The next morning, Isha jumped out of bed with the excitement of a school kid on picnic day. She was finally going back to the office after the long wedding break. Dressed in a light pink formal shirt and crisp white pants, she looked simple yet effortlessly beautiful. Her sleek ponytail and delicate earrings added a neat touch.
Stepping out of her room, she called out cheerfully, "Good morning, everyone!"
Her mother-in-law Yamini, still in her nightgown, looked up and said, "Kya baat hai Isha, aaj toh full-on corporate queen lag rahi ho!"
Everyone laughed-including her father-in-law, chacha , chachi , and the ever-mischievous Anvi and Ayansh.
Ayansh grinned and said, "Bhabhi, aap office jaa rahi ho ya modeling audition mein?"
Isha ruffled his hair. "I'm going to rule the world, champ!"
They all chuckled, and after a hearty breakfast and a teasing "All the best, Beta!" from her uncle, she left for work.
At the office, the familiar buzz made her feel alive again. Her friends gathered around her like bees to honey. Roohi gave her a big hug and said, "Arrey wah, madam back in action! So, tell me... how's married life?"
Isha hesitated, remembering Rudraksh's distant behavior and how he had left town without even informing her. But she masked it with a light laugh.
"Roohi, it's... peaceful. Like living with a monk."
"Haye! Shaadi mein shanti kaun chahta hai?" Roohi teased, and they both laughed.
Later at lunch, she headed to the cafeteria, scrolling through her phone, when she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Excuse me, Miss! You're blocking the way to my destiny."
She turned sharply. "Rishi?!"
Rishab stood there, arms open, his grin wider than the ocean.
"Ishu! Tu toh waise ki waise hai yaar!"
They hugged, and she shook her head in disbelief.
"Oh my god, you vanished like my favorite pen! Where were you hiding?"
"New York. Business studies. Now back and here to annoy you again."
"You don't change, do you? Still full-time entertainer!"
They sat down with their trays and chatted like old times-teasing, joking, recalling school days and embarrassing tuition memories.
"Remember that time you spilled mango juice on sir's laptop and blamed me?" she said.
Rishab laughed, nearly choking on his food. "Of course! And you gave me that innocent 'I'm-an-angel' look in front of sir!"
"Because I am an angel. Certified."
"Hmm, angel... with devilish timing."
He stared at her for a second too long. His smile faltered just a bit.
She didn't notice-too busy laughing.
As they finished lunch, Rishab said casually, "By the way, it's nice seeing you here. Didn't expect this Monday to become so... bright."
"Thanks to my pink shirt, I guess."
He smiled. "Yeah... that too."
They both went back to work, but for Rishab, something had stirred-something he thought he'd buried years ago.
And Isha? She was just glad to have an old friend back-completely unaware of what her presence meant to him.
That evening, Isha returned home tired but happy.
"Beta, welcome back!" Yamini greeted her with a cup of tea.
"Go freshen up, I'll call you for dinner."
"Yes boss! Reporting live from the battlefield." Isha saluted.
Yamini laughed, "Bas bas, Major madam. Jaao change kar lo."
At dinner, as they all ate together, Yamini asked gently, "Beta, when is Rudraksh coming back?"
Isha's smile faded just a little. He hadn't called. Not even once.
Before she could answer, her father-in-law spoke up,
"He said he's caught up with election work. He'll return soon."
After dinner, Isha returned to her room, glanced at her phone-still no message from Rudraksh.
No "How was your day?"
No "Take care."
She sighed, curled up on her side, and closed her eyes.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, someone else couldn't stop thinking about her smile-the one she had no idea was someone's favorite part of the day.
----
In Udaipur, the sun had barely risen over the royal palaces, casting a soft golden hue on the city, but Rudraksh Rajawat was already seated in his office, lost in his thoughts.
The once fiery political mind, razor-sharp and always three steps ahead, was now strangely distracted.
Papers lay untouched, his laptop screen glowed with unread mails, and yet his eyes were fixed somewhere... nowhere.
A knock on the door broke the silence, followed by a dramatically loud voice:
"Rajawat saheb! Aapki meeting hai agle 30 minutes mein."
Vikram, his long-time friend and assistant, entered the room, only to find Rudraksh completely zoned out, staring out of the window.
Vikram squinted. "Oye! Earth to Rudraksh."
No response.
He tapped Rudraksh's shoulder lightly, then smirked.
"Lagta hai bhabhi saheb ke khayalon mein kho gaye Rajawat saheb! Pyaar mein ho gaya kya?"
He chuckled dramatically.
Rudraksh snapped out of his trance, glaring at him with those sharp, intense eyes.
"Shut up, Vikram. Stop your nonsense."
"Toh fir yeh 'window pe ghanti ka intezaar' wali acting kyun?"
Rudraksh sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Why are you here, Vikram?"
Vikram straightened. "Sir, your meeting with all party members is in 30 minutes. Please get ready. Also, media is outside-so no 'lost lover' face please."
He winked and left before Rudraksh could throw a file at him.
Rudraksh stood up slowly, walked toward the mirror, and looked at his reflection.
Everything about him was in control-his attire, posture, schedule... except his mind.
He sat down again, fingers tapping the desk.
And then, unwillingly, his mind drifted to Isha.
He hadn't messaged her. Hadn't even told her he was leaving the city.
Why?
Because he didn't wnat to give her any False hope .
He was always taught to be a leader, a warrior, not someone who expresses emotions.
But still, why did it bother him more than any political opposition?
The intercom buzzed.
"Sir, the car is ready."
He grabbed his blazer and wore his usual expression of calm command, and leave..
------
Two days later...
The grand Rajawat mansion stood quiet as dusk melted into night.
Rudraksh had returned.
No one noticed. No fanfare. No announcement. But his eyes? They searched restlessly.
He walked into the room - their room now - and looked around.
Empty.
His brows furrowed as he scanned every corner.
"Kahaan gayi?"
("Where did she go?") he muttered under his breath.
His hand brushed the side table unconsciously. He sat on the bed - leaned back, and stared at the ceiling.
Why did this emptiness bother him today? Why was her absence louder than silence itself?
"Ek baar dikhe bas... bas ek baar."
("I just want to see her... just once.")
Suddenly - the door creaked.
And there she was.
Isha walked in - glowing. Alive. Confident. Her formal wear creased slightly from the long day, her hair a little messy, her cheeks flushed. Her energy filled the room in seconds.
Rudraksh turned... and stared.
Something in his chest shifted - unfamiliar, unwelcome.
Isha gasped in surprise, then smiled wide, teeth showing - the kind of smile that could melt glaciers.
"Aap aa gaye?"
("You're back?") she asked, her voice a mix of happiness and relief.
"Nahi. Abhi raste mein hoon."
("No. I'm still on the way.") he replied dryly.
She chuckled. "Acha? Toh yeh kya hai? Bhooton ka version ho kya?"
("Oh really? Then what's this? Are you a ghost version of yourself?")
He looked away, hiding a faint smirk.
"Kuch time pehle aaya."
("Came a little while ago.")
And just like that, he walked away.
But Isha... couldn't stop smiling.
Her joy wasn't for him alone today. She had her own victory.
Night fell...
Isha sat on the bed, her laptop on her lap, fingers moving fast - notes, emails, maybe her thoughts.
Then she heard the bathroom door click open.
Rudraksh walked out - hair damp, towel around his neck, his white T-shirt clinging slightly to his frame.
Instinctively, Isha snapped the laptop shut and placed it aside.
Then realization hit her.
Two pillows. One bed. One room.
Her eyes widened as she looked at the couch... then at Rudraksh.
She whispered under her breath:
"Yaar... vese toh unhe couch pe sona chahiye... par unki body toh gym ke bench jaisi hai... couch pe hi toot jaayega bichara." Phir kya mujhe sona padega ?
("Well... technically, he should sleep on the couch... but with that gym body of his, the couch might collapse under him. poor couch " )
"Nahi baba... main toh nahi soungi couch pe. Meri toh kamar hi toot jaayegi."
("No way... I'm not sleeping on the couch. My back will break.")
"Par phir kya karegi Ishu? Kuch plan hai?"
("Then what will you do, Ishu? What's the plan?")
"Kya badbad kar rahi ho khud se?"
("What nonsense are you muttering to yourself?") Rudraksh's voice suddenly snapped her out of it.
She jumped a little, then gave a toothy grin.
"Kuch nahi... kaam ke baare mein soch rahi thi."
("Nothing... just thinking about work.")
Then, excitedly, she said,
"Aapko pata hai? Aaj mera promotion hua! Lead ban gayi main! Team ne surprise diya - cake, decorations... sab kuch!"
("Do you know? I got promoted today! I'm the new lead! The team surprised me with cake, decorations - everything!")
She waited. Hoping.
Rudraksh just nodded. No congratulations. No smile. Just silence.
And then, without a word, he walked to a corner of the room. Pressed something near the bookshelf.
Click.
A secret door slid open.
Isha gasped.
"Yeh... yeh kya hai? Hidden door?"
("This... what is this? A hidden door?") she whispered, her curiosity pulling her forward.
But before she could take a step, Rudraksh turned sharply.
"Ruko. Don't come in."
"Kya? Par kyun?"
("What? But why?")
His eyes turned colder.
"Aur khabardaar jo kisi ko iske baare mein bataya."
("And don't you dare tell anyone about this.")
"Kisi ko bhi nahi."
("To anyone.")
SLAM.
He shut the door on her face.
She stood frozen.
The warmth of her day - her promotion, her happiness - all vanished in a second.
Her hands trembled slightly as she turned around and walked to the bed.
She didn't cry. She didn't complain.
But a piece of her joy shattered quietly.
She lay down, facing the other side of the bed.
Her smile from earlier still faintly lingered... only now, it had no reaason.
----------------------
Days continued...
And so did the strange rhythm of their nights.
Isha would talk. Rudraksh would listen silently. And leave.
He would vanish into his secret room - a room with secrets Isha never dared to ask about again.
But she still talked.
Still smiled.
Still hoped - silently.
Today evening...
Isha stepped out of her office building, bag slung over her shoulder, her smile fading as soon as she saw her car.
The driver-side door was slightly open, the keys in hand - but the engine refused to start.
She tried again.
Nothing.
She sighed, brushed a lock of hair from her face, and took out her phone to call for help.
Just then, she heard a voice:
"Engineer madam ki gaadi bhi aaj strike pe hai kya?"
("Is the engineer madam's car also on strike today?")
She turned - Rishabh.
"Rishi! You're still here?"
"Haan, meeting khatam hui toh socha check kar loon sab theek toh hai. Chalo, drop deta hoon."
("Yeah, just wrapped up my meeting and thought I'd check in. Come on, I'll drop you.")
She hesitated - then smiled. "Thanks... warna mujhe rickshaw pakadna padta."
("Thanks... or else I'd have to find a rickshaw.")
She got in.
They drove off - laughing, sharing stories about college, teasing each other like the old days.
At the Rajawat Mansion...
Rudraksh stood on the first-floor balcony, sipping his black coffee. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, jaw clenched tight.
He wasn't sure what brought him to the balcony today.
Until he saw it.
A white car pulled up at the gate. Isha stepped out. Laughing. Her face glowing. Rishabh stepped out from the other side.
He handed her the bag. Their fingers brushed - briefly.
She laughed again. Nudged him playfully on the arm.
And something inside Rudraksh twisted - painfully, bitterly.
His grip on the coffee cup tightened. His expression darkened.
He didn't say a word. But his silence screamed.
His jaw locked, eyes fixed on the two below like a predator in disguise.
What was this feeling? Why did it feel like betrayal when he never allowed himself to care in the first place?
Isha looked up - and froze.
She saw Rudraksh standing on the balcony, face expressionless... but his eyes?
Burning.
Their eyes locked for a second. Just a second.
But it was enough to wipe the smile off her face.
Rishabh turned too, noticing the sudden change in her expression.
"Sab theek?"
("All okay?")
"Haan... bas thak gayi hoon. Thanks, Rishi. Main andar jaati hoon."
("Yeah... just tired. Thanks, Rishi. I'll go inside.")
He nodded silently.
Rudraksh stepped back from the balcony.
His heart was racing. His face blank.
But his mind?
Spinning.
He stormed back into his room and shut the door with a little more force than necessary.
Why did it matter?
He never believed in attachments. He made that clear.
So why did her smile with another man feel like a personal loss?
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So guys I know I take a lot of time to update but I was busy in my college yar ..but don't worry now I am free so I will update soon ...
If you want next part than hit the vote and tell me in comment section and I will upload next part soon oky ......
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