Page 28 of Twisted Deceit
“Yes,” she whispered, adding, “I’m so happy you and your husband consummated your marriage.”
What the heck!
“What? Who told you?”
The older woman was all smiles. “I was sure it would happen if we kept you clothless, but I still had my doubts, but now, we have proof that you and your husband are one.”
“What? Who told you?” she repeated. She didn’t know how the older woman was so sure. And what proof was she referring to?”
“The cleaning staff saw the mark on the sheets.” Meenabai chuckled.
Aadhya was confused for a second before realizing the older woman was referring to a virgin stain. There was no way it was blood, it had to be a sauce or jam from the food she ate in bed. Whatever it was, it didn’t matter, she felt like the pressure lifted off her. At least Meenabai won’t pull off a de-clothing stunt again. She walked silently down the stairs toward the main dining area.
“I want to meet your mother again when she is born as your child.” Meenabai was emotional.
Aadhya felt a tug in her chest. Guilt and sadness pulled from either side when she realized she was lying to people she cared for. “Nani, stop being so sad.”
Meenabai wiped her eyes. “I’m delighted today.”
“Good, and I’m hungry. What’s special today?” Aadhya was glad there was no major ceremony for consummating her marriage, that too a fake one. Well, on Singoor land, it was real, and there was no way she could annul it.
“All your favorites.” Meenabai nudged her to look toward the room with its glass doors shut. Aadhya could see Nakul and her uncle in a deep conversation. “Go get your husband, and you can all eat.”
“What are they talking about?” Aadhya found the combination of people having a conversation weird. She was surprised her aunt was not in the room talking to them. “Go, Aadhya, the food will go cold. They have been in there for over an hour.”
“Okay.” Aadhya could not figure out what it was her fake husband was talking to her aunt’s husband and the region manager about for such a long time. She walked to the double doors and paused when she picked up on an assertive voice.
Her eyes fell on Nakul as he looked at the man sitting across from him, a cold expression on his face. She then looked at her uncle and saw the older man seated hunched. He looked defeated, and she did not like the looks of it.
She turned the handle and pushed the door ever so lightly. “I do not care, Sir. I need your men to report every one of the transactions to me. I need to know where the money is spent, and I get to decide where it is spent going forward. Are we in agreement?” She froze when she heard the harsh words.
The older man did not respond immediately. “Yes, Thakvar.” The way Mr. Sirvi spoke, her heart twisted in pain for the man loyal to her family for so long. She closed the door and stepped away, unable to listen to the conversation further. Why was he being mean to her uncle’s man? That too in front of him.
How dare he illtreat a man who deserved nothing but respect for everything he had done for her family?
*****
Later that evening, she walked close to him toward a private terminal at the international airport in the city. From the time she woke up, the entire day was a blur and a mad rush to pack without knowing where she was going. She did not see her husband all day until it was an hour before it was time to leave and he showed up in a helicopter.
She had been angry about how he spoke to Mr. Sirvi in the presence of her uncle but did not get a chance to confront him. She wanted to tell him that he didn’t get to talk to anyone that way. It aggravated her annoyance when she didn’t get a chance to talk to him even after he returned from being away all day.
What was he doing anyway, being way all day?
She looked up when they stepped out of the terminal, and a soft gasp escaped her. Her eyes fell on a small plane and her eyes fell on the logo that looked like the traditional Thakvar insignia. She felt excitement brew inside her, but she was still salty from what she witnessed that morning.
Aadhya ascended the steps to the plane ahead of him and smiled as the crew welcomed her and her husband. She followed the stewardess to the back of the plane. The woman pushed a door open and said, “We have thirty minutes before we take off. Please relax, and I will bring you a refresher drink.”
“Thank you.” Aadhya smiled, walked past the door, and stopped short. She forgot she was on a plane for a moment when she saw the modern bedroom with a seating area set up to one side. She heard him step into the room a moment later and shut the door softly.
Unable to bear another second of the anger, she turned to look at him. “Why were you so mean to my uncle and his trusted man, today?”
He didn’t respond. Instead, he walked over to where the two chairs were set and placed his computer bag on the table between the two chairs. She waited a few moments, expecting him to say something, but he did not.
“I heard a part of your conversation, and I’d appreciate it, if you didn’t speak to anyone the way you did this morning. My uncle has been helping Rajji with everything since the time my father passed away.”
He scanned her face with a slow gaze. “I’m aware.” He settled into one of the chairs and held her gaze.
Something about how he said those words or how he looked at her, she wanted to reach out and strike his sexy face, but she held back. She was angry but was furious that he was instigating her to the point where she had somewhat aggressive thoughts about getting back at him.
