Page 160 of The Redemption
“I’m warning you,” he growls.
“Oh really?” I retort, swinging at him again.
Raghav ducks. I throw another punch. He avoids it. Then another. His gloved hand comes up and knocks my arm away, only infuriating me further.
“Fight back!” I yell.
“I’m not fighting you.”
I shove him again, this time with both hands. His jaw tightens, as if he has finally had enough. Without taking his eyesoff me, he lifts one gloved hand to his mouth, catches the strap between his teeth, and yanks. The Velcro rips apart with a sharp sound. He tosses the glove aside and does the same with the other one.
Before I can attack again, both his hands close around my arms, and he turns us in one swift movement.
My back collides with the padded wall beside the boxing ring, and his arms cage me in. Every muscle in his forearms is taut beneath my fingers. His chest rises and falls rapidly from the workout as sweat trickles down the side of his neck. His face is only inches away from mine as he finally speaks again.
“Stop it, Siya.”
“No,” I don’t let him speak and jab a finger against his hard chest. “I won’t stop. Because marrying a woman against her will is a crime, Raghav Kundra. And in this entire mess… I’m the one being blamed while you walk around with your head held high, as if you’ve done nothing wrong. That’s my f*cking problem.”
That finally triggers Raghav. He grabs both my arms and pulls me closer. I gasp at his sudden reaction. Raghav glares at me, the vein at his temple popping out in anger.
“I don’t give a f*ck to what people around us think, Siya,” he blurts out. “But since this is bothering you so much, let me tell you something. I did nothing different from what you did.”
I stare at him, taken aback by the accusation.“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Youput a garland around my neck in that temple in front ofmypeople. And you know what that means in Shivtara Valley. That gesture is as good as a marriage there. So whenIcame to Cape Town and married you for real in front ofyourpeople, the underworld… how exactly is that any different?”
I blink at him, stunned.
“Youdid it because you didn’t want Kriti anywhere near me.Youdid it to save me from her manipulation that night.Likewise,Iacted the way I did because I didn’t want the mafia anywhere near you.Ididn’t want them hunting you down, using you, or hurting you ever again.”
His fingers tighten around my arms just enough for me to feel the conviction behind every word.
“You put that garland around my neck to protect me. I put the mangalsutra around yours to protect you. So tell me, Princess… why is your action justified while mine is considered a sin?”
Fresh anger surges through me. I wrench one arm free and shove him with all my strength.
He barely moves.
“Oh, so now you’re blaming me?” I snap. “No, Raghav. You’re just trying to turn this around on me now.”
His expression hardens instantly. “No, I’m not. And I’m definitely not putting the blame on you either. I’m just showing you the truth you’ve been conveniently trying to run away from.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he doesn’t let me.
“We met eleven months ago in that club in Mumbai. But the moment I found out who you were, I drew a line and stayed away.” His gaze never leaves mine. “But thenyoucame to RK Estate. I even asked you to leave, but you didn’t. One thing led to another. You defied me. I challenged you. You kept walking into my space, and I kept walking into yours. We chased each other, pushed each other, and tested each other’s limits.”
His gaze drops briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes. “And somewhere in between all that... possessiveness crept in. So did jealousy.”
I hate that every word he says is true. My heart pounds harder.
“The decision you made that day at the temple didn’t come out of nowhere, Siya.” His thumb brushes absently against my arm. “It came from everything that happened before it. Youdidn’t put that garland around my neck because a stranger needed saving. You did it because it was me.”
His eyes search mine.
“Maybe your intentions were pure. Maybe you were only trying to protect me. I believe you. But you still took that first step towards me. And that’s where my restraint ended, and I took the next one. The only difference is that I knew exactly what I was doing when I made you my wife.” There isn’t an ounce of hesitation in his voice. “And I have no regrets.”
Something painful flashes across his face as he adds, “Except for one thing.”
