Page 142 of One Hellish Desire

“Don’t worry, Mom-in-law. Jack has noted down all my recipes, so he’ll surely try them soon. He has my number, so he can always call if he needs help.”

The smile on Meera aunty’s face fades away.

“Have you thought of shifting here anytime soon?” She comes straight to the point.

“Not yet.”

“You’re breaking my son’s heart, and that’s something I don’t appreciate.”

“I feel broke too, Mom-in-law. But trust me, it’s not easy to wind up everything so soon and restart here. I need time to strategize and materialize things.”

“How long?”

“I can’t commit to anything now.”

She sighs, annoyed by my lack of a timeline. “You’re delaying things on purpose, Maahi, and don’t think I can’t notice it.”

“What do you mean?”

“For Maa. You want to delay this for her because we all know she’s not going to shift here with us.”

Okay. Now that she’s brought Daadi into the conversation, I decide to be open.

“Daadi is one of the reasons I can’t hurry up and leave India anytime soon,” I admit. “I know if I ask her to shift with me and Vikram forever, she’ll happily do it, but that won’t make her happy.”

“God, Maahi,” Meera yells. “Why don’t you understand? Maa has lived her life, and now it’s high time you and Vikram focus on yours.”

I can’t believe she said that.

“I know she’s lived her life, Mom-in-law. But she’s lived it alone. You, Uncle, and Vikram were never there for her all these years. Now that she’s old and needs her family around, I don’t think she’s expecting too much. I’ve seen her live with those few memories you all gave her once every year by visiting her at Ratna Mahal, and then for nine years even that stopped.”

Meera aunty groans in anger. “You have no idea what she did to me and Vanraj.”

“I know what happened between you both and her. She told me everything. But that doesn’t mean you ignore her now.”

She steps forward, pointing a finger at me. “She tried to turn my husband against me, Maahi, and I don’t trust her even now, even though she’s old. I’m happy with my husband and son here, and I’m not losing them again. If Maa wants, she can join us here, but we have nothing to do with shifting back to India forever. The sooner you absorb this truth, the easier it will be for you and Vikram to lead a happy life. And if you don’t have such plans, then don’t give my son any false hopes. I won’t let anyone break his heart. Do you understand?”

There’s no point in arguing with her now so I let her leave the room and focus back on breakfast.

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

The day passes quickly. The next day, Vikram takes me out for shopping, and I surprise him by wearing the watch he gifted me. The one with the note, “Our good times start now. Welcome to my world,” that he sent through Daadi on our wedding day. He’s thrilled I’m using it and keeps kissing my wrist, giving me goosebumps throughout our shopping time. I buy a few designer clothes from famous fashion brands and promise Vikram to wear them when we’re together next time. I also buy him a leather jacket, similar to the one he wore during our motorbike ride the other day. He looks hot in them.

When we return home, I start packing. Tomorrow is my flight back to India, and I’m not prepared at all.

As I keep dumping my clothes into the trolley bag, lost in the memories we’ve created over the past six days, Vikram’s voice breaks my stance. He’s out of the washroom, having just trimmed his beard, making him look even more irresistible.

“Is that how you pack clothes?” he teases, picking a dress from my trolley bag and folding it nicely.

I admire him for a while, but when he grabs my inners, I quickly snatch them back. “Don’t. I’ll do them myself.”

I’m a bit late to convey that, as his mood shifts from normal to completely romantic. He reaches behind me, spoons me in his arms, and kisses my nape.

“Don’t go,” he pleads. I wish I could agree, but the moment I open my lips to say something, he turns me around and shuts them with his lips. “I know you can’t extend your stay here. Just don’t say it. That’s even worse.”

I cling to him as he carries me to the bed.

“Our last make-out, until next time,” he whispers, hovering over me.

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