Chapter 27: 24. Developing trust

This chapter may contain many grammatical errors. Please ignore them and enjoy the chapter. Don't forget to give your beautiful comments.

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

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

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Ruhani was sitting in that  room, Sashwat had gone out to discuss something with the doctor. Ruhani was getting bored as she was not going to the office and secondly she was a little tensed about what was happening in the office. For these days Sashwat was not allowing her to use her phone also so she could not take the update.

Ruhani, feeling bored and eager to retrieve her phone from Sashwat, decided to check her room first, but it wasn’t there. Determined, she asked  Ayesha about Sashwat's whereabouts. Ayesha informed her that Sashwat would be out for a meeting, but there was a problem: Ruhani couldn't remember if Ayesha mentioned that Sashwat was still in his room.

With this uncertainty in mind, Ruhani faced a decision. She could either wait to see if Sashwat would return soon or risk checking his room in case he was already gone. Her curiosity urged her to investigate further, but the possibility of confronting him if he was still there added a layer of hesitation.

Ruhani took a deep breath and decided to go.

As Ruhani entered Sashwat's room, she immediately noticed the dim lighting, creating an almost eerie atmosphere. The dark interior contrasted sharply with her expectations of a lively and cluttered space. Puzzled by the silence and the unusual ambiance, she began her search, hoping to find clues about Sashwat’s whereabouts or possibly even her phone.

Her gaze wandered around the room, taking in the uncharacteristic stillness.

As Ruhani rummaged through her belongings in her room, her mind was focused solely on finding her phone. The rest of the world faded away, and her heart raced with a mix of anxiety and determination. A variety of thoughts crossed her mind—she wanted her phone not only for communication but also because it felt like an extension of herself in today’s world . The prospect of retrieving it from Sashwat added an element of intrigue, fueling a sense of adventure but also an underlying nervousness.

Suddenly, everything changed when her eyes caught a glimpse of a figure stepping out from the washroom. Her heart jumped a beat when she realized it was Sashwat, clad only in a towel, steam swirling around him like a fog. Shock washed over her, a potent mix of embarrassment and surprise coursing through her veins. The sight was both unexpected and disarming, and she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks as she quickly scrambled for a way to retreat from the room.

In a moment of panic, excitement, and embarrassment, Ruhani instinctively began to back away, her mind racing with options for escape. She felt trapped, torn between the urge to flee and the lingering hope that Sashwat wouldn’t recognize her presence. As she turned to make her exit, she wasn’t quick enough—Sashwat had noticed her and moved with surprising agility, blocking her path with a confident yet mischievous glint in his eye.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, the playful tone in his voice sending a shiver down her spine.

Ruhani stuttered, trying to form words, but the combination of nerves and the unanticipated close proximity made it hard for her to articulate a coherent response. She felt a wave of vulnerability wash over her as Sashwat stepped closer, effectively caging her in with his presence.

“Listen, Ruhani,” he began, his tone shifting, taking on a more serious edge. “You can’t just sneak around and expect to get away with it. You’re in my territory that has its own rules. I’d recommend you think twice before making another move.”

As Ruhani stood trapped in Sashwat’s presence, vulnerability surged within her, breaking through her initial attempt to maintain composure. Tears filled her eyes as frustration and helplessness erupted. She felt a wave of emotion crashing over her, the pent-up anxiety of being confined in Sashwat's palace for days pouring out in a flood of sobs.

"Mujhe kyu yaha rakha he !!" she exclaimed through her tears, her voice tinged with desperation. “You can't just take my phone and expect me to stay silent! I haven’t spoken to my family in days! This isn’t fair!”

( Why have you kept me here)

The weight of her words hung heavy in the air. As she hit him with her raw feelings, swirling through the chaos of her emotions, she felt almost liberated by voicing her truth. But this did little to affect Sashwat; his expression remained largely unchanged. He observed her, a mixture of unreadable expression and something that resembled indifference playing on his face. It was frustrating for Ruhani to see him so unfazed by her anguish.

“Why are you acting like this? I’m not a prisoner!” Ruhani continued, her voice cracking as she tried to gather her thoughts, but the tears kept flowing, making her own words feel heavy and jumbled. “I just want to go home! I want to see my family! How could you be so cruel?”

Sashwat’s demeanor was cool and detached as he listened, his lack of a visible emotional response only deepened her sense of isolation. Knowing that he had deliberately withheld her phone and restricted her movements made her feel completely powerless, a feeling she had been battling since her unwanted arrival at his palace.

Sensing her despair, he finally spoke, but with a calm authority that stung. “You were brought here for a reason, Ruhani. The reason is my obsession ”

His words felt suffocating. The realization that her needs and feelings didn’t seem to matter to him was a bitter pill to swallow. Instead of feeling any remorse for her tears, he maintained an air of control, making her sense of powerlessness all the more intense.

Ruhani's heart pounded in her chest, torn between further protest and the feeling of despair that washed over her. She was fighting not just Sashwat but the very circumstances that held her captive— emotions swirling within her, blurring her fight against his oppressive presence.

As the tension hung thick in the air, Sashwat suddenly closed the distance between them and pulled Ruhani into a tight embrace. Caught off guard, Ruhani froze for a moment. But the warmth of his body, gave her a unknown comfort, broke down her remaining defenses. In an instant, the floodgates opened as she pressed her face against his chest and cried uncontrollably. The dam of her emotions burst forth, cascading down her cheeks as the weight of her situation came crashing down on her.

Memories flooded back, memories she had tried to suppress: she recalled the agonizing day she learned of her parents' murder, the shock that paralyzed her, the disbelief that turned into a hollow emptiness. The loss felt fresh, the ache in her heart raw and acute. Unrelenting waves of grief overtook her, amplified by her current feelings of isolation and despair. Sashwat’s embrace was confusing; it was both a comfort and a torment.

"Why did this happen? Why did they have to die?!" she cried, her voice muffled against his shirt as she shook with sobs.

Sashwat remained silent for a moment, the smirk he'd previously worn fading, replaced by an expression that was harder to read. As she continued to cry, he eventually let go of her, meeting her distant gaze. "You can have your phone," he said slowly, shifting back into his authoritative demeanor. "Perhaps it's time you reconnected with your family.”

With shaky hands, Ruhani grabbed her phone from where it had been tucked away, grateful yet apprehensive. She dialed her uncle's number, her heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and hope. She visualised hearing their voices, the comfort of family, grounding her in the midst of turmoil. She envisioned the warmth of her Aunt's reassurances, the steadiness of her Uncle's advice.

However, as the phone rang and then went to voicemail repeatedly, her heart sank. The feeling of disappointment was palpable as she redialed, each ring echoing her growing despair. After several failed attempts, the realization hit her hard: there would be no response, no familiar voice on the other end to ease her fears or provide solace.

Ruhani felt an overwhelming emptiness begin to settle in. Sashwat watched her disappointment with an unsettling smirk, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes as if he was reveling in her despair. The combination of his reaction and her inability to connect with her family deepened her feelings of isolation.

“Looks like you aren’t as important to them as you think,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery, driving the knife of her disappointment deeper.

Ruhani suddenly grabbed the collar of his shirt shouted " Bohot maza a raha hoga na tumhe wo to ayega hi na. Kyuki mere bas kuch bhi bacha nahi he. Tum ne mere is condition ka fayda uthaya..... !! Kyu kiya kyuu!!!!

(You must be having a lot of fun, it will definitely come to you. Because I have nothing left. You took advantage of this condition of mine.....!! Why did you do it?!!!)

As the tension between them hung heavy in the room, Sashwat suddenly interjected, his expression shifting from mockery to one of more serious intent. “Ruhani, count to five. Just… count.”

Confused yet desperate to follow any instruction that might lead to some clarity, Ruhani complied, her voice shaky as she began to count. “One… two… three… four… five.”

Just as she uttered the final number, her phone buzzed aggressively in her hand. She looked down, heart racing, and saw an incoming call from her assistant. Surprised, she answered it quickly, hoping for good news. “Hello?” she said, her voice still trembling from the recent emotional upheaval.

“Ruhani mam, it’s urgent!” Her assistant’s voice was frantic, the tone heavy with gravity. “Your house… I don’t know how to tell you this, but it’s been blasted. It’s completely destroyed!”

Ruhani’s heart dropped, a cold dread gripping her. “What? How? Who did this?!” she demanded, her mind racing as panic began to settle in.

“I’m so sorry, but the reports say it was—” the assistant hesitated, taking a deep breath, “—it was orchestrated by your uncle. We suspect it’s connected to a larger situation. He’s been under a lot of pressure, and… I don’t know all the details yet, but you need to be careful.”

As the news sank in, a rush of turmoil flooded through Ruhani. An overwhelming realization struck her like a lightning bolt: Sashwat had been keeping her here for her own safety, not solely as a form of captivity. His earlier warnings and curtailment of her freedom began to make a terrifying sense. Her uncle, whom she had trusted, was involved in something dark and dangerous.

Ruhani’s mind raced; what could her uncle possibly be involved in that would lead him to such a drastic act? Was he trying to eliminate a threat, and were they part of that threat? She turned to Sashwat, her expression shifting from confusion and fear to one of dawning understanding.

“Is it true? Did my uncle do this?” she asked, voice shaking as she sought confirmation from Sashwat.

He nodded, the earlier smirk gone, replaced with a measured composure that hinted he had known more than he had revealed. “Yes. Your uncle’s actions were calculated, and understanding his motives is crucial for your safety—and perhaps for your survival.”

Ruhani felt the weight of her reality crashing down on her. She was tangled in a web of betrayal involving her own family, with Sashwat—a figure she once viewed solely as a captor—now appearing as a protector of sorts, albeit under unsettling circumstances.

As the reality of her uncle's betrayal weighed heavily on her, Ruhani's legs felt as though they had lost all strength. The rush of overwhelming emotion made her head spin, and before she knew it, she sank to the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks in a torrent of despair. The world blurred around her, and she gasped for air, her sobs rising in intensity.

Seeing her collapse, Sashwat swiftly knelt beside her, concern  etched across his face. He could sense the depth of her distress—the way her breath hitched and the panic that colored her features. He reached out, his hands steadying her trembling shoulders as he whispered, “Breathe, Ruhani, just breathe. You’re safe here.”

He kept his tone gentle, aiming to cut through the fog of her anxiety. “Focus on my voice. Inhale deeply... and exhale slowly with me,” he urged, maintaining a steady rhythm. As he demonstrated, he drew in a slow, deep breath, hoping she would follow suit.

As she struggled to catch her breath, her chest tightened. Panic set in as the room spun around her, and the air became thick and suffocating. She felt overwhelmed, her heart racing to keep up with her frenzied thoughts. “I can’t breathe!” she gasped, tears streaming down her face, mixing with the jagged sobs that punctuated her despair.

Sashwat instinctively moved closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, not yet pulling her fully into a protective embrace but providing a grounding presence. “It’s okay, you’re going to be alright,” he reassured her, his voice low and calming. “Just focus on my voice. Follow my breathing.”

He inhaled deeply, slowly, and then exhaled with deliberate purpose. Ruhani tried to mirror him, but her thoughts continued spiraling, the turmoil within her growing more tumultuous, as if she were drowning in an ocean of despair.

“Ruhani, look at me,” Sashwat insisted gently, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. His eyes were deep and earnest, pulling her focus back to him. “You are stronger than you think. Just breathe with me, one breath at a time.”

“I can’t…” she whispered, her body trembling violently as she fought to stay present in the moment. But the weight of her emotions, the panic and grief, became too much to bear, and suddenly, the world around her slipped away.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, she felt her body going limp. The last thing she registered was Sashwat’s arm tightening around her, his warmth contrasting sharply with the cold dread creeping into her consciousness. The world faded to black, and she fainted into his arms, leaving Sashwat cradling her against him.

As Ruhani drifted into unconsciousness, Sashwat gently lifted her from the floor, mindful of her fragile state. He cradled her securely in his arms, feeling the weight of her distress pressing against him. With careful strides, he carried her to the bed, the soft fabric inviting her to surrender to its warmth. As he laid her down, he took a moment to observe her peaceful face, troubled by the tears and tension that had marred her features moments earlier.

Sashwat settled into a chair beside her, his presence a silent promise of safety. The room was still, the earlier chaos giving way to an uneasy calm. He watched over her, deep in thought, reflecting on the unexpected bond formed through shared vulnerability and pain.

After a while, Ruhani stirred. The soft light filtering through the curtains cast a gentle glow around the room, and as she blinked awake, confusion enveloped her mind. It took a moment for her to process her surroundings, and then, as realization dawned, her heart raced. She was in Sashwat's room, and he was right there—watching her intently.

Before she could register her emotions fully, something inside her snapped. Without a second thought, she shot up from the bed and threw her arms around Sashwat, seeking the comfort of his presence. It was an instinctive reaction, a quiet plea for assurance in the midst of chaos.

Sashwat was momentarily taken aback by the sudden gesture but quickly wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. He could feel the tremors in her body, the remnants of her earlier panic, and he understood the depth of her suffering. His embrace was reassuring, offering a safe haven where the world felt just a little less frightening.

“It’s okay, Ruhani,” he murmured softly, his voice soothing and steady. “You’re safe now. You don’t have to face this alone.”

As she clung to him, her tears began to fall again, but this time they were accompanied by a sense of release. The warmth of his embrace enveloped her like a protective shield, allowing her to finally feel the gravity of her emotions without the fear of collapsing under their weight.

“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted, her voice shaky but filled with sincerity. “Everything feels like it’s falling apart. I trusted him… I thought he would protect me.”

Sashwat pulled back slightly, enough to look into her eyes. The seriousness of her situation did not escape him, and he felt a surge of protectiveness toward her. “I know it’s overwhelming,” he replied, sincerity etched into every word. “But you have to trust me. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe, no matter what happens.”

His promise hung in the air between them, and for a moment, the reality of her fears dulled, replaced by a flicker of hope. She nodded, as if silently accepting his commitment, and leaned into him once more, finding solace in his strength.

Together they sat, Sashwat's hand subconsciously stroking her hair as he continued to murmur reassuring words. Each soft phrase acted like a balm on the wounds etched deep within her heart, reminding her that even in darkness, there could be light, even if it shone through unexpected means.

“I will help you,” Sashwat said firmly. “We’ll figure this out together. You don’t have to face your uncle—or anything—alone.”

Ruhani when calmed down felt an unwavering felling of trust over him. A feeling as if she is so safe with him . The unknown person who she just hardly knew was becoming a person to whom she can completely trust...

As Ruhani breathed in the comforting embrace of Sashwat, the sense of safety momentarily calmed her turbulent heart. But suddenly, his grip tightened, and a powerful tension shifted in the air around them. Sashwat pulled her closer, his expression morphing into one of fierce determination.

"I am marrying you tomorrow," he declared, his voice resonating with an intensity that sent a shiver down Ruhani's spine. The edge of rage in his tone caught her off guard, slicing through the fragile serenity that had surrounded them just moments before.

Ruhani's heart raced, the comforting warmth of his embrace turning cold and oppressive. Panic surged within her as she pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, searching for some hint of softness in his fierce gaze, but all she found was a resolute fury. What had felt like a safe harbor now felt like a storm brewing ominously on the horizon.

“What? No!” she stammered, the words slipping out in a rush, laced with disbelief and fear. Confusion clouded her mind, the weight of the unexpected announcement creating a knot of anxiety in the pit of her stomach. “You can’t just decide something like that! This isn’t fair!"

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𝕤ᴏ ᴄᴜᴛɪᴇ𝕤. ᴛʜɪ𝕤 ᴡᴀ𝕤 ᴛʜᴇ twenty fourth 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 ☺☺.

Hello lovelies. The next chapter will be on their marriage....

I am tooo... Exi..tedd... 😜😜

ʙʏᴇᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟɪᴇ𝕤 😘😘....

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

◦•●◉✿◦•●✿◉●•◦𝓦𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓸𝓷  7 tg February,  2025 ◦•●◉✿ ✿◉●•◦

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