CHAPTER 17: " A CONFRONTATION OF HEARTS" - PART (01)

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Vishwanath rushed outside, his heart pounding with fear. He scanned the area, but Kashi was nowhere in sight. Panicking, he ran to the guards at the gate. "Did you see a girl in a blue dress leave?"

One of the guards nodded. "Yes, sir. She took a rickshaw to the bus stand."

Without wasting another second, Vishwanath jumped into his Aston Martin and sped toward the bus stand. His mind raced as fast as his car. Kashi.... please be there. I need to talk to you, to explain everything. He couldn't lose her, not like this.

When he finally reached the bus stand, his breath came in ragged gasps. The afternoon rush hour had turned the place into a chaotic mess. People hurried in every direction, families lugging heavy bags, vendors calling out for customers, the distant honking of buses adding to the noise. The smell of sweat and dust hung thick in the humid air.

His eyes frantically scanned the sea of faces, anxiety gnawing at his insides. Every second felt like an eternity, until.... there she was. Amongst the crowd, sitting under a weathered metal shed, her petite frame hunched forward. His heart skipped a beat.

She looked so small, so fragile. Her eyes were red and puffy, filled with unshed tears that trembled on the brink of falling. She stared blankly at the ground, lost in her misery, unaware of the bustling chaos around her.

His heart shattered at the sight. The noise of the bus stand faded into the background, drowned out by the sound of his pulse hammering in his ears. All he could see was her, so vulnerable, so broken, sitting alone amidst the storm of people.

He approached her carefully, his steps slow and deliberate. He didn't want to startle her, didn't want her to feel more frightened than she already was. His eyes never left her as he navigated through the crowd, gently weaving between the hurried bodies. When he finally stood just a few feet away, he took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his chest before softly calling out her name.

"Kashi..."

Her head jerked up at the sound, eyes wide with surprise and lingering pain, meeting his gaze. Panic flashed across her face as she immediately stood up, attempting to leave. But Vishwanath was faster. He reached out and gently but firmly held her arm, preventing her from walking away.

"Kashi, please, aise mat jao." (Kashi, please, don't go like this) Vishwanath pleaded,"Please, ek baar sun lo. Ek chance do mujhe sab samjane ka." (Please, listen to me once. Give me a chance to explain everything)

But Kashi pulled her hand away. Kashi was too hurt, too overwhelmed and a little angry too. She shook her head vigorously, her tears falling freely, "Mujhe aapse koi baat nahi karni, Ve...." (I don't want to talk to you, Ve....) she started but couldn't finish. Her heart was too broken to even say his name. She cried even harder, trying to walk away.

Vishwanath felt a deep pang of guilt. He had hurt her more than he could ever have imagined. But as he stood there, he realized they were attracting attention. People were beginning to recognize him, the King of Bundelkhand, standing in the middle of a bus stand, trying to reach out to a crying woman.

He couldn't let this situation turn into a spectacle. As much as he could bow in front of Kashi, his queen, he couldn't allow the media or anyone else to use this for their own gain. He was a king, a powerful businessman, and his enemies were always finding ways to get to him. He couldn't let them hurt or exploit Kashi.

With a firm resolve, he gently but securely took her by the shoulders and guided her towards his car. "Yahan se chalte hai Kashi, yaha baat karna thik nahi hoga"(Let's leave from here, Kashi it won't be right to talk here) he said softly, though his tone left no room for argument.

Kashi resisted, trying to pull away from his grasp, but his hold on her was gentle yet unyielding. She didn't have the strength to fight him off in her emotional state, and before she knew it, he had guided her into the passenger seat of his car. He quickly moved to the driver's side, locking the doors to prevent her from escaping.

Without another word, Vishwanath started the car and drove away, his mind focused on finding a quiet, secluded spot where they could talk. Where he could finally explain everything to her. Where he could make things right. His heart ached as he glanced at her tear-streaked face. The woman he had sworn to protect now looked so fragile and broken.

Vishwanath guided the car through the busy streets, leaving behind the chaos of the bus stand and heading towards his penthouse, his private sanctuary. It was a place he visited when he needed to rest, away from everyone, where he could be at peace. Today, he needed that privacy more than ever to talk to Kashi.

Kashi's tears had subsided a little, but the hurt in her eyes remained. She stared out the window, her mind racing with questions. How could the man she trusted so deeply, her Veer ji, have kept such a significant part of his life hidden from her? The king of Bundelkhand? The man driving the expensive car in a tailored three-piece suit didn't feel like her Veer ji anymore, she thought. The face was the same, but everything else felt foreign, unfamiliar. The warmth she once knew seemed distant now, overshadowed by the weight of secrets she hadn't anticipated. The car was enveloped in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on both of them, adding to the tension that hung heavily in the air.

As they reached the penthouse, Vishwanath parked the car in the underground garage and stepped out. He moved to Kashi's side, opened the door for her, but she seemed too lost in her own thoughts to notice. Gently, he took her arm, guiding her out of the car. This time, she didn't resist. She was too shocked, too overwhelmed, and too tired to protest.

The penthouse was a seamless blend of luxury and warmth, with plush, cozy inviting furniture that made the expansive space feel welcoming despite its grandeur. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the rooms in natural light, offering a breathtaking view of the city that stretched far below, adding an unexpected sense of tranquility amidst the height. It was elegant, refined, and timeless much like its owner.

Vishwanath gently led Kashi to a soft leather couch in the living room, guiding her as though she might break with a single wrong move. The warmth of the room felt stifling against the icy tension that radiated from her body. She sank into the plush cushions, but her posture remained rigid, her hands trembling uncontrollably in her lap. Every breath she took seemed strained, as though she was struggling to hold herself together.

Without a word, Vishwanath moved to the sleek kitchen, his footsteps barely making a sound on the polished floors. He grabbed a crystal glass from the cabinet, filled it with cool water, and returned to her side. Kneeling down in front of her, he extended the glass, hoping the simple act of drinking might ease her nerves a little bit.

"Please thoda, paani peelo Kashi," (Please, have some water, Kashi) he urged gently, his voice soft and soothing, as though speaking any louder might shatter her fragile composure. She reached out to take the glass, but her hands shook too much to keep it steady. Water sloshed against the sides of the glass, droplets slipping over the rim and landing on her lap.

Seeing her struggle, Vishwanath didn't hesitate. With the utmost care, he took the glass from her trembling hands, his fingers brushing against hers for the briefest moment. He shifted closer, his presence strong and reassuring, and slowly raised the glass to her lips.

"Thoda sa," (have a little) he whispered, watching her intently. She hesitated at first, then took a small sip, her lips parting slightly against the rim. He tilted the glass just enough for her to drink, making sure not to overwhelm her. His gaze never wavered from her face, concern etched deep into his expression as he watched each movement, gauging her every reaction.

When she had finally drunk enough, he set the glass down on the coffee table.Kashi sat in silence, the tears in her eyes shimmering under the soft lighting of the penthouse. Vishwanath could see the pain in her eyes, and it tore at him. He had never imagined that revealing his true identity would hurt her so much.

"Kashi, please...ek baar meri baat sun lo. (Kashi, please... just listen to me once) I never wanted to hurt you. Please let me explain." Vishwanath said softly with pleading eyes.

Kashi's heart raced. She looked down at him, her mind battling the confusion and hurt. No, she wasn't ready for this confrontation. Before he could say more, she stood up abruptly, trying to leave, her emotions overwhelming her.

But Vishwanath was faster. He quickly moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her gently back hugging her , holding her back. His touch was firm but not forceful, as if he feared she might shatter into pieces.Despite the urge to hold her tightly, Vishwanath maintained a respectful distance.

"Kashi, please. Don't leave like this," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Tumhe rota dekh ke mera dil dukh raha hai." (Seeing you cry is breaking my heart.)

She froze in his arms, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop around them. Her Veer ji's words echoed in her mind, but she couldn't reconcile them with the reality of who he really was.

"Why?" Kashi finally asked, her voice breaking as she spoke. "Why did you hide such a big part of your life from me?" She was about to call him 'Veer ji,' but she stopped at "Ve..." The name now felt different on her tongue.

Vishwanath loosened his hold just slightly, enough to turn her to face him. His eyes were soft, filled with guilt and remorse. "Main samajhta hoon, Kashi. Mujhe pata hai ki maine tumhe bohot dukh pahunchaya hai. Lekin yaqeen karo, main tumse jhooth bolna nahi chahta tha. Main chahata tha ki tum mujhe bina kisi influence ke, jaisa hoon waisa samjho. Main aisa connection build karna chahta tha humare beech jo sach mein asli ho, jo mere title ya status se influenced nahi ho. Tumhare saath jo bond tha... woh bilkul pure tha, aur main usse kharab nahi karna chahta tha."

(I understand, Kashi. I know I've hurt you deeply. But believe me, I never wanted to lie to you. I wanted you to see me as I truly am, without any influence. I wanted to build a connection between us that was real, untouched by my title or status. The bond we had... it was completely pure, and I didn't want to ruin that.)

Kashi's innocent eyes searched his face, looking for the truth in his words. And she saw it- sincerity, pain, and a deep regret. But the hurt she felt was undeniable.

"I trusted you, Ve...." She stopped again, biting her lip as she corrected herself. "Vishwanath ji. I trusted you. Aap mere liye hamesha ek pillar of support rahe hai. Aur ab yeh sab... aap ek raja hai. Aap wo nahi hai jo main apko sochti thi." (Vishwanath ji, I trusted you. You have always been a pillar of support for me. And now all this... You are a king. You are not who I thought you were.)

Her words were soft, but they cut through Vishwanath like a knife. He could hear the betrayal in her gentle voice, and it tore at him. He took a deep breath, knowing that no amount of explanation could undo the pain he caused. Another wound was the way she addressed him as Vishwanath ji, it was his name, but hearing "Veer ji" from Kashi's lips had always been more serene and beautiful for him.

Kashi's heart, though fragile, had already begun to fall for her Veer ji. Now, discovering that he was not just her beloved Veer ji but the mighty King of Bundelkhand, her feelings were in turmoil. How could she reconcile loving someone who had kept such a significant part of himself hidden from her? And yet, how could she stop loving him, despite the deception? Her heart was ensnared in a tempest of conflicting emotions.

And beyond that, she grappled with another painful question, Why would someone as powerful as he, a king, be interested in an ordinary girl like her? The disparity between their worlds felt vast, further intensifying the storm within her.

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Author's Note 📖

This confrontation scene is long,as I wanted to write the emotions in detail. Because of that, I've divided this part into two chapters. The second part is already written and ready to go! However, it will be unlocked once you guys hit the target of 48 votes. So, if you're enjoying the story, please complete the target by voting, and if possible, leave a comment too , it really makes me happy and keeps me motivated! 💗💌

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