Page 39 of One Hellish Desire

“I don’t get your point.”

“The point is, Mr. Shyam Trivedi, I want that land, and Maahi has agreed to sell it to me.”

I am stunned. He is clearly lying, but I don’t stop him. I get what Vikram is trying to do. He is testing Shyam to see how much he wants that property. Daadi is too confused to interrupt her grandson.

“Sell it?” Shyam gives me a horrified look. “You want to sell it? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why would she tell you, Shyam? It’s her wish so far. She is the sole owner of it until she marries someone.”

“She is marrying me,” Shyam snaps. “We are getting engaged tomorrow. How could you make such a big decision without consulting me and my father?”

Now I am pissed.

“Excuse me?” I snap. “What does it have to do with you or your father, Shyam? You know I have plans for that land already.”

Shyam stares at me, annoyed.

“You could still discuss it with me before making such a big decision, Maahi. Dad has envisioned some good ideas for that land, and we were going to talk it out with you after marriage so we could all benefit. I know you have some plans. We will work it out. Trust me, Dad has great ideas. It’s good for our business, and I assure you, we will keep some of that land for your plans too. We can implement it all. It’s that huge.”

I feel like the earth beneath me just shattered. I don’t see anything but Shyam, and I can read that he has clearly foreseen his dreams on that Estate. I am hurt.

“What if I tell you...” I pause to swallow. “You will get me but not that land, Shyam? Will you still marry me?”

Shyam is in a fix. He doesn’t know what to reply. I am sure Vikram is enjoying this show.

“Okay, listen,” Shyam tries to hold my hand. “I know you’re shocked right now, but believe me, this is not how I wanted to share my ideas with you. Let’s discuss this after the engagement.”

“No,” I snap, getting up from the couch. “Just answer my question. If I give that land back to Vikram because he is the heir of this family, will you still marry me?”

Shyam takes a long minute to decide, and it’s enough for me to know his real intentions.

“Of course, I will still marry you,” he replies, getting up. “But Daadi has entrusted the property to you. Why do you want to give it to someone else?”

That’s it. I am not interested in this conversation anymore. But I have a decision to make, and I say it loud and clear.

“Please call your father, Shyam, and tell him my decision to give away the Estate to Vikram. Because that’s my final decision. I am sure after knowing this, he is not going to let you get engaged to me tomorrow. Let’s not waste more time.”

“Maahi,” Daadi finally interrupts. “Do you even know what you are talking about? We are hours away from the engagement and...”

“And I am breaking it off, Daadi. Under no circumstances am I going to let people play with your dreams. And I mean it.”

“Wow,” Shyam claps. “You have lost your mind, Maahi. Which dreams are you talking about? Just because you run a boutique doesn’t mean you know business. Whatever my father and I have planned is for our future. Building an old age home is going to cost us money instead of earning any. Who will pay for taking care of those people? I’m sorry, but Dad will never invest in charity.”

Daadi’s eyes fill with tears, and I am shocked to see Shyam’s real face. He has never been so impolite before. Was that all a façade?

“Grow up,” Shyam clutches my arms. “Think bigger, only then will you prosper. I know Daadi has done a lot for you all these years, but remember one thing: she did it for her own selfish reasons. She was alone and she needed someone. She kept you.”

That’s it. I slap him. So hard and fast that my palm aches and my heart bleeds. Forget a life partner, this man doesn’t even deserve to be my friend. I was blind not to see this side of him.

CHAPTER 12

MAAHI

The sting of Shyam's betrayal burns my cheeks as I glare at him with undisguised contempt.

“Get out of this house!” I snarl, my voice laced with venom.

His eyes widen in horror, but I remain stern in my resolve. Shyam can never be the man I would marry. It's not merely about Devki Estate; he lacks the fundamental respect for me and my work. All these months, our connection was nothing but a facade, and I am done with his deceit.

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