Page 19 of Twisted Bonds

“Thank you, Dheeraj!”

Chitra walked towards the storage room and could hear Mihir stack the utensils in the small room. She stopped at the entrance and said, “Time to go. I’m done.”

He turned to look at her, surprise in his eyes. “There is a lot more to do.”

He tried to walk past her, but she stepped in front of him and held his hand. “No. Enough for today. You have classes tomorrow. You should leave just like every other student.”

She pulled on his wrist and led him outdoors to the part of the garden where they had lit a fire. It was a bit chilly when they stepped out, but being close to him, she didn’t feel cold at all. Her awareness was growing again, and she needed a distraction.

She laughed. “I wanted to tell you something,” she said. “I heard two women discussing about you. They think you are a prince.”

Mihir smiled. “I’m not a prince.”

“I know! But they had some elaborate background for you. They said you belonged to a Thakvar family, who apparently lives in a four-hundred-year-old mansion in an oil-rich desert named Singoor.”

She laughed at the ridiculous assumption.

Mihir looked at her for a moment. “I am from Singoor, Chitra.”

She was confused and somewhat shocked. “What?”

Mihir stepped closer to her. “I belong to Thakvar clan. My family home was built by my ancestors five hundred years ago.”

She was shocked, but something else crossed her mind. Mihir often joked with a straight face.

She started laughing. “Stop joking. I almost believed you. You know, I made up stories of having a family when I was little.”

“Chitra, I’m not joking.” He paused for a moment. “I have an older brother and sister too. Their names are Madhav and Nandini Thakvar.”

She watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He showed her a photo. “This is them.”

She was stunned to see a family photo. Mihir was standing with a man and a woman. And all of them were dressed in royal, traditional attire with headgear and swords.

“I-is this at a photo studio?” She knew there were photo studios where people could dress up and take pictures.

“No. It’s at the Thakvar mansion. My home.”

Chitra was too stunned as she tried to process what she was hearing.

“You-you are not an orphan?”

“No. I wanted to tell you before but…”

Her head started to reel. “You lied to me?” She let go of his wrist.

“Chitra, I—” He reached out to take her hand, but she pulled it away. “I know you mistook me for someone else. Someone from the ISKCON temple in India who was supposed to come here as a student. But—"

“Don’t!” She whispered, shocked that he wasn’t who she thought he was.

“When were you planning to tell me if you were even thinking of being truthful.” She felt betrayed, especially because she had opened up to him.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you–”

She was so furious; she didn’t let him finish. “I was just a joke to you? Were you amused letting me think you are an orphan like me?”

“No. That’s not the reason.”

“What else would it be?” Her chest felt tight, and she started to walk away.

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