Chapter 2

NOTE: It's the story Ridhima's mother is telling her so it has nothing to do with Ridhima.

Being the singing sensation of India, Rudraksha and Randhawa, the name is enough for anyone to go crazy. People of every age are a fan of his melodious voice...

"Sir, you have a show in half an hour." His PA Natasha informed him.

"Yes Natasha I know, give me some time" Rudra replied nonchalantly.

Natasha nodded before leaving him alone. Rudra sighed and thought about the upcoming meeting with his father. His father is really angry with him. It has been 7 days since he last met him or went to his home for that matter.

His father Mr. Pratap Randhawa is a very strict and orthodox man. He doesn't like his son's carelessness. He hates the fact that his son is a singer instead of being a well-known businessman. Pratap Randhawa has always dreamt that one day his only son will take over his empire but his son has disappointed him greatly. Pratap Randhawa is a person who believes in power, status and money and thinks life is incomplete without these. On the contrary, his son does not believe in such things. Beauty and perfection holds high status in his books of ethics while money and status are just nothing to him.

"Damn it. I will go insane with this drama." Rudra cursed while checking his phone as he read the text sent by his father asking him to come home as soon as possible.

Ignoring his father’ commands he performed his show and as always rocked it with his singing.

"Sir, won't you go back to your home?" Natasha asked him

"No. First I need to go somewhere else before going home." Rudra replied

"As you wish sir" Natasha said and left

Rudra drove his car towards the orphanage he runs in Mumbai. Not only in Mumbai but he owns orphanages and old age homes at many places in the country. Although he tries his best to manage them, there are few of his properties he never visited because of his busy schedule.

As soon as he entered the orphanage, cheerful voices of cute bunnies rang in his ears. "Rudra Bhaiya!" All the kids of the orphanage shouted enthusiastically while running towards him. He opens his arms to hug them but there’s one kid he loved very much.

"Why didn't you come earlier? I missed you so much" Tisha a 10 years old girl asked in a gesture as she can't talk.

"Awe my baby I'm sorry for being late. You know na I'm so much busy but see I still came." Rudra replied in a gesture with a puppy dog face. Seeing him in this state no one will believe he is the same superstar Rudraksha. It is as if he became an entirely different personality with these kids.

"Children leave him alone. Let him breathe properly. You all are suffocating him" Zoya their caretaker scolded the kids to which the latter said sorry.

"Hey, it's OK. I love them a lot. I don't feel suffocated when they hug me" Rudra said and all the kids smiled. Rudra spent time with them and totally forgot about his father and his calls.

He mostly talked with Tisha as not everyone knows sign language so no one talks to her. She feels lonely that's why whenever he comes here he spends most of his time with Tisha. She is the reason that he learnt this language.

After this, he went back to his parents' home.

"So finally you came, got time to meet your parents?" Pratap asked his son while eyeing him up and down.

"Dad, I was busy, that's why I couldn't come, don't make it a big issue" Rudra gritted his teeth trying hard to maintain his voice neutral.

"Don't forget you're talking with your father Rudraksha" Pratap reprimand him

He never called him Rudra. It's always Rudraksha.

"Why are you scolding my child?" His mother asked

"Rathi doesn't interfere in our matters. It's your love that has made him like this. You're the one who supported him to be a singer” Pratap said to his wife

"He is our only son. You should also support him. Anyways I'm not interfering anymore." Rathi said. Rathi is beyond beautiful. She is what we call beauty with brains and a heart of gold which is very rare.

At this age, she is still beautiful and can give competition to other girls. Pratap married her basically because of her beauty and father's status. He never loved her but never cheated on her as well. And why will he need to cheat? When Rathi was a submissive wife? Or you can say a doll whose key is in his hand. Connecting with her increased his power which perked his status and money as well. She also gave him a capable son.

But Rathi being the naive girl was head over heels for her husband. She was ready to do anything to please him. But when time came for her to choose between her son's happiness and her husband's ego she chose her son.

"Rudraksha, do you remember why I agree to let you be a singer?" Pratap spat the word singer like it burned his tongue.

"Yes I do. How can I even forget" Rudra said with a bitter smile.

His father was totally against his wish to become a singer but he accepted it in the condition that in future when he will take some decisions for Rudraksha to which he is bound to abide by.

"Rudraksha, do you remember Sikha? My friend's daughter?" Pratap asked him

"Yes. What about her?" Rudra asked him narrowing his eyes

He knew very well where his father was going with this conversation.

"Actually I like her very much. She is perfect for you and our family. I have fixed your marriage with her." Pratap said without any hesitation

"What?" Rudra practically shouted on confirmation of his suspicion.

"Yes, you heard right. Right after one week you will be engaged to her. Meet her and talk to her. She is a very good girl." Pratap said

Rudra was gawking at him. His father is dropping the bomb on him like it’s nothing. But Rudra doesn't have any choice except accepting it because his denial can affect his career. His father can do anything.

"Fine, I'm ready to get married to her but don't expect me to love her" Rudra said and went to his room.