Chapter 9
The sudden knock was so loud that Siya’s head jerked toward the door, setting her nerves on edge. Just from the incessant sound, she could tell it wasn’t Abhay. Her fingers tightened on her mug before she set it down. She waved off Meera, who was about to get up, as she rose instead.
The cool brass of the handle was damp beneath her sweaty palm. When she opened the door, her stomach clenched at the sight of her guest. Dhruv stood there, a hulking figure in a charcoal suit. Of all the Kashyap children, he was the one who inherited their father’s build.
Two men in khaki uniforms flanking him on either side were almost hidden behind him, but Siya caught their polite nod which she reciprocated.
Dhruv took in the company behind her, and his lips turned up in a spiteful smirk. Before Siya could ask him anything, he stepped past her and came into her apartment without invitation. His polished shoes clicked softly against the hardwood floor.
‘Well, well,’ Dhruv drawled, sweeping his gaze around the room. ‘Looks like quite a little gathering you’ve got here. Is it a special occasion?’
He turned around to face Siya and clapped his hands together. ‘Ooh ooh, let me guess. You’re celebrating the fact that you bagged a rich husband and earned Daddy’s approval all in one day, right?’
The insult struck her like a slap, but it was Kashvi who spoke first. ‘Yes, we are, and you’re intruding on our party. So, why don’t you give us another reason to celebrate and leave?’
‘Careful, little sis. She may tolerate your insolence,’ he said, pointing at Siya, ‘but I won’t.’
Kashvi moved to stand in between her sister and the man she was ashamed to call their stepbrother.
Though she usually didn’t mind her short height—in this moment, she hated that she had to look up at him.
With a cutting smile, she said, ‘Siya tolerates my insolence, and we tolerate your bullshit. It’s a burden we must all bear. ’
His head tilted, smirk sharpening with anger. ‘Kashvi, where are your manners? Did you not learn that in school?’
Kashvi lifted her chin in defiance and shot back without missing a beat. ‘No, what I learned is that respect is earned, and you haven’t done a damn thing to earn mine. You won’t inherit my respect just because we share the same last name, bhaiya.’
Irritation broke through his practiced calm, and the tension in the room coiled tighter. Before it could spiral further, Siya put her arm on Kashvi’s and subtly pulled her behind her. ‘What do you want, Dhruv?’
The flicker of anger was swift in his eyes, and Siya had to fight against the urge to throw him out of her apartment.
She’d succeeded so far in keeping him away from their homely sanctuary, but lately, it seemed the universe was dedicated to undoing her every effort by bringing her father and stepbrother to her doorstep.
Instead of answering her, Dhruv took a step back and shouted, ‘Come in.’
The two men must have been waiting for his signal, because as soon as he gave the word, they came in and immediately began shifting things off the furniture. One man pulled books off the nearest bookshelf, and the other went directly into their bedroom.
It took a disorienting moment for Siya to process what was happening, but when she caught sight of the company logo of the movers and packers on their t-shirts, she shouted sharp enough to draw Meera to her side. ‘Stop! What the hell are you doing?’
‘They’re packing up your stuff, dear sister. You’re moving in with your husband,’ Dhruv said, perverse satisfaction glinting in his eyes.
His answer knocked the breath out of her. She got toe-to-toe with him and said, ‘You bastard! Who do you—’
‘Daddy’s orders, Siya. He wants Agrawal’s only daughter-in-law to live where she belongs,’ he interrupted her, not bothering to hide his delight.
Dhruv had to know what their father was forcing her to do, yet here he was taking pleasure in her misery. The betrayal sat bitterly on her tongue.
‘You think you can just waltz in here and oust my sister out of our home just because Dad said so?’ Kashvi’s temper flared in disbelief as she moved to block one of the movers who was handling her books like toys.
‘I don’t think—I know I can,’ Dhruv said, flashing her a smile.
‘You should seek professional help for your delusional state,’ Meera commented, picking up some of the vintage books sprawled on the floor.
‘I don’t think there is any hope for him anymore. He may be beyond treatment.’ Swayam took the books Kashvi passed him and placed them back on the bookshelf. He knew books were sacred to Kashvi, and he couldn’t bear the sight of her trembling hands.
Dhruv ignored them and said to Siya, ‘This is dad’s order. Are you sure you want to dismiss it?’
Her father’s threat rang in her mind. If he’d decided to move her, he’d go to any lengths to make it happen. She could endure his rage as she had for years, but she knew he wouldn’t target her. It would be Kashvi.
A horrifying image of Kashvi dressed as a bride standing next to her fifty-eight-year-old husband, with tears in her eyes and a mangalsutra around her neck, flashed through her mind. An icy shiver ran down her spine, and her nails dug into her palms.
‘You’re not packing anything until she says you can,’ Meera directed her words at one of the men.
‘Stay out of it, Meera. This is our family matter,’ Dhruv replied without looking at her.
She gave a humourless laugh. ‘First of all, Siya is family to me. Second, don’t mock that word because no one would take pleasure in disrupting their sister’s life like you are. So please spare us the theatrics.’
A muscle ticked in his jaw, but he didn’t bite. His gaze came back to Siya, drinking in every flicker of her anger. Her heart slammed against her ribs, yet she held his stare head on, refusing to be the first one to look away.
‘Siya, you made your bed with the enemy, now you gotta lie in it. Jayesh Patel lit a fuse with this pregnancy rumour in the media, so our relations team came up with this. Tomorrow, there is an engagement brunch at Abhay’s penthouse.
There will be an announcement, and photographs with investors and elites.
It should look as if you’ve been living there all this time, which means your things need to go tonight. ’
The air thickened in her throat. A fabricated life of a couple in love for two years, complete with a neatly scripted romantic past that would be on display for everyone, in a home that wasn’t hers.
The thought made her sick to her stomach, but she understood the necessity of it. It would be better to squash any rumours now before they could damage their credibility any more than it already had.
‘Your life now belongs to this fake story. The sooner you learn that, the less painful it will be.’
He may be right, but he doesn’t get to take it out on me in my home, Siya thought to herself. She held her head high and stepped forward until she came toe-to-toe with him.
‘You know, I thought you’re a smart man, Dhruv, but I guess I was wrong,’ she threw his cutting words back at him.
‘You come into my home and speak about me as if I’m furniture to be moved, and talk down to my sister.
You would have to be really, really dumb to be talking to your project lead like this, wouldn’t you? ’
All the colour drained out of his face. Dhruv narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her and asked, ‘What do you mean?’
‘Oh, looks like Daddy didn’t tell you everything. Abhay and I are co-chairs of the new collection. My signature sits on the vendor sheets. I can end your access to every single part of this project with one word. If you had any sense, you’d understand how easily you could get blacklisted.’
Siya saw the faint sheen of sweat on his forehead and knew she’d struck him where it hurts. Dhruv searched her eyes but found no lies.
‘I never thought you’d stoop this low for business,’ he said, each word coloured with anguish. ‘I knew we were both competing to lead this project, but I thought you’d fight with dignity. It’s my fault for giving you credit you don’t deserve.’
His accusation clung to her, taking root deep in her soul, but she didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
‘So that’s how you want to play this. Fine. You want war, then war it is,’ Dhruv vowed quietly. The smile that followed had no warmth. He let his threat settle before adding, ‘And don’t be late. Your husband is waiting for you.’
With that, he turned and walked out. The door shut behind him with a muted thud, and the silence that followed was thick with tension.
‘Shall we begin packing, ma’am?’ the mover asked.
All Siya could do was nod. If she spoke just then, she’d scream.
‘Are you okay?’ Meera asked her.
Siya gave her a tight-lipped smile and patted her arm. Meera held her gaze for a moment, understanding she needed space, and she stepped back.
All three of them began sorting things out to pack, leaving Siya alone with her thoughts.
Another strip of packing tape tore across cardboard, sealing away her life and memories in a cardboard box.
She felt the sound sink into her chest like a nail, reminding her she would have to share a roof with Abhay.
And in the chaos of her mind, she wondered what other pieces of herself she would have to give up next.
***
The balcony stretched wide along the edge of the penthouse, framed by textured glass and the faint shimmer of the city below. The faint scent of the sea drifted up from Marine Drive. A warm light from the living room pooled at their feet, making the half-empty bottle of whiskey glow in amber.
Abhay leaned back in his chair, one ankle resting over his knee. His jacket lay abandoned on the armrest beside him. He cradled his glass and watched the low hum of traffic crawling beneath from the 30th floor.