner)

Rudra caressed my cheeks, I am used to having dinner with him. But also if not important he would cancel these late meetings now that he is going which means the meeting should be important.

"Miss me okay?" He asked, kissing my nose. I giggled "Take care, Mr Chauhan"

He shuts the door and Aryan starts driving to the bakery.

Soon after we reached the bakery, I got out of the car. "I'm gonna prepare your favorite pastry," I said to Aryan, his face lit up. "I'll call you okay?" He nodded and left.

I know he doesn't leave, he's here for my protection he just drives somewhere scheduled and stays there so that no one doubts him.

I walked into the bakery, Arya was talking to a girl and as soon as she saw me she smiled.

"Oh good you are on time" Arya spoke, I walked beside arya. "Ketki this is Ishika Singh our interior designer"

She gave me a warm smile, "I'm Ketki Chauhan" I spoke, extending my hand for a handshake. She gladly shook her hand with me.

"Miss arya was explaining to me how you want the bakery to look like, i have a few designs in my mind you can have a look" ishika spoke, i settled down beside her as she showed her template design.

A liked a pink pastel colored themed design, "This one I hope it's okay if I add a few other things in this design"

She smiled "Sure mam as you like, we'll make sure you are satisfied with the design"

Perfect, I suggested a few things for which also gave her opinion which were genuinely good.

After finalizing everything, Arya served her tea and cookies. She's a sweet person. I like her.

Her face lit up at the taste of cookies. "You know I love Jalebi Is the most but these cookies are just way too good"

Her professional demeanor was long gone I felt like I was talking to my long-lost friend.

"Can you pack these few for me also the muffins my Abhi will love them" she spoke taking a bite of another cookie.

I nodded, "You know my husband doesn't like sweet stuff and I am like how is he livin' so I urge him to eat with me... and he eats it too" she continued.

"Even my husband doesn't like sweet stuff but the only thing he eats is blueberry cheesecake" I smiled and glanced at my phone sure Rudra's message would come any minute now.

"Lemme guess Love marriage?" Ishika asked to which I shook my head. "Arrange marriage" I replied sure we both had feelings for each other but if not for Dada we would have taken the next 100 years to get together.

"Girl samee mine is arranged too" ishika spoke with a gentle smile. She finished up her cookies and I packed a few muffins and cookies for her.

"Thank you for these it will be fun working with you" ishika smiled and left.

Sweet girl I mumbled and walked into the kitchen, my phone pinged I took my phone it was Rudra's message.

Rudra: I have reached, and now going for a meeting won't be online for a while. Okay.

Me: I don't care about your meeting but hubby eat your lunch on time.

Rudra: I like how bossy you are.

Me: Don't excuse hubby I'll reach there in between your meeting and drag you to have lunch.

Rudra: ah wifey if you come here I'll skip lunch just so that I could see your beautiful face.

Me: okay okay now go I'll call you at lunchtime.

***

I was finally done with all the orders, I heard the bell indicating a customer had arrived. Arya went out for some work.

So I stepped out, "Welcome to sweet escape" I gave that person a warm smile.

He gave me a weird smile before settling down on an empty seat. "I would like your special blueberry cheesecake"

I gave him an apologetic look, "i am sorry blueberry cheesecake is available only for special orders... you can order anything else"

"Then how about strawberry muffins?" I nodded and took out two pieces I served him. He ate those muffins quietly.

"These taste the same as they tasted 5 years ago" I frowned, was he an old customer but I never saw him before.

"You used to give free samples before the bakery opening" Oh right, we used to give free samples so that more and more people would come to our bakery.

"Thank you" he smiled, but something about his smile was weird. "Even your smile is the same" Okay now this is weirder.

"Angel... 5 years and my heart still pounds at the sight of your smile" he continued talking, does he know me? Do I know him? In college? No....

"Im sure your brother and husband told you about me" I stood still at my place. Kartik...why was he here? How... okay ketki calm down he won't hurt him...you have been training yourself for exactly this day... don't show fear...don't calm down calm the fuck down aryan is nearby he'll come...till then I need to manage him myself.

"Shocked? Awww I was dying to see that look on your face... only if you would have accepted my love instead of taking it as a joke... I would have spared your mother... cause after our marriage your mother would have been my mother too"

He continued talking shit while taking a chance a pressed a button on my bracelet, Rudra gave me a bracelet which was a sos device, in incase of any emergency or any problem if I don't have my phone or the battery is dead I could use this device.

As soon as Rudra or Aryan get the message they'll know Im in trouble.

"I tried to create a rift between you and your husband by bringing back your loser Ex but that bastard husband of yours just sent him away, I told you the truth about your brother so that I could break you apart from him but you forgave him why an angel? Why do you always keep doing things opposite of what I want? I did everything so that you'll be mine but no in the end you fall for someone else!!!"

He stood but was all ready to march at me, I clutched my jacket tightly, No matter how much I tried to calm myself I was scared.

"Tell me your brother rejected me 'cause I was a Mafia so why rudra? He is a mafia too, your brother said I am a monster so is your husband, I heard he is ruthless and doesn't think twice before killing, Your brother said my hands are painted in blood so is Rudra's he rejected me giving all these reasons and married you off with a same kind of guy? Why this hypocrisy huh"

He clenched his jaw, I shook my head,

"No, you are wrong... Rudra may be a mafia but he never did anything that would hurt me, he never forced himself on me he respected me, and all he gave me was love without expecting anything in return while you... you hurt me, you didn't respect my decisions I didn't even know you yet you out of nowhere came asking me to marry you... you don't love me you are just obsessed with me and because I married someone else it hurt your fragile ego...You killed my mother, and Rudra's whole family just for your sick obsession you call yourself a man for backstabbing your friend who Just wanted to protect his sister from a monster like you. You are sick and thank god I never got to know you to fall in love with you it would have surely ruined my life"

I knew I talked a lot, when there was no one I could be in danger but I just couldn't stop myself from speaking, he marched close to me his intention was clear to choke me or slap me. Before he could I ducked it reaching out for my bag I quickly took out my pepper spray.

"You think after knowing how my life is in danger I'll walk around without any preparations?" I sprayed pepper spray right in his eyes and he groaned in pain. I looked at the pepper spray liking its effect.

Before he could get over his eyes burned the door was busted open revealing rudra and aryan. Aryan held Kartik while rudra rushed to me checking a few possible injuries which were none. That dude wasted so much time in talking it gave rudra enough time to reach here.

"You okay?" He asked pulling me into his embrace, I could hear his heartbeat, and he hugged me as if im gonna disappear, I hugged him back rubbing his back.

"I am alright rudra... I knew you would come to protect me..." He buried his face in my hair trying to calm his beating heart. While I found peace in his arms. Yeah sure I was scared a while ago but I trusted Rudra he'd be here, I knew my rudra would protect me.

When Rudra was finally calmed he looked at Kartik his gaze ice cold. Zayn and Devansh rushed in too sometime later. As soon as Zayn saw Kartik he marched towards him throwing punches at him. He didn't stop until Devansh pulled him back.

But Zayn didn't stop, "stop it Zayn" Rudra ordered, only then Zayn stopped. Kartik was in a pool of blood.

"Take him away you know where" Rudra gave Aryan a knowing look, Aryan understanding dragged Kartik with him.

"Aap think ho?" I asked Zayn pointing at his bruised hand. He simply nodded,

"Don't worry I am fine" Zayn replied calmly but Devansh held his hand studying it.

"Do you have a first aid kit?" Devansh asked, I pointed to the counter. Devansh took the first aid kit and started dressing his wound.

I hugged Rudra, and he hugged me tight pulling me close, "I was scared Chashni when I received your SOS message...I am sorry I was late"

I shook my head kissing his cheeks, "I love you" his gaze softened, and kissed my forehead,

"I love you too" We both stayed calmly in each other's embrace.

"Chashni...stay with arya I need to go deal with that motherfucker" I looked up at him never in my life, had I thought I would say this...

"Let me come too"

A/N

How was the chapter guys? don't forget to share your views in the comment section, and click on the star button to vote.

-Also, follow me on Instagram: