Page 170 of One Hellish Desire

I definitely will. I haul Maahi to me and peck her lips delicately, not wanting to ruin her lip gloss.

“How many times will you enchant me? Your fashion, your designs, and your boutiques deserve to expand.”

She pouts, nodding in agreement. “I’m already expanding.”

“Really? Where? Which city in India?”

“I have a few stores in India already. This time I’m expanding abroad. A few initial talks have happened, and…”

“Seriously?” I snap. “And you’re informing me now?”

She sticks her tongue out. “I told you it’s just the beginning, Vikram. A lot has yet to be decided, and I might have to travel too, so I can finalize things there. It might take a year to actually open up my boutique there.”

“Where?” I definitely need to know where she plans to expand her business. Maybe I could help her too if she wants me to, and I’m ready to travel to support her.

“Umm…” she purposely delays, and when I gaze at her angrily, she fiddles with my T-shirt. “New York.”

For a second, I’m speechless. She’s expanding in the city where I live and own my business? And she’s telling me this now? What the...!

“Say that again,” I demand. “You’re expanding in my city?”

Maahi grins, curling her arms around my neck. “Yes, I've been planning this ever since I returned to India from US.”

I'm so elated that words fail me. I hold her waist, admiring my wife as she continues to explain.

“Elise is helping me with the basics, like legalities and all. She’s been very generous, offering her support despite being my competitor now. It’s a huge step for me, but I want to take this for you… for us.” Her palms slide over my chest and rest close to my heart, which is pounding for her.

“Does Daadi know?” I murmur.

“Not everything yet, but eventually we’ll have to tell her. I think she’ll be happy for us. But we’re not leaving her alone here. I can never do that,” she sighs. “So, she goes with us to the US, stays with us as long as she wants, and then we’ll keep traveling between these two countries so she doesn’t miss Ratna Mahal either. That’s the only middle way I could think of.”

“She will agree,” I reply. “She knows how much we both want our relationship to work, plus how we can never abandon her. So, she will agree.” I believe this strongly.

“Yes,” Maahi blushes, stroking my stubble. “Are you happy?”

Happy? That word doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling right now. Knowing my wife is willing to sacrifice a bit of her comfort zone for me is the best day of my life.

“If I show you how happy I am, we might be late for the wedding,” I grin.

By “wedding,” she realizes we’re already running late and ushers me to the bed.

“You’re wearing the sherwani I designed. Come on, hurry up.”

I happily let her help me with the sherwani, and then she turns me to face the mirror.

“Wow, this color suits you.”

I pull her to me and kiss her cheeks. “Anything my wife designs for me suits me.”

Maahi giggles, turning around to see me, and the designer in her gets into work mode. She starts assessing the fit, the fabric’s comfort, and other details, mentally making notes of what changes she needs to make in her other designs.

“Now, will you help me with the pajama (traditional pant) too, or...” I tease, and her cheeks flame with embarrassment.

“Shut up,” Maahi says, handing me the pajama pants that go under the sherwani. “Please wear this while I call to check on Daadi.”

She’s about to leave when I hug her waist from behind.

“Vikram… we’re getting late,” she says, ruffling my hair with one hand while the other rests over mine on her waist.

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