It was a cold rainy day, the atmosphere outside was bleak but was no match for the fear raging inside Riddhimas heart. Vansh had been gone for two days now, no call, no text, nothing but absolute silence from his end.
Riddhima knew why.
He had confronted her about her snooping and was seething with rage, they fought or rather it was him shouting at her as always.
She didn't understand this at all, for a man as smart as her husband his blind trust for his family astounded her as it annoyed her. Why couldn't he just ask her, hear her out for once rather than hurling accusations at her?
He loved her, she knew.
A man of few words that he was, it was all in his gestures. The fear that she saw in those eyes the day he had pulled her out of the pool was something she had remembered for days to come. Then the way he had kept a thorough watch on her recovery, made sure she had her meals on time, reprimand her for forgetting to take her medicines, and made sure she was resting well.
Riddhima had wondered then if his feelings for her had truly changed or was it simply just another one of his mind games.
Months after the incident she knew that the latter wasn't the case. As she realized he had always made sure she was well taken care of. Especially in his absence. She also knew his eyes followed her every move when they were alone in their room. Those subtle glances that followed her as she came out after changing into her nightwear, eyes fixated on her as she proceeded to brush her hair.
She wondered how many people outside of this mansion knew about this soft vulnerable side of her husband, she was lucky in terms of that. He truly was a fascinating man.
The soft creaking of the bedroom door alerted her of his presence. His eyes wandered around the room stopping at her form, perched on the window seat. The one he had bought for her. It was this very seat that solidified her belief that he had indeed come to love her.
Without a word, he had then proceeded to take off his shoes. "Vansh", he ignored her and walked to the cupboards. She tried again, "Kaha they tum? I was so worried when you did not return my calls". Disregarding her, he took a fresh pair of clothes and went inside to change.
Riddhima sat down on the bed feeling dejected, after all, she had brought this upon herself. Minutes later she heard the shower turn off and Vansh walked out drying his hair. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. This was her chance and she couldn't let it go. The decision was made and it was time to follow up on it.
"Vansh" she called out, "I know tum mujhse naraaz ho, but please hear me out".
The look that he gave her, almost had her running for the hills. The words that followed were even more ferocious. "Hear out what riddhima, the fact that my wife is convinced I am a murderer, that she thinks I killed my ex-fiancée in cold blood or even four months later she still doesn't trust me enough to tell me it wasn't her that burned my mother's portrait". Her eyes welled up, and his softened. Their inability to trust the other was the reason their marriage had become so difficult to navigate.
"There are so many things you have kept locked inside of you riddhima, outside of these four walls you are the perfect wife, the perfect daughter-in-law. And yet you fail to share your turmoil with the one who is the reason you are related to all of these people, your husband ".
She said nothing then, she knew the time for words had been long gone. It was time now to break the walls that surrounded them. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him in an embrace for the very first time.
He stood still for a moment and released a long sigh, pulling her into himself tightly. The warmth that flooded her brought fresh tears to her eyes. She hugged him even closer and the words started flowing out of her.
"I am sorry, for all of those times that I hurt you knowingly or otherwise, I am sorry. We both have made the mistake of trusting others over our partner, but I am tired Vansh. I am so tired. I don't want to continue like this anymore. I want us to make a fresh start, but for that, I must come clean to you about my past...."
He pulled back, hands firmly placed on her waist he opened his mouth to say something. She shook her head, "I know you think that the past should be kept in the past, but unless I tell you everything, this guilt will continue to eat me up every day".
And then she started speaking. About her early days in college where she met Kabir, how she fell for him, her proposal, how she obliged to spy for him, how he coerced her to marry by placing a gun to his head, her meeting him on karva chauth, him disguised as DSR, scaring her with the gifts, their confrontation by the poolside. She told him everything. Every. Single. Thing.
Taking a deep breath she dared to look up at him. He was surprisingly calm. "I know," he said "You are a terrible spy. I always knew about someone being in your life before me. It was during Ishaani's marriage I realized it was him. It was also then I ascertained, you were all but a pawn in a big game, that you were clueless about."
Her brain hazy with this new information, Riddhima stumbled almost falling down. He steadied her before picking her up and laying her down on their bed
He turned off the lamps and joined her. Pulling her to his side he continued, "The day when you fell inside the pool is something I can never forget in my life. It was that day I knew someone from my family had been betraying me all this time. Angre did the necessary digging. It didn't take long then, to figure out who was behind it all... my step maa and her beloved son. These past two days I took care of Kabir, kal subah usse pata chal jayega k Vansh Raisinghania se dushmani ki kimmat kya hoti hai". She looked up at him, his eyes promised a storm, a storm that would shake the very roots of Kabirs existence.
"Aaj tak apne pariwar walon ki galtiyan maaf karna, meri sabse badi bhul thi. Tumhare har ghaav ka, har dard ka, har aasu ka hisaab hoga.They will be punished, in due time", he ground out harshly, then smirking he pinned his gaze on her and whispered, "And so will you be, my darling". Startled she tried pulling away but one tug and she fell on his chest. He swiftly changed positions and hovered above her, caging her with his arms on either side.
"Why the disbelief sweetheart?" He smirked, " For us to truly have a fresh start, karz toh chukana hoga na tumhe mera".
"Kaisa karz?" She stuttered.
"Itne mahine jo maine tumhare intezaar mein bitaaye uska karz".
He bent down, brushing his nose with hers. Eyes on her lips, his intentions were clear. Yet he gave her a chance to pull back, and when she didn't. He closed the gap between their lips. What started as a mere brush of their lips evolved into something greater, leaving both of them breathless.
That night as they lay in each other's arms, the moonlight reflecting off their bare bodies. Riddhima felt at peace. She didn't know what would follow come tomorrow morning but she knew as long as she had this man, her husband beside her, she was ready for it. She was ready for it all.
Rules & Announcements
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
