Chapter Thirty One.
Mrs. Rathore turned to watched her husband, furrowing her brow, as he casually chewed and dabbed at his mouth with a napkin.
"Why do you look so... relaxed?" she asked, still uneasy.
He leaned back slightly, eyes still on the table. "What do you want me to tell him and he will actually listen?" he said calmly, "And you know how... terrible his anger is."
"I used to think mine was bad." He mumbled to himself.
"Anyways," he continued, a faint smirk pulling at his lips, "the one I pity is that young lady with him. And Kunal... he should watch his back."
Mrs. Rathore and Vivaan shared a look, She looked back to her husband, confusion written all over her face. "why..what..are you saying?"
"Let Ira know her meal was delicious." He left the dining hall.
???
Meanwhile, Devraj and Ira had stepped into the night.
Devraj's posture was still rigid, crutches digging slightly into the pavement.
Ira's stomach knotted. She said nothing, eyes flicking nervously to the ground.
They stopped in front of one of Devraj’s black car. The driver had already opened the back door, waiting.
"Get in." Devraj commanded.
Ira froze and blinked. "Oh... no, sir, you don't have to- I can just call Kunal or-"
"I told you. I don't ever want to see him IN MY PROPERTY." he said, every word a weight pressing into her chest.
Ira froze, gaze dropping instinctively. Her fingers curled tightly around her tote bag.
Devraj's crutches scraped softly against the pavement as he moved closer.
"I... I'm sorry, sir," Ira stuttered, her voice trembling. "I... I'll call Raghav then."
"Get in.." he glared, "My driver will drop you home."
Ira's throat went dry. She nodded, about to board in, but then paused. Her eyes flicked back to him, tired and anxious.
"I'm... so sorry for whatever I caused back inside," she murmured, "You said it's my fault... I'm sorry, sir. For whatever it was. Goodnight."
The words barely left her lips before she slid into the back seat. The driver closed the door softly behind her.
Through the tinted glass, she saw him approach the window. He can't see her though.
The driver ignited the engine, the car rolling forward, driving through the night.
Devraj remained there, eyes locked on the moving car until it disappeared into the darkness.
Then he walked back inside.
???
Ira stepped into the house and immediately froze.
Her family was gathered in the sitting room, worry etched into every face, eyes snapping toward her the second the door closed behind her.
“Oh thank God,” her mother breathed, rushing forward. “Ira, I told you to call me when you were leaving there. Raghav would have come to pick you up.”
Ira forced a small, tired smile. “I’m fine, Maa.”
Her mother’s hands were already on her shoulders, inspecting her, “Are you sure? You look exhausted.”
Ira sighed softly and nodded. “Just a long evening.”
Her father studied her more closely, his gaze searching. “Then who dropped you off?” he asked. “Kunal?”
Ira didn’t answer immediately. She looked at them, her mother’s anxious eyes, Raghav’s tense posture, her father’s worried expression.
“Sir told his driver to drop me.” she said at last.
Frowns appeared instantly.
“Your boss?” Raghav asked.
Ira nodded once.
“Ira…” her father started, stepping closer, concern already gathering in his eyes.
“Papa..” she cut in gently but firmly, before he could say more. “I’m fine. Really.” She paused, then, “Have you guys paid the money?” she shifted the conversation before it could turn into questions she didn’t want to answer.
Her father held her gaze. For a moment, Something shifted in his expression.
He nodded. “Yes. The money has been paid.”
Ira’s shoulders sagged as relief washed through her, deep and aching.
She closed her eyes for a brief second, exhaling the tension she’d been holding since evening.
At least that part was over.
“That’s good to hear..” Ira said softly. “I’ll be in my room.”
She didn’t wait for a reply. She moved past them, crossed the sitting room, and climbed the stairs without looking back.
None of them stopped her. They only watched in silence until her figure disappeared upstairs.
Only then did her mother speak first.
“I still don’t have peace in my heart.” she said quietly. “Not while she’s working in that Rathore house.”
She turned to her husband and son, worry etched deep into her face.
“I don’t either..” her father admitted, rubbing his temple. “But you know Ira. Once she makes up her mind, she doesn’t bend easily.” He exhaled slowly, exhaustion weighing him down as he sat back. “At least… so far, I’m just grateful she’s safe.”
Her mother nodded, but the unease didn’t leave her eyes. “I’ll make her something warm..” she said, already heading toward the kitchen. “She looks worn out.”
Raghav waited until she was gone before speaking.
“Papa,” he said quietly, folding his arms, “Don’t you think it’s better we tell Ira and Maa, about Deepak? At least so Ira can be cautious.”
Their father didn’t answer immediately. His gaze drifted, thoughtful.
“Not now,” he said. “Making them anxious won’t protect anyone. It’ll only make things worse.”
Raghav sighed, the sound full of frustration.
???
“…It sounds weird..” Ritika said from the screen, her brows drawn together, “but with everything you told me, why would he say it was your fault? For what happened?”
Ira room was dim, lit only by the laptop screen casting a pale glow across the bed.
She lay on her side, one arm tucked beneath her head, the other resting limply near the keyboard.
Ira exhaled slowly, eyes drifting to the ceiling. “I honestly don’t know,” she said. “And I don’t want to know.." Her lips pressed together."I just… I was just glad I left when I did.”
Ritika didn’t smile. “Ira, you need to actually think about this. Something isn’t right.”
A small, humorless huff escaped Ira. “You don’t need to tell me that. I feel it too. I just can’t put my finger on what it is.” She shifted slightly, the mattress creaking. “And lately, I’ve been too focused on work to sit and analyze it.”
Ritika went quiet.
Too quiet.
Ira frowned, eyes dropping to the screen. Ritika was staring at her like really hard, intent, like she was lining pieces together in her head.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Ira asked frowning, uneasy.
Ritika hesitated. “Okay, don’t think I’ve lost my mind,” she said carefully.
“But I’ve been listening to everything you’ve said.
I listened to everything you told me about your boss from day one.
Every detail. Pitching all together and something about your boss feels… off.”
Ira’s brow furrowed. “Off how?”
Ritika inhaled. “What if he likes you for real? But can't tell you?”
Ira blinked, then let out a long, tired breath, bringing her hand up to massage her temple.
“Not this again..” she muttered. “Please. Let’s talk realistically. Don’t make this into something scary.”
“I am being realistic.” Ritika insisted.
“Think about it. No man should be that affected by you helping his brother. Or bothered that your fiancé drops you at work. Or so invested in how you react to his ex. Ira..none of that is normal. That level of concern isn’t normal. ”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Ira cut in, her voice firmer now. “It’s probably just control. Or pride. Or him being… him. Have you met his Father?”
Ritika shook her head. “Concern like that doesn’t come from nowhere. What if he actually–”
“Ritika, stop.” Ira pushed herself up slightly, discomfort crawling under her skin. “That’s not possible. He knows I have kunal. He knows I have a man. And even suggesting that is wrong.” Her jaw tightened. “Sir can’t like me. That would be completely inappropriate.”
She fell silent for a moment, staring at the faint reflection of herself in the screen.
The idea didn’t feel romantic.
It didn’t feel flattering.
It felt… wrong.
Unsettling.
Like standing too close to something you weren’t supposed to notice and realizing it had been watching you the whole time.
Ritika sighed, the tension in her shoulders easing as she lifted both hands in surrender. “Okay, relax. Chill. I’m just saying what it looks like after putting everything you’ve been telling me together. That’s all.”
Ira rolled her eyes, but her chest still felt uneasy. “It’s not the case. And it can’t be the case. I only have two months left there and I’m gone.” Her voice dipped. “I already feel uncomfortable enough in there because of Sir.”
Ritika’s lips curved into a small, sad smile. She studied Ira’s face for a moment, then deliberately shifted gears.
“Alright. Fine. I’ll stop being dramatic.” She brightened suddenly. “How about we go shopping on Sunday? That’s your day off.”
Ira let out a tired breath. “I guess so. I actually need new things.” She hesitated. “I’ve lost a few of mine.”
Ritika’s grin returned, playful. “Oh, perfect.”
“I’m going to sleep now...” Ira said, exhaustion finally seeping into her bones. “We’ll talk later.”
“Goodnight, babes.”
“Night.”
The call ended. Ira stared at her laptop screen for a moment longer than necessary.
Sir likes me?
The thought slipped into her mind uninvited, and her body reacted instantly.
A shiver ran down her spine, cold and instinctive, leaving discomfort in its wake.
No. That’s not possible.
She turned onto her side, frowning into the pillow. And it better stay that way.
Who in their right mind would create a contract, bind lives together on paper, then want to break it? Who would see a woman clearly taken and still think of reaching for her?
Who looks at a woman and acts as if that boundary doesn’t exist?
That would be wrong. Twisted.
She pulled the duvet up to her chin, squeezing her eyes shut.
I’m just overthinking. That’s all.
Yet even as she tried to sleep, her mind refused to quiet, circling back again and again to a pair of burning eyes.
???