Page 50 of One Hellish Desire

Once we're alone, she hands me the envelope. I quickly scan the legal documents inside, my confusion mounting with each line.

“What is this? I don't understand,” I demand, my voice tight.

Daadi's smile is tinged with sadness. “I've been meaning to do this for a long time, Vikram. It's my will. All my assets, bank balances, and properties have been equally divided between you and your father.”

I remain silent, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“You both can take it all and use it as you see fit,” she continues. “That's your right. You can leave with it proudly.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow. “You want me to go?” I ask, unable to mask the hurt in my voice.

Guilt and tears fill her eyes. “You came here with a mission, Vikram, one that can no longer be fulfilled. I don't see why you'd want to waste any more time in this palace.”

Waste time? The ache in my throat threatens to choke me. Without a word, I walk to the fireplace and toss the will into the flames. Daadi watches, horrified.

“There's your answer,” I growl, turning to leave.

“Your mother called,” she says, stopping me in my tracks. “She wants you back home, Vikram.”

I whirl to face her, disbelief etched on my features. “You're lying.”

“Check my phone. She called last night. We spoke briefly.”

The pieces fall into place - Mom's sudden interest, her conversation with Daadi. Is she trying to send me away because she senses my growing attraction to Maahi?

“Meera is right,” Daadi adds softly. “You belong with your parents, not here.”

“Then Dad should be here, Daadi!” I shout, my composure cracking. “Here, in Ratna Mahal, because you are here. His mother is here!”

My outburst stuns her. “That's his choice,” she replies, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don't drag him into this.”

“I won't,” I snarl. “But if they think they can decide where I should be, who I should be with, it's high time I show them where they went wrong too.”

Daadi's face is a mask of helplessness. “You're not asking me to leave just because they want me back,” I declare, the truth dawning on me. “You're pushing me away for another reason - and that reason is Maahi.”

She lowers her gaze, unable to meet my eyes. The mix of fear, hesitation, and desperation on her face softens my anger. I pull her into an embrace, my voice gentler now.

“If you think Maahi is my obsession, then yes, she is. But I can never hurt someone I'm obsessed with - it would hurt me just as much.”

“What do you want from her?” Daadi pleads. “She's an innocent girl with simple choices. I've hurt her enough with my conditions for Devki Estate. I chose the wrong man for her, and now when she's trying to move on, you're making things difficult. What do you want from her, Vikram?”

“I want her,” I say, my voice ringing with conviction. “Just her.”

Daadi gapes at me as if I've asked for her most prized possession.

“I want her, Daadi. I don't know in what sense, what kind of relationship. But I want her around me. I want people to know she's mine. I want men to stop looking at her because she's taken. I...”

“You want to marry her?” Daadi cuts to the heart of the matter.

The question catches me off guard, but as I consider it, I find myself nodding. “If all of this means I have to marry her, then yes. I want to marry Maahi and keep her with me forever.”

I don’t fully understand my own words. Marriage has never been on my radar, yet here I am, ready to take that leap if it means having Maahi by my side.

“Does she know?” Daadi demands. “Does she like you too?”

It's a valid point, one I haven't fully considered. “She doesn't know,” I admit. “I don't think she hates me, though.”

“She doesn't hate anyone, Vikram. That doesn't mean she'll marry them all.”

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