Page 68 of One Hellish Desire

Dad glares at her, but she doesn’t care. I help Daadi lie down again while Dad storms out.

MAAHI

I stand before the door of the VIP room at Leela Mahal, knowing that Vikram is waiting inside. I stare, wondering if I'm doing the right thing. All these years, I've lived by the virtues Daadi taught me, adored her simple life, practiced her morals, and always obeyed her. But this time, I won't. This morning, when she asked me to return Devki Estate to the Grovers, I knew she had given up fighting. But I won’t. I will fight for it until my last breath. And to do that, I need someone on my side—someone from the Grovers. I know who the easy target is: Vikram Singh Grover. I might be a fool to consider him an easy target, knowing he can turn the tables anytime, but I have to try.

“Ma’am,” an unknown voice breaks my stance. It’s the manager of Leela Mahal, whom I’ve met before. She smiles at me. “Sir is waiting for you inside.”

She opens the door for me. Vikram stands by the huge glass window, looking outside with his palm on the cool glass. I still have time to decide if I really want this. He sees me through the glass reflection and turns around. Before he can speak, I say what I have to.

“Dheeraj is no longer fighting my case.”

He looks shocked and steps forward. “He was bribed. Good you pushed him out of this case. Who’s the new one?”

I walk in slowly. “I don’t think I’m fighting this case anymore. It’s a waste.”

Now I have his attention. He watches me with a pained look, as if sympathizing.

“Don’t give up, Cub,” he says.

I’m surprised he’s even suggesting that. “You should be happy I’m giving up.”

“I’m not my father,” he says, stepping closer. I meet his eyes, trying to read the truth in them. Is he really unlike his father? Is that even possible?

“I have a friend who’s a good lawyer. He can help you win this case. Since he’s on my side, he can’t be bribed. Not even by my father. I can call him up here.”

“Will you?” I mock. “What if I really win this case?”

He smirks. “Then we’ll celebrate.”

He walks to the bar to make a drink. He’s about to open the bottle when I stop him. He looks at me weirdly. I have never been this soft or polite to him, nor have I stopped him from drinking before.

“I want you fully conscious as we talk here,” I say, putting the bottle away and exhaling.

He stares at me in a dilemma so I get straight to the point.

“I checked with Shuklaji. Your father has built a strong case. Even if Daadi legally gave me the property, he got those stay orders based on your grandfather’s will, which states that all his assets belong to you and your father.”

“What?” he snaps. So, he doesn’t know on what grounds his father filed this case? “How does that Will even matter? Daadu had already written Devki Estate in Daadi’s name. That’s how she transferred it to you.”

“But those legal papers are missing.”

Now he’s pissed. “Missing?” he scowls, then realizes something. “Dad must have stolen those papers.”

I nod. “And until we get them, it’s hard to prove who Devki Estate should belong to legally. The court will delay this until those papers are found, and until then, I can’t fulfill Daadi’s dreams.”

Vikram’s jaw clenches. “I’ll talk to Dad.”

“You think it’s that easy? You think he’ll agree?” I snap.

“I can try. I know Dad is very adamant when he wants something,” he pauses, staring at my face. “That’s one trait I got from him.”

I know exactly what he’s thinking, but we’ll get to that later. Not until we’re on the same page about Devki Estate.

“Daadi wants me to give up the estate,” I continue, my voice stuttering as I recall that moment. It was so hard for her to even ask this, but she wanted to see me at peace.

“She told me that too,” Vikram sighs.

“She’s giving up for me, but I won’t let her lose. That’s why I’m here. To ask something from you.”

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