Link to the 5th chapter : https://www.tellyupdates.com/bound-to-you-book-two-chapter-5/
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With pain in her eyes, Riddhima glanced to and fro between both the faces.
Vansh was married to Riddhima, he was her husband. Only she had the sole rights on him. Then how could he even think of marrying some other woman?
A shiver ran down her body, not only from the cold air that swept past her wet clothes, but also at the mere imagination of seeing her beloved husband with somebody else.
She was brought out of her thoughts with a sudden snap of fingers in front of her face.
“First of all, you commit such a huge mistake of intruding upon us, and then you keep standing here like a statue? What are you doing over here without our permission?” Saanvi asked her sternly.
Vansh cleared his throat. “Saanvi, first ask this ignorant woman to correct her appearance. I’m feeling ashamed to even look at her.” He turned away with a clear air of contempt.
Riddhima peered down at herself and found the lining of her inners peeking through her wet, transparent top. However, she didn’t even try to cover herself up. And why would she do that? Vansh was her rightful husband, and she didn’t mind standing like that before him.
Saanvi, on the other hand wasn’t very pleased with a random lady’s immodest presence around her would-be-husband. Of course, she knew that Vishnu was a devout priest, who had immense amount of patience to not get enticed by such a scene. Yet, the woman in her jumped into insecurity.
“The audacity of this woman to appear in our holy shrine in such an indecent state!” she snarled at her.
She found a blanket lying somewhere around, and flung it at Riddhima.
“Here, wrap yourself up.”
Grateful to get some much-needed warmth, Riddhima securely draped the blanket around herself. She noticed a sense of relief pass across Vansh’s face.
He knows that I can’t tolerate cold. And this was his way to indirectly influence Saanvi to help me, she thought with a pinch of happiness at this minute show of concern from him.
“Stop staring here and there stupidly and answer my question,” said Saanvi irritatedly.
“Perhaps she is mute and can’t speak,” Vansh remarked snidely.
Riddhima understood that Vansh was trying hard to not let Saanvi get even an ounce of doubt about the actual relationship that they shared. That was why he was feigning obliviousness and this rude attitude towards her. She decided to play along, too.
Turning towards Saanvi, she said, “People told me that if I take your blessings, then whatever I ask for will be granted by the universe.”
“What do you want?” she asked her skeptically.
Without any warning, Riddhima bent down to touch Saanvi’s feet, making her a little startled.
“All I wish for is the victory of the good over the evil.”
“Tathastu!” Saanvi resistantly placed a hand over her head.
Riddhima stood up with a smile and intently looked in Vansh’s direction. Next, she touched his feet too.
“May your every desire be fulfilled,” he said softly, caressing the top of her head.
Riddhima gazed up at him from below, sharing an intense eyelock with him in the process. Even a simple touch of his was enough to make her heart flutter. It was then that she realized how much he meant to her and how much power he had over her.
Composing herself, she got on her feet.
After a while, Saanvi asked her wonderingly, “You are Riddhima, right?”
“Y-yes. But how do you know that?” The surprise in her tone couldn’t be hidden.
At this, Saanvi let out a short snortle. “When I’ve information about every little chirp that echoes through this place, then won’t I know about you? I am so glad that we found our help through you…”
Of course, Riddhima could easily decipher about what kind of ‘help’ she was talking about.
Saanvi continued, “You carried out such a big feat for us, and just because of that, I’m willing to forgive you for the grave mistake you did today. Initially we were seeking out your husband…what’s his name I cannot seem to remember…”
“Vansh Raisinghania,” Riddhima said with a sense of pride in her voice, and avoiding the urge to meet Vansh’s eye.
“Yes, Vansh Raisinghania it is. But when we came to know that he wasn’t in the town, we agreed to take you on board. Not going to lie, I was a tad too doubtful if you’d be able to…”
“You are a woman yourself who carries the reigns of this village in her hands. And yet you chose to underestimate another woman? Not done, Gurumata,” Riddhima taunted her.
Saanvi rolled her eyes at her, while she simply enjoyed the effect her words had on her.
“If you allow, I’d like to take my leave.”
“You may!” Saanvi scoffed and walked away into the inner part of the den.
With Saanvi out of their sight, Vansh slowly neared Riddhima.
For nine long, agonizing months he had stayed away from her. And now that she was barely a few inches away from him, all he wanted was to take her in his embrace. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, and maybe do something more too.
But unfortunately, he was bound by his duty to the nation.
Without a word, he took out the revolver from his pocket and stealthily slid it into Riddhima’s. It was the same revolver that Riddhima had pointed towards him. He wanted to return it to her because she definitely needed that in this dangerous place.
Turning away, he went to accompany Saanvi who was busy in praying to the deity with her back turned towards them.
Feeling utterly anguished, Riddhima began to leave the place, the vision of Saanvi and Vansh worshipping the idol together getting etched in her mind forever.
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The sky had turned black inviting the moon to come over. Stars danced brilliantly beside the glowing ball of light.
With the advent of the chilly November, the days had become shorter and nights much longer. And since it was a village, all the people used to go back to their houses as soon as the sun had set.
The clock showed the time to be 9PM, but it seemed like it was 2AM or something with it’s eeriness.
Riddhima had retired to her bedroom, but obviously she couldn’t bring herself to doze off. The events from today began replaying in her mind everytime she tried closing her eyes.
She still hadn’t told Angre about meeting Vansh, because she was afraid that someone might overhear them which in turn could lead to the downfall of Vansh’s entire mission.
‘Desh ke aage, kuch nahi. Parivaar, dosti aur pyaar bhi nahi. Khud bhi nahi.’
‘Nothing comes before the country. Not even family, friendship and love. In fact, not even one’s own self.’
Even though she didn’t belong to the army per say, but still Riddhima loved her country immensely. So much so that, she could even lay down her own life for it. But could she give away her husband to another woman for the same country?
No! She couldn’t even think of something like that.
Was she selfish? Maybe yes. But how could a woman in her sane mind ever agree to share her husband with someone else?
She knew that Vansh wouldn’t take such a huge step unless it was absolutely necessary. He wasn’t doing it out of his own pleasure. Because if that was the case, he wouldn’t have remained celibate for all those years that they had been separated.
But how should she explain all this to her weak heart? She wasn’t the type to act like a jealous woman who’d spoil someone’s entire wwll-orchestrated plan in her impulsiveness. But she couldn’t just stay calm too.
Feeling helpless, tears started streaming down her face. What should she do now? What would she tell her children? And wasn’t it possible for Vansh to carry the mission forward without having to marry that witch, Saanvi?
All of a sudden, the dimly working lightbulb went off, which was the only source of light in the bedroom. Riddhima realized that not only the room, but the lights of the entire guest-house had gone off.
Angre’s voice came from outside her room, informing her that he was going to check the fusebox.
Riddhima stepped down from her cot, to search for candles. She blindly opened the drawers and began scouring through them.
Just then, she felt a yanking force on her arm that pulled her against the wall. She couldn’t scream because of the hand that was slammed upon her mouth. Moreover the darkness engulfing around her made it impossible for her to see who the person was. But she knew it was a man.
With a lot of difficulty, she lifted her knee up and rammed it into his groin.
He immediately retreated with a wince.
“Ouch Riddhima!”
“Vansh!” she gasped in recognition.
“Who hits her husband like this?” he groaned tumbling down to the ground.
Riddhima sat next to him looking worried. “I’m so sorry, I hope you aren’t hurt that much. Wait…” she paused as realization hit her. “Why am I apologizing when it is entirely your fault? Who scares his wife by pouncing on her like that?”
Just then, a loud knock was heard upon the door. It was Angre.
“The light will take some time to come back. But are you okay, Riddhima? I heard some noise coming from your room.”
“Yes, yes. I’m completely fine, Angre. Actually, a rat entered my room and is creating all nuisance over here.”
Vansh who was still buckling from the pain below, sat up straight. Did she just call him a rat for real?
“Do you want me to come inside and tackle it for you?” Angre asked.
“No, no. There’s no need for that. I know how to handle such nasty creatures very nicely.”
Angre’s diminishing steps could be heard and finally it was all quiet again.
“A rat? Seriously?” Vansh asked sounding a little offended.
“You scared me just the way rats do. You know how I absolutely hate rats.”
“So are you trying to say that just how you hate rats, you hate me also?”
“I can never hate you, Vansh,” she said softly.
She tried to extend her hand to touch his face, but stopped herself when she remembered him and Saanvi together.
Vansh saw that and grasped her palm, rubbing his face against it, his prickly beard giving her goosebumps.
“I know what you are thinking. But I am only yours, for now and forever,” he said in a silky tone.
Overwhelmed with emotions, she flung herself into his arms.
“What is happening, Vansh? I don’t understand anything,” she cried. “My joy of seeing you absolutely safe and sound was cut short when Saanvi said that you both are going to marry each other…”
“Riddhima…”
She broke the hug realizing that it wasn’t the time to fall weak. Like an ideal wife, she should support her husband to perform his duty.
“I-I understand that marrying Saanvi is part of your mission. I’m s-sorry, I won’t question you again…”
Vansh had had enough of her non-stop blabbering. In an attempt to shut her up for good, he pressed his lips upon hers, and kissed her as tenderly as he could.
Riddhima reciprocated the kiss with equal emotion, pulling him over her.
As his musky scent pervaded her senses and the sweet taste of his kiss lingered on her lips, she realized how much she had missed all this, how much she had missed him.
Vansh broke the kiss, but his lips were barely a few centimeters away from her own. His fingers tugging at her hair, he looked straight into those almond shaped eyes that he had lost his heart to eight years ago.
“How did you even imagine that I’ll marry Saanvi for real? I’m just fooling her and will ditch her as soon as my plan is over. Riddhima, I won’t ever make a mockery of your and my marriage by breaking it’s sanctity. Trust me on that.”
Riddhima simply nodded. That’s when she remembered that there was a lot of important information that she had to pass onto him.
“They are planning a series of bomb blasts, Vansh!”
“I know that,” Vansh cut her off impatiently. “But do you know that not Surya, but it is Saanvi who’s the real mastermind behind these impending blasts?”
“What?!” she exclaimed in disbelief.
“Saanvi is a very cunning woman. That was the reason I had to put on this drama of getting close to her in order to obtain vital information from her.”
Something clicked Riddhima. “Was it you who attacked me in the jungle today?”
Vansh bit his lip. “Yes.”
Riddhima was so surprised and hurt, that a meek why was all that came from her mouth.
“Because this place is dangerous and I wanted to scare you into leaving from here,” he said exasperatedly. Cupping her face, he continued, “Please, Riddhima. You must leave with Angre at the earliest. I can’t see you battling with risks every other day.”
“Vansh, you’ve no idea why I had to come here, do you? It wasn’t only to keep a check on the impending blasts, but also to look for you and…”
“And now that you know that I’m fine, what do you want to stay back here for? Even though, I still don’t know how you managed to find out that I was living in Chiria.”
“And what about Kabir?”
At this, Vansh became pale. “What do you mean?”
“No need to pretend. I know that you and Kabir are working on the same mission.”
He was astonished. “From where are you getting all this information? I’m actually getting worried.”
“I’ve my own sources,” she smirked. “But that’s not the point. Do you know where Kabir is? I feel he’s in some danger or something.”
“We made a pact to contact each other once in every two weeks. It’s been only last week that we spoke. But why do you think this way?”
Riddhima took a deep breath. She had to tell him this. “Few days before, an unknown gang of goons broke into Kabir and Ahana’s house and…”
She faltered midway. “And they killed Ahana.”
Vansh gaped at her in complete horror. Ahana had died? No, this shouldn’t have happened!
His teared up as he reminisced about her. He knew Ahana since his childhood. She was like a family friend to him with both of their parents knowing each other very well.
He closed his eyes tight as he remembered how he was the one to set her and Kabir up together.
Ahana and Kabir, his two close friends….they really didn’t deserve this.
Riddhima placed her hand atop Vansh’s trying to comfort him. Even though Vansh’s face had no expression on it or whatsoever, but Riddhima knew better than that. She could sense the storm of emotions bursting in Vansh’s heart.
“Those goons scanned the entire house and not a single corner was exempted from the search. That’s when I and Angre put two and two together and came up with the conclusion that either Kabir was caught by them or…” She left the sentence hanging in midair, unable to complete it. “Most probably they were trying to dig out more information about Kabir by ransacking his house. And when Ahana tried to put on some resistance, she met with the wrath of those goons.”
Vansh got on his feet and began furiously smacking the pillar.
“Why did they get Ahana? What was her fault in this? She did not even have the slightest idea of what was going on!”
Riddhima moved her hands up and down his back. “I know how you feel but now it is Kabir about whom we should be feeling more concerned. God knows if he’s even alive or…dead.”
Vansh rubbed his eyes. “You are right. This is no time to act like an emotional fool. We need to act with utmost smartness and cautiousness. Tomorrow is Sohrai, with each and every person gathering in the village grounds for the mass puja of the deity. They all will be busy in the worship, and that is when I will sneak out to look out for Kabir.”
“If Saanvi is the mastermind behind all this as you are claiming, then she must be knowing about Kabir too. Why don’t you ask her then? This wouldn’t be very difficult since she considers you as her would-be-husband,” suggested Riddhima.
“Even though Saanvi has fallen for me and is planning to marry me soon, but the bitter truth being that she still doesn’t trust me fully with all her secret plannings,” said Vansh. “In fact, I had no idea that she was plotting to carry bomb blasts. I got to know it from somewhere else. I also do not know about when and where these blasts are going to take place, and this information is imperative to successfully prevent the bombings.”
Vansh turned to face Riddhima. “And the most important thing is that you leave Chiria immediately.”
“But Vansh, I cannot…”
“Shut up, Riddhima!” he grabbed her shoulders. “Look at what happened to Ahana! I might sound selfish, but I don’t want any such thing to happen with you. I-I can’t lose you, or else I will never be able to forgive myself!”
“Nothing would happen to me, I promise you that. But I won’t leave unless everything gets sorted out. I didn’t smuggle the explosives to over here for nothing,” she said adamantly.
“Ugghh! Your name should have been Ziddhima instead of Riddhima!” he groaned in frustration. “At least think about our children….” He stopped abruptly as he remembered the kids and became emotional.
“How are Reyansh and Rhea?”
“They are fine.”
“Do they miss me? Do they still trouble you a lot?” he further asked.
There’s not a single day that passes without them missing you, Vansh. They have cried innumerable times only to get a mere glimpse of their father, she sadly thought.
But obviously, she couldn’t tell all this to Vansh and weaken him even more. Already he was devastated to know about Ahana, and she didn’t want him to feel any worse.
“They don’t miss you that much,” she lied. “And as far as them troubling me is concerned, they have stopped doing that. They have become so mature and understanding that I cannot help feeling proud. The little advices that you had given to them before leaving for the mission has actually done wonders, you know.”
Vansh’s lips curved into a smile that was half sad and half happy. Rhea’s and Reyansh’s cherubic faces began flashing in front of his eyes. They were his babies, his own flesh and blood.
Life had been extremely cruel with him. He had lived away from his children for six whole years. In fact, he didn’t even know they ever existed. And when finally he got to unite with them, he had to drift away from them once again. He had hardly spent only two-three months with his dear munchkins as a father.
Whenever he saw any child around him here in Chiria, he’d automatically be reminded of his own children. He’d sometimes laugh reminiscing their mischievous ways, and at other times, he’d weep silently.
His chain of thoughts was broken when he felt Riddhima snuggle close to him and place her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around heras tightly as he could.
“The children have definitely taken after you, sweetheart,” he whispered while gently tucking a strand behind her ear.
“No, the children have taken after you, though.” Her fingers played with the buttons on his shirt. “They are learning how to become extremely patient from you.”
He cocked a brow. “Are you taunting me?”
“Of course not. I really mean it. You are the most patient person I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Oh is that so? If you want, I can give you some lesson on patience though,” he said with a teasing tone in his voice.
Riddhima chuckled at his insinuation. Her husband showed immense amount of patience amidst all the hardships, but when it came to his wife, he’d forget everything.
She shifted in his arms, trying to get even closer to him. Closing her eyes shut, she wanted this moment to never end. Unfortunately, she was completely oblivious to the danger that was going to pummel her life.
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Hello everyone! That is it for today guys. Do vote and comment.
Peace out!