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Sugandha's pov
I was still in the same position, standing. I couldn't understand what just happened. My heart was thumping with unknown emotions.
"Bhabhi, what are you doing standing there? Come, let's prepare for dinner." Nalini's words brought me back to my senses.
I nodded and followed behind her. I do not know how to face him after this incident. We'll have to share the same room forever...!
After a while, I heard them entering the house. I immediately filled my plate and bolted into my room after informing Tulasi.
I sighed… I'll just eat here to avoid Rudra Ji and also Maa Ji's taunts.
I finished my meal real fast. Thankfully, no one called my name.
There was no work left, so I went straight to bed, covering myself with a blanket.
Then I heard the door creaking open. I gulped and pretended to be asleep.
A few minutes passed without any sound, I slowly removed my blanket to check if he was asleep or not.
He was looking straight at me with no shirt on. My eyes widened.
"Why didn't you have dinner with us?" He asked.
I looked away and gulped hard this time. Is he not aware of his hot body!?
"W…woh, i…I was hungry, so I.. I ate first." I managed to murmur.
"More like you didn't want to eat with us…" he spoke while sighing.
I didn't reply back. He was right, and I just looked like a dumb woman infront of him. I can't even lie properly.
"It's fine, I understand your perspective. Who would want to listen to constant taunts while eating." Rudra ji said.
It brought an immediate smile to my face. He wasn't bad after all….
Rudra's pov
I watched her smile while looking away. I raised my brows in confusion, I never dealt with women personally… they sure are very confusing.
I thought everything would be awkward, but… it wasn't actually. Infact, we didn't mention it.
I did have a lingering question in my head when I looked at her naked back… I also noticed some marks. They were actually very long. It looked like whipped marks. Idk…? An unknown anger coursed through me. It was surely done by that asshole.
I don't understand how humans can be that cruel. I want to punish every single one of them with my own hands. This woman is really strong for enduring such stuff without complaining once…
I sighed, I didn't want to trigger her past. It might ruin her mood. Whatever happens, I'll be her knight from now on. Even if we aren't husband and wife in the bedroom, I can be her guardian against the world.
I lay on the bed to sleep. I was super tired today. So it didn't take long, and I fell into my slumber.
~Time skip~
The next day, I woke up to the birds chirping. I sat up and joined my hands to pray for Surya bhagwan. It's the first thing that I do after waking up.
Then I wore my shirt and walked out. The next thing I saw was Sugandha… doing some rangoli on the front porch.
She seemed so focused and didn't even notice my presence.
I gazed down at her rangoli design. It was marvelous. She would definitely win the first prize if it were any competition.
Then I watched her stumble when she noticed my presence. Her beautiful rangoli got ruined when the red color fell on it.
Oh no… She must be very disappointed. It was partially because of me. I don't understand why she gets so nervous around me.
Who am I to say that…? I'm such a hypocrite.
Author pov
Rudra made his way towards her. "I… umm, I apologize for interrupting you with my presence." He said in a soft tone.
"I.. it's fine, i just.. tripped because of a rock." Sugandha says.
"Your excuses are really good, but… you can't fool me." Rudra said.
Sugandha's face turns into a stunned look, and she averted her gaze while scolding herself under her breath.
"Well… since I'm the cause, I'll help you redo the design." He says, but he was actually very embarrassed to do so.
Sugandha shot her head back at him. "Rudra ji, i…it's a woman's duty." She says.
"I know, but… I caused this mess. I should redeem myself in some way." Rudra says.
Sugandha was astonished by his behavior. She had never seen a male like him. She highly doubts if he could even be able to hold the white powder in between his fingers. She chuckled a little while imagining him struggling.
Rudra watched her chuckling to herself like a mad person. "What's so funny..?" He asked.
"N.. nothing, I just... I just laugh when I have no words to convey." She says.
"Another great lie, but I'm not falling for it." Rudra says after a huff.
Sugandha sighed in defeat. Rudra was too smart to be outsmarted.
"Umm, if you want to redeem yourself, then… I'll ask you a favor, will you do it?" She asks.
"Yes, I will." Rudra says confidently.
"Woh… umm.. I want some of Ramu Kaka's kachori." She asks nervously.
Rudra was bewildered by her request. He only brought home something for his sister. 'I guess another woman has been added to this list', he thought.
"That's it…? Consider it done." Rudra mutters out.
Sugandha grins ear to ear under her veil. She was looking forward to it. It's been 5 years since she tasted it. When Sugandha was a kid, she always used to go there and purchase something from whatever was left with her hard-earned money.
Rudra felt her excitement, and he was looking forward to actually witnessing it with his own eyes when he brings it home. Her mood became happier with just a small gesture, he thought.
Rudra then walked away with a faint smile and some… unnameable feeling. It was too hard to name it.
Sugandha and other ladies finished all the household work. The men of the house also left for their work.
Sugandha sat down to do some pooja. It was her favorite part of the day. It keeps her mind occupied by devotion. It's strong enough to make her brain avoid all the negative alternatives.
She closed her eyes and started chanting some mantras with a peaceful heart. She couldn't thank the god enough for rewriting her life.
A few minutes have passed, suddenly… Anuja grabs Sugandha's arm and pulls her up forcefully.
Sugandha's pooja got interrupted, she opened her eyes and looked at her mother-in-law with a confused face.
"Who allowed you inside this holy place? Don't you know that a widowed woman like you shouldn't touch anything sacred!? Get the hell out of here." Anuja throws her out.
Anuja wiped her hands and muttered some curses under her breath. "I hope I don't get cursed for touching you. Looking at your face ruins my whole day! A woman who belongs to such a low caste doesn't even get appointed as a maid in this house." Anuja spits venom like it was nothing.
Sugandha didn't even look at her. She covered her head with her pallu. These comments stab her heart, but she has developed an iron heart.
"Yeah, no one wants to look at a dark woman like you. It makes me so disgusted to even touch you." Anuja says with a scoff.
Sugandha's eyes brim with tears, and she didn't want to hear anything further.
She flopped on the bed and started crying hard. The only insecurity she has is her brown skin tone.
Everyone used to make fun of her whenever they got a chance. It made her hate her skin color as well.
Even if it was an everyday occurrence, it'll still sting anyone emotionally and mentally, to the point where they'll start hating themselves. Same case with Sugandha.
She got up and looked at herself in the mirror. Her kajal was all smudged now. She removed her pallu and traced her skin. She loved how it felt but hated how it looked. She didn't want to show it to anyone. That's why she wears almost full clothes. Long sleeves and whatnot.
She broke into more tears looking at herself. Sadly, no one was there to comfort and educate her.
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