CHAPTER 55 No one dares to lay a hand on you, darling
Tanvi gazed at him with complex emotions, and he is discerning her every move.
Rudra caressed her knuckles and asked, “How are you feeling now?”
Tanvi remains fazed for a second, “I am good,” she said with uncertainty.
She lied, but her eyes showed him the answer. He decided not to prolong it and asked with curiosity, “what are you drawing in the garden?”
Her eyes glistened, “Do you know that I am a fashion designer too?” Tanvi asked with excitement.
“Yes, I heard of it,” Rudra said with a slight smile.
“Yep. I have always wanted to be a designer, establish a brand and make it reputable and recognizable. I am on my way in achieving that.” She said those words with a lot of emotion and happiness.
“Wow. I appreciate it.” He said while patting her gently.
“So, Do you have any plan on how to proceed further?” he inquired.
“Yes. I have one, but I’m not sure how it will turn out.” She said while drifting in her thoughts.
“Good. I can assist you if you need any help.” Rudra stated as a matter of fact.
Tanvi jumped on listening to his words. “Why will you help me?” She gave a puzzled look to him.
Seeing her astonishment, he giggled and pulled her towards him. “You are Mrs. Tanvi Rudra Chauhan now. How can I not involve when you are in trouble?” Rudra expressed his views. “Besides, I cannot see your struggle,” he said with a smirk.
“I don’t need your help. I am going to do it on my own.” Tanvi retorted while giving a smug look.
Rudra snickered by sensing the childish side of her. “What? Did I joke? Is it funny?” She ranted with a sly tone. Rudra is bewildered by her courage. “Darling, you are the only person who dares to speak with me like that.”
He stared into her eyes and said, “I only allow you to talk back with me.” Sensing the tension in the air, Tanvi decided to go out. Rudra didn’t stop her, so she began exiting the room, but suddenly her pajama pant got stuck on one of her feet, and she stumbled to balance herself.
In an instant, Rudra caught her hand and put his other hand on her waist, and steadied her.
Instead of turning to exit, he pushed inside. Rudra stood behind Tanvi, and there isn’t any space between them.
Her heart began thumping hard, and her chest rose to sway upside down heavily, her warm breath fell on Rudra’s hands, and his entire body shook.
For a minute, their worlds stopped breathing. Tanvi is about to escape from his grip, but he squeezed her in a tight embrace, and she got hit by his strong muscular chest.
She turned to face him, and he lifted her chin. They drowned gaping at each other, and with his long strides and arms on her shoulders, he pinned her to the wall without breaking eye contact.
He towered over her tiny frame, and his fierce breath falling on her neck and collarbone ignited a fire between them.
His eyes showed lust for her, and she was frightened. Her body became still. He gently caressed her with his long fingers and made circles on her cheeks.
He brushed her lips with his hot breath, and he hovered on her. He pushed her hair to one side, and his slender knuckles at the back of her neck are doing magic to her, but strangely she didn’t respond to his touch and didn’t show any emotion.
He observed her keenly and got confused. He pecked on her forehead. Then his touch dropped to her eyes and gave a kiss, nudged her nose bridge with his, and their foreheads brushed.
His gaze slowly fell on her rosy lips, and he got tempted to claim them and mark her his. His thumb brushed her lower lip, and his lips reached her, he caressed them tenderly with affection, but Tanvi pushed him and ran out of the room. He was stunned by her mood swings.
He frustratedly opened his laptop and started doing his work. It’s been hours, but since Tanvi is not back, he decided to find her. He came out and saw her silhouette on the sofa.
He reached there, sat beside her, and gawked at her sleeping contour. He got mesmerized by her, “What did you do to me, Tanvi? You are driving me nuts. I want you so badly but worried you might run from me if I advanced.”
He felt dejected. Her hair strands fell on her face, and he gently placed them back. After glancing for some time, he slowly lifted her, carried her to their bedroom, placed her on the bed, covered with a quilt, and gave a light kiss on her forehead.
…
Tanvi is in her room, lost in her thoughts.
Suddenly, Dhruv came to her, and she is astounded by his presence. “What do you want now?” He hadn’t responded.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Get your ass out of here before I cause a scene.” She warned him in a raged tone. He gave a cynical giggle to her, and she shivered with his laugh.
“What? Did it look funny? You bastard, out now.” She shouted.
“You sure know how to make me lose my cool.” With his long steps, he approached her and gripped her roughly.
She yelped in pain and winced. “What are you doing?” She frowned, and panic struck her. He got infuriated and gave her a brutal slap to her, “shut your fucking mouth now.”
He screamed. She held her cheek with pain and started yelling at him. “I said now. I will fucking send you to hell if you didn’t stop.”
He is sending deadly glares. “Shut up, you madwoman,” he roared at her in a stern voice.
He grabbed her hair cruelly, dragged her and pushed her towards the wall harshly, and gave her another unmerciful slap.
She fell with the force he used. Blood began oozing from the corner of her lips. Her cheeks burned with pain and have palm prints. The red bruise turned blue, and she is crying hysterically with his coarse attitude.
With her cries and screams, Rudra got alerted. “Get out. Don’t you attempt to come near? Don’t you dare lay a finger on me?” Tanvi is yelling.
“You hit me, you mother fucker. You are a son of a bitch.” She is sobbing and striving so hard.
Rudra instantly understood and jumped to Tanvi, took her into his arms, wrapped his arms tightly around her, and kissed her tears.
“Relax, honey. You are safe. I am beside you.” He is rocking her back and is saying soothing words and reassuring her that she is safe. But her breath became heavy, and she is struggling for air. His heart ached so much on seeing her in this state.
“No one dares to lay a hand on you, darling. You are safe with me.” He whispered calming words to her.
After some time, her breathing steadied. Observing her relaxed posture, he felt peace.
Unknown to him, she opened her eyes and saw his fear. She took the warmth he gave and slowly fell asleep in his embrace knowing she is in the safe hands.
Rudra is becoming desperate to know what is happening to her. But, he didn’t want to upset her at the same time.
He is feeling helpless, and it is turning him mad. By the time she woke up, he is sleeping beside her.
It is the first time she saw him in the morning in their room. Her heart became heavy by remembering the event in the night.
She became ecstatic and blessed that Rudra helped her to fall asleep. Then realization dawned on her that he is daily consoling her. “Since I am more than positive, I am daily getting haunted with nightmares, and I am wondering how I am becoming calm. It seems he is the reason for my peace.”
An undecipherable emotion was replaced in her insides. She stared at his peaceful and calm look and felt complex feelings.
“Why are you behaving this nice with me, Rudra, when you forced me to marry you? Though I’m relaxed in your presence, that doesn’t change the fact. You threatened my family’s lives. I cannot forgive you for that. I hate you.”
“No matter what you do, you still caused me pain, Rudra.” A lump is formed in her throat. She felt the pain to say the word hate to him.
Rudra listened to her words and felt a pricking pain in his heart. It felt like someone stabbed deep in his heart.
He felt a surge of emotions rushing through him but ceased them since he does not want to scare her. “I know, Tanvi, you hate me. But, I hope your hatred might not be the same as the day when I forced you.”
…