Chapter 34 Beyond Your Understanding
Shorya stands silently, looking at me. My head is bowed, eyes fixed on the floor. I still don’t want to speak to him, but in a softer tone, he says, "You shouldn't take your anger out on food."
I don’t reply. I sit quietly, hands resting in my lap, but my eyes betray the mix of pain and guilt I feel.
Shorya picks up the plate from the side table and gently places it in my hands. "Eat. Don’t argue," he says, firmly yet calmly.
I realize there’s no point in arguing now. I quietly take the plate and begin to eat, each bite heavy with silence. It isn’t hunger driving me it’s duty, a sense of keeping peace.
Shorya glances at me and gives a faint smile. He picks up his laptop and moves to a corner chair, getting busy with work. The only sounds in the room are the soft tapping of keys and the occasional clink of my spoon against the plate.
After a while, I finish eating. I place the plate back on the side table and lie down again. My face shows exhaustion, my eyes heavy with more than just sleep. Moments later, I drift off, letting the burden of the day sink me into slumber.
Shorya closes his laptop, looks at me for a moment, then walks over softly. He carefully pulls the blanket over me, tucking it gently around my body. He adjusts a stray lock of hair from my face. I look peaceful, hiding from pain in the arms of sleep.
He picks up his own blanket, moves to the other side of the bed, and lies down. A quiet space stretches between us.
A strange, heavy silence fills Rajput Mansion tonight so deep it feels like the very walls of the haveli are mourning. Since my wedding, the house feels changed. No laughter, no joy just the lingering shadow of grief and loss.
I think of Ruhi. Once the most cheerful and mischievous girl in the house, she’s slowly growing more mature. Poor thing… she’s the only one left now. Vihan is gone, and Samar… Samar is no longer in this world. Since his death, all colors have faded from the mansion.
That evening, I quietly bring a plate of food to Mom, who sits silently on her bed, lost in her own sorrow. Her eyes carry the weight of endless worries.
"Mom, you didn’t eat again…" I say softly. "Tell me… will things become right if you stop eating?"
Mom sighs, her voice low and weak. "Child, I don’t feel like eating…"
Before I can say more, Ruhi walks in. Her face still holds innocence, but her eyes betray the anxiety growing inside her.
"I don’t want to hear anything," she says firmly, almost angrily. "If you won’t eat, then I won’t either!"
Mom looks at her, a faint smile breaking through the sadness. She opens her arms, and Ruhi rushes into her embrace, placing the plate aside.
Holding each other tightly, mother and daughter share a silent moment of pain, letting their tears say everything words cannot.
Then Ruhi sits beside Mom and begins feeding her lovingly, coaxing her slowly to eat.
I notice Dad isn’t home. His work often keeps him traveling abroad for meetings and deals. This time, he’s in Lucknow for an important conference.
After dinner, Ruhi takes her plate to the kitchen. As soon as she steps inside, emotions overwhelm her. She breaks down, silently sobbing as she places the plate on the counter.
Suddenly, she feels a gentle hand on her head. Startled, she turns and sees Karan standing there. His face is calm, but his eyes reflect the same sorrow we all feel.
Without a word, Ruhi rushes into his arms, crying harder. Only he can give her this comfort.
Karan gently strokes her hair and whispers softly, "Everything will be okay, Ruhi be strong."
In the snow-covered city of Scotland, morning light slowly pushes away the darkness. The cold is still intense sharp and biting but inside my room, a different kind of silence rules, heavy and suffocating.
I spend the entire previous day locked inside this room, not stepping out, not speaking to anyone.
The first light of dawn falls across my face. I slowly open my eyes. There’s a faint softness in them, but my heart is restless. I want to step outside, feel the snow beneath my feet, let the icy wind brush my face but fear holds me back. Fear of King.
Just then, the door opens.
King enters, as always, dressed in a long black coat. His face is hidden behind a mask; only his eyes are visible mysterious.
Without emotion, he places a bag in front of me and says coldly, “Take a shower.”
I look at him in surprise. “Don’t you ever sleep?” I ask.
His eyes flicker sharply. His voice is deep and frosty as he answers, “No.”
Just one word but it carries such power that I don’t argue. I quietly take the bag and walk into the bathroom.
The hot water feels like a rare comfort against the biting cold. Some time later, I return to the room wearing the yellow frock suit he gave me. My wet hair cascades over my shoulders, my face glows softly in the dim light. Innocence still clings to my features but unease fills my eyes.
On the side table, I notice a cup of hot coffee. Steam rises gently, blending with the soft glow of the room.
King approaches me slowly, each step echoing through the silence, as if the air itself reacts to his presence. Without saying a word, he turns on the room heater so I won’t feel cold. He simply stands there, looking at me.
I glance at him once, then quickly look away. My mind races. Is he even human? Or a shadow? Why has he kept me here?
There are no answers.
Standing in the quiet warmth of the heater, my heart grows heavier. My mind becomes a storm—memories of home, worry for my mother, and fear of this mysterious man who calls himself King.
After a few moments of silence, I gather my courage and look up at him. My voice trembles, but determination flickers inside me.
“I want to go home,” I say softly. “Why are you keeping me here? I can’t stay here even a single day more…”
He doesn’t move. His grey eyes remain fixed on me. His hands rest on his waist as his voice turns cold and commanding. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Tears well up in my eyes. I step closer, my voice rising. “Who are you to stop me? What right do you have? Why have you brought me here? What have I done?”
For the first time, anger flickers across his face. His eyes sharpen as he steps toward me, his voice thundering, “Enough! Don’t ask questions. I don’t answer to anyone!”
My heart pounds. Tears spill from my eyes as I step back but I don’t stop. “I won’t stay quiet out of fear! You brought me here by force Am I your prisoner? Tell me who are you?”
His gaze darkens. His voice drops low, carrying a chilling threat. “Don’t try to understand who I am. I decide what happens here. You don’t need to know more. All you need to know is, I own this place… and now… you belong here.”