CHAPTER 25
MAAHI
The day is finally here! When I wake up the next morning, Vikram is not in the room. Panic strikes as I realize I'm late—it's already 10:00 am, and I'm still in bed. I quickly shower and head downstairs, only to be greeted by my mother-in-law's taunts.
“There she is. Glad she didn’t wake up after we left.”
Everyone is downstairs except Vikram. I don’t see him anywhere. I pull the dupatta around my neck and quickly take Daadi’s blessings, my usual routine.
“Sorry, I woke up late,” I whisper.
“It’s okay. Vikram told us you both came late last night and that he didn’t wake you up because you were very tired.”
Oh, I like it when Vikram covers for me.
“Where is he?” I ask.
“He's on calls outside,” Meera aunty answers. “Anyway, you better take care of things here and come back to the USA with Maa. Don’t expect Vikram to return and pick you both up. He has a lot to handle at work.”
I curb the urge to roll my eyes at her but when Vanraj Singh Grover enters the room, my anger simmers. I still can't believe he was going to use all his political power to stop me from owning Devki Estate. And our legal fight is still ongoing.
“All set to leave?” he asks his wife, who nods happily.
“Can’t wait to get home. Nothing feels like home,” she replies.
Daadi sighs in disappointment, and I stroke her back.
“Sorry Maa, I have to leave this time too. But I will come back soon. When you and Maahi are ready to fly to the US, let me know. I will personally come to pick you both.”
I glance at Meera aunty, who looks offended by her husband’s statement.
“We don’t want anyone to come here again if that’s a problem. Me and Maahi will manage,” Daadi curtly replies. “Just reach safely and stay happy.”
She blesses her son and daughter-in-law. Vikram is still nowhere to be seen. Vanraj uncle comes to me and smiles.
“Whatever happened between us, I am extremely sorry, Maahi. I didn’t know my son was so serious about you.”
I don’t react.
“I am taking the case back. I don’t think it's necessary now. My lawyer will contact you.”
I don't say a word. He thinks now that I am married to his son, I will let Vikram handle the estate, which is not true.
“The car is ready,” Vikram's voice breaks my focus from his father, and I finally see him. He is dressed casually today in blue jeans and a black T-shirt. Our eyes meet, and the memory of last night's kiss flashes in my mind. Our first mutual kiss. I excuse myself and walk over to him, not knowing what to say. Goodbyes are always heartbreaking, but didn’t I always want this man to leave? Now that he is my husband, my thoughts have changed.
“The bed is all yours now,” he says with a gentle smirk.
“I don’t like your bed.”
“You do,” he cuts in. “Daadi told me how much you have loved that bed since your childhood.”
Yes, I have. That bed is something special. I always thought it would give me the best sleep, and it hasn’t disappointed me yet.
“My people will visit Devki Estate next week. Don’t stop them.”
Just when I thought he wasn’t as bad as I imagined, he drops this bombshell.
“Who are these people? Why are they coming? What is going on, Vikram?”
I would have kept asking more if he hadn’t touched my lips. His fingers graze my bottom lip, where it still aches from last night’s kiss. There’s a bruise on my lower lip where he bit me last night in passion, when we kissed at Leela Mahal.
“Put something on this. It should be alright,” he says.
His hoarse voice makes me believe he wants to kiss me again, but I am not going to let him, even if he asks. But he surprises me by going to Daadi instead and taking her blessings. They speak for a few minutes, and he kisses her forehead, promising to see her soon and asking her to look after herself. Soon, the cars leave for the private airport where the Grover’s jet is waiting for them to board.
*****************
It’s been a week since the Grover family left me and Daadi alone, and we already miss them. Daadi misses her son's presence, her daughter-in-law's tantrums, and her grandson's love and concern. I miss my cold fights with my father-in-law, heated arguments with my mother-in-law, and intense moments with that Prince Pompous. Spending time in my boutique, designing clothes has always been my passion, but now I am even more determined to expand it. Daadi thinks I should consider expanding abroad, starting with the US, where my husband and his family reside. I am going to give it some thought, but settling there permanently is not on my list anytime soon.
Vikram and I have exchanged a few messages this week, where I have grilled him about the people coming to Devki Estate. But he has cleverly diverted my queries. Daadi mentioned he is very busy at the office, handling a major client who is throwing tantrums. I check my watch. I haven’t called him since he left. Since those people are coming to Devki Estate tomorrow, I decide to speak to him once and for all. I dial his mobile, but it's switched off, so I try the other US number he gave me, hoping he will pick up.
I tap my feet restlessly, waiting for someone from Grover Group to answer.
“Hello, this is Ajay from Grover Group. How may I help you?”
Ajay? I try to recall Vikram mentioning this guy who is also his personal assistant.
“I need to speak to Prince Pompou—”
“Prince?” Ajay interrupts. “I think you dialed the wrong number, Ma’am. This is Grover Group office not London palace,” he jokes.
I roll my eyes, realizing my mistake but appreciating Ajay’s humor.
“I meant patch me through to Vikram Singh Grover, please.”
“Oh. Boss is busy in a meeting.”
I frown. I thought Vikram would be easily accessible on this number if not on his cell phone.
“Can you please ask him to call me back once he is free?”
“Sure. Who should I say called?”
“Maahi.”
There is silence for a few seconds, making me think the line is dead.
“Hello? Ajay? Are you there?”
“I am. Sorry. Are you Mrs. Maahi Singh Grover?”
“That’s right,” I say, biting my lip, still getting used to this new name.
“Just hang on.”
In almost 10 seconds, I hear his voice. Vikram’s voice.
“What is it, Cub?”
I am startled by his brusqueness.
“You seem to be busy.”
“I am in a meeting. Hurry up.”
“Fine. Bye.”
I disconnect and put my phone away. Why did he give me this backup number if he had no time for me? The next moment, my phone rings again. It’s him. I answer.
“Don’t you ever hang up on me,” Vikram snaps.
“Are you in a meeting or not?”
“I was. Now I am dealing with you.”
A sense of relief floods through me. No matter how busy he is, he will still make time for me? Not bad! But then I recall something else and decide to check on that first.
“Yesterday, I called on your mobile. Some woman picked up.”
“A woman? Must be Mom.”
“No, it wasn’t your mother. I know her voice. She sounded younger.”
“Maybe it was Sabrina then.”
Sabrina? I have no clue who that is.
“When I asked her to pass the phone to you, she said it was the wrong number and disconnected the call.”
Yes, she did that to my face, and I was about to do something about it if my client hadn't called and I got busy.
“Sabrina might have played a prank,” Vikram chuckles.
“Prank? A wife wanted to speak to her husband, and she disconnected the line. That’s a prank to you?” I shout.
“Wife?” The way he says that word makes my stomach flutter.
“Who is Sabrina, Vikram?”
“I had a small history with her.”
His reply doesn’t shock me. I don’t think he was sane until he met me and married.
“History? Which you never told me about.”
“Let the past be in the past. You are my future, Mrs. Maahi Singh Grover.”
Damn. I am diverting from the main subject again. I need to talk to him about Devki Estate first!
“Things don’t go well when the past meets the future. I hope you realize this and ask your friend Sabrina never to disconnect my call again, especially when I’m desperate to speak to my husband,” I rebuke.
After a long silence, I hear him gasp. “You were desperate for me?”
“Yes, I was,” I admit, but I don’t let him savor that truth. “I was desperate to speak to you. To know who is coming to Devki Estate tomorrow and why? You left without mentioning that to me.”
Another long silence.
“Devki Estate is as much mine as it is yours,” he replies. “Did I ever ask you who you bring there and why?”
“No, you didn’t, but—”
“That’s it then. I think you got your reply, Cub,” he interrupts. “Is there anything else you wish to speak to your husband besides Devki Estate?”
Now he’s pissing me off.
“Nope,” I snap. “If you don’t want to speak about Devki Estate matters to me, I don’t want to speak to you either.”
“Perfect,” he sighs. “Saves my time. Got to go, Cub. Bye.”
And that’s it. The call disconnects. I stare blankly at my cellphone before dropping it back on the desk. I hadn’t expected Vikram to be so cold. He’s sending people to Devki Estate tomorrow, and I don’t know why, but that’s fine. I’ll handle it myself. If he thinks I’ll never find out what he’s plotting behind my back, he’s wrong. I’m the one who saved this estate and worked for its benefit all these years. I won’t let it all go to waste.
I’m about to make a few calls when a message beeps on my phone. It’s from Shyam Trivedi, and its contents are sure to keep me intrigued.