Page 20 of One Hellish Desire

She nods, seemingly mollified by my reassurances, and I seize the opportunity to finally broach the subject weighing on me. “Can we return to the main topic now? Who owns the Devaki Estate, and why did you sell it? That was our ancestral property - Dad or I should have inherited it.”

“Vikram.” Daadi cuts me off, gripping my arm intently. “That property belonged solely to your grandfather. It was his personal gift to me on our twenty-fifth anniversary. We had so many dreams for that land...”

She trails off, lost in nostalgic memory for a long moment. Swallowing hard, I give her a gentle shake to recapture her focus. “Even with all those wonderful memories, you still sold it off?”

“I didn't sell it,” she insists, coming back to herself. “I gifted it to someone.”

I gape at her, utterly blindsided. “Gifted it? Daadi, that property is massive - worth millions! Who could you possibly gift that kind of fortune to?”

“Even if it were priceless, I would have done the same,” she replies serenely. “No one, not even your father, has the right to question what I did with the Devaki Estate. Your grandfather left you and Vanraj plenty - you'll have everything eventually. But that land was always solely mine to bestow as I chose.”

Her words slice deep, shattering the sense of entitlement I didn't realize I harbored. Of course she's right...who am I to demand an inheritance that was never mine to begin with?

Reining in my wounded pride with an unsteady exhale, I meet her gaze steadily. “As your grandson, don't I at least deserve to know who you gifted it to?”

Daadi's expression clouds over with visible confusion. She doesn't want to tell me - that much is clear. But I have to know, even if it means resorting to my backup plan.

“Why does it matter now?” she evades. “It's been given away already. What's done is done.”

“The name, Daadi,” I press, undeterred. “I want to know who holds that honored place now.”

For a long moment, I think she'll refuse. Then, chin lifting with trademark pride, she levels me with her piercing stare.

“Maahi. I gave the Devaki Estate to her.”

And just like that, my hands fist at my sides as that unrelenting obsession blazes through me once more, scorching everything in its path.

MAAHI

Something in me is off. Ever since I left Ratna Mahal with Shyam for tonight’s dinner, my mood has been off. Shyam keeps talking during the drive to the restaurant. I occasionally glance at him and fake a few smiles, but I can’t focus. My mind drifts to the scene between Vikram and me in my bedroom earlier. He zipped my dress. He asked if I’m romantically involved with Shyam. And above all, he thinks I owe him answers. How can he even imagine I would?

“Maahi,” Shyam gives me a gentle shake. We’re at the restaurant, waiting to order food.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “You can order anything, Shyam. Your favorite.”

“I already did,” he replies.

He did? Without asking me?

“Maahi, what’s wrong? I don’t feel like you’re here with me.”

“I am here,” I argue.

“Only physically. Mentally, you’re elsewhere.”

He’s right. Before I can make an excuse, he grabs my arm over the table.

“I know what’s bothering you. Vikram Singh Grover’s comeback. Right?”

Wrong. It’s his behavior toward me that bothers me, scares me, consumes me.

“Shyam, I… I’m so sorry.” I push thoughts of Prince Pompous away for a moment.

“You don’t have to be. I know he’s hard to be around. In fact, when you weren’t home, he asked me how I show so much patience for you.”

“He said that?”

“He did,” Shyam smiles.

---