Chapter 6
DAKSH
Daksh raised his camera as he watched the sun set over the ocean, the clicking sound soothing him. Relentless, chaotic travel followed by the day from hell at the terminal with the feral mouse had muscles in his shoulders knotting with stress. Muscles that he hadn’t known existed.
His phone rang and he ignored it, picking up his camera again and focusing on the ships in the distance. He got a picture of the one silhouetted against the burning orb of the setting sun. That one, he knew in his gut, would be worth something.
The phone rang again. He sighed, lowering his camera and pulling his phone out of his pocket.
Dad.
The knots in his muscles developed knots.
The feral mouse had nothing on his father.
He sent the call to voicemail and pocketed his phone again.
His father’s name on his screen had ruined his mood.
He needed a drink and maybe some action.
He was in Goa, after all. He took a deep breath and headed back to his room to change.
As he crossed Room 252, he hesitated. Was he supposed to invite her along? He was pretty sure he didn’t want to. He hadn’t seen her since she’d scooped up her room key card and marched away in the reception lobby. He’d been fervently grateful to see her go.
He made it to his own room just as his phone started ringing again. Fuck, his father was persistent. A wave of relief washed over him when he saw it was Ashish calling.
“Hey man. No need to worry. Your mouse is in her burrow. All settled in for the night.”
“Daksh.”
There was no one in this world who could infuse rage, disappointment, and sheer disgust into his name like his father could.
Daksh pulled the phone back and checked the display.
Yep, his father was calling him from his brother’s number.
Most people got senile in their old age. His father got sneaky.
“Dad,” he said flatly.
“I expect you to make sure that Aakash Thakkar’s daughter is happy, safe, and peaceful in this unexpected upheaval.”
Daksh’s eyebrows shot up. “It’s an extra day in Goa, Dad. Most people consider that a stroke of good fortune not unexpected upheaval.”
“Most people aren’t good for nothing wasters like you.” Prasun Mathur sounded like the top of his head was going to blow off with rage.
“Noted,” Daksh drawled sardonically, well aware that his tone would tip his father over the edge he was teetering on.
“You are to remain glued to her hip for the entire duration of your stay there. Do you understand me? Until she’s home, safe and sound, I don’t want you to be more than a few feet away from her, making sure she’s comfortable.”
“Dad!” Daksh injected just the right amount of shock into his voice. “Are you asking me to spend the night with her too? You do remember which son she’s marrying, right?”
For a second, furious silence pulsed down the phone. And then his father replied, “Of course, I remember. The only son who matters.”
Daksh held his tongue, processing the hurt the comment brought. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard before. So why did it still hurt?
Ashish came on the phone a second later. “Sorry about that,” his brother mumbled, sounding embarrassed. “Aakash Uncle called and told Dad about the whole clusterfuck and he got into the act.”
“What’s the deal with this girl?” Daksh asked abruptly, not wanting to have a chummy brotherly chat with the ‘only son who mattered’ at the moment.
“Deal?” Ashish asked defensively. “There is no deal.”
“There’s something off about this whole situation. Why do you people keep asking me to babysit a fully grown, functional adult?” Even as he asked the question, Daksh’s mind went back to the sudden panic attack Vedika had at the airport. “Well, mostly functional,” he amended.
“What do you mean by that?” Ashish’s voice sharpened. “Did something happen? Is Vedika okay?”
For some reason, Daksh was reluctant to disclose the incident. If the Mouse wanted her fiancé to know, she could tell him.
“She’s fine. Tucked away in her room. Probably scurrying around the space, cursing the airline and worrying herself into a snit.”
Ashish laughed. “Don’t be an ass.”
“Dude, I get that Dad wants the connect with Aakash Thakkar but is this what you want? Is she what you want?”
A moment’s pause and then Ashish replied, “Vedika’s very sweet.”
“She’s feral,” Daksh retorted. “But that’s not what I’m asking you. What the fuck are you doing, Ashish?”
“Just keep your end of the bargain, okay?” Ashish said, his tone curt and cold. “And I’ll keep mine.”
“You couldn’t even keep Dad off your phone for a day and you’re going to keep him off my back for a month.”
“I’ll get it done,” Ashish said tersely. “Just keep Vedika happy.”
The phone line clicked off before Daksh could say anything more. What the fuck? No one could keep that harpy happy. She thrived on the anguish and pain of the people around her. Keep her happy! What did he look like? A customer service executive?
He was still grumbling to himself when he wandered into the bathroom to shower and shave.
If he had to tolerate her presence tonight, he wanted a barrel of alcohol to drown his sorrows in.
The sooner he got to it the better. God willing, the airspace opened up tomorrow and they could get on a flight out of here.
The less time he had to play genie in a bottle to the spoilt brat, the better for all of them. He was toweling himself dry when he saw the message blinking on his phone. He tapped it open, scanning it as dread pooled in his stomach.
There was no chance of the airspace opening up tomorrow. Fuck his life. He was stuck here.
With her.