Page 14 of One Hellish Desire

“Then you go. Take the other car,” she snaps.

Hariya looks down, embarrassed. “Daadji, I don’t know how to drive. How will I go?”

I hold myself back from offering help. It’s Maahi’s mistake to forget her important stuff. Why should I bother? I’m already in my own mess right now and have no time for others.

“Vikram, can you please drive to Maahi’s boutique and hand over this file to her?” Daadi asks, catching me off guard. I want Devki Estate sorted out now. I don’t have time for errands.

“But we need to talk about something more important than this, Daadi,” I argue.

“We can always talk, Vikram, but if Maahi doesn’t get this file on time, she might lose a big client. Please do this for me.”

I feel my temper rising. She can sense Maahi’s potential loss, but not mine? I don’t debate further because she is still my grandmother. So, I press her arm gently.

“Don’t say please. I can do anything for you.”

She smiles, satisfied by my words, and hands me the file. Once Hariya shares the location of Maahi’s boutique, with a heavy heart, I head out.

******************

Blush Boutique

I stare at the name of Maahi’s boutique wondering what made her choose this name in particular.

“How can I help you, sir?” A tall girl greets me at the door with a dimpled smile.

“I’m here to see Cub,” I reply.

“This is a fashion store, sir. Not a zoo,” she responds with an awkward smile.

Right, how could I call her Cub in front of her staff? I quickly correct myself. “Maahi Awasthi, I’m here to see her.”

“Oh.” She smiles again. “Ma’am is in her cabin. Please come in.”

She leads me inside, and the store’s ambiance really impresses me. This isn’t the kind of place an average person can afford. Classy, rich and royal traditional outfits are displayed on mannequins.

“Everything you see here is Maahi Ma’am’s creation,” the woman proudly adds.

I glance at the special bridal collection on the top floor, and it stops my heart for a moment. Her collections, designs, vibrant fabrics, and artificial jewelry are stunning. I’ve never been impressed by traditional attire with such a touch of class.

“Like what you see?” Maahi's voice cuts into my thoughts as she emerges from her office.

“This is more than I imagined,” I reply curtly.

She takes the compliment and gestures for the woman to leave us.

“Unique name for the boutique by the way – Blush!” I continue, unable to resist probing. “To be honest, knowing how much you love Daadi, I expected the name of your business to be related to her. You know like ‘Devki Boutique’ or something?”

Maahi smiles, shaking her head. The gesture is oddly captivating.

“That was exactly my idea, but Daadi suggested this name 'Blush Boutique' and I couldn't resist.”

“Wonder what made her suggest that,” I tease, stepping closer and keeping my gaze fixed on her face. “I never saw you blush ever.”

Maahi rolls her eyes, and this time I find the gesture both irritating and strangely alluring. “That's because my blush is restricted to people I like, and you are not one of them, Prince Pompous.”

Her eyes land on the file in my hand.

“Daadi told me you were on the way with that.”

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