The office hummed with activity as employees worked diligently at their stations, adhering to their daily routines. Ruhani monitored the workspace through the cameras, keeping a watchful eye on everyone.
Arnav, despite his poor health, had chosen not to take the day off. However, it was Ankush who caught attention. As a new recruit in the same department as Arnav, their workstations faced each other. Ankush couldn't help but steal glances at Arnav, his eyes fixed on him with an unnerving intensity.
Whenever Arnav caught Ankush staring, he was taken aback, his expression frozen in a mix of shock and fear. It was as if an unspoken conversation was unfolding between them, their eyes conveying a secret language that only they could decipher.
Suddenly, a disheveled figure burst into the office, wearing a white kurta, with torn clothes, dusty hands, and face. The guards chased after him, but he rampaged through the room like a mad bull, determined to destroy everything.
As the employees watched in shock, the intruder revealed himself to be Kartik. Before anyone could react, Kartik stormed over to Arnav and began pummeling him with fists.
"You're the bastard who stole the interview questions from me! Tell me, you are that motherfucker who kidnapped Avni." Kartik screamed, his eyes blazing with fury. "You killed my baby, my Avnu! Tell me, you fucker, you killed her!"
Arnav crumpled to the floor, unable to defend himself against Kartik's relentless assault. "No... I didn't..." he stammered, but Kartik's punches silenced him.
Ankush, however, began to sweat profusely, his eyes darting around the room as if he'd been caught hiding a dark secret. Before he could react or escape, Kartik turned on him, pummeling him with closed eyes, as if driven by a blind rage.
Just as Kartik seemed to realize something, he swiftly unbuttoned Ankush's wrist clothes, revealing a hidden truth. "The tattoo," Kartik muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on Ankush's wrist. He then dragged Arnav over, comparing their wrists. While Arnav's was spotless, Ankush's seemed suspiciously bandaged.
Kartik's eyes narrowed. "Why the bandage? What are you hiding?" He began to unwrap the bandage despite Ankush's protests. "It was an accident, man," Ankush tried to explain, but Kartik's determination prevailed.
As the bandage fell away, a gruesome cut revealed itself, resembling a savage knife attack. Blood began to seep from the wound, but Kartik remained unfazed. Before he could react further, the guards rushed in, restrained him, and forcibly ejected him from the building.
As Kartik was dragged away, he wailed in anguish, pleading for justice. "I've lost everything! Just give me justice for my unborn child. If not, you'll all suffer the consequences!"
Ruhani watched the chaotic scene unfold with a mix of curiosity, shock, and undefined emotions. She rushed out of her room after Kartik's sudden intrusion, but before she could question him, the situation escalated into a battlefield.
Kartik's words left Ruhani stunned. As she pieced together the events, she discovered that Kartik had been blackmailed into sharing interview questions with someone. But what shook her to the core was the revelation about Avni's death and the loss of their unborn child. The accident hadn't seemed severe enough to cause such a tragic outcome. In fact, Ruhani recalled Kartik telling her that Avni was stable and had even spoken to him.
Perplexed, Ruhani rushed back to her office and tried to call Kartik. As she dialed his number, she glanced at Ankush and Arnav, who were tending to their wounds. But to her surprise, Kartik's phone became unreachable in a matter of seconds.
Just as Ruhani was trying to process the events, Anika burst into her office, out of breath. "Ma'am, Kartik sir is no more," she announced, her words sending a chill down Ruhani's spine.
Only moments before, Kartik had been fighting; now, in the span of 10 minutes, he was gone. Ruhani's mind reeled with questions. Was this a tragic accident or a premeditated plan?
"How did you...?" Ruhani began to ask, composing herself. Anika showed her a disturbing video on her phone. A truck had slammed into Kartik, crushing his body beyond recognition.
The news spread like wildfire, leaving everyone in the company stunned, saddened, and devastated. However, Ankush's reaction raised eyebrows - he seemed calculated and unaffected, his demeanor not quite matching the gravity of the situation.
As the company struggled to come to terms with the tragedy, Ruhi arrived, determined to get to the bottom of things. After listening to the events, she was convinced that nothing was as it seemed. Without wasting a moment, she launched her own investigation.
RUHANI'S POV
Today has been an unmitigated disaster. So many catastrophic events unfolded in a single day. Papa's wise words echoed in my mind, "If a day has the power to rebuild you, it also has the power to destroy you." My heart ached for Kartik; I was powerless to help him. Everything transpired in the blink of an eye.
Kartik's haunting final words lingered: "You'll all suffer the consequences." What did he mean? Why would anyone face consequences? The questions swirled in my mind, fueling my anguish.
Ruhi had also left the office early, citing important work. My mind was preoccupied with the day's events as I drove home, and before I knew it, I had arrived.
After parking in the garage, I headed to our room, lost in thought. But as I walked down the hallway, I was jolted out of my reverie by the sound of Ruhi's raised voice. She was arguing with someone. My curiosity piqued, I approached her room.
As I listened to her conversation, my world was turned upside down. The words cut through me like a knife, leaving me stunned and disoriented. It felt as though the ground had slipped from beneath my feet, and my mind was reeling.
"Ronit Bhai, have you found Kavya di?"
"What happened? Why couldn't you?"
"Even Ani was desperate to find Kavya di, hiring security guards everywhere."
"Abey bhadwe, I couldn't track her location. Damn it, her phone was out of reach. Aisa lag raha hai kisi ne fek diya hai Pani mein duba duba ke."
("Damn it, I couldn't track her location. Her phone's out of reach. It's like someone's thrown it into the water, destroying all evidence.")
"Hold on, let me call Krishav."
"Krishav, have you found Kavya di?"
"For God's sake, tell me! What did you do after Kavya di disappeared....?"
I managed to only eavesdrop on Ruhi's conversation as she wore earbuds. Before she could complete her sentence, my accidental nudge sent the flower vase near her room door, crashing to the floor. She spun around and her eyes locked into mine. Shock and surprise etched on her face.
No, I need every answers today. I want all my answers today, no matter what happens.
As Ruhi approached me, I raised my palm, signaling her to stop. With my other hand, I swiftly dialed Ronit Bhai's number. "Come home immediately," I said, my voice firm and low. "And keep it quiet ,please don't let Ritvik know."
After sometime, Ronit bhai's bike roared in front of the mansion. In this all time, Ruhi tried so many times to talk to me but I want every single truth. It's not possible for Krishav, otherwise I could have called him too.
How could they do this something in my back. That too with Kavya dii. How could they ? Does Ritvik know everything? After he got to know anything, what will be his reaction !!
Don't worry, dii. I'll find you, no matter what. And when I do, I'll beg for your forgiveness.
When I was thinking all of this, Ronit Bhai made his way towards the hallway. And after looking at the serious situation, he sat quietly beside Ruhi in the sofa.
"Tell, Ruhani. What happened? Is something bothering you ?" He asked me with his gentle tone, as he treated me his younger sister the same way as Ruhi. But no bhai, you betrayed me. How could you !! So I remained silent and Ruhi was looking at me with her best puppy eyes, in which I always melted but not today.
"Why you both hide everything from me ?" I just asked this question and all of sudden, their face expression changed.
They were looking at each other.
"Actually Ani..
"Actually Ruhani....
I cut them both in the mid sentence and again asked, "Where is Kavya dii ?"
"Even we don't know." Ruhi said while making her head down.
I couldn't believe, what was just I heard. I want every single thing. What had happened on that wedding day !!
"Ruhi, tell me everything. What had happened on that day ?" I asked in my cold tone.
After listening to me, first Ruhi gulped as she was all aware of my voices.
So she narrated whole story. How they have planned with Krishav. After that, didi ran away. But what shocked me the most was, Krishav told me everything, but he didn't tell me this thing, because of RUHI.
"And after that, all things were handled by Krishav. We don't know, after that what did he do and how did he do .." Ruhi finished her sentence with a feared tone.
I stared at her, my face frozen in shock. But before I could utter a word, a deafening crash echoed through the hallway, making us both flinch. The sound sent a shiver down my spine, and we turned to see what had caused it.
Our eyes were glued to the main door, and that's when we saw him - Ritvik, standing tall, his coat draped over his forearm, his eyes blazing with fury. Blood gushed from his palm, a steady stream that showed no signs of slowing. It became clear what had happened - he had smashed the vase with his bare hand, the shattered remains scattered on the floor.
Ruhi, Ronit, and I rushed towards him, but he held up a hand, halting them in their tracks. Yet, I couldn't be stopped. I pushed forward, my heart aching at the sight of Ritvik in pain. Nothing else mattered - not the situation, not the argument - only he did. My priority was my Ritvik, and I couldn't bear to see him hurting.
I gently grasped his palm in mine, but he tried to pull away. But I'm also Ruhani Ritvik Agnihotri, and I wouldn't let him hurt himself for nothing . I guided him to the basin and carefully washed his hand, trying to stem the bleeding.
What struck me was his stoic silence. He didn't even flinch, while I was a mess, tears streaming down my face at the sight of his blood flowing.
Once I'd cleaned and dressed the wound, I carefully bandaged his hand. As I worked, I whispered under my breath, struggling to hold back tears, "khoon aapka beh raha hai, aur dil mera toot raha hai."
("Your blood is flowing, and my heart is shattering.")
Ritvik remained silent, his eyes locked on mine, as he gently wiped away my tears. Then, his expression turned stern, and he issued a command to Ronit Bhai:
"Call Mr. Singhania. I want him here, now."
"But bhai, he's not in India," Ruhi stammered.
Ritvik's gaze narrowed, his eyebrow rising in skepticism as he turned to Ruhi. I was equally shocked, wondering how she knew Krishav's whereabouts every time. The air was thick with unspoken questions.
But suddenly Ronit bhai's phone vibrated and the call was from Krishav.
"Tell Ruhi that I am coming right now. And I will talk to everyone. I will land in just 30 mins. Just wait for some time." Saying this Krishav cut the call.
I exchanged a skeptical glance with Ritvik, my mind racing with suspicions. Something didn't add up. The connection between Ruhi and Krishav seemed more than coincidental, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that they were hiding something.
Exactly an hour later, Krishav arrived. Without greeting anyone, he strode directly towards Ruhi. His eyes locked onto hers, filled with concern. He gently began to caress her head, tenderly wiping away her tears.
The intimacy of the gesture was unmistakable. Ritvik's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in tension. The atmosphere in the room had shifted, and I sensed a complex web of relationships and secrets beginning to unravel.
I watched the scene unfold with a mix of shock and astonishment. My gaze drifted to Ronit and Ritvik, and I saw that they were equally stunned. Their expressions went beyond surprise, revealing a deeper concern and curiosity.
It was clear that none of us had expected this level of intimacy between Krishav and Ruhi. The dynamics in the room had shifted, and we were all struggling to process this new information.
Krishav slowly turned to face us, his expression eerily neutral. It was as if he had flipped a switch, hiding the concern and affection he had shown Ruhi just moments before. His eyes seemed to bore into us, his gaze cold and unyielding.
The contrast between his demeanor with Ruhi and with us was striking. It was clear that his softer side was reserved exclusively for her, leaving me wondering what lay beneath his icy exterior.
Then he sat down beside Ruhi, while holding her palm in an assuring action.
"If you have any questions, just come to me. I am behind all this." Krishav said with his coldest tone.
"How do you know my family, Mr.Singhania ?" Ritvik asked with the same intensity.
The intense eye contact between Ritvik and Krishav was a harbinger of impending chaos. The air was electric with tension as their gazes locked, the unspoken conflict between them palpable. If looks could kill, we would have all been annihilated on the spot.
The atmosphere was so charged that it seemed to have a physical impact on our surroundings. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the faint hum of tension. It was as if the very space around us was being distorted by the weight of their unspoken animosity.
Ruhi began to speak, "Actually, bhai...., we met in a park..." But before she could continue, Krishav gently squeezed her hand, his eyes locking onto hers in a silent reassurance. The subtle gesture was enough to quiet her, and she nodded slightly, allowing Krishav to continue his narrative.
Krishav's voice was devoid of emotion as he began to speak, his tone eerily detached. "I met them when I was 11 years old. I was an orphan, and we crossed paths in a park. Mr. Harsh took me under his wing, shouldering the responsibility of my education and well-being. He even offered me a place to stay in his home, but I valued my independence. So, he sponsored my studies in the UK instead."
Krishav's flat, matter-of-fact delivery made his words seem almost incidental, as if he was discussing someone else's life rather than his own.
(Author's note ~ You will know about Krishav's story in detail, in his book. "Ruhi~His Ruthless Desire" )
Ruhi, Ronit Bhai and I were unfazed about his story as we know everything. But Ritvik also seemed unfazed after listening to his story.
"You didn't tell all this at the time of our deal, Mr.Singhania" Ronit asked with his coldest tone.
"I thought it was for business purposes, not some backside or family purpose, Mr. Agnihotri." Krishav said with a tone of sarcasm.
Ritvik's voice was firm and icy as he asked, "Where is Kavya, and why did you make her run away?" The air was thick with tension, and I felt like we were witnessing a high-stakes quiz show, with Ritvik as the formidable host and Krishav as the contestant with secrets to hide. The atmosphere was electric, and I held my breath, waiting for Krishav's response.
"About Kavya's whereabouts, I don't know as I couldn't find her." Krishav said with a hint of tension but again continued , "And about why did I make her run away as Ruha..."
Just as Krishav was about to respond, I shot him a warning glance. He met my gaze with a smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Saare aake mere hii sher pe nachte hai. ("Everyone comes to dance on my tunes.")echoed in my mind, capturing the essence of Krishav's confident and enigmatic demeanor.
"Yes, as your well-wisher," Krishav said, his tone dripping with amusement. I stared at him, dumbfounded by his flippant response. It was as if he thought he could fool my Ritvik with such a glib and his senseless answer.
I mentally shot him back, "Krishav, you have no idea who my Ritvik is." My gaze locked onto his, and I knew he understood the unspoken warning. He bit the inside of his cheek, suppressing a teasing smile that threatened to surface.
Before Ritvik could pose another question, Ruhi dropped a bombshell: "Actually, bhai, I overheard Kavya dii talking to someone. She said she'd marry you and then destroy you." The room fell silent, as if the very air had been sucked out of it.
Ruhi paused, surveying the stunned faces around her. Throughout her revelation, Krishav's hand had remained wrapped around hers, offering a steady source of comfort and support. His grip tightened slightly, a subtle gesture of reassurance.
Ruhi pressed on, her voice unwavering. "So, I tracked Kavya di's phone to her locations and hacked her messages." Her words hung in the air, revealing a surprising level of resourcefulness and determination. Krishav's gaze remained fixed on her, his expression a mix of admiration and concern.
"And after that I got to know that, she was with a lady. Yes her name was Priyanka Agnihotri. She did everything according to her plan. So when I heard yours and Kavya Di's love story through her voice, I knew that it was all made up." Ruhi said while tears were flowing continuously from her eyes.
"I didn't know what to do, so I told Krishav everything, even I didn't tell Ronit Bhai. But on the day before your wedding, that lady sent a legal paper to Kavya dii of your company transfer. And ordered her to take your sign at your wedding. So that after the wedding , your company's 52% share will be transferred to the name of your wife. And Kavya dii will be the major shareholders. After seeing this, I was about to collect the evidence to show all of you, but it all wiped out with a flicker of the second."
"I don't know whether you will believe it or not, so I planned all of this. But I promise after that I don't know, where is Kavya dii and after her running, what happened to her !!" Ruhi completed her sentence and we all were looking at her with concern, admiration and everything.
Ritvik went towards her and hugged her. Ritvik clutched his waist so tightly, "Bhai, I didn't break your trust. But I couldn't see you suffer. Please Bhai maaf kar do. Per apne se dur mat karo." Ruhi said while crying in Ritvik's embrace.
"Apne beti ko apne se dur mein kya, koi duniya bhi nahin rakh sakta." Ritvik said while patting her forehead.
Ritvik's voice trembled with emotion as he spoke, his eyes welling up with tears he struggled to hold back. "Bete, I trust you implicitly, more than I trust myself. If you told me a cat has eight legs, I'd believe you without question, simply because my Ruhi, my child, said so. Understand?"
He paused, collecting himself, his expression a mask of strength. "Never hide anything from me, from your bhai. If you do, it will make me feel like I've failed you, like I haven't been able to protect you." The weight of his responsibility as a guardian and protector was palpable in his words.
Every time my man makes me feel, how my choice is so best. Every time I admire him, I get more reasons to fall for him. To love him more, to admire him more, to crave for him more.
Every time I gaze at my man, I'm reminded why I chose him. With each passing moment, I discover new reasons to adore him, to love him more deeply, and to crave his presence. He effortlessly amplifies my affection, and I'm forever drawn to his captivating charm.
When I was thinking all this while looking at him, suddenly a not so good cough disturbed me. Only to see that Krishav was looking at me with a smirk. I want to puke on his face. How badly I wanted to punch him so hard and wipe out his smirk but here I couldn't. But I restrain myself and , opting for a subtle glare 'just meet me tomorrow ' instead..
Krishav's smirk only grew wider as he caught my drift. With an air of nonchalance, he flashed me a thumbs up.
As the emotionally charged evening drew to a close, we all began to retire to our respective rooms. Krishav made a move to leave, but Ronit urged him to stay, and Ritvik nodded in agreement. Ruhi, still reeling from the intense emotions that had surfaced, needed the comfort of familiar faces around her. And so, Krishav stayed, his presence a quiet reassurance amidst the turmoil.
As the night wore on, Krishav settled into the guest house, while the rest of us retreated to our respective rooms. My mind was a jumble of emotions, consumed by a mix of shock, hurt, and betrayal. How could Ruhi keep such a huge secret from me? I felt a deep sense of hurt that she hadn't confided in me.
I made a silent vow not to speak to her, at least not until I'd processed my emotions. It wasn't just that she'd hidden something from me; it was the fact that I'd always been open with her, sharing every detail of my life. Wasn't I her best friend? Didn't I deserve to know everything ?
I pushed aside the swirling thoughts and emotions, seeking refuge in my room. Despite the hurt and confusion, my trust in Ruhi remained unwavering. She was my soulmate, my confidante, and I knew she'd eventually share everything with me. My heart still holding the trust onto my Ruhi.
For now, I needed to maintain my composure, to be the rock that Ruhi and the others relied on. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenges ahead, and sat on our bed waiting for Ritvik.
Some time passed and Ritvik appeared in our room, his expression stern and guarded. But I knew him too well - I'd seen the faint glimmer of tears he'd struggled to hold back earlier. My heart went out to him, and I couldn't bear the thought of him suffering alone.
Without a word, I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him into a warm hug. The tension in his body began to ease, and he leaned back into my embrace, finding comfort in my silent support.
Ritvik slowly turned to face me, his eyes welling up with tears. I gently took his hand and guided him to our bed, where he sat down, his gaze cast downward. He then looked up at me, his voice barely above a whisper while looking at my lap, "Can I sleep here?" The words were laced with vulnerability, and his tone was so soft that I had to strain to hear him.
I gently guided Ritvik to rest his head on my lap, and began to stroke his hair with soothing motions. Despite his efforts to hold back, he finally succumbed to his emotions, breaking down completely. The sight of him crying shattered my heart, and I couldn't help but weep alongside him. Together, we let our tears flow, sharing in each other's pain and offering what little comfort we could.
After crying sometime, Ritvik got up from my lap and looked at me. He gently wiped my tears and said, "Today I saw, how my bachi has became so strong. And Thank you for all this Ruhani. Thank you for staying with her always." He said and hugged me tightly.
I was patting his back to calm his down. After sometime he looked at me. But I don't know I am just confused.
I couldn't understand the reason of Ritvik's breaking. I mean is it for Kavya dii !! Just about thinking this, that Ritvik was crying because of Kavya di's betrayal, don't know why but my heart was aching.
I gazed at Ritvik, about to speak, but my conscience silenced me. As I settled in for the night, Ritvik suddenly grasped the nape of my neck, pulling me into a passionate kiss.
His lips moved fervently against mine, our breathing intertwining as our emotions poured out. Tears, heartache, and vulnerability all merged into this one, all-consuming kiss.
Ritvik's lips hovered against mine, his kiss suspended in mid-air. But he didn't leave my lips. His voice barely above a whisper, he confessed, "I wasn't crying for Kavya, Princess. Seeing your strength, your resilience, overwhelmed me. It made me realize how lucky I am to have you by my side." His words dripped with emotion, his breath mingling with mine as he spoke.
"Regarding Kavya, I'll reveal everything when the time is right. But for now, remember this: I belong to you, and only you, Ruhani Ritvik Agnihotri. This isn't a promise for yesterday, today, or tomorrow - it's eternal. It was, it is, and it will always be." With those heartfelt words, Ritvik's lips claimed mine once more, gently guiding me onto the bed, where our love continued to unfold.
As the night wore on, our passion only intensified, a testament to the depth of our longing for each other. The trials of the day melted away, and in the silence of the night, we found our true haven - in each other's arms. With the world outside fading into obscurity, we surrendered to our love, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, our hearts beating as one as we drifted off to sleep, entwined in a loving embrace.
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