Page 35 of Married in Vengeance

“It’s always been like that Nanna.” Ram exhaled. “I won’t have anybody making Aadhya feel small.Anybody.”

His father leaned back in his chair, one arm slung over the back, amusement lightening the normally stern lines of his face. “Does that include yourself? Or have you forgotten your behaviour during the wedding?”

Ram flushed. His father had a point. “I’ll do better,” he told his father. He didn’t need to behave badly to get the vengeance he craved. “But so will all of you.”

He pushed back from the table, picking up his laptop bag as he stood. “I have to get to work too. I’ll see you all in the evening.”

“Ram.” His mother’s quiet voice had him freezing. “I didn’t mean to make her feel small. I’ll talk to Aadhya and explain.”

Gratitude flooded him. “Thank you Amma. I appreciate it.”

He made to turn from the table before stopping himself. “Amma?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Now what?”

“Can we have dosa for breakfast tomorrow?”

A small smile touched her lips as she looked at him. “You can. I’ll have it made.”

“I also want!” His father harrumphed, disappearing behind his newspaper again. “Why should only he get?”

“He is fit,” his mother returned. “You are not.”

Ram was still laughing to himself as he touched his parents’ feet quickly before heading out for the door. He opened the door to find Virat standing on the steps, one hand raised to knock. Ram’s laughter died a swift death. He studied his friend’s calm expression and his stomach sank.

“How bad?”

“It’s debatable,” Virat said, his voice quiet and steady as always. “We’ll talk on the way to work?”

Ram nodded. The driver drove up with his car but he dismissed him, taking the wheel himself. He didn’t need any eavesdroppers to the conversation they were going to be having.

They’d barely cleared the driveway that led to Gadde Mansion before Ram said, “Tell me.”

Virat took a moment, clearly working his way through a minefield to find the best way to tell him.

“There was a second email.”

The words had Ram’s heart tightening painfully in his chest. “From Aadhya?”

“From the same burner account as before. So, yes.”

Ram focused on the crowded road, navigating through the manic office traffic. “Another video?”

“The same one. But this time with an added note.”

Ram frowned. “Note? What does it say?”

Virat cleared his throat. “It’s a bit vulgar.” He held a paper out to him. “Maybe you should read it.”

Ram cursed under his breath, looking for a break in traffic to pull over to the side. He finally pulled into a mall and drove into the basement parking. Yanking on the parking brake the minute the car came to a halt, he held his hand out for the stupid paper fluttering in Virat’s hand.

Is the fucking you’re getting worth the fucking you’re about to get? If you don’t keep your wife busy enough, she might need to go elsewhere for satisfaction.

His blood roared, fury and hurt blazing a murderous path through his veins.

“What the fuck is her endgame?” he roared, punching the steering wheel.

Virat sighed. “I think the better question to ask is, what is yours?”

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