Page 52 of Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella

“I know it’s hard for you to understand, Vikram. But I don’t want anything from you. Do you get that?”

He’d shaken his head. Because he didn’t. Because he wanted to shower her with everything money could buy. He wanted her to live in the lap of luxury and never worry about another loan payment. But every time the matter of finances came up, she’d shut him down.

“The whole world is going to say I’ve landed myself a nice upgraded lifestyle. But your standing in the world, your various mansions, your cars, even your star power...they are all just window dressing, Vikram. The real you that only I get to see, the man beneath the megastar...that’s my prize. You’re my true prize.”

He’d said nothing in return to her. On guard, constantly wondering what she’d demand if he said those things. He’d shown her instead with his kisses and his mouth and his fingers, driving her higher and higher and higher and then holding her tightly when she fell. She’d told him again and again, making herself vulnerable to him even while he continued to protect himself.

“I’m a no-risk investment,”she’d said on that last day, and he realized now how right she had been.“For all the clever words you give me, I’ll never be your equal in our marriage, because you’ll always hold part of yourself back.”

No, she was wrong about that. Those were only the lies he’d told himself.

Even when he hadn’t recognized it, he’d been falling for Naina. God, he’d fallen for her so hard that very first time when she’d torn into him. When she’d told him so clearly what she thought he could be if he tried to change.

He just hadn’t accepted it.

Two weeks since she’d walked out on him and yet she’d already left her mark on him. Already changed him in ways he was only realizing now.

Take for example the call he had received yesterday from his parents. They were going to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary in a fortnight’s time with a huge bash, he’d been informed, and would Vikram please approve the budget and the event planner they were planning to hire and release the funds.

So he wished both his parents all the fun planning the party in such a polite note, released the funds and hung up the call without any questions, or demands or ultimatums.

His mother had called him back within minutes, inquiring if he was unwell.

He laughed now, wondering why he hadn’t seen it this way before. He had built enough of a fortune that his parents could throw a bash or two and not make a dent in it. As for how they’d conduct themselves in front of the media and the others in the industry, nothing he said or did was going to change them now. When they hadn’t all his life.

People that were important to him knew of him from his own reputation, his work ethic, his word. Nothing they did or said was going to change the path of his life. Not anymore now, and not for the past fifteen years.

It was as if a tremendous weight had been lifted off his shoulders. As if some invisible chains that had been binding him had suddenly been yanked off and he was free now.

Free to move forward.

Free to live his own life.

Free to pursue his own future with the woman he loved with all his heart.

The party was in full swing by the time Naina walked through the lavishly decorated foyer. She rubbed her hand down the pale pink sleeveless blouse she’d worn over another long cotton white skirt embroidered with beautiful yellow flowers. Jaya Ma and Maya had been horrified when she’d defiantly refused to dress up for an evening hobnobbing with the royalty of Bollywood.

This was the second party she was walking into at a Raawal residence. But this time, she was here as herself. Just Naina. Simply Naina.

The Naina who took risks.

The Naina who liked helping people.

The Naina who sometimes loved too much.

She wasn’t here to impress anyone or to make herself feel better or to catch anyone’s eye. She was here for herself. To make connections. To build a career at her own, slow pace. To live her life to the fullest.

When Virat had called her and insisted that she attend the anniversary party of his parents, she’d instantly agreed. Caught him by surprise. Because, of course, he knew his brother and she had been together. And that they had fallen apart just as spectacularly.

Virat wasn’t inviting her as a favor or because he felt sorry for her. He was inviting her because she was part of the team now. She was officially part of Raawal House’s Magnum Opus. And now she was working for Zara Khan, who’d been given the role in the film that Vikram had intended, she was going to see Vikram on the sets of the biopic anyway. Better to get used to seeing him. Of longing for him. Of wishing things had been different.

Because as much as the anger and hurt had slowly fallen away, the love she felt for him had stayed. And she’d made her peace with it.

In the meantime, she was going to stay right there and maximize her career opportunities. And try to help her stepmother a little with her own career, if she could. It wasn’t as if Jaya Ma was not talented. She, like Naina herself, simply needed more opportunities, more exposure.

“You okay,beta?” her stepmother whispered in her ear and Naina nodded.

They circulated through the main lounge and the back garden and then lined up to greet the family. The bouquet of flowers she’d brought as a gift felt extra heavy in her damp hands as Naina craned her head to look at the family members greeting the guests. Neither Virat nor Vikram were present. But Daadiji was, newly arrived from London.

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