The Deceit

CHAPTER 12

SIMRAN

I pace restlessly around the living room, my head swirling with everything that happened today. Vishnu has always been a force of nature, but today... today, he revealed something else entirely. A side of himself I hadn’t anticipated. If I hadn’t pulled that stunt—escaping from the boutique like that—he wouldn’t have come to confront me so easily. As he said, he would have punished me by keeping his distance for months just to make me pay for what I’d done to him.

That confrontation, though, was inevitable. It had to happen, even if there was no real solution. But the way it played out, right there in the middle of the street, with his guards forming a circle around us, witnessing our explosive exchange, was something I never could have predicted. We unleashed all the frustration, anger, and deep-seated pain we’d been holding in for so long, and even now, I’m still shaken by how raw it all was.

My heart races with the memory of our heated exchange, every word, every charged moment playing on loop in my head. He was hurt, deeply hurt, and his anger was like a storm threatening to destroy everything in its path. But underneath it all, I saw the pain. He’s not just angry—he’s devastated. And I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to fix it.

The way he then dragged me back here, holding me captive with his fury, still sends shivers down my spine. His final words to Abhay—that I wasn’t to leave the apartment without his permission—cut deep, their meaning sinking into my bones. He’s treating me like I’m fragile, as though I don’t understand the danger I am in. But I do. I’m not stupid. I know the threat is real, but this? Stripping me of my freedom? Locking me away like this?

It infuriates me.

Does he really think locking me up will keep me safe? As if I’m some helpless damsel in distress? I scoff, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all.

And yet, a part of me... a small, nagging part, is unsure. What happens now? Will Vishnu ignore me again like he did for the past three days, leaving me to stew in my anger and confusion? Or will things change for us after today?

I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s been hours since the confrontation, yet there’s still no sign of him. He must be across the hall in the rented apartment with his men, probably planning their next move for me. I let out a frustrated sigh, running my fingers through my hair.

What now, Vishnu? Will you keep ignoring me? Or is this just the calm before another storm?

Post-dinner, the silence in my apartment feels heavier than usual. Veer is asleep in my bedroom tonight, not his nursery. I needed him close to me after everything that’s happened. Claire and I finish tidying up the kitchen when the doorbell rings, startling us both. Claire looks up from the dishes, her brows knitting together in confusion.

“I’ll get it,” she says, wiping her hands on a towel before heading for the door.

A knot tightens in my stomach. Who could it be at this hour? I dry my hands quickly, deciding to follow her. Just then, she returns.

“It’s Vishnu. He’s here,” Claire says softly.

Vishnu? My heart leaps into my throat. I wasn’t expecting him to show up now. After all, for the past few days, he’s been avoiding me, only coming by to see Veer when I wasn’t at home. But Veer is already asleep, so why is he here now?

I wipe my hands again nervously on my dress, suddenly unsure of what to do with myself. What does he want now?

I walk down the hallway, but he isn’t at the entrance. I notice the door to my bedroom slightly ajar, and it clicks. I march toward the room, and there he is—standing by Veer’s crib, his tall, imposing figure casting shadows in the dim light. His presence is almost overwhelming, suffocating, but as I watch him, something in me shifts. He gently strokes Veer’s cheek, and his expression softens.

It’s the first time I’ve seen them together like this—Vishnu and Veer in one frame—and the sight tugs at something deep within me. I can’t tear my eyes away, watching the way Vishnu looks at his son, our son. It’s as if Veer is already the centre of his universe, and it makes me feel all the more guilty for keeping them apart for so long. I swallow the lump in my throat, trying to push the raw emotion down.

And then, in that same instant, I see Vishnu struggling too. He pulls his hand back from Veer, his face softening for a fleeting moment before his eyes lock on mine. Instantly, his expression hardens, and the wall between us slams back into place. The softness that was there just a moment ago is gone, replaced by that infuriating coldness. Suddenly, the room feels much smaller with him in it.

“What are you doing here?” My voice is steady, but inside, I’m trembling.

Vishnu’s lips curl slightly, almost a smirk, but not quite.

“For three days, you didn’t like me ignoring you, did you? Now that I’m here, you’re still not happy?”

His cutting voice hits me like a slap.

“If you’re here for Veer, he’s already asleep. You don’t have to—”

“Yes, Simran, I’m here for Veer,” he cuts me off. “He’s my son. From now on, I’m going to be an integral part of his routine, no matter what time of day or night. You don’t get to decide that.”

My stomach twists. I try to mask my confusion, but it’s all over my face.

“What… what does that mean?”

He approaches me, closing the gap between us, and once again, I feel a sudden wave of intimidation wash over me. He towers over me, his presence all-consuming.

“It means I’m shifting here,” he says slowly, deliberately. “I’m staying where Veer is.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“Shifting… here? With me?”

Vishnu doesn’t blink, his eyes not straying from mine.

“Yes. I’m staying in this apartment. It means I’ll be sleeping in the same room where Veer sleeps. I want him close to me at all times.”

“What? Vishnu, no. You can’t just—” My breath catches in my throat. I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“I’m staying in this room tonight,” he continues in his icy voice. “Even though I don’t want to be anywhere near you right now. Even though your presence disgusts me for what you did.”

His words stab my heart, each one more painful than the last. He doesn’t want to be near me. Of course, he doesn’t. I betrayed him. But still, hearing him say it… it rips something apart inside me. My anger rises, and my pulse quickens. I won’t let him do this.

“You can’t stay here.” My voice is cold, final. “Get out.”

He gives me a dark, humourless smile as if challenging me to stop him from getting inside. I instantly step in front of him, blocking his path before he can reach Veer’s crib again.

“If you’re so disgusted with me, if you can’t stand to be near me, then why are you even here? And in case you’ve forgotten, this is my bedroom. My private space.”

His jaw clenches, and for a moment, I think he might explode. His eyes are wild with fury as they bore into mine.

“Private space?” he snarls, his voice dripping with contempt. He points towards Veer’s crib, his finger trembling with rage. “We made that baby together, Simran. There is no ‘private space’ between us anymore. Not after Veer.”

The heat rises to my cheeks. He is right, but I refuse to let him have this power over me.

“You can’t just barge in here and demand to sleep in my room, Vishnu,” I snap, trying to hold my ground. “Just because we have a son together doesn’t mean you can dictate everything. This is still my life, my space!”

That’s when Vishnu loses control. His fists ball up, his face tight with anger.

“Fine,” he growls, stepping back. “If that’s what you want, I won’t stay in this room. I won’t even stay in this apartment. But where I go, Veer goes.”

My heart drops.

“You’re his mother, so I’m giving you a choice, Simran. Let me stay here with him, or I’ll take him away from you. Forever.”

My blood runs cold.

“What?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

He doesn’t even flinch.

“You heard me. Tomorrow morning, I want your answer. If it’s still a no, pack Veer’s things. He’ll be staying with me. Permanently.”

Tears sting the back of my eyes. This can’t be happening. This isn’t Vishnu. He wouldn’t—he couldn’t.

“You can’t do this,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

But he’s already turning away from me, his jaw set in stone.

“You know me, Simran. When I make a decision, no one dares to change it. What I say… goes.”

His words echo like a death sentence. Without another word, he storms out of the room, the sound of the front door slamming behind him like a final nail in the coffin.

I stand there, frozen, my knees buckling beneath me. My chest rises and falls with shallow breaths, and before I can stop myself, I clutch my head in my hands and collapse to the floor.

How did everything spiral out of control so quickly?

I was angry, yes, but I never imagined Vishnu would threaten to take Veer from me. I can’t lose my son. The thought itself is unbearable. No matter what happens, no matter what Vishnu says, I won’t let anyone—even him—take Veer away from me.

Tears stream down my face as the weight of his ultimatum sinks in. I’ve never felt this helpless before, not in my entire life.

But there’s one thing I know for sure—I won’t let this happen. I won’t let Vishnu rip my life apart. Not like this.

Not ever.

******************

Next Morning

The moment I open my eyes, something feels off. My body aches, heavy with exhaustion, and as I glance at the clock, my heart skips a beat. Half past eight? How did I sleep this late? Veer should’ve been awake by now, waking me with his soft cries, demanding my attention. I quickly turn toward the baby cot, expecting to see him there, but the cot is empty.

Suddenly, Vishnu’s words from last night slam into me with brutal force. I’ll take Veer away from you. Panic shoots through me.

I leap out of the bed and storm out of the room.

“Claire!” My voice cracks with urgency. “Where’s Veer?”

Claire steps out of the kitchen, holding a dishrag, her expression calm in stark contrast to the storm raging inside me.

“Relax, Simran,” she says. “He woke up a while ago, and you were still asleep. I didn’t want to wake you, so I got him out of your room.”

“Where? Where is he now?” I practically shout, my mind spinning.

“Vishnu came by early this morning... and he took him.”

The air leaves my lungs, and I feel like the floor has dropped from beneath me. Vishnu took Veer? My worst fear is unfolding before me. I sprint toward the door, my breath catching in my throat. I don’t bother with shoes, don’t even think twice before tearing across the lobby toward the apartment Vishnu has rented for his team.

One of the guards opens the door just as I approach, almost as if they were waiting for me. I storm past him, calling out for Veer.

I rush toward the terrace and freeze in my tracks. There he is. Vishnu—aloof, powerful, standing tall with Veer in his arms. Veer is wide awake, tugging at Vishnu’s beard with tiny hands, oblivious to the intensity of the moment. Relief washes over me, but it’s quickly replaced by a white-hot anger.

I march straight toward them, my gaze locked on Veer, ready to take my son back. But before I can reach them, Vishnu’s dark stare meets mine. His eyes flick over me from head to toe, and a mocking smirk curls his lips.

“I was going to ask you this morning what your decision was, Simran,” he says, his voice cold, biting. “But looking at your state of mind, I think I’ve already got my answer.”

I clench my fists as he continues.

“I only took Veer away for a few minutes, and look how panicked you’ve become? Did you come straight from bed, Simran? No time to even get dressed properly?”

His words cut through me, stoking the fire of my rage. It is only then that I realise I came here in my night dress, my hair dishevelled. I know my morning look is messy, and not as polished as it is throughout the day. This is so embarrassing. But it was about my son, and I couldn’t think of anything else other than finding him and bringing him back to me.

“Don’t you dare blackmail me, Vishnu?”

He leans in slightly, that damn smirk still plastered on his face.

“For Veer…” His voice lowers, dripping with menace. “Not just blackmail, I can do a lot more.”

My body trembles with fury. I want to scream at him, tell him how wrong he is. How dare he play these games with me? But before I can lash out, Veer shifts in his arms, his tiny fingers reaching out for me, his little body instinctively turning toward me. He’s hungry. His soft whimper pulls me back, grounding me in the moment.

Without another word, I step forward and gently take Veer from Vishnu, who doesn’t resist. I feel his eyes on me as I cradle our son, pressing soft kisses all over Veer’s face. The warmth of my son in my arms feels like the only thing keeping me from falling apart.

I glance back at Vishnu, my eyes burning with unshed tears and anger. His expression remains unreadable, but the tension in the air is thick and suffocating.

Turning sharply, I march toward the door, my footsteps heavy, with Veer nestled safely in my arms. I know Vishnu is not going to relent this time. He has made up his mind to live under the same roof as his son, and I have to abide by it. I’ve already kept the two apart for long, and probably this shift now is inevitable.

When I return to my apartment, I tell Claire about Vishnu shifting in here. Living with us.

“He’s going to move in, Claire,” I say with a steady voice. “He wants to be here and spend time with Veer throughout, and I... I couldn’t deny him that.”

Claire raises her eyebrows, not in surprise, but with a sort of quiet understanding.

“You did the right thing, Simran,” she says, her voice soothing. “Veer deserves to have his father around.”

I nod, my chest tightening.

“Yeah... I know.” My words feel hollow, echoing the confusion and uncertainty swirling in my head. “Can you get the guest room ready for him? He’ll need a place to stay.”

Claire gives me a sympathetic smile.

“Of course.” She takes a step closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been stressing too much lately. Don’t worry. Things will work out now. They’ll be okay.”

Okay? What does okay even mean at this point? I don’t say it out loud, but I take a deep breath, trying to process everything. How will things be okay when Vishnu’s anger still feels like a storm ready to destroy everything? He may be moving in, but I know better than to think that’s a sign of reconciliation. He’s doing this for Veer, not me. And that... that stings more than I care to admit.

I lean back against the counter, running my fingers through my hair. There are too many questions, too many uncertainties in my mind. How long is Vishnu planning to stay here? He’s here to protect me, to find the source of the threat looming over me, but what happens after he’s done with it? Will he still leave in two weeks like he planned? He has a career waiting for him back in India as the president of the NEP Party.

And what about his family? When will they find out about Veer? Especially Meher... my best friend, and his sister. I shudder at the thought of Meher’s reaction. She is not going to be happy knowing I hid such a crucial fact from her. In fact, no one from the Walia family is ever going to take my deceit lightly. Veer belongs to them as much as he belongs to me. I’d robbed that right from them for months, and they won’t forgive me for that. The weight of it all presses down on me, making it hard to breathe.

But I can’t dwell on that right now. Right now, I have to focus on one thing—Veer. I have to keep it together for my son.

“I’ll go feed Veer his breakfast,” I tell Claire, shaking off the haze of panic creeping in.

Claire nods and heads to prepare the guest room, leaving me to tend to my baby boy.

I head to the kitchen, preparing his morning meal—steamed and mashed apple with some porridge. It’s simple, but he loves it. As I mix the food in his little bowl, my mind drifts to Vishnu again, but I try to push the thoughts away.

As I feed Veer, his tiny hands reach out for me, and despite everything, a smile tugs at my lips. This is what matters—his wide, innocent eyes staring at me, completely oblivious to the turmoil swirling around him. He’s my world, and I can’t afford to crumble now.

Once he’s done with his food, I clean him up and quickly start getting ready for work. I know Vishnu has already instructed Abhay to stop me from leaving the house, to keep me under some twisted form of house arrest, but I’m not letting that happen. I have a life to live, a business to run. Vishnu may want to punish me for my choices, but I won’t be trapped in my own home. I brace myself, mentally preparing for the fight I know is coming.

*****************

A while later

I slip on my heels and give Veer a gentle kiss on his forehead as he sleeps soundly. Whispering a quick goodbye to Claire, I pull open the door. But instead of heading straight for the elevator, knowing Vishnu’s guards would stop me before I even press the elevator button, I turn and cross the hall to the apartment Vishnu has rented across from mine.

As I step inside, I spot Vishnu and Abhay bent over a laptop, their expressions serious. The moment I enter, both of them look up, but it’s Vishnu who reacts first.

“You’re not allowed to head out, Simran. I made that very clear yesterday,” he says, his voice dripping with authority.

I fold my arms across my chest, matching his gaze with equal resolve.

“I’m not here to ask your permission, Vishnu. I have a business to run, and I’m leaving for work. You can send Abhay if you’re so concerned, or I can drive alone. Your choice.”

I turn on my heel, ready to leave, but in a flash, Vishnu is on his feet, gripping my arm and pulling me back to him with a force that has me stumbling against his chest. Our bodies collide, our breaths mingling as his fingers tighten around my wrist.

Without a word, Abhay quietly exits the room, giving us the privacy to face each other alone. Vishnu’s silence is almost deafening, his breath coming in short, hard bursts as he stares down at me.

I return his gaze, refusing to flinch, even as I feel the burn of his intense gaze sweeping over me. When his gaze suddenly falls on my lips, I can’t stop the involuntary parting of my mouth, the air suddenly thick between us. His stare lingers there, heavy and dark, making my skin flush. For a brief moment, he looks like he’s fighting against every impulse not to close that gap, not to give in to whatever’s simmering beneath his anger.

Then, he finally drags his gaze back up to meet mine, a flash of irritation masking his desire.

“Why are you testing my patience so much?” he asks, frustrated. “You are making it so much more harder than it already is to keep you safe, Simran. I have enough on my plate without you throwing tantrums and defying every safety measure I put in place.”

“You can’t just lock me up and expect me to handle my business from here. I need to work,” I scoff, straightening my shoulders, refusing to back down.

“Oh, really?” he snaps, cutting me off. “I allowed you to go to your boutique and conduct your business as usual, and what did you do? You ignored every protocol, risked your life, and turned my day into a nightmare. I don’t trust you with your own safety anymore, Simran. I want you safe and alive.”

His words hit me with an unexpected force . Safe and alive.

“For Veer,” he adds, the sting in his words, undeniable.

My stomach twists painfully.

“For only Veer?” I manage to ask. I know the answer, but I ask anyway, hoping for something—anything—that shows he cares beyond that.

Vishnu’s grip on my arm loosens, and though he doesn’t reply, his silence says more than any words could. And it cuts deep, a harsh reminder of the boundaries he’s set between us.

“Go back to the apartment, Simran, and forget about leaving today.” His voice hardens.

A surge of anger wells up inside me.

“I’m not going to sit at home doing nothing. I can’t, and I won’t. I’m going to the boutique, but I’ll take every precaution, follow all the rules.” I step back, giving him a defiant look. “For Veer,” I add pointedly, turning to leave.

But before I can take a single step, Vishnu grabs my wrist again and pulls me towards the couch, gesturing to me to sit as he turns the laptop screen in my direction. There on the screen is the image of a car—a familiar black sedan. The sight of it sends a chill down my spine.

“Do you recognise this car?” he asks, his tone no longer harsh but edged with something darker.

My blood runs cold as I realise it’s the same type of car that followed me on the night of the awards event.

Vishnu’s gaze pierces mine, as if assessing my reaction.

“That’s what I’ve been working on for the past three days, Simran. We’ve managed to track this car by using the past footage of the CCTV recordings from your boutique and the café you visit daily. It’s been following you for three months. We ran the number plate. This car belongs to a man named Jack Thompson. Does that name ring a bell?”

I think hard, then shake my head. “No... I don’t know anyone by that name.”

He continues, his face tense.

“Jack Thompson died six months ago. No family, no close connections. His house has been locked up for months. But when we searched it, we found photos. Photos of you. Spanning the last three months.”

My jaw drops, and the fear that takes hold of me is almost paralysing. He clicks to another photo on the screen—a close-up of me entering my boutique, another of me laughing with friends at the café. I can feel myself trembling as I stare at the photos.

“Alongside the photos, we found bullets, two guns, and a stash of drugs in that house,” he says, his voice low. “If you don’t know this man, then someone else is using his identity to track you. Whoever it is, he’s dangerous, as he’s been following you closely for months.”

I swallow hard, my hands shaking as I try to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Vishnu fists his fingers as if holding himself from reaching out and soothing my fear.

“This is real, Simran. This is why I can’t let you wander off alone. I need you to understand the seriousness of this. Stay home until we get to the root of whoever’s behind this.”

Vishnu’s eyes remain fixed on the screen as he continues.

“Now that we’ve identified the car and traced its license plate, finding this man should be straightforward. The next time he chases you, he’ll be caught. He may have evaded us so far, but he won’t be able to hide much longer.”

A sense of relief flutters in my chest, but the tension doesn’t leave my shoulders completely. I know that whoever is behind this isn’t going to back down easily, and looking at Vishnu, I know he seems ready for the fight.