Page 163 of One Hellish Desire

He’s silent for a minute. “What will happen if she comes here? We can't keep her here for a year, Maahi. She won't stay.”

“We just need to bridge the gaps between Daadi and them. So, for however long they stay, we'll use that time to mend things. I'm sure once that's done, they'll understand if we need to toggle between India and the US for business.”

Vikram exhales audibly. “I don't know if this will work, but there's no harm in trying. What should be our first step?” he asks curiously.

“Okay.” I get up excitedly to explain. “If we directly tell her you're sick, she might not believe it. So, we need to do this step by step. She’s not answering your calls or replying to your messages, right?”

He nods again.

“So, send her a voice message. A generic one. Ask her how she is and keep doing this for a week. She'll surely listen and be happy to hear your voice. Then, after a week, when we get back from Udaipur, we drop another message pretending you're sick and missing her. If she doesn’t take the next flight, I'll change my name.”

A ghost of a smile touches Vikram’s lips, and the next instant, he grabs my arm and pulls me onto his lap.

“You are such a good planner,” he whispers, kissing my earlobe.

“Thank you,” I grin.

“I couldn’t skip my work calls to make time with you last night. Did you mind?” he asks sharply.

“Not really. You’re here, and that’s enough. But to be honest, I thought you would appreciate my sexy nightie. I specially bought it for you,” I say, pointing a finger at his bare chest.

He grins. “Maybe if you had worn that saree I gifted you yesterday, I would have ended that call then and there.”

Now it’s my turn to feel breathless. “That saree has a purpose,” I reply shyly.

“A very strong purpose,” he adds, linking our fingers and kissing my fingertips. The next thing I remember is us kissing, with no urgency or hurry. I feel a flutter of happiness. That saree has to be put to use soon. I’m ready to take things further with him, and like he urged, I’m going to surprise him soon... Maybe in Udaipur! Yes, that’s the right place and time for us to finally unite.

VANRAJ SINGH GROVER

I slide the door to my bedroom open and there is my wife, Meera, sitting on the couch, staring blankly at Vikram’s picture. It’s been just five days since Vikram left for India, and since then, Meera has been the same... Lost. She’s the reason I shifted most of my office work home and didn’t leave her alone unless it was extremely important. I want her to open up to me, but my wife is a masterpiece. She’ll share only when she wants to. That’s one trait Vikram has inherited from her. I reach the couch and sit next to her.

“David said you didn’t have lunch yet,” I say, placing an arm over her lap.

“Not hungry,” she murmurs, stroking the photo frame of her and Vikram, taken two years ago after Vikram received the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

“Remember this night, Vanraj?” she asks. “Vikram was so thrilled that night. I was the first person he hugged when the award was announced.”

I nod, recalling those moments. “Yes, he made us proud.”

Meera chuckles. “All my friends were so jealous when I flaunted my son and his trophy to them.”

“Of course. Everyone still is jealous because Vikram is our son.”

“And yet...” she sighs. “Yet he left us.”

“Not forever,” I explain. “He’ll be here again in two months.”

“Two freaking months, Vanraj? You have no idea how a mother feels when her son doesn’t show up for days.”

Now I’m speechless, and so is she. We both can slowly relate to how Maa must have handled our absence, alone.

“If you miss him so much, answer his messages. He told me he’s been trying to contact you,” I suggest, but Meera is too stubborn to accept my advice.

“No. If he thinks his messages can calm me down, he’s wrong. I want my son here. That’s it, Vanraj. Do something. Please.” She fists my shirt.

“Vikram isn’t a teenager anymore that we can control his life. And he’s married now. He wants to be with Maahi, and we have to accept his choice because that’s all we can do.”

Meera leans her head on my chest and sobs. I pat her back to soothe her when her phone buzzes.

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