Chapter 26: 25. Are they alive

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Without any further bak bak lets proceed with the twenty fifth chapter of " Will I ever find my true love

VOTE KARO PEHLE !!!!! BHUL JATE HO BAR BAR!! 😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️

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As Ruhani's heart raced with a mix of fear and anger, she gripped the knife tightly, its cool blade glinting in the dim light. "Don't come any closer, Shashwat," she warned, her voice steadied by determination. "If you think you can force me into this marriage, you're mistaken. I'll stab you if you try."

To her surprise, Shashwat remained unfazed. A slight smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he took a step forward. The audacity of his confidence only ignited her fury. "You think a knife will intimidate me?" he said, his voice calm and unwavering.

Ruhani's grip tightened, her knuckles white as she summoned all her courage. "I mean it, Shashwat! Stop right there!"

But he continued to close the distance between them, the air thick with tension. As panic surged within her, she reacted instinctively. In a swift motion, she thrust the knife forward, the blade making contact with his shoulder. A gasp escaped his lips, but even as he felt the sting of betrayal, his expression did not change.

"Is this what you call defiance?" he asked, a mixture of surprise and admiration in his tone, as he looked down at the wound. "You have spirit, Ruhani. But hurting me won't change your fate."

Ruhani's heart pounded as she realized that her act of desperation had done little to deter him. The knife embedded in his shoulder was a reminder of her resolve, but it also brought forth a haunting realization: Shashwat was not afraid, and he wouldn't back down easily.

Ruhani's panic surged as she witnessed Shashwat's shoulder bleeding profusely, the crimson stain spreading across his shirt. Her heart raced with fear; the sight was too much to bear. "Shashwat!" she cried, her voice trembling as she rushed to his side.

Ruhani's voice breaks in the middle " Blood, blo..oddd.... , your shoulder is bleeding!"

Frantically, she grabbed his arm, guiding him to the bed. "Sit down! You need to rest!" she urged, anxiety spilling over into her actions. The urgency of the moment propelled her into motion, and she quickly fetched a bowl of fresh water. Dipping a clean cloth into the water, she hurried back to him and began to gently clean the wound, her hands shaking slightly.

As she worked, she could feel his intense gaze fixed on her. Despite the pain, Shashwat didn't look away, his eyes steady and piercing. Sheltered in that gaze, Ruhani felt a strange mix of fear and connection; something about his presence anchored her, even amid chaos.

With trembling fingers, she opened the first aid kit, pulling out bandages. "Just hold on a little longer," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. She carefully dressed the wound, trying to stem the flow of blood, her mind racing with both concern for him and confusion about her own feelings.

Suddenly, Shashwat broke the silence, his voice calm amidst the storm. "You hate me, yet you care for me. Why?"

Ruhani paused, her hands hovering over the bandages as his words pierced through her panic. His question hung in the air, and she felt her heart ache. "I don't hate you," she replied softly, meeting his unwavering gaze. "I hate what you represent-this forced marriage, the control you think you have over my life. But...I don't want to see you hurt. It's complicated."

His expression did not change; he seemed unfazed by the admission. "Complicated can still mean care," he said thoughtfully, as if contemplating her words. "In a twisted way, that's what binds us-our hatred and our need for each other."

Her chest tightened at his words, the gravity of their situation weighing heavily between them. As she finished bandaging his shoulder, she realized that beneath the surface of anger and defiance lay something unspoken, a bond forming under the most unexpected of circumstances.

Feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of Shashwat's gaze, Ruhani instinctively tried to pull away, the weight of their exchange pressing down on her. But before she could make a move, he reached out, grabbing her wrist with surprising strength and pulling her back toward him. She stumbled and found herself falling onto his lap, her heart racing in a mix of embarrassment and urgency.

Shashwat held her shoulder tightly, his grip firm yet strangely comforting. "Do you have feelings for me or not?" he asked, his voice low and commanding. "You love me or not. But I will marry you. Your feelings will not change the truth."

Ruhani's breath caught in her throat as she felt the world spinning. His words echoed in her mind, but her attention quickly turned to the wound on his shoulder, where blood seeped from the fresh injury. The sight of crimson trickling down his arm made her heart drop, the reality of their situation crashing down on her.

"Shashwat, you're bleeding more!" she exclaimed, panic rising again as she noticed how his grip was tightening, inadvertently causing more strain on the wound.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, spilling over as she leaned her head against his uninjured shoulder, desperately trying to hide the raw vulnerability she felt. "I can't believe you would do this to yourself... and to me." She choked on her words, the weight of their predicament overwhelming her. "Please, just let me take care of you!"

In a moment of tenderness, she lifted her head, her hands trembling as she reached for the bandages again. "I'll help you. Just let me bandage your wound," she said, her voice wavering. As she carefully resumed her efforts, she could feel the rapid rhythm of his heartbeat against her palm, a reminder of the life that depended on her at that moment.

Shashwat watched her, his expression softening as he absorbed the sincerity of her actions. "You care," he murmured, his voice softer now. "Even if your heart is conflicted, you're here."

With each gentle motion of applying the bandage, Ruhani felt the barrier between them shifting. Her tears mixed with a sense of desperation as she tried to focus on binding his wound rather than the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.

Despite the chaos of their situation, there was an undeniable connection forming, one that twisted through love, fear, and now, an unwilling bond solidified by shared pain.

Ruhani said " Please don't give strain to your wound. It is fresh now. Please rest.."

Without warning, Shashwat's grip tightened, and in one swift motion, he pulled Ruhani into his arms, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Her heart raced, a mixture of shock and confusion flooding her senses. Just moments ago, they had been in a tense standoff filled with emotions, and now he was carrying her as if she weighed nothing.

"Shashwat! What are you doing?" she exclaimed, squirming slightly in his hold. Panic and disbelief coursed through her; how could he shift from a moment of vulnerability to this? She tried to push away, intent on getting her feet back on the ground, yet he wouldn't allow her to escape.

"I'm taking you to your room," he replied, his voice steady and firm, a hint of tenderness behind his words. The resolve in his tone made it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer.

With a swift yet careful stride, he crossed the threshold into her room, the familiar surroundings suddenly feeling foreign under the weight of the moment. He placed her gently on the bed, and before Ruhani could fully process what was happening, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Rest for now," he said, his voice calm yet insistent, as he pulled back to look at her. She could see the concern etched on his face, a stark contrast to the intensity he usually carried. Despite the warmth of the kiss and his protective demeanor, a swirl of conflicting emotions flooded her confusion, anger, and an undeniable attraction.

Ruhani blinked, the shock still evident in her eyes. "Shashwat, you shouldn't-" she began, but the words caught in her throat. His action felt like a declaration, enveloping her in a cocoon of safety and concern.

"Just breathe," he interrupted softly, his gaze lingering on hers, and for a fleeting moment, the tension of their earlier arguments faded. "You need to take care of yourself too. I can handle my shoulder."

As he stepped back, still watching over her, Ruhani felt an unexpected vulnerability bubble to the surface. She wanted to protest, to fight against the closeness he seemed determined to forge between them, but deep down, amidst the chaos, she also craved the care he was offering.

With her heart racing, she lay back on her bed, the weight of the day pressing down on her. Yet as she watched him, his posture protective and attentive, she wondered if this might be the beginning of something neither of them fully understood yet..

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THE NEXT DAY

The loud cry echoed in the quiet morning air, and Shashwat, who had been just next door, burst into the room like a whirlwind. "Ruhani! What happened?" His voice was a mix of concern and urgency as he rushed to her side, eyes wide with alarm.

"I... I broke the glass, and now... there are pieces in my foot!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she trembled in pain, trying to tread carefully.

Shashwat quickly assessed the situation, kneeling beside her and glancing at her injured leg. "You can't move, Ruhani. Stay still. Let me help you," he said firmly but gently, his tone reassuring.

"But it hurts, Shashwat!" she cried, panicking as he started to examine the wound. "Please be careful!"

"I know, I know," he said, his voice steady as he carefully pulled apart the pieces of glass embedded in her foot. "Just focus on me. Breathe. In and out."

With each shard he pulled out, Ruhani winced and gasped in agony, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You're hurting me! Just... just stop!"

"I have to get them out, or it will get worse!" Shashwat replied, his focus unwavering as he worked swiftly but gently. "Trust me, Ruhani. I won't let you get hurt any more than you already are."

When the last piece was finally removed, he let out a small sigh of relief. "Okay, it's done for now. You were so brave." He reached for the bandages in his first aid kit, carefully wrapping her injured foot.

She looked at him through bleary eyes, the pain dulled slightly by his presence. "Why do you care so much? I keep getting hurt..."

Sashwat silenced her and said " shhhhhh

No more words for now " .

Just as Ruhani began to feel a sense of relief wash over her, the warmth in Shashwat's expression faded, replaced by a cold, unreadable intensity. Her heart sank at the sudden change, sensing that something dark was brewing beneath the surface.

"Shashwat?" she asked hesitantly, a twinge of anxiety creeping into her voice. "What's wrong?"

He stood up abruptly, stepping back as if putting distance between them. The shift was jarring, and she could see the tension in his shoulders. "Get ready for our marriage, darling," he said, his tone chillingly detached. The way he called her "darling" felt almost mocking, an unsettling reminder of his earlier warmth.

"What do you mean? Shashwat, wait!" she pleaded, trying to understand. The pain in her foot was nothing compared to the ache of confusion and fear swelling in her chest.

He turned, his jaw set and his eyes hardening. "You heard me. We have plans, and they don't change because of a little glass incident. I'll be back to pick you up when it's time." He moved toward the door with a finality that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Shashwat!" she called out, her voice cracking with desperation. "You can't just leave like this! You were... you were just so caring!" The contradiction between his kindness and his sudden coldness left her reeling.

He paused at the doorway, casting a glance back over his shoulder, but his eyes were unreadable now. "Caring or not, it doesn't matter. You know the truth of our situation. Prepare yourself, Ruhani. We are bound by this relationship "

He left the room with that leaving Ruhani in an ocean of mixed emotions.

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Every time life is not the same. Sometimes it plays and plays so badly that it leaves a person completely shattered. Ruhani was sitting on the bed and the tears were like pearls which are falling down her cheeks. By now her eyes were red and a little swollen due to continuous crying for a long time.

Ruhani: " I can't... Marryyy..... This person ......

Nooooo never..... !!! " Her voice was filled with pain and agony.

After sometime Ayesha came with three to four makeup artists with her. Ruhani looked at them and didn't take a moment to understand that they were the makeup artists who were here to dress her up.

Ruhani took the bridal lehenga from Ayesha's hand and ordered " I want everyone out from this room , right now. Except Ayesha"

Everyone knew who she was going to become so they nodded their head and left the room.

Here

Sashwat was still busy with his office work and suddenly his assistant came and said the makeup artists are returning and they are not in the room.

Sashwat was already very angry due to some of the work. And now this makes him more angry that those makeup artists are not listening to him . He gritted his teeth and said " Bring them over there!"

In the basement

Three girls were tied up with ropes. They were made unconscious by using chloroform. When Sashwat entered the room . His voice was calm , but the calmness was just before the storm. He moved towards them and picked up a bucket of water and have splashed the water on their faces violently

Immediately due to the contact of water their eyes flew open. When they found themselves in such a condition they were extremely shocked and they started panicking.

One of the girls said " Sirr... Pleasee.... , pl...easee... Leave... Us .. !"

Sashwat smirked and said " ishhhhhhhh no more words for now . Now actions will speak . "

He took a knife and without any warning plunged it into one of the girl's knees. The girl shout echoed in the whole basement. The girl shouted " Ahhhhhhhh Sirrr... Please.. lea..vee.. ussss..... "

And after sometime the girl fainted due to excess blood loss .

The other two girls not only started but their hands and legs started to tremble. Sashwat tossed the knife aside and took a gun and started playing with it with his finger. He said while rotating it in his hands " With these legs you left from the room , even when I ordered you to enter the room and make her ready"

He jerked and moved from his seat and again without any deterrent he fired two bullets in both of the knees of the other knees and the girl shouted so loud that the other girl had shivers in her body. The second girl also became unconscious.

The next moment

Sashwat took a black cloth and moved towards the third girl. Without letting her speak one more word he tied her mouth with that cloth so that her sounds could not be heard. Sashwat kneeled down in front of the girl and suddenly punched her knees with his hand and the girl shouted and blood started to come out as Sashwat was wearing a ring which has a small yet sharp knife and that knife has moved into her knees. The girl tried to say something but due to the cloth tied she cannot speak much.

Sashwat ordered one of his guards to open her mouth. When they did that she said in a hurry " Sirrr... Mamm... Has ordered.... Uss... So we aggred to her command. Plsssss.... Leave uss.... "

He ordered his assistant " Vansh check if they are alive !"

His assistant went near the girls and checked their pulses and said " Yes sirr, their heart is beating!"

Sashwat moved towards the door and said without turning " Open them and take them to the hospital" .

On the other side

Ruhani wore a beautiful golden coloured lehenga with diamond works in it. Ayesha did her makeup and she was looking gorgeous but there was no emotion in her face.

Ayesha : " Mam , You are ready ! "

Ruhani , the moment she heard this she filled both Ayesha's hands in her own. She said with tears in her eyes " Please ayesha , help me . I don't want to do this marriage please. Ayesha plssss....... "

Ayesha said " Ok mam but please be careful , sir has a very strong network. Pls be careful "

Ayesha guided her towards the garage and handed her a car keys and said " Mam please leave as soon as possible. I don't know about me but you at least leave from here ! "

Ruhani stopped suddenly and said " What will he do with you ? "

Ayesha with tears in her eyes " When he will find out that I have helped you in running away. He will surely give me a painful death. Maybe we will never meet again . Bye mam . She hugged Ruhani and left from there! "

Ruhani also moved out with the car but she had a guilt inside her for Ayesha. The highway was clear which was really unexpected, but she without thinking much raised her speed and moved. Ruhani was feeling awkward because till now nothing has happened and she was thinking that by now Sashwat would have come to know about it but why didn't he took action "

Suddenly a voice came from the back seat " Thinking about me Rose ! " .

Ruhani didn't even have the time to react when Sashwat pulled her away from the driver seat and made the car on the auto mode. Ruhani was now under Sashwat in the back seat. Her eyes were tightly closed and face drenched with sweat. Sashwat leaned over her face ,his breath falling on her face and she opened her eyes.

Ruhani now understood that she was caught very badly. Sashwat said " So desperate to run away from me ! Hmmm ? "

Ruhani was not able to form words now and her eyes were filled with tears now .

The tears were sliding down her cheeks. Sashwat wiped her tears and pulled her in his lap .

Sashwat made her sit on his lap and dialed a driver's number .

Sashwat - " I want the driver here within 5 minutes"

The driver came within 5 minutes and he sat in the car and the car started moving towards the villa.

Sashwat said " Turn on the partition of the car ! " .

Ruhani was still struggling in his lap.

Now Ruhani also stopped her worthless efforts. Sashwat looked at her and said " Tired , by your efforts ?" . Ruhani didn't have the courage to look at his eyes. Ruhani didn't say a word and hit her small face in his chest and started sobbing.

Ruhani: " Ap bohot bure ho , ap hamesha mujhe pakad lete ho "

(You are very bad, you always catch me )

Ruhani suddenly got lost in her thoughts when Sashwat snapped his fingers in front of her and asked " What are you thinking rose?"

Ruhani said by looking at his face. " How did you get in this car ???"

Sashwat didn't react that much in this word of her , he was just looking at her who was doing her tantrums after sitting on his lap.

Sashwat : " I told you rose , every time you try to move away from me . I will bring you closer" . These words ran down shivers in her spine.

Ruhani said in the middle of sobbing " Why do you want me, why you want to ruin my life ??? Whyy??? " .

Sashwat : " You will come to know and after that you will surely marry me by your own choice ! "

Ruhani : " Are you going to marry me now ? " Her voice is just a little more than a whisper.

Sashwat cupped her face and said " No rose , now we are going to meet a special person! "

" I am sure you will be shocked to see the person "

He leaned over her ears and said " More shocked by her words Rose! "

Ruhani understands that something big is going to happen and then she will be shattered after knowing it. Ruhani was lost in her thoughts when the car stopped.

Ruhani's heart was beating like with the speed of a roller coaster, which Sashwat could feel. Sashwat Held Ruhani by her waist and said " Calm down Rose , because if you are so nervous now , you will not be able to bear the upcoming incidents! "

Sashwat took her and brought her into the basement where a girl was tied up and she was continuously trying to get away but was failing miserably. Sashwat ordered one of his guards to open the cover from her face and when that happened, Ruhani's heart skipped a beat...

Ruhani could speak one word " Anu di... !!! "

Yess... It was Anushree . Sashwat had trapped her and brought her over here . Anushree pleaded to Ruhani : " please..... Roohh... Pleasee leave mee.... I will tell you everything but pls don't hurt me anymore !!!!! " .

Ruhani ordered " Open her hands and instantly she fell in Ruhani's legs . She said by holding her legs " please leave me... Please!!! "

Ruhani pulled her up violently by grabbing her collar . Ruhani : " What truth are you talking about!!"

Shashwat's men came forward and supported Anushree for standing as she didn't even have the strength to stand as she was tortured so badly....

Anushree: " Your parents !!!!!! "

Ruhani's world seems to turn over her , Ruhani's face is devoid of any emotions. She shouted " What my parents ? Where are my parents ? Are they alive????"

Anushree said " Yesss..... "

For a moment, the room seemed to tilt on its axis. "What do you mean, alive?" Ruhani's voice was barely above a whisper, a mix of hope and fear. She knew the story well-it had been told to her many times: their parents had perished in a tragic accident,they were murdered , leaving her abandoned. "This can't be true," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "You must be mistaken. How could they be alive after all these years?"

Ruhani's legs felt weak and she was about to collapse in the group when Sashwat held her and said " TRUTH ALWAYS COMES OUT !!! "

Ruhani was moved to a very great extent. For so many days she was thinking that her parents were dead but now , she was hearing that they were alive .

Ruhani wiped her tears and asked " where are they ??"

Anushree : " if you want to kill me Ruhani you.... are free to do that but I really don't know where they are my parents don't live..... with me. One day I went to their house secretly... and heard that your.... parents are alive. But I really don't... know where they are. Please leave me Ruhani... please I really don't know more than this...... "

Sashwat leaned over her ears : " See i told you, I helped you to know such a truth , Now will you...n "

He intentionally left the sentence incomplete.

Ruhani was completely broken so she said lifelessly " I will marry you! "

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And guys one more important thing , on the 13th will be my last update , in this month as I am having exams. Then again from March I will continue.... Thank you

Let me know how much you enjoyed this chapter.....

𝕤ᴏ ᴄᴜᴛɪᴇ𝕤. ᴛʜɪ𝕤 ᴡᴀ𝕤 ᴛʜᴇ twenty fifth cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ. ᴅʀᴏᴘ 𝕤ᴏᴍᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ𝕤 ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴍʏ 𝕤ᴛᴏʀʏ. ɪ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪ𝕤 ᴘᴀʀᴛ. ᴘʟᴇᴀ𝕤ᴇ 𝕤ʜᴀʀᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ𝕤 ᴀɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ. ᴀʟ𝕤ᴏ ᴀᴅᴅ ᴛʜɪ𝕤 𝕤ᴛᴏʀʏ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ. ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ 𝕤ᴏᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇ𝕩ᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ. ᴛɪʟʟ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ☺☺.

I told you... This... Chapter will be interesting...

ʙʏᴇᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟɪᴇ𝕤 😘😘....

ᴅᴏ ʜɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏᴛᴇ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴏɴ.... ᴘʟᴇᴀ𝕤ᴇ..... 😭

◦•●◉✿◦•●✿◉●•◦𝓦𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓸𝓷 13 th February, 2025 ◦•●◉✿ ✿◉●•◦

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