Just like I have promised Ishita, after eating dinner we are on our way to get some ice cream. I can feel that she hates being inside the house all the time but it's also necessary for her recovery. Although she has healed from outside, the internal trauma is still there in her heart. She has been able to keep her insecurity from our family but she can't hide it from me. Because I know her without her saying anything. On her request, we have brought Candy with us too as the little one doesn't want to be left out. Also, I think a little dog-friendly ice cream won't be harmful to her.

Soon enough we reach a nearby ice cream shop where I stop the car and get out. Going around, I help Ishita to get out as well before picking up Candy in my arms. Upon walking inside, I ask the two to sit on a booth which is available in the shop and I go to order ice cream for us. Ishita has already told me she wants to have Cookie Monster Rolled Ice Cream so I ask the person to make that one and for me, I order Mint Chocolate Chip Rolled Ice Cream. I also order a small bowl of Vanilla Ice Cream for Candy as dogs shouldn't eat chocolate.

"When will the ice cream come?" Ishita asks as soon as I sit across from her.

"Wait for 10 minutes." I reply looking at her with amusement.

"Why so long?" She grumbles under her breath but still I can hear her perfectly.

"Because they need to make it correctly." I reply while holding her hand in mine making her look at me with an adorable pout.

Frankly speaking, I am loving this Ishita more who is not shy or hesitant anymore. Now she talks without caring about anything else, not only that she has become a completely new person with her newfound bubbly nature. I think this is the real one which had been dormant after what happened all those years ago.

"What are you thinking so hard?" She asks.

"That you are glowing more nowadays." I answer truthfully.

"I am just happy and relieved that I don't need to hide anything else from you or our family." She says.

"If I say so myself, I would say you didn't have to hide anything from the beginning. I understand you were afraid but you should have trusted me a little more." I let out.

"I never intended to hide anything but circumstances wasn't in my favor. I used to have nightmares every single night however, after our marriage they stopped abruptly so I thought that I was good. I didn't even need to take medicines to get rid of them, maybe because I felt safe with you. I am not saying that I didn't feel safe in Delhi because I did but I think Mumbai has suited me more." She replies making me smile at her because it feels good to hear from her that she feels safe with me.

Before I can reply, a waiter brings the ice cream which seeing my dear wife starts smiling like a little kid making me chuckle while candy starts bouncing barking happily. Without wasting anymore time, I serve them their ice cream before taking mine as well. Candy is the first one to finish her ice cream and then starts whining wanting more. But she is still a puppy so I don't give her anymore.

"Rudra, can I tell you something?" Ishita asks.

"Yes, go ahead." I reply.

"A few months ago you asked for if I want to travel outside the country and I told you that if I ever felt like I would tell you." She says making me nod my head.

"I want to go somewhere out of the country after the court hearing." She further adds.

"Sure, we can definitely do that but do you have any specific place in your mind you want to visit?" I ask feeling happy that she wants to travel with me.

"You can choose the place. I just want to go away from here for some time." She replies making me look at her to see that she is shaking in her place. I immediately I understand exactly why she wants to travel.

"Ishita, please tell me truthfully. Do you think you are not ready to face Kunal?" I ask because I have a feeling that she is only being for my sake, both of our families sake. When she doesn't reply and avoid making eye contact, I know that whatever I am thinking is correct.

"Ishita, if you don't want to go to the court then you don't have to. I just want to do what you feel comfortable with. I know seeing the person who is responsible for your nightmare will be a huge thing but I also believe that seeing him getting punished will be the end of your nightmare fully. Yet, it's up to you as what you want to do." I answer as gently as I can.

"Frankly speaking, I want to see him getting punished but then I get scared thinking about the past. I just want to feel free, like there's nothing holding me back." She says looking so helpless that it's hurt me to just think how much turmoil must be going inside her.

"Believe me, Ishita. You will be free very soon and I will be the one to make that happen." I promise her and I am going to keep my promise at any cost.

After paying we leave from there and walk up to the car but suddenly Ishita stops walking making me look at her to see that she is looking ahead of us. So, I also look where she is looking and nearly laughed because it's none other than Lakshya along with Kuhu who are eating ice cream. But what shocks me is that Lakshya was in the house when I left after dinner, so when does he come here?

"Should we go and surprise them?" Ishita asks excitedly making me look at her like she has lost her mind.

"No, we can't." I reply.

"But why?" She whines.

"Because they are trying to have some alone time without anyone hovering over them. Also, I think it's best to leave them alone so that they can make the right decision." I let out hoping she will understand and thankfully she does because she quickly nods her head.

"Then what are we going to do now?" She asks making me think.

"Hmm, that's a good question. How about we go for a long drive and forget that we have seen the two?" I retort.

"Yep, let's do it because if I keep looking at them then I may change my mind to not to disturb them." She says pulling me towards the car. I shake my head at her antics and open the door to get inside. After securing Candy on the back seat, I get into the driver's seat and start the car.

I notice that Ishita is looking at the music player so I ask her to play whatever song she wants to hear. But when she plays the song, I smile internally because she really loves soft romantic songs.

"

She sings along the song till we reach our home. Candy joins too with her soft howl making me chuckle at the crazy girls.

••••••••

It's now the next day and I am on my way towards the police station where Kunal is being kept. Although he is a big criminal by now and no one has the permission to meet him, I have taken special permission from Commissioner Sir so that I can see his condition behind the bar.

After parking the car in front of the police station, I walk inside where I meet with the ACP who further takes me towards the cell where they have kept Kunal. It's such a great sight to behold him so helpless but I won't be fully satisfied till he gets punished badly.

"So, how's the stay here?" I ask making him look at him with hatred evident in them.

"You are doing a very big mistake, Rudra. I will not leave you, just let me get out of here and you will see what I can do." He threatens as if it will scare me.

"After being locked up here for nearly two months, you have the guts to threaten me. But alas, you can talk as much as you want because, in the end, I will be the one to win." I retort smirking at him.

"You think just because I am locked up, I won't be able to do anything. My lawyer has told me that I will be out in the first session of the court hearing and that will be my turn to laugh at you." He remarks arrogantly while I shake my head.

"Do you ever wonder why your lawyer said that you will be free in the first session of the court hearing? Let me answer it for you. Because he also knows that he doesn't have any evidence to save you while we have plenty against you. So, that means you will be punished for all of your crimes in the first session." I let out with a triumph smile seeing the anger in his face. I am quite liking provoking him because he can only roar, but can't attack as I have already cut off his claws.

"It's your fault that you came to India without thinking that Karma could punish you in the worst way possible. Not only that, you tried to harm my wife who is my world so don't ever think that I will let you go so easily. If I can come here to meet you despite it against the law then just think how much power I hold. I wanted to kill you with my bare hands but then I had to think of Ishita who wouldn't want me to dirty my hands with your blood. So, the law will give you the worst punishment ever. See you in the court." I say and walk out of there because I know he doesn't have anything to say anymore.

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