CHAPTER 23: "ECHOES OF ROMANCE & GLIMPSES OF PAST"

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Kashi stood at the entrance of the grand Singhania Mansion's guest room, escorted by a helper who had led her there as per Rajmata's orders.

As Kashi stepped inside, she was taken aback by the sheer beauty of the room. The walls were painted in soft hues of black and grey, while delicate gold accents ran along the edges. The room boasted a large, intricately designed window with flowing silk curtains that danced with the evening breeze. A chandelier hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow that added a sense of intimacy. The bed was a centerpiece, draped in rich velvet covers, with plush pillows neatly arranged. It was a bed fit for royalty, and Kashi felt a little out of place.

As she stood by the bed, lost in thought, there was a gentle knock on the door. Kashi opened the door to find the same helper standing with a folded salwar suit in her hands. "Rajmata has sent this night suit for you."

Kashi took the night suit, her lips curving into a grateful smile. " Thank you " she said softly before closing the door. She looked at the night suit, admiring its elegance. Though it was meant to be simple, the fabric was luxurious, soft to the touch, and a shade of red with golden embroidery along the edges. After taking a refreshing bath, Kashi changed into the night suit, feeling the fabric comfortably envelop her skin.

Just as she was about to settle down, her phone began ringing, breaking the peaceful silence of the room. It was her mother. A sudden pang of guilt hit her, she hadn't even had the chance to call her mother to check on her. Hurriedly, she answered.

"Hello, Maa" Kashi said, walking toward the large window to get better reception.

"Kashi.... Beta.....How are you? And where....are you?" her mother's voice crackled through the poor network.

"Maa, your voice is breaking.... can you hear me?Hello?" Kashi's heart sank as her mother's words kept breaking, fading in and out.

There was a brief silence before the connection returned, and Kashi tried again. "Maa can you hear me now?"

"Ha beta, now I can. Anjali replied.

"Ma, how are you?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.

"I'm fine, beta. How was your day? Did everything go well at the party?"

Kashi smiled. "Yes Maa, everything went fine. Rajmata was very kind. She even insisted I stay here tonight because it's late."

Her mother's voice grew concerned. "You're staying in the Singhania Mansion?"

"Yes, Maa, but don't worry. Everything is fine," Kashi reassured her.

They continued talking for a while, exchanging updates on their day. But suddenly, the connection broke again. Kashi glanced at her phone. The signal showed "No network," so Kashi decided to step out of the room to find a better signal.

She wandered through the large hallways of the Singhania Mansion, holding her phone up in the air, hoping to catch a signal. After several minutes of walking, she found herself near a grand window where the signal bar finally reappeared. She immediately called her mother again.

"Sorry Maa, there was no network," she explained, pressing her phone to her ear. "Are you okay now? You took your medicines, right?"

"Yes, beta. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. You get some rest, and we will talk more once you come back tomorrow. Good night, Kashi."

"Goodnight Maa, Take care of yourself" Kashi said, before ending the call.

She turned to head back to her room, only to realize she had no idea where she was. The hallways of the mansion seemed endless, and all the doors looked the same. How far have I walked? she wondered, a wave of confusion washing over her.

Kashi started retracing her steps, but every corridor she walked through led her deeper into the maze. With growing uncertainty, she approached a corridor where she spotted a room at the far end. Her memory told her that the guest room she was assigned to was at the end of a corridor too.

Thinking it might be her room, she pushed open the door, it wasn't locked. But as soon as she stepped in, she knew she had made a mistake. The room was enormous, with an air of grandeur that immediately set it apart. A majestic king-sized bed, draped with deep crimson velvet and adorned with intricate gold embroidery, dominated the space. The walls were decorated with exquisite tapestries, and the dark mahogany furniture gleamed under the soft glow of a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, adding a sense of regality. Every corner of the room whispered opulence and power. This was clearly not the guest room, it felt more like the chamber of a king.

Kashi immediately froze, realizing her error, and was about to leave when the sound of the door clicking shut behind her startled her. Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly turned around.

There stood Vishwanath, freshly out of the shower, with a towel around his neck, drying his hair. He was shirtless, wearing only trousers that hung low on his hips. His muscles rippled under the soft light, droplets of water still glistening on his skin.

Kashi's eyes widened in shock, her breath hitched, and her cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, and a soft, almost inaudible gasp escaped her lips.

Vishwanath, who was drying his hair, froze mid-motion, his hand stopping as he processed her presence, his own surprise was evident. The towel now hung loosely over his neck, forgotten, both of them standing still in the heavy silence of the room.

Kashi instinctively tried to back away, but in her panic, her foot slipped on the carpet. She felt herself falling when Vishwanath, quick on his feet, immediately caught her by the wrist, pulling her toward him to stop her fall. Kashi's hand landed on his bare chest, the warmth of his skin sending a jolt through her body. Her eyes widened in shock as they stood like that, caught in each other's gaze, the intensity of the moment rendering them speechless.

They were lost in the moment when suddenly, the door creaked open, and Rudra walked in, casually saying, "Bhaiya....." But then he squealed, quickly covering his eyes with his hands. "Oh my god! Lagta hai main galat time par aa gaya!" ( It seems I came at the wrong time!) He backed away dramatically, "Sorry bhaiya, please continue!" he exclaimed before quickly darting out, leaving them both in an awkward silence.

Kashi's cheeks burned red as she quickly stepped away from Vishwanath, turning her back to him in embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry! "Mujhe nahi pta tha ki yeh apka kamra hai (I didn't know this was your room) she stammered, her voice shaky.

Vishwanath, sensing her discomfort, quickly pulled on his nightshirt. "Kashi, tum ab turn kar sakti ho"(Kashi, you can turn around now)

"Kashi, please Rudra ki baato ka bura mat mann na. Woh bas kuch bhi bol deta hai. Main uski taraf se maafi mangta hu." (Kashi, please don't mind Rudra. He just says anything. I'm really sorry on his behalf.)

Kashi just hummed, her eyes looking anywhere but at Vishwanath.

"Vase tum yahan kaise? Kuch kaam tha?" (Btw What are you doing here? Did you have some work?) Vishwanath asked seeing her hesitation, though secretly, he was thrilled to have her here, no matter the circumstances.

Kashi, still feeling awkward, explained, "Voh.... main Maa se phone par baat kar rahi thi aur mere room mein network nahi aa raha tha. Toh, main bahar signal dhoondhne aayi, lekin lagta hai main raasta bhatak gayi. Aur galti se apke kamre mein aa gayi," she said with a slight pout. (Well.... I was talking to Maa on the phone, and there was no signal in my room. So, I came out to find some, but it seems I got lost and accidentally ended up in your room, she said with a slight pout)

Vishwanath chuckled softly, finding her innocence endearing. "Acha, toh yeh baat hai. Aao, main tumhe tumhare room tak le chalta hoon. Mein nahi chata ki tum phirse kahi bhatak jao," (Okay, so that's what happened. Come, I'll take you to your room. I don't want you to get lost again) he said, offering to guide her back.

Kashi nodded, grateful, as she didn't trust herself to navigate the huge mansion any longer. As they walked down the corridor, she realized she had merely taken the wrong turn, the guest room was just across the hall.

"Thank you, Vishwanath ji," she said, feeling relieved to have finally found her way back.

"Isme thank you ki koi baat nahi hai, Kashi. Aur tum mujhe har baat ke liye sorry ya thank you mat bola karo,"(There's no need to thank me, Kashi. And don't say sorry or thank you for everything) he said, his voice soft yet firm.

Kashi gave a shy nod, but before she could enter her room, Vishwanath's voice stopped her. "Kashi, voh.... mujhe tumse kuch baat karni thi." (Kashi, I.... wanted to talk to you about something.)

"Ji, boliye Vishwanath ji," (Yes, please say, Vishwanath ji) Kashi responded, turning to face him.

Vishwanath hesitated for a moment, his expression serious. "Kashi, jo kuch bhi us din hua.... Uske liye mujhe tumse ek baar phirse maafi maangni hai. Main nahi chahta tha ki meri identity tumhare saamne iss tarah khule. Trust me, main khud tumhe sach batane wala tha, lekin situations hi kuch esi thi ki mein tumhe chahte hue bhi kuch nahi bta paya. Mujhe pata hai ki mujhe jhooth nahi bolna chahiye tha, lekin tab main Jhansi mein naya tha, main vaha ek mission ke liye aya tha, company mein ho rahi fraudulent activities ka pta karne aur uss time mein kisi pe bhi easily trust nahi kar sakta tha. Aur baad mein iss darr se nahi bol paya ki agar tumhe pata chalega ki main ek raja hoon, toh kahi hamara bond nahi tut jaye, he said, his voice laced with genuine regret.

(Kashi, whatever happened that day.... I want to apologize to you once again. I didn't wanted my identity to be revealed to you in that way. Trust me, I was going to tell you the truth myself, but the situations were such that even though I wanted to, I couldn't say anything. I know I shouldn't have lied, but at that time, I was new to Jhansi, I had come there for a mission, to investigate the fraudulent activities happening in the company and I couldn't easily trust anyone at that time. Later, I didn't speak out of fear that if you found out I was a king, it might break the bond we were forming.)

"But please believe me, Kashi, my intentions were always pure." His voice was earnest, and his eyes searched hers for forgiveness.

Kashi looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in them. "Vishwanath ji, I understand. Aapne jo bhi kuch kiya, uske peeche kuch wajah thi. Mujhe bas kuch time chahiye tha sab kuch samajhne ke liye par ab mein aap se naraz ya gussa nahi hoon," she admitted softly.

(Vishwanath ji, I understand. Whatever you did, there was a reason behind it. I just needed some time to process everything, but now I'm not angry or upset with you anymore, she admitted softly)

A spark of relief and happiness lit up Vishwanath's eyes. "Sach mein? Tumne mujhe maaf kar diya?" (Really? You have forgiven me?)

Kashi smiled softly. "Hanji (Yes), Vishwanath ji".

The air between them felt lighter, and Vishwanath gave her a warm, relieved smile. He noticed as Kashi tried to suppress a yawn, her eyes a little red from sleep. "Okay, Kashi. Tumhe abb rest karna chahiye. Vase bhi aaj ka din kaafi tiring tha tumhare liye." (Okay, Kashi. You should rest now. Today has been quite tiring for you.)

Kashi nodded. "Good night, Vishwanath ji."

"Good night, Kashi," he replied softly.

As she closed the door behind her, Kashi's heart raced, her mind replaying the moment of their accidental encounter in his room. She could still feel the warmth of his skin under her fingertips. The memory flooded her with a mix of emotions, making her cheeks turn a deeper shade of red.

Meanwhile, Vishwanath felt a surge of happiness wash over him as Kashi had finally forgiven him, it felt as though a heavy stone weight had been lifted from his chest. With a smile tugging at his lips, he moved toward his room, replaying the moments they had shared throughout the day, his heart light with hope for what lay ahead.

_________________________________________

Rudra, still buzzing with excitement after what he had witnessed in his Vishwanath Bhaiya's room, couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. The sight of his brother and Kashi together, caught in that unexpected moment, filled him with a mischievous energy.

He ran towards Raghavendra's room, eager to share what he had just witnessed between his elder brother and Kashi. He barged in without knocking, startling Raghavendra, who was scribbling something in his diary.

"Arre bhaiya! Stop wasting your time in these boring shayaris and listen to me!" Rudra exclaimed, throwing his arms up dramatically. "Do you know what's going on in Vishwanath bhaiya's room? It's like a full-on movie scene. Bhaiya and Kashi......"

He was cut off when Raghavendra stood up, moving slowly toward the window, his gaze distant as he looked outside. His voice was low but firm. "Rudra, how can we trust that girl so quickly? She's a stranger to us. And I know what you were doing today, trying to bring them closer along with Maa. But we cannot just trust anyone when it comes to Vishwanath bhaiya. He is a king and a powerful, successful business tycoon with several enemies. We have to be careful."

Rudra, caught off guard by his brother's serious tone, blinked in surprise. "What do you mean, bhaiya? Kashi is not like......"

Raghavendra interrupted him, his voice now sharper. "How do we know, Rudra? How do we know she's the right one for Bhai? What if she's like her? What if she breaks bhaiya's heart? I've already suffered enough, and I won't let my brother suffer the same fate."

Rudra stared at his brother, his previous excitement fading into confusion. He wasn't expecting this reaction from Raghavendra. "Bhaiya, you're wrong. Kashi is definitely not like her. She's a really sweet and innocent girl."

But Raghavendra wasn't convinced. His voice softened, a hint of pain creeping in. "You don't understand, Rudra. I've had my share of betrayals. I also trusted her but she shattered me and my trust in the worst way possible. I don't want Vishwanath bhaiya to face the same. I cannot bear to see him suffer the way I did.

Rudra's expression shifted from surprise to sympathy as he listened to his brother. "Bhaiya......"

Raghavendra, his gaze still fixed outside, continued, "We cannot be careless. I loved once, and it broke me. I don't want Vishwanath bhaiya to go through that kind of pain. Not him. Not ever."

Rudra, sensing the depth of his brother's hurt, tried to reassure him. "Bhaiya, I get it. But Kashi......"

But Raghavendra again cut him off mid-sentence. "Maybe she is nice, but how much do we even know about her? We cannot trust anyone so easily, especially when it comes to Vishwanath bhaiya. Looks can be deceiving, Rudra."

"Bhaiya, we may not know much about her, but Vishwanath bhaiya has spent enough time with Kashi to know her. She's not like that. She could never betray him," Rudra said, trying to convince his brother, his tone earnest and reassuring.

Raghavendra stayed silent, his expression unreadable as he turned back toward the window. "I hope you are right, Rudra," he finally muttered.

Rudra, frustrated by his brother's skepticism, stomped his foot dramatically as he stepped out of Raghavendra's room. "Uff yaar, yeh dil tute ashiq ne toh Rudy ki puri vibe hi spoil kar di!" (Oh man, this heartbroken lover has totally spoiled Rudy's whole vibe!) he grumbled, his usual playful energy returning as he moved away. "Raghav bhaiya bhi na....."

He shook his head in exasperation before making his way to his own room, leaving Raghavendra standing by the window, staring out into the night, haunted by memories of his own heartbreak and the fear of his brother suffering the same fate.

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Author's Note 📖

In this chapter, we witnessed the sweet sparks of romance igniting between Kashi and Vishwanath, as their chemistry blossomed through tender moments. Rudra's playful mischief added a charming layer of lightheartedness, balancing the intensity of their budding relationship. Meanwhile, glimpses of Raghavendra's heartbreaking past hint at the complexities of his character, reminding us that the rest of his story is stored for his own journey in his book. Stay tuned for upcoming chapters!! 💕

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