35
I excused myself from the dining table, my heart thudding like a war drum in my chest, and stormed toward the secluded area near the garden, clutching my phone like it was the neck of the man who'd just destroyed my peace.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE RAN AWAY?!" I screamed into the phone.
The line crackled, but the other end fell silent, as if they all froze in fear.
"Didn't I tell you idiots to keep an eye on him?! You had one job-ONE!"
"M-Ma'am we-"
"I DON'T want your explanations! FIND HIM! Lock him up again, I don't care how! By hook or crook, I want Gowtham back in that dungeon before the moon rises again!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am..."
"And listen to me carefully," I said, my voice a deadly whisper. "If-by any fucking accident-he even breathes the same air as my family... or my husband, whom I married with a lot of planning and patience, I will destroy every last one of you."
The man stuttered something, probably a promise of obedience.
Then it hit me.
"Wait... does he know who kidnapped him?" My voice trembled.
Silence.
Then, "Y-Yes, ma'am..."
"YOU MORONS!" I shrieked. "He knows?! What if he comes here? What if he tells Datta?!"
"W-We're trying, ma'am-"
"Don't try! Do. FIND. HIM." I hung up, chest heaving.
I turned and stared blankly at the darkening horizon.
No. He can't come here.
He can't tell anyone the truth.
Especially not Datta.
If Dattatriya found out that Gowtham didn't run away... that I kidnapped him... That I tricked him into marrying me, manipulated fate so I could be his wife...
He would hate me.
And I- I wouldn't survive that.
"Bhabhi," I whispered, forcing a smile and walking back in.
Arya bhabhi looked up, smiling softly, not knowing yet that my world was burning.
"Come with me, please," I said. Something in my voice must have given it away because her smile faded and she followed me silently into the garden.
Once we were alone, I turned to her and let it all out-every terrifying detail.
"He escaped, bhabhi. Gowtham escaped the dungeon. He knows I kidnapped him. He knows everything."
Arya's eyes went wide. "The FUCK?!"
"Bhabhi!" I hissed, glancing at her belly. "Don't yell, you're pregnant!"
"Oh. Right. Yes," she placed a hand on her stomach. "But-Katha-what the hell?! What are we gonna do now?"
"I don't know..." I whispered, pacing like a caged animal. "What if he comes here and tells Datta the truth? What if Datta realises I lied? That I wasn't the victim-that Gowtham didn't run-I kidnapped him! I planned everything! I tricked Datta!"
Arya pulled me into a hug, her hands trembling. "No, no, baby, no. He won't hate you..."
But her voice... it didn't carry certainty. It carried hope.
"Bhabhi... if he finds out, I'll lose him. He'll never trust me again."
"Shh, Katha, we'll figure it out-"
"What happened?"
That voice-deep, sharp, protective.
We froze.
Turning slowly, our eyes met Papa's, with the others right behind him.
Bhairava bhaiya. Dyan bhaiya. Gyan bhaiya. Utsav. Adya. And...
Dattatriya.
His eyes were locked on me. Cold. Piercing. Angry.
My cheeks were wet. I hadn't even noticed I was crying.
"Katha?" he asked, voice low, dangerous. "Who made you cry?"
I wiped my tears quickly and smiled-fake, wide, bright.
"N-No one," I said. "Actually, I just got emotional... I was hugging Bhabhi because... I was happy!"
He blinked. "Happy?"
"Yes!" I said, clinging to the lie like a lifeline. "I was crying because I'm going to be a bua! So emotional, na? Hormones!"
Arya bhabhi, bless her soul, nodded immediately. "Yes, yes! She just found out I'm pregnant. It hit her suddenly."
Bhairava raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. Dyan was already squinting like he could smell the lie. Gyan muttered, "Katha never cries for happy things."
Utsav looked from me to Datta and whispered, "Should I call ambulance or mafia backup?"
But Dattatriya... he didn't say a word.
He just kept staring at me. His eyes dropped to my trembling hands. My shallow breathing.
He wasn't fooled.
But he also didn't press.
Not yet.
"Let's go inside," Papa said softly, trying to ease the tension.
I walked beside Arya bhabhi, heart pounding so loud I could barely hear my own thoughts.
Because I knew one thing now-
The game had started.
And if Gowtham appeared before Datta... even God might not be able to save me.
I and bhabhi sat together on the long swing chair in the garden, pretending to enjoy the evening breeze while panic still clung to our spines.
Bhabhi leaned closer and whispered, "Katha, if Bhairava finds out I also helped you kidnap Gowtham... he will kill me."
I blinked, then shook my head. "No, no he won't. You're pregnant with his baby. He loves you. He'll never hurt you."
"Haan," she whispered again, not at all reassured. "But still..."
"Jaan... what are you mumbling to yourself?" came Bhairava bhaiya's voice suddenly, right behind her.
Both of us jumped from the swing like we'd been caught red-handed.
"Huh?" she said, trying to smile.
"What is wrong with you both today?" Gyan bhaiya asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
"We're fine! Just-girl talk," I said quickly.
"Girl talk that makes you look like you saw a ghost?" Dyan bhaiya added with a smirk.
"No ghost, just... baby talk!" Arya bhabhi said, placing her hand on her stomach. "You know, hormones!"
"Hmm," Utsav muttered, munching chips. "Very shady behavior. I'll investigate."
I fake laughed. "You and your crime drama obsession, Utsav. Chill."
But Dattatriya wasn't buying it.
He didn't say anything.
He didn't even ask questions.
He just kept staring at me. Quietly. Closely.
Observing me like I was some code he needed to break.
And that scared me more than anything.
Finally, it was time for my family to leave.
I hugged Papa tight. He kissed my forehead and said, "Take care, gudiya. You've made this place feel like home again. And look after your husband, hmm? He's quiet but I think he's fallen hard for you."
I smiled softly. "Love you, Papa. Always."
Bhairava bhaiya pulled me into his strong arms. "Call me if you need anything. And I mean anything. Doesn't matter if it's midnight."
I nodded. "Always."
Gyan bhaiya gave me a bone-crushing hug. "You're glowing, Mrs. Agnivanshi. But stop crying so much, okay? Not like you."
Dyan bhaiya ruffled my hair. "Still as dramatic as ever, Princess."
"Dramatic runs in the blood," I grinned.
Then Utsav came and hugged me like a clingy koala. "Don't forget me, okay? I'm still your laadla."
"Never, Utsu," I said, kissing his cheek.
Finally, I hugged Arya bhabhi tightly.
She pulled me close and whispered softly in my ear, "We'll fix this, Katha. I promise. You're not alone."
But her soothing words didn't work.
Because deep down, I knew we had started something that might end up tearing everything apart.
Adya gave me a tight hug too before leaving, smiling sweetly but her eyes held questions she didn't ask.
And as the cars rolled out of the driveway, I stood there on the porch...
With Dattatriya's silent gaze burning into the side of my face.
I had married the most dangerous man in the country.
And if this secret came out-
God help me.
I sat quietly on our bed, dressed in my soft cotton nightdress, gently running my fingers through Sheraa's fluffy fur as he purred sleepily in my lap. My mind, though, wasn't calm. It was a mess of thoughts-chaotic, stormy, terrifying.
Just then, the door opened, and Dattatriya walked in.
I looked up instantly. His sharp eyes met mine, and for a moment, it felt like he already knew everything.
He came and sat beside me without a word.
"What's bothering you, sunshine?" he asked gently.
I forced a smile. "Nothing, Datta. I'm fine."
He didn't even blink. He wasn't buying it.
"Katha Dattatriya Agnivanshi," he said my full name, and I froze.
Oh god. When he uses the full name, I know he means serious business.
"I know you completely, Katha," he said, his voice low and firm. "I know when you're happy, when you're sad, when you're angry, when you're stressed... and when you're scared. So don't pretend. Don't pretend you're fine, sunshine-because I know when my sunshine gets dim."
I stared at him, my throat tightening.
Sheraa had already wandered over to his sofa bed, curling up like a snowball.
I slowly crawled into Dattatriya's lap and wrapped my arms around his torso, hugging him carefully but tightly. I needed this. I needed him.
He hugged me back instantly, one hand on my back, gently caressing.
"Promise me..." I whispered.
He stiffened slightly. "What, sunshine?"
"Promise me you'll never leave me," I said softly, my voice trembling. "Even if I did the worst things... even if you find out something terrible about me. You're not allowed to leave me, Datta. Promise me you'll stay. Forever."
He exhaled deeply and pulled me tighter into his arms.
"Katha..." he whispered against my hair. "I promise, sunshine. I'll never leave you."
I buried my face into his shoulder, holding back tears. Just his words calmed a small part of the storm inside me.
Slowly, I lifted my head and looked into his eyes.
"Datta?" I whispered.
"Hmm?" he hummed, brushing my cheek.
"...Are you gay?"
His eyes shot wide open. "WHAT??" he gasped, looking so offended that I had to bite back a giggle.
"Why do you ask that, sunshine?" he whispered, narrowing his eyes.
"Because... you've never kissed me!" I said, pouting. "And forehead kisses don't count!"
He blinked at me in disbelief. "So... that's what you've been sulking about?"
"You want me to kiss you?" he asked, voice dipping to that deep, low tone that made my heart skip.
I nodded slowly, feeling like a teenager.
He smiled-a real, lazy, heart-melting smile-and leaned in close. His hand moved gently to the side of my neck, the other resting on my thigh. My hands found his jaw and slid up to the back of his neck and cheek.
Our faces were so close... lips just inches apart... his breath mingling with mine...
We were finally about to kiss-
RINGGGG.
My phone rang.
I groaned loudly, flopping onto his chest. "WHY?"
Dattatriya chuckled, but I saw the irritation flash in his eyes too.
I grabbed my phone from the side table and looked at the screen.
And just like that... the storm that had calmed a bit?
Returned full force.
Because the number flashing was one I didn't want to see.
The dungeon guards.
Again.
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