Page 13 of One Hellish Desire

“Where is Cub?” I ask not seeing her around since morning.

“She’s gone to her boutique early today. She has an important meeting with a client.”

I’m glad she’s not here right now because that gives me ample time to talk about Devki Estate with Daadi. Once we finish the breakfast I broach on that subject.

“Daadi, there is something I need from you.”

“From me?” she asks, surprised. “Everything I have belongs to you, Vikram. You can take anything. You don’t need to ask my permission.”

I wish it was that easy. I know what sentiments she holds for Devki Estate.

“Daadi, Dad and I have expanded Grover Group, and soon we’re going to collaborate and invest in a real estate company. We have plans for a township here in this city, which will greatly profit our business.”

“That’s good news, Vikram,” she replies proudly. “Vanraj never told me any of this. Does that mean I will be seeing you both more often, now that you will set up a township here?”

I nod dismissively.

“Dad and I won’t be directly involved, but yes, we might come here for signing important documents. It’s mainly for paperwork.”

“Okay. But I still don’t understand how I can help you in this business.”

I swallow nervously.

“The land where we want this township to be built is Devki Estate,” I reply and her jaw drops. I immediately hold her hand over the table. “Daadi, people will benefit. Not just this city, but the whole country is going to talk about this township, the project is that good.”

Daadi doesn’t intervene until I finish. I sense she either didn’t like my proposal or had other plans for the land. I have put forth my point, and I somehow feel she wouldn’t deny me.

“I see,” she smiles at me. “So, that’s why you came here after all these years?”

I feel a prick in my heart.

“No, Daadi. That might have been one reason, but I also wanted to see you. Ask Dad. He knows. I got so busy all these years that I couldn’t find time to come and see you.”

She smiles at me again, making me feel even more embarrassed.

“I always wanted to see you rise and shine in your life, Vikram. You have made me proud, even if it meant not seeing you for nine years.”

I don’t say a word. She takes a deep breath and becomes serious.

“I am sorry. Devki Estate no longer belongs to me.”

I frown. Is this some kind of joke?

“What do you mean it no longer belongs to you? After Daadu, you inherited that property, didn’t you?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Yes, that’s right. And just last year, I transferred it to someone else,” Daadi replies.

It feels like someone hit me with a huge boulder. She transferred that property? Why? To whom? And without letting anyone know?

“Daadiji,” Hariya interrupts. “Maahi forgot this file in her room.”

Daadi takes the file from him and panics reading the client name over it. “Oh my god. Maahi has a meeting related to this client today. How can she forget this file at home? She’s never been this careless.”

I’m not happy about the interruption, but I wait patiently. My brain is working overtime to figure out a backup plan for getting Devki Estate back.

“Ask our driver to drive to her boutique and give this file to her,” Daadi instructs.

“But he has gone to the garage to get the other car serviced.”

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