70. Not too Innocent

New character alert!

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As Amrita was leaving, she stopped abruptly in front of Rudraksh. Her demeanor softened slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line before she spoke.

“Take care of her, Bhaiya.... Heal her.... Please.” The vulnerability in her voice was fleeting, almost unnoticeable, before she turned away, her footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.

As she walked, a doctor brushed past her, a file clutched tightly in her hands.

Amrita faintly heard the words, “Good luck, don’t leave them,” spoken under the doctor’s breath.

She froze mid-step, her eyes narrowing as she turned to glance back.

“What happened?” Ananya asked, noticing Amrita’s hesitation.

“Nothing,” Amrita replied, shaking her head, though her gaze lingered on the doctor disappearing around the corner. “I thought I heard something.”

She turned back, brushing the thought aside as they continued on their way.

Inside the room, the doctor entered with a warm smile directed at Divya. “You should be discharged by tomorrow, ma’am,” she said.

“Thank you, doctor,” Daksh replied with gratitude.

The doctor nodded, her expression softening as her gaze flickered to Ishika. “I'd like to meet you once ma'am. Please meet me in my cabin after you're free...” she said gently, glancing briefly at Rudraksh.

Ishika raised an eyebrow, following the doctor’s subtle gesture. Her eyes darted to Rudraksh, whose jaw had tightened.

“Come with me, Dil,” Rudraksh said abruptly, taking her hand without waiting for a response. He led her down a quiet, empty hallway, away from prying eyes.

Once they stopped, his dark eyes bore into hers. “Tell me, Dil. What was it that Ammu talked about with you? She said someone hurt you. I need to know everything.”

Ishika looked down, her hands trembling slightly. She hesitated before saying, “Yes, Rudraksh ji. I was hurt,” she admitted softly.

“I was tortured..... by my.... chacha and chachi since my childhood.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. “They.... hated me... and they took out all their frustration on me.”

Rudraksh’s hand tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice was calm but laced with suppressed rage. “What do you mean by tortured, Dil?”

Her voice broke as she replied, “I was beaten... physically.” A tear escaped her right eye, and Rudraksh’s heart clenched painfully.

“Where?” he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.

“My... my back,” she whispered, avoiding his gaze.

Rudraksh’s fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white. “Did they......yesterday too?” he asked, his voice low and tense.

Ishika nodded silently, and the storm inside him erupted. His eyes darkened, his breathing heavy.

The rage radiating from him was palpable, his fists trembling with barely contained fury.

He wanted to scream, to break something, but instead, his voice came out in a deadly whisper. “I’ll make sure they regret ever laying a hand on you.”

Before Rudraksh could say anything more, a voice interrupted. “Ma’am?”

They both turned to see the doctor standing nearby. “May I see the wound?” she asked Ishika softly.

Ishika was confused and hesitated before nodding. The doctor gestured for her to follow, and they disappeared into a nearby room.

As the door closed, Rudraksh pulled out his phone and dialed Amrita.

“Yes, Bhaiya?” came her calm yet sharp voice.

“Did you catch them?” he asked, his voice laced with barely controlled anger.

“Oh, yes,” Amrita replied nonchalantly. “I’ve actually been showing them my favorite games. Turns out they seem to like them.”

Rudraksh smirked darkly. “Spare them. I want to play too,” he said, his tone as cold as steel.

Amrita chuckled, and he could hear Mahima and Ananya giggling in the background before the line disconnected.

A few moments later, the doctor emerged and called out to him. “Sir? I need you to come in.”

Rudraksh stepped inside, his gaze immediately finding Ishika. She was seated, glancing down at the doctor’s name tag.

“Mahira,” Ishika said softly, reading the name aloud.

The doctor smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

She handed Rudraksh a prescription and placed three medicines and an ointment on the table.

“Sir, these are the medications and ointments she needs. She should take the medicine early in the morning and after dinner. The ointment must be applied after her bath and before bed. It should cover all the wounds,” Mahira instructed.

Rudraksh nodded, absorbing every word with unwavering focus. Ishika smiled faintly at him.

Mahira continued, “The treatment should last a week, until next Monday. And it would be better if Ma’am bathes only once every three days—Wednesday and Sunday. The water must not be too cold or too hot. On other days, cleansing with a wet cloth will suffice.”

Rudraksh and Ishika nodded in unison.

Mahira then added, “You can come to the hospital next Monday for a follow-up. Another doctor will take over.”

Rudraksh frowned. “Why not you?” he asked. “Can’t you treat her? And that too at our house?”

Mahira hesitated, glancing at her calendar. That specific date was circled.

“You don’t need to come if you’re not free,” Ishika interjected kindly.

“No, no,” Mahira quickly reassured her. “I’ll come.”

Ishika smiled softly, then tilted her head. “May I ask you something?”

“Of course,” Mahira replied.

“How did you know I was injured?” Ishika asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Mahira’s expression softened. “I just know,” she said with a warm smile. “It’s good to know about good people like you.”

Ishika didn't get it but her lips curved into a small smile, her heart feeling lighter despite the pain.

As Rudraksh led Ishika out of the room, his mind was set. Whoever had hurt her would pay.

He didn’t care how long it took or how brutal it had to be—he would make them regret it.

And when the time came, Ishika would be by his side, watching it all unfold.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Daksh sat beside Divya, peeling an apple and cutting it into neat slices.

He glanced at her as she sat propped up against the pillows, her nose buried in a book.

“What do you always read in those novels?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Divya’s fingers stilled on the page as she glanced up at him, a nervous smile spreading across her lips.

“Uh... just some normal lovey-dovey things,” she replied, quickly averting her gaze back to the book.

Daksh raised an eyebrow, holding a slice of apple up to her lips. “And you seem to like those things very much, huh?”

Divya nodded enthusiastically, taking the slice into her mouth. “I love them,” she said, her words muffled by the apple.

Daksh chuckled at the sight of her puffed cheeks. “Well, maybe I should read them too sometime,” he teased, cutting another slice.

Divya’s eyes widened in alarm. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said quickly, shaking her head.

“Why not?” Daksh asked, amused, as he offered her another slice.

“Because you won’t like them,” she replied, her voice muffled again by her full mouth.

Daksh’s laughter echoed through the room. “I would like anything my wife likes,” he said sincerely, his tone playful yet affectionate.

Divya shook her head vehemently, cheeks flushing pink. “No, you won’t,” she murmured under her breath.

“Enough Daksh ji,” she said in mock irritation as he fed her yet another slice.

“It was the last one, Honeypie,” Daksh said with a grin, setting the plate aside. He moved closer, sitting beside her on the bed.

Divya finally swallowed the last bite and sighed in contentment. Daksh leaned forward, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You should rest, Honeypie,” he said softly.

Divya nodded, and Daksh shifted so she could lean against him. Her petite frame seemed even smaller in his arms.

She relaxed, her head nestled against his chest as his fingers traced lazy, soothing patterns on her back.

For a while, silence settled between them, the kind of silence that spoke of comfort and intimacy.

Then Daksh’s voice broke the quiet, filled with a tinge of regret. “I should’ve never let you go, Honeypie… it’s all my fault.”

Divya’s eyes fluttered open, though she didn’t lift her head. Her voice was soft but firm as she replied, “I swear on myself, don’t you ever dare to blame my husband again.”

Her words struck him deeply, her unwavering faith in him making his heart ache in the best way possible. She hugged him tighter, her small hands clutching at his shirt.

“I love you, Honeypie,” Daksh said, his voice tender.

A small smile graced her lips as she replied, “I love you more, Daksh ji.”

His heart skipped a beat at her words, it was the first time she said it, a big smile spread across his face. He pressed a soft kiss to her hair, holding her close.

After a while, her breathing evened out, and Daksh realized she had fallen asleep.

He glanced down at her peaceful face, his chest tightening with a mix of love and adoration. His eyes drifted to the book still resting in her lap.

“What is it that you read in this all day?” he murmured to himself, carefully sliding the book out of her hands so as not to wake her.

He glanced at the cover. Twisted Games.

The title gave away nothing, and Daksh furrowed his brow in confusion. “What is it? A game book?” he wondered aloud.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the book to the page she had been reading.

His eyes landed on the heading: Chapter 36.

He started reading, his expression neutral at first. But as his eyes skimmed the words, they widened in disbelief.

His jaw dropped as the content of the chapter unfolded before him.

The heat rose to his cheeks, and he quickly shut the book, his mind reeling.

“Goddamn it,” he whispered under his breath, running a hand through his hair.

He glanced down at Divya, who was still sleeping soundly against his chest, her expression serene. “You’re not an innocent little girl, are you?” he muttered, his voice low.

He shook his head, a mixture of shock and amusement playing across his features.

He set the book aside, his hand instinctively wrapping around her protectively. Despite the discovery, his heart swelled with affection.

“Guess this is what always goes around your little head Honeypie,” he thought with a small smirk, his fingers resuming their gentle movements on her back.

As the noon deepened, Daksh found himself holding her even tighter, vowing silently to give her a life where the only games they played were ones filled with love and laughter, and maybe somethings from her books too.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The last part though🤭

He realized... his little wife wasn’t as innocent as she seemed...🤭✨