CHAPTER III GULA
The moment Ishaani stepped through the door of the apartment, the energy shifted from quiet tension to pure, chaotic delight. No one had been expecting the impromptu visit, and hence the sudden pandemonium that occurred.
Tara was on her in seconds.
Before Ishaani could even open her mouth, Tara's slender fingers caught her ear and twisted it with precise, playful vengeance — firm enough to make Ishaani yelp and rise onto her toes, but gentle enough to stay firmly in the realm of affectionate punishment.
"Ow— Tara! That hurts!"
"You absolute menace," Tara said, voice dripping with fond exasperation as she kept the twist going, eyes sparkling with wicked amusement. " 'Fuck you, Ms. Kapoor'? The audacity of you, Bambi."
Ishaani squirmed, half-laughing, half-wincing. "It slipped out! I swear!"
Devika stood near the kitchen archway, arms crossed, trying (and failing) to look stern. "You called us freeloaders. To his face. I should twist the other ear just because you were trying to improvise like an idiot ."
Vedika was already grinning like a shark. "And you called Tara a lesbo cougar who came after you. I nearly choked on my own tongue."
Ishicka lounged on the velvet sofa with her wine, smirking like a satisfied cat. "Smooth delivery on the 'Ms. Kapoor,' though. Even I felt that one, and I'm not even Kapoor."
Nayonica clapped her hands together, beaming. "My apartment has never hosted better entertainment. I should be thanking you for this, but this is clearly not the time."
Tara finally released Ishaani's ear but immediately pulled her into a tight, possessive hug, arms wrapping around her smaller frame as she might disappear.
She pressed a kiss to the top of Ishaani's head, murmuring against her hair with that signature mix of affection and threat.
The others simply stared at the couple, smiling slightly because Tara Kapoor had finally found someone to love at last. Vedika, now that faced with the reality of the lovers, could no longer frown upon the age gap or the maturity gap because Ishaani looked and felt loved. ...so, who was she to intervene?
"You were incredible tonight," Tara whispered. "Terrifyingly good. But if you ever call me a cougar again, I will make sure the only thing you're allowed to say for the next week is 'Please, Ms. Kapoor.'" Tara looked around once and smiled upon knowing no one else heard her ministration.
Ishaani melted into the hug, burying her face in Tara's chest with a soft, happy sigh. "Worth it."
Nayonica popped up from behind the couch like a jack-in-the-box. "Can we keep the new car? It's sexy as hell."
Ishicka immediately bonked her sister on the head. "No stealing cars from the enemy, idiot. You already have a Camaro."
Ishaani laughed — light, tired, but genuine — the sound bubbling up and filling the maroon-and-gold space like sunlight breaking through clouds. For the first time in what felt like forever, the group felt like family again: messy, protective, chaotic, and fiercely loving.
Tara tilted Ishaani's chin up, eyes soft but still sparkling with teasing menace.
"Next time, behave, Bambi." Ishaani was about to cut her off, when Tara kept a finger on Ishaani's lips, shutting her up, "Even when you are improvising."
Ishaani blushed bright red, hiding her face again.
The apartment filled with warm, whimsical laughter — the kind that came after surviving something brutal and coming out the other side still holding each other's hands.
The long con was working.
The night had deepened into a velvet quiet by the time Ishaani slipped back into the Rajvanshi mansion.
The grand hallways were dimly lit, shadows stretching long across marble floors like watchful ghosts.
Rajeev's office door was slightly ajar, golden light spilling out into the corridor like an invitation laced with danger.
In her ear, Tara's voice was low, steady, and commanding.
"The blue folder on the right side of his desk. Third drawer down in the filing cabinet. Password for the laptop is 'Legacy2023'. Be quick, Bambi. And be careful."
Ishaani's heart hammered against her ribs as she pushed the door open. She wasn't sure how much trust her father had vested in her, but she was willing to give it a try either way, because her mastermind girlfriend would simply come up with something sharper.
Perks of dating a smart and mature person, I guess. Ishaani chuckled at her inner thoughts, knowing she had to try her utmost hardest to match Tara's brilliance in one way or the other.
Rajeev looked up from his desk, silver hair catching the lamplight. For a moment, his expression tightened, but it softened when he saw her. The way a candle flickers upon exposure to wind, something involuntary and permanent.
"Ishi? Still awake?"
She stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her, the perfect image of a dutiful daughter seeking her father's company.
"Mumma is being very nosy tonight," Ishaani said, voice quiet and slightly exasperated, exactly the tone he liked — respectful but confiding.
"She keeps asking questions about the party, about the boys you introduced me to.
" Ishaani let her eyes linger on the desk, looking for the blue folder, whilst keeping her father under the impression of being shown respect.
"I don't like talking so much. Can I sit and study here with you, Dadda? It's quieter."
Rajeev studied her for a long second, then nodded, a small, pleased smile curving his lips.
"Of course, beta. Come. This is how it should be — father and child, working in silence.
No unnecessary chatter." He said, sipping on the coffee kept on his desk, "Solitude is the only way of brilliant work. "
Ishaani settled into the leather chair across from him, pulling out her course book and notebook. The Bluetooth earpiece felt like a live wire against her skin.
Tara's voice was calm but edged with tension. "Good Ishi. Stay natural. Vedika, you're recording everything?"
Vedika, leaning over her laptop, nodded. "Clear as day. Keep going, Ishi."
For twenty minutes, the office was almost peaceful. The only sounds were the scratch of Rajeev's pen, the occasional turn of Ishaani's pages, and the distant hum of the air conditioner. Rajeev seemed content, occasionally glancing at his daughter with quiet approval.
But Ishaani's nerves were screaming.
She waited for the right moment.
When Rajeev stood up to pour himself a drink from the crystal decanter on the side table, she moved.
Her hand slipped toward the third drawer of the filing cabinet while pretending to reach for a pen that had "fallen" under the desk. The drawer opened with a soft click. Her fingers found the blue folder.
Rajeev turned around and walked back to his seat, just as Ishaani had inserted the device. He sat down again, sipping his whiskey, completely unaware.
Tara: "You're doing so well, baby. Just a little longer. I'm so proud of you."
Ishicka's amused drawl: "She's a natural little thief. I'm impressed."
Vedika looked over at Ishicka and narrowed her eyes, "That's not even a legitimate compliment. Shut up."
---
Rajeev flipped a page in his file, humming softly to himself. She held her breath as she clutched the blue folder in her lap, hidden behind the big desk.
Rajeev looked up. "Everything alright, beta?"
Ishaani smiled sweetly, closing her laptop. "Yes, Dadda. Just finished some notes. Thank you for letting me sit with you."
He nodded, pleased. "Good, beta. Be alert and smart."
Ishaani stood, clutching her books to her chest, the stolen folder and her hands burning like contraband against her skin.
As she walked toward the door, Tara's voice returned — soft, warm, and full of fierce pride.
"You did it, Bambi. You beautiful, brilliant girl. Come home soon. I'm waiting for you."
Ishaani allowed herself one small, secret smile as she stepped into the hallway.
The files were secured.
The night had folded itself into a fragile quiet by the time Ishaani slipped back into her room at the Rajvanshi mansion.
The space was nothing short of breathtaking — a sprawling suite that felt more like a private wing than a bedroom.
High ceilings with delicate gold moulding, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the manicured gardens, a king-sized bed draped in the softest Egyptian cotton, and custom bookshelves filled with first editions and trophies from her boxing days.
Rajeev had designed it this way, as if trying to compensate for the daughter he secretly wished had been born a son.
Ishaani closed the door softly behind her and leaned against it for a moment, exhaling.
In her ear, Tara's voice was gentle. "You did so well tonight, Bambi. I'm so proud of you."
Ishaani smiled tiredly, a method actor to the core. "I'm sleepy, Tara. Really sleepy. I'm going to bed now."
There was a small pause on the other end. Tara sounded slightly taken aback, as if she had expected more — a longer debrief, a moment of vulnerability, something. She had expected a sort of loving monologue, but the sudden wanting to end the conversation had hit her square in the chest.
"Alright," Tara said softly. "Sleep well, my brave girl. I'll be here when you wake up."
Ishaani ended the call, pulled out the earring with the earpiece, and set it carefully on her nightstand.
Her eyes landed on the framed photograph on her study table.
It was from a few days after Diwali last year — one of the rare, quiet moments they had managed to steal.
In the picture, Tara had her arm wrapped around Ishaani's neck in a playful pretend chokehold, laughing with that rare, unguarded brightness.
Ishaani's hand was behind her own back, hesitant, not wanting to startle Tara, who back then still flinched at unexpected touch.
Ishaani picked up the frame, tracing her finger over Tara's smiling face.
She carried it to bed, slipped under the covers, and placed the photo on the pillow beside her, facing her. She curled around it like it was Tara herself — arm draped gently over the frame, breathing in the faint memory of bergamot and smoked vanilla that still clung to the edges of her mind.
"Goodnight, my star," she whispered, and sleep came slowly, but it came.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The next morning, at 5:00 AM sharp, a firm knock woke her.
"Ishaani," Rajeev's voice called from outside the door. "Time for a run. Get up, beta. We'll talk while we move."
Ishaani groaned internally, wanting to sleep again, but replied brightly, "Yes, Dadda. Coming."
She quickly sent a message to the group chat — BLAIR-BASS:
She changed into running gear, brushed her teeth, and met Rajeev downstairs.
The run started at a steady pace through the manicured pathways of their gated colony. Rajeev, still in excellent shape for his age, set a brisk rhythm. He had been going for walks and runs, ever since Ishaani could remember, and had taken measures to stay in shape.
"So, tell me about your academics," he began, voice steady as they ran. "How are your grades? Any thoughts on the student exchange programme next semester?"
Ishaani matched his pace, breathing evenly. "Grades are excellent, Papa. Top of my class in literature and history. The exchange programme... I'm considering Princeton or Oxford. Whichever gives me better exposure to international business law."
Rajeev nodded approvingly. "Good. And future plans? After university, what do you see yourself doing?"
"I want to build something strong," Ishaani replied, keeping her voice measured and ambitious. "Something that lasts. Maybe help expand the family business... but only if I'm ready. I don't want to rush."
Rajeev's smile widened. "And marriage? You'll need a strong husband who understands the family legacy. Someone traditional. Someone who knows how to support a woman like you."
Ishaani's stomach twisted, wanting to puke at the thought of a husband altogether, but she kept her face neutral. "Of course, Papa. I understand."
Tara's voice was soft but amused. "Good Morning, Bambi" The British lilt turned everything into a fever dream all over again, continuing, "You're doing perfectly, Bambi. Keep breathing. You're not gonna get married to a man."
Vedika muttered, "If he says 'strong husband' one more time, I'm throwing my laptop out the window."
They turned a corner, heading toward the outer loop of the colony — the path that ran right past Manara Residency, Nayonica's apartment complex.
Ishaani's eyes flicked up instinctively.
On a second-floor balcony, she spotted them — Tara and Vedika standing together, coffee mugs in hand, watching the road. Tara's gaze locked on her immediately, a small, secret smile tugging at her lips. Vedika raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
In the earpiece:
Tara chuckled softly. "Look at you waddling, Bambi. Have you never run a day in your life?"
Vedika joined in, teasing. "Straighten up, soldier. You're supposed to be the athletic one. Right now, you look like a baby giraffe learning to walk."
Ishaani didn't smile. Didn't react. She simply adjusted her posture and picked up her pace, running with proper form — strong, steady, focused.
Tara's voice warmed with pride. "That's my Bambi."
They finished the run and returned to the mansion. Rajeev took off to get ready for his day, leaving Ishaani to freshen up again.
As she entered the dining room, Rajeev's voice suddenly sharpened as Ishaani opened the fridge to look for juice.
"Sneha!" he called out, tone laced with irritation. "Where are you? I told you to have my files ready."
Sneha appeared, elegant but tense. "Rajeev, I—"
"You never listen," he cut her off, voice rising. "Always making excuses. Always so disorganized. What kind of example are you setting for our daughter?"
Sneha flinched but stayed silent.
Ishaani's fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to step in, to defend her mother, but she held herself back. Method actor had to keep her role intact.
"I'll go and get ready for university, Papa," she said quietly.
Rajeev nodded. "Good. Meet me in my office after classes."
"Yes, Dadda. Have a great day."
Upstairs, in her luxurious bathroom, Ishaani stood under the cold shower, letting the icy water cascade over her skin.
Her mind, however, was anything but cold.
Thoughts of Tara flooded her — Tara's hands, her voice, her promises.
The urge to touch herself, to chase even a fraction of relief, was almost overwhelming.
Her hand turned the knob as she reached to turn the water colder.
Not now, she told herself. Not yet.
She dressed quickly, grabbed her bag, and headed to university, hoping Nayonica would be there — a brief, bright distraction from the weight of the role she was playing.
As she left the mansion, Rajeev's final words echoed behind her:
"Don't forget, beta. My office after classes."
Ishaani smiled sweetly. "Of course, Dadda."
But somewhere deep inside, the real Ishaani was holding on — waiting for the moment she could finally run back into Tara's arms without pretending.