Page 164 of One Hellish Desire

“Check who it is,” I command, but she doesn’t move. So, I pick up her phone and open the voice message from our son.

“Hey Mom. Please don’t delete this message and hear me out.”

Meera stiffens, and so do I. Vikram hasn’t sent voice messages recently, and being his parents, we can’t ignore this one.

“Mom, I miss you,” the message continues. “Please pick up my calls and talk to me because I’m dying to hear your voice. Dad doesn’t talk to me either, apart from business, but at least I get to hear him. Please, Mom. I know you’re upset with me for taking such a big decision, but I didn’t do this to revenge you for what happened with Daadi. She has nothing to do with it. I did this to strengthen my relationship with my wife. She needs me too, and vice versa. I promise I’m not going to abandon you ever. If Maahi is my soul, you two are the reason for my existence. I can never stop loving you both. Please... call me. I’m going to Udaipur for Maahi’s friend’s wedding. I’ll be out for four days, but I’m just a call away. So please reply. Love you, Mom. Love you, Dad.”

The message ends, and Meera snatches her phone from me and cries hard. I wipe my own tears before pulling her into a hug. This is probably the first time we’ve realized the importance of being parents. And above all, it’s also the first time we’ve understood Maa’s pain too.

VIKRAM

We are packing for Udaipur for Preet’s wedding. Maahi seems to have packed her things already, except for her toiletries pouch.

“Maahi, what about this?” I ask, showing her the pink pouch. She is busy with her designs, which she has to submit to a client for approval. I don’t like to disturb her when she works silently on the couch, tucking her feet underneath and sketching something on her laptop. She glances at me quickly.

“That should go inside my bag. Can you please do it for me?” she requests.

I smirk. “What will I get?”

Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “You’re getting too much already, Prince Pompous.”

“A little more wouldn’t hurt,” I tease back, grinning.

“A kiss then?”

“A kiss is the least... raise your stakes, Cub.” I stride over to her, and as soon as I reach the couch, she pulls me by my T-shirt and pecks my lips.

“That’s all I can afford at the moment. Let me focus on the designs, please.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. Continue your work.”

I unzip her bag and am about to open it when Maahi rushes over and stands between me and her bag.

“Um... I’ll do it. I mean—” she gasps. “I’ll put it in myself. Give it to me.”

“Excuse me? Just now you were busy working, and now you’re here to pack this pouch?”

“I changed my mind.” She snatches the pouch from me and slowly puts it in the bag, zipping it up again.

“Are you hiding something in that bag, Cub?”

Her cheeks flame as they turn pink. “No... Nothing. Why do you ask?”

She is about to get back to the bed when I reach for her waist and draw her back to me.

“You’re hiding something in that bag, and I want to know what it is.”

She blushes hard and turns around to face me without breaking our hug.

“A few special nightwear,” she admits, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I bought them online after you came here.”

I stiffen, trying to process her words. She is planning something for Udaipur, and those nightgowns are part of her plan. Not bad! I peck her nose.

“I’ve seen you complete bare, Cub. Tasted every inch of that sexy body of yours, if you remember? I want more…”

She blushes guiltily, pressing her head against my chest. I grab her chin and lift it to meet my eyes again.

“It’s not a compulsion. I know you want to take things slow, which is fine by me too. So, take your time.”

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