Page 202 of One Hellish Desire

“You’re scaring my wife, Mom. Now let us leave as the jet is ready.”

He hugs his father next, and I follow him.

“Take care, Maahi.” Uncle blesses me.

“You too, Uncle.”

“Uncle?” He frowns. “When will I be promoted from Uncle to Dad?”

I go cold and speechless. He’s never requested that before. This is a first! I turn to Vikram, who is as stunned as I am.

“Don’t pressurize her, Vanraj,” Aunty intervenes. “Let her take as much time as she needs. She needs time to forgive us.”

“It’s not about forgiveness,” I reply. “I have never seen my parents nor do I know who they are. I never—” Words choke in my throat, and Vikram is immediately beside me. He rubs my back to soothe me giving me the strength to continue this conversation. “I’ve never called anyone by those names… But maybe now it’s time I do.”

Aunty comes forward. “You don’t need to call us Mom and Dad just because we are Vikram’s parents. It’s fine.”

She grips my hands, and I nod. “What if I really want to call you that because I’ve given you both that place in my heart?”

They stare at each other and then back at me. I reach aunty and give her a tight hug.

“Bye, Mom,” I murmur.

It’s the first time I’ve called her ‘Mom,’ and it brings tears to our eyes. She kisses my forehead and wipes my tears.

“Bye, sweetheart. Take care of yourself and my son.”

“I will,” I promise, and then once again make my way to uncle.

“Bye, Dad.”

“Bye…” He smiles. “If Vikram troubles you, call me.”

Everyone laughs at his remark. My heart is so full of joy and peace right now that it feels like I have everything I desired all these years—a family of my own.

VIKRAM

It's been three days since we arrived in New York for our real honeymoon, and we haven't missed a single moment to show how much we love each other. Jack, our butler, has been at our service, and I've made sure Maahi doesn't step into the kitchen, not even to make coffee. I want her to rest and, apart from loving me, she only has to handle a few calls regarding her fashion business startup here.

“Sir, it's a call from the reception,” Jack interrupts my thoughts, holding the cordless phone connecting to the building's reception.

It's evening, and I'm waiting for my wife to come home from meeting Elise, who's helping her with the business. Normally, I wouldn’t let her go alone, but I focus back on Jack.

“Miss Patel is here to see you,” he informs.

Sabrina is here? Who told her that Maahi and I are in New York? Since she's a family friend, I can't ignore her. I ask Jack to let her up, and three minutes later, the private elevator dings open. In a red party dress, Sabrina enters the living room with her usual killer smile, though it doesn't affect me.

“Hey,” I greet her, and she gives me a hard hug, which feels weird. By the time I pull back, she's smiling.

“I'm so happy to see you here. Dad told me you are here for some work. I knew it,” Sabrina exclaims. “I knew you wouldn't stay in India forever. You had to come back, Vikram. God, I'm so happy. Are Uncle and Aunty here too?”

She's excited for all the wrong reasons.

“No. Dad and Mom are still in India.”

“Oh, great. That means you're alone and you have to come with me to the party. You know, Rony is throwing a get-together as his girlfriend is back in town. We should go.”

She's about to drag me when I grab her wrist to stop her.

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