Page 8 of Right Where I Belong
Handing his whiskey glass to a passing server, he said, “I have to go, Sabrina. I’ll see you around.”
Sabrina spotted Kanika approaching and said, “Go, I’ll distract her till you make your escape.”
His lips curved. She clearly didn’t miss a thing. It was very sweet of her to help him.
With a quick nod, he began to walk away. At the exit, he turned and found Sabrina talking to Kanika. From the side, some of the staff were wheeling in a three-tier cake. Soham arrived and put his arm around Kanika, just as Sabrina backed away, disappearing into the crowd.
He sat in his car, feeling utterly relieved for the first time in months. Kanika no longer held space in his life. Tonight had genuinely been about closure.
And now, it was time to move on. Hopefully to something better…
3
Kanika Mehta
I can’t forget you.
Call me.
Aditya, please…
Aditya woke up to a string of desperate messages from Kanika. His lips curled in disgust. She was engaged to another man, and yet here she was, still pursuing him. He quickly typed out a reply.
You and I are done, Kanika. Stop messaging me.
Almost immediately, more messages popped up in the same pleading, cloying tone. Irritation spiked hot in his chest. Without another thought, he blocked her number. He was so done with her manipulative behavior.
The only reason he’d attended her engagement party was to show her that he didn’t care in the least that she was getting married to someone else. He’d hoped to close the door on herchapter in his life, and he had. But Kanika clearly wasn’t ready to let go. She was happy stringing Soham along while trying to get back with Aditya.
His mood sour, he got out of bed to begin his day. Half an hour later, he wandered down his house feeling restless, his thoughts tangled and his mood somber thanks to Kanika. It annoyed him that he was allowing her to affect him as such.
Last night, she had shown him a side of herself that he’d never had a chance to witness while he was dating her. Her texts this morning had further displayed her spoilt, entitled behavior. He’d always prided himself on being smart, sharp, and careful. Hence, it irked him to no end that he hadn’t figured out how toxic and calculating she truly was.
Taking a deep breath, he moved toward the solarium where his mother was waiting for him for breakfast. She’d specifically asked him to join her this morning, which most certainly meant that she’d heard of his attendance at Kanika’s engagement bash. He could have avoided her summons, made an excuse of work, but there was no point. He’d made his bed and now he had to lie in it.
A restless energy buzzed through him. In the past, he’d channelized all that into his work, partying, and women. But now, he knew it in his bones that all that wouldn’t suffice any more. He needed something more… But what?
Exhaling, he shook his head.
He stopped at the threshold of the solarium, breathing in the fresh air. Truly, this was the best place in his house. Lined with glass walls on three sides and a sloping glass roof, with plants dotted everywhere and the scent of roses in the air, it truly was a peaceful sanctuary nestled in the heart of his home in Mumbai. He remembered so many breakfasts eaten here, so many conversations he’d had with his mother.
His mom was seated at the dining table at the front that overlooked the gardens, sipping tea while talking on her phone. She was dressed in her work attire: formal beige trousers and a full sleeved, cream, silk shirt with a large knot under her chin. Her hair was pulled up at her nape, and her makeup was perfect.
Despite being in her late fifties, his mom, Mamta Wahi, looked at least a decade younger. She still sat on the board of their family business, Gemini Group of Companies. They were pioneers in hair care, skin care, healthy foods, and edible oils in India. The company had been founded by his late grandfather more than five decades ago. It had been doing very well until Aditya’s father had taken over. The business had seen a huge downfall during his tenure, and after his untimely death, the responsibility had fallen on Mamta’s shoulders. His father had run up several debts, and his mother had faced severe criticism for leading a failing group. It had taken time, but she had turned the around business completely. Thanks to her, they’d become the multibillion-dollar corporation they are today. He’d worked in her wings since he was sixteen. This business was in his blood and his legacy to pass on to future generations. Quite unexpectedly, on his twenty-eighth birthday, his mother had handed over the reins to him, citing that she was convinced he was as ready to take over as he’d ever be.
Aditya had led the company to even greater heights. Their turnover had doubled, and they now had a strong corporate presence in Dubai and Singapore as well, apart from Mumbai. He often shuttled between the cities, working from each for long stretches of time.
Sensing his presence, his mother looked up and beckoned him to join her. Sighing, he moved closer. She raised her cheek and he gave her a quick peck as she continued to instruct someone over the phone.
A staff member placed a cup of coffee in front of him, along with a plate of scrambled eggs and avocado on sourdough toast. He’d just started on his breakfast when his mother ended her call and looked at him.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully.
He made a face. “You sound extra chirpy his morning.”
“And why is that a bad thing?”
“Because I can hear the ‘I told you so’ in your tone, and I’m not in the mood for it.”
