Chapter 34
‘Welcome, welcome,’ Karthik said, clapping his hands together. ‘I was beginning to worry that my daughters had forgotten their way back home.’
Kashvi stepped into the large study with her hand tucked into Swayam’s. Siya and Abhay entered behind them, and Dhruv came in last, shutting the ornate door quietly behind him.
Kashvi cradled her injured hand against her chest as pain throbbed through her fingers.
This was the room she had feared most in the entire house.
The study had not changed one bit over the years.
Dark mahogany shelves lined the cream walls from floor to ceiling, filled with neatly arranged books and old files.
Heavy beige curtains framed the tall windows, softening the evening light spilling into the room.
The faint scent of paper and sandalwood lingered in the air, so painfully familiar.
At the centre of the room stood the same massive wooden desk where Karthik sat now.
The sight of him made her stomach tighten because it was this very desk where he had spent years tearing her apart over every mistake, telling her she would amount to nothing.
Oh God, please let this be the last time.
Karthik appeared perfectly at ease in his old white kurta-pyjama. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed back, and the gold watch on his wrist glinted in the warm lamplight as he folded his hands on the desk.
Swayam squeezed Kashvi’s hand gently, and she turned towards him. Tension radiated from his rigid posture, and his jaw was tight as he fixed his gaze on Viraj.
The gash she had left on Viraj’s cheek had been stitched, but the skin around it was red and swollen, with blood still seeping from one corner. His gaze slid shamelessly over her face, taking in the bruises he had left behind.
Then he winked. ‘I have to admit, I like the new look, babygirl.’
A dangerous fury darkened Swayam’s face as he took a slow step towards Viraj.
Revulsion coiled inside her, and Kashvi pointed to his cheek with satisfaction. ‘Funny, so do I. It really suits you.’
Viraj scoffed. ‘I still look better than your husband.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Kashvi said, shaking her head. ‘Swayam never needed to drug, blackmail, or threaten women to make them stay. Not everyone can be as shameless as you.’
Viraj smirked. ‘This loyal-wife act is sweet, but your husband wasn’t exactly there when you needed him, huh?’
Swayam’s voice turned cold. ‘Since you’re struggling with basic manners, let me remind you, Viraj. Talk to her with respect. She’s your bhabhi.’
Viraj gave a short laugh. ‘What? Are you going to teach me manners now?’
‘Someone has to,’ Swayam retorted. ‘I’m counting every word you say to my wife, and I’ll make it even by breaking the same number of your bones. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.’
The menace in his voice sent a chill through Kashvi.
She placed a hand against his back and felt the tension locked through his muscles beneath her touch.
Viraj’s nostrils flared. ‘Aww, what happened to that stupid nickname you gave me as a kid? Did you forget your Viru for your whore of a wife?’
Swayam’s fingers flexed at his side, and the fury in his gaze darkened frighteningly. ‘Keep going. I told you. I’m counting.’
Viraj’s cocky composure cracked as he snapped, ‘If you think you can take me on, try me!’
‘Enough!’ Karthik shouted, slamming his palm onto the desk. ‘Viraj, stop behaving like a child. This is bigger than your petty feud.’
Viraj shot him a sharp glare, but he swallowed back whatever he was about to say.
Karthik said dryly, glancing at the group. ‘I should’ve known you would bring your yes-men along.’
‘That’s rich. You brought your lapdog too,’ Kashvi observed, pointing at Viraj with disdain.
Viraj’s lips peeled back in a sneer. ‘Want me to bite you, babygirl?’
Swayam pinned him with a cold gaze. ‘Call her that again, and I’ll carve a matching scar into your other cheek.’
‘Enough of this family circus,’ Karthik said sharply. ‘Did you bring the money, Kashvi?’
Kashvi glanced at Dhruv, who stepped forward and placed a black duffel bag onto the desk with a heavy thump.
Karthik’s face lit with delight as he quickly pulled the zipper open.
Just as quickly, his joy gave way to confusion. There was no money inside, only thick stacks of files and rolled documents.
‘What the hell is this?’ he barked.
Siya stepped forward, her voice cold enough to frost the air between them. ‘Evidence. Enough to make you famous as the sick fraud you are. You’ve built an empire on stolen land, blackmail, and extortion.’
Karthik stared at her, open-mouthed. Then he lunged for the bag and yanked out a file. He flipped through page after page, his eyes widening with panic.
‘How…’
Siya went on, savouring the moment. ‘These are the records of your shell companies, your offshore accounts, the land you stole illegally, and the trust fund money you squandered for your own greed. You can read all night, but you still won’t reach the bottom of it.’
Karthik cursed under his breath. Beside him, the colour drained from Viraj’s face even as anger flared across his face.
Karthik looked like a caged animal as he shot Dhruv a furious look. ‘You fucking snake. You did this.’
Dhruv gave a steady nod. ‘I did. But I warned you first. When Siya threw you out of the business, I told you to stay away from my sisters. I told you I had enough dirt on you to ruin you if you hurt them, but you clearly didn’t take me seriously.’
Age-old resentment burned at the back of Kashvi’s throat as she remarked, ‘That’s his arrogance, isn’t it, bhaiya? He never takes us seriously.’
‘His mistake has come back to haunt him, so maybe he’ll learn his lesson now,’ Siya observed with a smug smile as she moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with Kashvi.
Karthik looked between the three of them, standing united, and for the first time, a flicker of fear flickered in his eyes.
He forced himself upright in his chair, but the dark smile tugging at his mouth looked brittle now. ‘You really think you can threaten me? That’s cute.’
Siya tilted her head, fury sharpening her voice. ‘Are you sure you can handle the answer to that? Because I don’t think you can.’
Kashvi silently thanked the universe that her sister’s glare was not aimed at her.
‘One law degree, and you suddenly think you’re invincible?’
‘Careful,’ Abhay cut in coldly. ‘If I were you, I wouldn’t push your luck any further.’
Kashvi urged, ‘Oh, come on, Di. Our old man simply wants to know what you plan to do.’
‘Oh, nothing much. Just this,’ Siya said, pulling her phone from her jeans pocket.
Confusion flickered across Karthik’s face as she made a call.
‘Good evening, Commissioner Singh. How are you?’ Siya greeted warmly.
For the first time, Karthik looked genuinely shaken.
‘Yes, yes. Abhay and I remember the fundraiser this weekend, but that’s not why I’m calling,’ Siya said, glancing at her husband as he rolled his eyes. ‘You remember that pro bono case I handled for your nephew? You said you owed me a favour. I’m calling to collect it.’
The man on the other end said something that made Siya smile faintly. ‘Oh, wonderful. I’m so glad you’re free today.’
Beside her, Abhay let out an amused breath. ‘As if he was ever going to say no to you.’
Holding Karthik’s horrified stare without mercy, Siya continued, ‘I have a private family matter I would appreciate your help with. Could you come over to the Kashyap townhouse as soon as possible?’
After a brief pause, she added, ‘Ah, yes. Thank you. I’ll see you in ten minutes.’
The moment she ended the call, Karthik exploded, ‘What the hell are you doing?’
Siya met his gaze with icy, unnerving hostility. ‘Did you really think you were going to get away with killing my mother?’
Karthik’s head jerked towards Kashvi with such naked shock that a sick sense of satisfaction curled through Kashvi’s chest. ‘You really thought I wouldn’t tell Di everything?’
‘You always were too stupid for your own good,’ Karthik burst out.
For one awful second, she was six years old again, sitting in that car while he sweetly coaxed her into betraying her mother. The sharp contrast in his tone now made molten rage burn through her.
‘No, I was stupid enough back then to let you bully me into silence and destroy my self-respect piece by piece. But not anymore.’
Viraj moved forward, his eyes dark with anger. ‘Have you forgotten I still have your pictures?’
Before Kashvi could answer, Swayam silenced him sharply. ‘Quiet. The grown-ups are talking.’
Viraj’s head snapped towards him. ‘You think you’re funny?’
Swayam shrugged. ‘No, I think you’re boring. So shut up.’
Kashvi aimed her glare at Viraj. ‘You want to leak my pictures? Go ahead.’
Outwardly, she held his gaze without flinching, but fear pounded with every beat of her heart because she was terrified he would call her bluff. She didn’t know why Siya had told her to say this, but she trusted her sister.
Besides, it was too late to save anything.
They had extorted her, terrorised her, and threatened her husband and family. There was no turning back now. All she could do was make sure they suffered for it.
She held Viraj’s stare. ‘Because the second you leak them, my sister will make sure it leads straight back to both of you,’ she added, driving the tension further.
Siya gently corrected her, locking her eyes with Karthik. ‘No, no. I won’t. But the biggest criminal lawyer in the country will. He happens to be my best friend.’
Swayam glanced at her, offended. ‘Excuse me? I thought I was your best friend.’
Siya rolled her eyes. ‘Why else do you think I allowed you to marry my sister?’
Karthik’s laugh cut through, the sound booming and dismissive. ‘I understand why you’re putting on this show. Kashvi told me that you found something on Viraj’s laptop. But let me assure you, none of it can be traced back to me.’
Viraj’s expression twisted with hatred. ‘I should’ve known better than to trust a woman. I tolerated Lavanya for years, and for what? The bitch betrayed me and stole my laptop.’
‘You’re too easy to fool,’ Swayam interjected, openly mocking him.