CHAPTER - 13: "CONFLICTED HEARTS AND HIDDEN IDENTITIES"

Happy Rakshabandhan to everyone!

May every boy not only protect his sister but also uphold the dignity, respect, and safety of all girls, ensuring a world where they can thrive without fear❤️

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Vishwanath returned to his rented house after making sure Kashi and her mother were comfortable. The evening air was cool, a stark contrast to the turbulence in his mind. As he entered the quiet space, the silence seemed to echo his inner conflict.

The house, though modest compared to the grandeur of his palace in Bundelkhand, had a certain charm that he appreciated. It was unassuming, like the life he was currently living-a life where no one knew him as the King of Bundelkhand or the powerful CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire. Here, he was just Veer, a man who had somehow found himself entangled in the life of a simple, kind-hearted girl named Kashi.

As Vishwanath settled into a chair, his thoughts began to spiral. How did this happen? he wondered, running a hand through his hair. How did I fall in love? The realization was as surprising as it was unsettling. He had never believed in love-at least, not the kind of love that swept you off your feet and made you question everything. Yet, here he was, his heart betraying him at every turn, whispering Kashi's name with every beat.

Kashi had entered his life like a breath of fresh air, her innocence and resilience capturing his heart in ways he couldn't have anticipated. Her laughter, her determination, and even her stubbornness had slowly woven themselves into the fabric of his being. He had always been a man of duty, with no time or space for emotions, especially not for something as unpredictable as love. But for Kashi.... it was different.

Yet, with this newfound emotion came an overwhelming sense of dread. How will she react when she knows the truth? The weight of his hidden identity pressed heavily on him. Vishwanath wanted to form a genuine connection with Kashi, one that wasn't influenced by his royal title or his wealth. He valued the honest and pure interactions they shared, where she saw him for who he was, not for what he represented. But this very desire to protect their bond made him uneasy. How long can I keep this from her? he questioned, feeling a pang of guilt.

The man who never knew what love was now feared losing it even before it had fully bloomed. The thought of Kashi's reaction when she learned who he truly was filled him with anxiety. Will she feel betrayed? Will she see me differently?

Vishwanath's gaze drifted to the window, where the last light of day faded away, the city began to settle into the quiet embrace of night. Shadows lengthened, and the streets slowly emptied as the world prepared for rest, but all he could think about was the turmoil in his heart. His responsibilities as a king and a CEO loomed over him like a shadow, reminding him of the life he had momentarily left behind. His brothers, Raghavendra and Rudra, were managing things in his absence, but he knew he couldn't stay away for long.

Yet, the thought of leaving Kashi behind was equally unbearable. She had no idea of the battles raging within him-the conflict between his heart and his duty, between the man he wanted to be and the king he was expected to be.

Tomorrow, he decided. Tomorrow, I'll tell her. He would visit Kashi at the café where she worked and reveal everything before leaving for Bundelkhand. It was only fair that she knew the truth, and he couldn't bear the thought of deceiving her any longer. She deserved honesty, even if it meant risking the bond they had formed.

But even as he resolved to do this, a small voice in his head reminded him of the consequences. What if she turns away from me? The thought was unbearable. He didn't want to lose her, but he couldn't keep living a lie either. The dilemma gnawed at him, leaving him restless and uncertain.

He knew that no new relationship could truly flourish if it was built on deceit. Lies, no matter how small, had a way of eroding trust and creating distance between two hearts. He understood that honesty was the foundation of any meaningful connection, and without it, the bond would be fragile, prone to breaking under the slightest strain. As much as he feared losing her, he knew that revealing the truth was the only way to give their relationship a real chance. But the fear of her rejection lingered, making the path ahead seem daunting.

Vishwanath's mind continued to wrestle with these thoughts. His heart ached with the realization that, for the first time in his life, he wanted something more than power, more than the throne. He wanted Kashi, not because of what he could offer her, but because she saw beyond wealth and status. She didn't care for power or riches, she only wanted love. And that made him long for her even more. This desire, so new and raw, left him vulnerable in a way he had never experienced before.

His phone rang suddenly, breaking the silence and his restless thoughts. The caller ID showed Raghavendra's name.

"Hello?" Vishwanath answered, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

"Bhaiya, we need you back immediately," Raghavendra's voice was calm but firm and urgent. "There's an important meeting tomorrow evening. It's about the project we've been working on, the one that could make our company the top in the world. Your presence is crucial."

Vishwanath's heart sank. He had known this day would come, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon. The project Raghavendra mentioned was a massive undertaking, one that Vishwanath had poured his heart and soul into, along with his brothers. It was a venture that, if successful, would not only make their company the number one in the world but would also significantly boost India's economy. The stakes were incredibly high, and the pressure to succeed was immense.

"I understand, Raghav," Vishwanath replied, his voice heavy. "I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon". I have something important to take care of in the morning."

Raghavendra paused, sensing the weight in his brother's tone. Are you ok bhaiya? He asked

Vishwanath's voice came through the phone, steady but carrying a hint of something deeper. "I'm fine, Raghavendra," he said, pausing for a moment. "Just dealing with things that aren't so easily fixed."

Raghavendra frowned, concern evident in his voice. "You don't have to handle everything alone, bhaiya. I'm here, let me help."

Vishwanath sighed softly, his tone softening. "I know, Raghavendra, but some battles are mine to fight. I just need to find a way through this."

Raghavendra wanted to tell Vishwanath that he didn't have to carry the burden alone, that he and Rudra were always there for him. But he stopped himself, sensing his brother's need for space.

Instead, he simply said, "Alright, Bhaiya. Just make sure you're here. This project means everything to our family, kingdom and country."

Vishwanath ended the call, his mind even more conflicted. He knew he had to return, but the thought of leaving Kashi without revealing the truth felt like a betrayal. He had promised himself he would tell her in the morning, but now, that promise seemed to hang by a thread.

As he pocketed his phone, his resolve strengthened. He would tell her tomorrow morning, no matter what. He owed her that much.

Exhausted by the turmoil within, he finally allowed himself to drift into a restless sleep, where dreams of her consumed his thoughts.

Next morning, Vishwanath prepared to visit Kashi, determined to finally tell her the truth. The café where she worked was just a short walk away from his rented house, and he found solace in the thought that he would be able to see her one last time before heading back to Bundelkhand.

When he reached the café, he saw her working behind the counter, her brow furrowed in concentration. The sight of her made his heart ache with the knowledge of what he was about to do.

"Kashi," he called softly as he approached her.

She looked up, her eyes lighting up with a smile that made his heart swell with affection. "Aree Veer ji! Aap yaha? (Ohh Veer ji! You here?)

Vishwanath shook his head, trying to focus on the present. "Kashi, tumhara pao kaisa hai ab? (Kashi, how is your foot now?)

Kashi glanced down at her foot, which was still wrapped in a bandage. "Ab theek hai, Veer ji. Swelling kam ho gayi hai, aur dard bhi ab nahi hai." (Now it's fine, Veer ji. The swelling has reduced, and there is no more pain.)

Hearing this, Vishwanath felt a small wave of relief wash over him. He had been worried about her injury all night along with the inner turmoil that has swooned his mind, and knowing that she was feeling better eased some of the tension that had been building inside him.

"That's good," Vishwanath said, his voice softening. "Tum apna khayal rakho. Agar kuch bhi chahiye ho toh mujhe bata dena." (Take care of yourself. If you need anything, just let me know.)

Kashi smiled, touched by his concern. "Aap bohot acche hain, Veer ji par aapko abb pareshan hone ki zaroorat nahi. Main theek hoon abb." (You are very kind, Veer ji, but you don't need to worry now. I'm fine now.)

"Kashi," he called softly

She looked up, her eyes lighting up with a smile that made his heart ache even more

Vishwanath hesitated for a moment, his resolve faltering. He couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth-not yet. "Woh....... woh bas tumhe dekhne aaya tha," he lied, forcing a smile. "Mujhe tumse ek baat karni thi, lekin...." (Well...... I just came to see you," he lied, forcing a smile. "I needed to talk to you about something, but....)

Kashi tilted her head, concern etching her features. "Kya hua, Veer ji?" (What happened, Veer ji?)

Before Vishwanath could respond, his phone rang, breaking the moment. The caller ID showed Raghavendra's name, and Vishwanath's heart sank. He had been expecting this call but had hoped it would come later.

"Sorry, Kashi. Mujhe ye call lena padega," (Sorry, Kashi. I need to take this call) he said, stepping back to answer the call.

As he spoke to Raghavendra, explaining that he would be back in Bundelkhand by evening, he could hear the urgency in his brother's voice. "Bhaiya, there's been a change. The investors' flight got rescheduled, and they've requested to prepone the meeting to afternoon from evening. We need you here as soon as possible."

Vishwanath's heart sank further. The project was crucial, and the investors were key to its success. Without their support, all the hard work he, Raghavendra, and Rudra had put in could fall apart. But at the same time, he was torn between his duty and the promise he had made to himself to be honest with Kashi.

"Ok then.... I'll leave now for Bundelkhand and will be there by afternoon," Vishwanath said, his voice strained. He wanted to tell Kashi everything right then and there, but the lack of time had him bound. He knew he had to prioritize the meeting, but the thought of leaving without revealing his true identity gnawed at him.

"Please hurry, Bhaiya. We can't afford to lose this opportunity," Raghavendra urged before ending the call.

Vishwanath turned back to Kashi, his heart heavy with the decision he was forced to make. He wanted to tell her the truth, to be honest with her before leaving. But time was running out, and the weight of his responsibilities bore down on him.

Vishwanath hesitated, his heart caught between the weight of his secret and the warmth in Kashi's eyes. His resolve, once so firm, wavered as he realized the enormity of what he was about to do. How could he reveal his true identity now, when every word would change her world forever? Not like this, he thought , not when time was so cruelly short, not when he had to leave her side so soon.

He knew that dropping such a revelation on her and then walking away would only add to her confusion and pain. The last thing he wanted was to see the trust in her eyes turn to doubt or fear. Vishwanath decided that it was better to wait, to let this moment pass, and to share the truth with her after his business was settled. Then, he could be fully present to answer her questions, to reassure her, and to face whatever consequences might come.

"Kashi, mujhe Bundelkhand wapas jaana hoga," he said finally, his voice heavy. "Ek urgent official matter hai."

(Kashi, I have to go back to Bundelkhand," he said finally, his voice heavy. "There's an urgent official matter.)

Kashi's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly masked her disappointment with a nod. "Oh... Okay, Veer ji. Aap apna dhyaan rakhna." (Oh.... Okay, Veer ji. Please take care of yourself.)

Vishwanath nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving her without an explanation. "Main jald wapas aane ki koshish karunga. Tum Aunty ka khayal rakhna... aur apna bhi." (I'll try to come back soon. Take care of Aunty... and yourself too.)

"I will, Veer ji," Kashi replied softly, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Aur aap.... aap apna bhi khayal rakhna. Waha pahunch kar mujhe zaroor call karna." (And you.... you take care of yourself too. Once you reach there, make sure to call me.)

Vishwanath was touched by her concern. Despite everything, she was still thinking of his well-being. The realization made his heart ache even more. "Main tumhe zaroor call karunga," he promised, his voice thick with emotion. "Aur aunty ko meri taraf se bye kehna." (I'll definitely call you, he promised, his voice thick with emotion. And say bye to Aunty from my side.)

Kashi smiled sadly, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Main unhe bata dungi." (I'll let her know)

Vishwanath's heart tightened as he looked at her, wanting nothing more than to pull her into his arms and tell her everything. But he couldn't , not now. The time wasn't right. "Bye, Kashi," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Bye, Veer ji," Kashi replied, her voice equally soft. "Take care."

With one last, lingering look at her, Vishwanath turned and walked out of the café, his heart heavy with the weight of his hidden truth and the uncertainty of what the future held for them. As he walked back to his house to pack, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was leaving a piece of his heart behind with Kashi.

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Words : 2600 (approx)

Author's Note 📖

In this chapter, Vishwanath finally realizes that he is deeply in love with Kashi. For the first time, he acknowledges the depth of his feelings, realizing he has fallen for her despite his usual detachment. This chapter explores his internal conflict between his heart and his responsibilities as a king and CEO. As he prepares to return to Bundelkhand, he struggles with how to reveal his true identity to Kashi. Despite his intentions to confess, urgent matters pull him away, leaving their conversation unresolved. Stay tuned to see how Vishwanath will navigate these challenges and what the future holds for him and Kashi✨

I want to extend my sincerest apologies for the delay in delivering this chapter. I appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. As a token of my gratitude and to make up for the wait, I've written a special chapter with 2.6k words for you. I hope you enjoy it and find it worth the wait 💌🫶🏻

And Raghavendra and Rudra have made their entrance into the story! I'd love to hear your thoughts on their characters and how you feel about their impact on the plot so far. Do their personalities and actions add intrigue and excitement to the narrative?❣️

Also guys I want to know if you guys prefer long chapters or short chapters? Your feedback will help me tailor the story to better suit your reading preferences....Please do reply

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