Chapter 17
KAVYA
"You’re back," Mr. Chauhan said, greeting me with that warm smile he always wore. But I knew what ran beneath his fatherly act. All this time he had pretended to be good, yet now he had become a mystery to me. "I’ve been waiting for you since this afternoon. Of course, I won’t ask where you’ve been.
You know I’m not like other fathers-in-law who are grumpy and strict. "
"I need to talk to you," I blurted out, my heartbeat rising in my chest.
"Yes, we’ll talk, but not now," he gestured toward the guest room. "First, we have to sort out very important work." He led me there and opened the door.
Inside stood a stylish woman surrounded by racks of designer clothes. "I told you about my daughter-in-law. Now she’s here, you need to..." He glanced at his watch briefly before continuing, "...make her ready by seven this evening."
I looked between Mr. Chauhan and the woman, confused.
"Okay, sir," she replied.
"What’s happening, Mr. Chauhan?" I asked, frustration slipping out. I regretted it instantly when I saw a brief hurt flicker in his eyes. "I’m sorry..."
"What did you just call me?" he asked calmly, stepping closer.
"Um... I..." I lowered my gaze, unable to find the right words.
I was startled when he softly caressed my hair, the way a father might.
"I’ve always wanted a daughter, but God never listened to me.
I was delighted when Saurav brought you into our lives, but it hurts when you call me by my last name instead of father.
I’d be grateful if you called me Dad." He smiled warmly.
"Lizzy will help you get ready for tonight’s party.
" He glanced at Lizzy one last time, nodded, and left away as I watched him walk away, leaving me confused and curious.
"Hey, I’m Lizzy, your stylist for today," the woman said, snapping my attention back to her. A big pair of glasses sat on her nose, her lashes so long they brushed her cheekbones. She wore a crop top with denim shorts. Judging by her whole vibe, she looked in her early thirties.
An hour later, we were arguing over the dress she insisted I wear.
She had stuffed me into a tight red dress that felt like tape wrapped around my body.
I was extremely uncomfortable, but according to Lizzy, it was the only dress that looked perfect on me.
It enhanced my curves and softened my features.
I tugged at the neckline, embarrassed by how large my chest looked in it.
Oh God, was Mr. Chauhan planning to take me to a strip club? Was he planning to sell me off to earn money? If he could ask Abhiraj to assault me at the party, surely he could stoop this low. I scolded myself instantly for overthinking. No, he wouldn’t. He would never do that.
After dabbing something on my face, Lizzy stepped back with satisfaction. "Now, check yourself in the mirror," she grinned, flashing her perfect yellow teeth.
I stumbled toward the mirror in my painfully high heels.
Lizzy had straightened my hair and done natural makeup with smoky eyes.
My cleavage made me wince, it had never looked this pronounced.
The dress cinched my waist tightly, and when I twirled, my butt looked. .. well, no less than an adult star’s.
"How did you get this mark on your back?" Lizzy asked, pointing at the exposed red mark.
"I just fell," I muttered.
"I’ll recommend a cream. It works quickly."
"Sure."
"You look gorgeous, by the way," Lizzy complimented.
"I don’t think I..." Before I could finish...
"Wow!" Mr. Chauhan’s voice startled me. I instantly folded my arms over my chest. "You look absolutely stunning, Kav."
"Thank you..." I hesitated before adding, "...Dad."
"Come on, let me accompany you on your date," he said, holding out his hand. I stared at him in confusion. "I arranged a date with Saurav. He’s leaving in a couple of days, so I want you to spend as much time together as possible."
"But he—"
"No buts," he cut me off, refusing to listen. He held my hand and dragged me through the hallway until we walked out of the villa. The gatekeeper handed him keys, and soon he was driving us somewhere I couldn’t guess. "Saurav might not show, but he’s a lonely child, Kav. He’s been that way since his mother left us.
I just want to bring back his happiness, and I see enough potential in you to give him the life he’s missed all these years.
That’s why I’m interfering in your relationship.
I apologize if you find it inconvenient, but. .."
"No, I’m perfectly fine with it," I interrupted, forcing an assuring smile.
After fifteen minutes, he parked in front of a beautiful garden decorated with red twinkling lights and flowers of every kind.
"He’s waiting for you," he said.
"Is he really...?" I asked nervously. He only smiled.
"He’s yours now. You have to deal with him. Go on," he opened the door for me, "I have a meeting in fifteen minutes."
I sighed, stepped out of the car, and waved him a quick ta-ta.
My eyes lingered on the garden again, wincing as the tight dress bit into me.
Tugging it up, I headed toward the entrance.
The place was eerily empty as there were no guards, no one at all.
The night was dark, the chilly wind howling like a ghost.
After a few steps, I spotted him. Saurav sat at a small round table, sipping wine while scrolling through his phone.
When he heard me approaching, he muttered, "This is not what I expected, Tanya..."
My breath caught sharply at the sound of her name. His eyes paused on my heels, then slowly traveled upward, tracing my body. I shrank under his intense gaze. Finally, his eyes met mine, and I held my breath, bracing for him to explode.
His jaw clenched as he stood, anger flashing across his face. He squeezed his phone in his hand like it was my neck. "What the hell are you doing here?"
I didn’t even know. I wanted to scream at him, but instead I forced out, "Wow, such a warm welcome.
Do you greet everyone like this, or am I just special?
" My smile was tight as I stepped closer.
God, he was so tall even with four-inch heels, my head barely reached his neck.
Or am I too short? "Am I not looking sexy today? "
"Kavya..." He grasped my wrist, pulling it away from his chest. "Get off me!"
"So you’re fine hanging out with your exes, but uncomfortable with your wife? Why’s that?" I held his gaze, but all I found was cold ice.
"Because you’re not like others," he snapped, shoving me back. "And what the hell are you wearing? Are you out of your mind?"
His eyes swept over me again. Then, without another word, he removed his jacket and offered it.
"No thanks. I'm fine."
"Fine?" His eyebrow arched, his gaze sweeping over me like he couldn’t decide whether to be annoyed or concerned. "You look like you’re about to freeze or...."
Before he could finish, my phone slipped from my hand. "Oh!" I gasped, bending down instinctively to grab it.
And then...
Rrrrrripppp.
The sound was loud. Obnoxiously loud. The kind of sound that didn’t just happen but it announced itself to the world.
I froze.
For a second, I prayed it came from somewhere else. Maybe the chair was scraped. Maybe the tablecloth tore. Maybe... please God... not me.
Then the cold air hit my butt. My eyes widened as horror crawled up my spine.
No.
No, no, no.
No.
I straightened stiffly, my movements robotic, my face draining of color as realization slammed into me.
My dress. Had. Just. Ripped. From the hips.
And not a tiny, discreet tear. No. This was betrayal at its peak. A full-blown, dramatic, 'I-give-up-on-life' kind of rip.
For two seconds, silence.
And then...
Saurav burst out laughing. Not a chuckle. Not a smirk. He laughed out loud. Head tilted back, shoulders shaking, hand covering his mouth as if he was trying and failing miserably to stop himself.
"Oh my God..." he managed between breaths, pointing at me, "...what was that?"
I stared at him, utterly offended, my face burning with humiliation. "Don’t you dare laugh!" I snapped, trying to cover the back of my dress with my hands while clinging to whatever dignity I had left which wasn’t much.
But he only laughed harder. "What was that, Kavya?"
"This is not funny!" I hissed, mortified. "I can feel the entire night breeze greeting me personally!"
That only made it worse. He turned slightly away, pressing his lips together, but the laughter kept slipping out.
"Stop it!" I stomped my foot, instantly regretting it when I felt the fabric threaten to give up even more.
"Oh, relax," he said finally, exhaling as he tried to compose himself, though his eyes still danced with amusement. "At least now I know why you were walking like a robot."
I glared. "I was walking like a lady."
"You were walking like your dress was holding your life hostage."
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it again because... unfortunately, he wasn’t entirely wrong.
"Just... don’t turn around," I muttered, clutching the front of my dress and pressing myself against a nearby table for coverage.
"Trust me," he said dryly, folding his arms, "I’ve already seen enough."
My face burned hotter. "God, I hate you."
"Seriously?" he smirked. "You came all the way here dressed like this for someone you hate?"
I glared again but couldn’t respond. He sighed then, the amusement in his eyes softening just a little. Without another word, he shrugged off his jacket again and this time not offering it. He simply walked forward and wrapped it around my waist, tying it securely.
"There," he said. “Problem solved.”
I blinked, caught off guard.
"Now," he added, stepping back, his expression returning to that usual mix of irritation and something I couldn’t quite place, “try not to destroy any more clothes tonight.”
"How about destroying your clothes?" I teased.
For a brief moment, his lips twitched. And I saw the old Saurav again.
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