Page 37 of One Hellish Desire

She forces a weak smile. “I didn't invite him. I got to know from Shyam that he was invited.”

I'm confused now. If Daadi didn't invite Shyam and neither did I, who did?

“Vikram invited him for dinner,” she adds.

My body ignites with unknown fear. I know Vikram doesn't like Shyam and thinks he and his father are conspiring for Devki Estate. Why would he call Shyam for dinner then? I turn to Daadi again; she is as shocked as I am. Since last night, she has been the same – worried and confused. Something is bothering her.

“I have given the menu to the chefs. You can check with them once everything is ready,” she says.

The enthusiasm Daadi had for my engagement so far is no longer there on her face or in her expressions. I'm curious to know what changed so suddenly that she is behaving so differently, not with me but with Vikram. This morning, she didn't speak a word to him, neither did he open his mouth. He left for some work, and she didn't even ask when he would return. I don't understand anything. I head back to my bedroom, shower again, and come down to the kitchen. The chefs are ready to serve, and Shyam will be here any moment. I check the menu that’s cooked, which happen to be all my favorites. Why would Daadi ask the chefs to cook my favorite dishes? I'm about to ask them when Vikram barges in.

“Get out, everyone,” he shouts at the chefs and the other servants, who rush out without delay.

I don't entertain him but focus on the food, especially the dessert. Daadi has made gulab jamuns, and I can just eat that, skipping all my meals. I'm not very diet-conscious and have had a sweet tooth since childhood. I can never deny sweets, especially gulab jamuns.

“Stop the engagement, Cub,” he shouts, reaching the kitchen slab where I'm standing.

“Give me one good reason why I should,” I say loud and clear.

“How many times do I have to tell you why?”

“Just telling won't change my mind, Vikram. I need proof. You were supposed to get proof against the Trivedis, which apparently you will never find because they are innocent.”

“Innocent, my foot,” he groans, leaning closer. I'm caged between his arms and the marble top behind. “He has real estate plans on Devki Estate. His father is a builder, remember?”

“And how are your plans different from theirs?” I ask. “Don't you want that land for your business? Isn't that the reason why you're here?”

He goes blank and shoves both his hands through his hair.

“It's my grandmother's land; I could do whatever I want on it. No third person has the right to claim it as theirs.”

I get his point but don't approve.

“It was your grandmother's land, and now it belongs to me. And I'm going to use it to fulfill her dreams, not yours or Shyam's, if you think that's why he is marrying me.”

His eyes gleam with an unknown feeling.

“Daadi's dreams?” he asks, bewildered. “What does Daadi want to do on that land?”

“An old-age home. She wants to build an old-age home and run a small-scale business for old people, widows, and single mothers. She wants to give people new dreams to live their lives without depending on others. She wants to make them stable. She wants so much more, which people like you will never see, Vikram. All you see are your own profits, your own growth, your own selfish desires. I wonder how it's possible that men like you and your father share the same blood as hers.”

I didn't intend to say that last line, but it comes out of my mouth, and I don't regret it.

“You are too far from realizing what she yearns for, what she dreams of doing. I so wish you could see that in her - read her pain and ease her sorrow. Why do you think she wants to do this? She wants to give old people like her a home to stay when their children and grandchildren don't want to look after them. She wants to give them a source of income, Vikram. And I'm going to fulfill that dream for her. I will, and that's a promise.”

He loosens his grip on the marble, and I gently push him away to march out from the kitchen. I finally told him my plans for Devki Estate, and even then, if he doesn't understand and fights for it, God save him from me.

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

Shyam has arrived. He looks tired, as if the engagement preparations have exhausted him. Daadi welcomes him and leads him to me at the dining table.

“Hi,” I smile and give him a quick hug.

“You look great,” he gives me a thorough look before meeting Vikram's heated gaze. I can literally feel him burning.

“On time, huh?” Vikram asks, shaking hands with him.

“How could I miss your invitation or even delay it? You said you wanted to discuss something?”

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