Chapter 18 #3
‘And eventually, I’ll take back my mother from him too, but that can wait. For now, I’ll settle for his wife.’
‘And if all of this isn’t motivating enough for you, maybe you should think about Siya,’ he suggested, smirking at her. ‘You think people will line up to give her a child once this scandal comes out? Could you really do this to your sister because you refuse to give up a guy?’
No, she couldn’t.
A faint ringing filled her ears, and her vision darkened. How could he know about their adoption plans when only their immediate circle knew?
Viraj watched her with a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.
Siya had already lost a chance at motherhood once because of her. Would she be able to cope with losing it again?
Kashvi grasped at straws as she insisted, ‘You have a girlfriend! You’re getting engaged to Lavanya tomorrow! Think about her!’
Viraj chuckled. ‘Actually, I do the opposite. When I’m in bed with her, I think about you.’
Kashvi stared at him, dumbfounded. Disbelief and disgust collided inside her as she asked, ‘How do you even live with yourself?’
Viraj shrugged, unbothered by her outburst. A predatory glint filled his eyes as his gaze moved over her.
‘You can’t blame me for that. I mean, just look at you, such a firecracker,’ he said, sliding his hand down her back and pinching her behind.
She went rigid for a second, invasive shock slicing through her before fury consumed her.
Her hand twitched with the urge to slap him, but before she could, the balcony door slid open.
Kashvi whirled around, her heart hammering in her chest, and found Lavanya stepping out.
Her gaze flickered between them, then to where he held Kashvi’s elbow. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Please don’t tell Swayam I let his guest slip,’ Viraj said, squeezing her elbow in warning to follow his lead before finally letting go.
Kashvi forced herself to relax as she turned to Lavanya with an apologetic smile. ‘I’m sorry, I get ridiculously clumsy when I’ve had a bit to drink.’
Lavanya’s gaze lingered on her suspiciously. ‘Are you okay?’
Kashvi nodded quickly. ‘I’m fine. Just embarrassed more than anything.’
Viraj asked sympathetically, ‘Did the aunties trouble you too much?’
Lavanya dragged her gaze back to him, and a hesitant smile began forming on her lips when he blew her a kiss. ‘No. Swayam distracted them by getting them to give toasts, but now he’s roped into giving one too. I came to get both of you.’
Kashvi leaned against the railing, trying to get her restless nerves under control.
‘Good thing you did. I would’ve hated to miss that,’ Viraj said.
‘I’m expecting a proper toast from you too,’ Lavanya insisted, pointing a finger at him.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, because if I start talking about how much I love you, everyone will be stuck here all night. I don’t think anyone wants that.’
Lavanya giggled, tilting her head down to hide her blush, then waved at them. ‘Come on, hurry up.’
Kashvi watched Lavanya leave with a heavy heart because she had failed to see through Viraj’s lovestruck act and the way he manoeuvred out of giving the speech.
And if he could manipulate them so effortlessly over something so small, what hope did she have of them seeing the truth?
‘God bless her, she’s too trusting and innocent for her own good,’ Viraj said, still looking at the door.
The lack of remorse in his voice astounded her. ‘Is that why you’re destroying her life?’
‘I’m saving her. There are worse men than me out there,’ Viraj admonished with a glare. ‘You really should think twice before you decide to open your mouth and act like a righteous little victim, because if you do, you’ll ruin a lot of lives.’
A hollow ache settled in her chest, and everything felt distant and muffled as she asked, ‘How am I supposed to be sure you’ll delete my pictures if I do what you say?’
‘First, you’ll have to earn my trust and make Swayam agree to get engaged to Aisha. Once that’s done, and I get what I’m owed, I’ll come to you and we’ll talk about my grand plans for you.’
His leering eyes made her skin crawl. ‘Fuck you and your grand plans.’
‘I love it when you fight, but don’t worry, I’ll beat it out of you,’ he murmured, low and rough.
Kashvi could not trust her voice not to betray how scared she was, so she stayed silent.
Viraj stepped back with a flourish, and with one last wink at her, he walked out of the balcony.
Kashvi knew she had to go home so she could talk to someone who could help her deal with this before it destroyed everything her family had painstakingly built, but she could not move her feet. She stayed paralysed in place.
She felt hollow and emotionally drained.
Viraj was not just dangerous and manipulative, he also knew how to make sure no one else would ever see it.
She knew that to expose him, she would have to fight against the loyalty Swayam had for his cousin, a loyalty that ran deeper than anything she could compete with.
A shudder ran through her as she tucked her mangalsutra inside the collar of her kurti, out of sight. The thought of Swayam believing her suddenly felt fragile and far-fetched.