CHAPTER 12 #2
“Why not?” she counters immediately. “I love buying gifts for people I like. You liked it?”
“It’s perfect,” Baba replies without hesitation.
Her entire face lights up at his words.
“I got it from the boutique here at RK estate,” she adds quickly. “They have such a nice collection of winter wear. I know you probably won’t really need this in Mumbai, but…”
She hesitates for a fraction of a second before smiling again, “Whenever you come here next, I want you to wear it, even if I’m not around to see it.”
The moment those words leave her mouth, something inside me goes still. The thought of her not being here at RK Estate doesn’t sit right.
I don’t react, nor do I say anything, but I know Baba has noticed my discomfort. Because when I look at him, his gaze is no longer on her. It’s on me.
And this time, there’s nothing subtle about that look at all.
“Don’t say you won’t be here the next time,” Baba says softly, looking at her again. “You can always come here to meet me. Or better yet, come to Mumbai sometime. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the family. They would love to meet you.”
Siya smiles, clearly touched by his words. But then her gaze shifts towards me, and I know she’s about to say something inappropriate.
“I’m glad you invited me yourself,” she says lightly. “Because I don’t think that invitation was going to come from him.”
Her eyes linger on me just long enough to make the point before she looks away again, as if it means nothing.
Baba lets out a chuckle. “Don’t take that personally.
Raghav has never really been good at saying what he feels,” he says.
“We’ve all tried, in our own ways, to get him to open up a little.
Safe to say, we did not get very far.” He chuckles again before adding, “Come here now, let me at least get a selfie with you before I leave, Siya.”
“Why not,” she says immediately, pulling out her phone. “I’ll take it.”
She moves closer to Baba, but just before clicking the picture, she suddenly pauses. Then, she reaches up and takes the Irish cap from his hand.
“Wait,” she says. “Wear this first.”
She places it on his head and adjusts it carefully, smoothing it into place as someone would for their own father without thinking twice.
Siya steps back slightly, tilting her head as she checks how it looks. “Perfect,” she murmurs, clearly satisfied with the result. Then she leans in beside him and lifts her phone to click the picture.
A second later, she glances at me. “Are you coming?”
I instinctively take a step back as a clear refusal. “I’ll pass.”
She rolls her eyes, not even trying to hide her annoyance.
Baba laughs again, shaking his head. “See, I told you. My boy is shy. He’s not very fond of selfies.”
“Why am I not surprised?” she shoots back, before turning the camera back towards herself.
She takes a couple of pictures with Baba, adjusting the angle once, then again, determined to get the perfect shot.
“I’ll send these to you,” she says finally, lowering her phone.
“Of course,” Baba replies. “You can take my number from Raghav.”
My gaze shifts to him at once, hesitating, but Baba only gives me a pointed look and lightly shakes his head, making it very clear that he expects me to share his number with Siya.
I nod, just to make him believe I would, while wondering how fast things are moving. I hadn’t even wanted Siya and Baba to meet, and now it seems they would be exchanging numbers.
Not happening!
Siya slips her phone back into her pocket, then she bends down to touch Baba’s feet in respect. Once again, I’m caught off guard. Because that’s something I do. Baba, too, looks at her, clearly surprised, then immediately reaches down to hold her gently by the shoulders, pulling her back up.
“You don’t have to do that,” he says, smiling at her affectionately. “You already have my blessings.”
He places his hand briefly over her head, then pulls her into a small hug. Even while hugging her, his eyes find mine again, filled with that same look that says Siya is perfect for me… as a life partner.
I shake my head in denial and look away. If Baba ever found out who Siya truly is, he would still treat her with the same warmth and kindness. That would never change. But he would never want me anywhere near her. Not knowingly. Not even by mistake.
The moment Siya steps back, I move forward and bend to touch Baba’s feet. As soon as I straighten, he pulls me into a firm hug, patting my back just the way he always does before leaving.
“Take care,” I tell him quietly. “We’ll meet at the function.”
“Yes,” he nods before adding, “And you think about what I said.”
I don’t answer that. Instead, I walk him towards the helicopter, helping him step inside and settling him comfortably into his seat. Once he is seated, I step back and signal the crew. A second later, the blades begin to move, the sound building gradually as the helicopter prepares for take-off.
I walk back to where Siya is standing and stop beside her.
We both look ahead as the helicopter slowly lifts off the ground, rising steadily before gaining height.
Baba looks out through the window and raises his hand.
Siya immediately waves back with a smile.
I don’t. I simply stand there, watching until the helicopter becomes smaller and smaller before finally disappearing from sight altogether.
As soon as it’s gone, I turn to leave.
“I want to ride Rogan.” Her voice comes from behind me just as I’m about to take a step forward.
I stop and turn around. “Rogan is not up for riding,” I tell her the moment she stops in front of me.
“Let Rogan decide that, not you,” she shoots back.
It’s almost impressive how quickly she responds every single time, always ready to argue and defy every damn thing I decide. I take a slow breath, my patience beginning to wear thin.
“Esha offered you the horse-riding experience yesterday along with the vineyard tour,” I remind her. “You had the opportunity, and you chose to turn it down. And now, that offer stands closed.”
“That wasn’t an offer,” she counters instantly. “That was you trying to distract me because you didn’t want me talking to Kailash Uncle. But unfortunately, your plans failed.”
She’s right, but I’m not interested in admitting that to her. So, I step closer instead. “Call it whatever you want, Siya Vardhaan. This is my estate, and those are my horses. And only I decide who goes near them. So stay away from the stable.”
“I see,” she mocks. “So the Dark Prince has left the mafia, but clearly his obsession to control everything around him hasn’t.”
The moment that name leaves her mouth, something rages inside me. I step closer, so much so that I’m almost invading her personal space. “Don’t,” I growl, pointing a finger at her. “Don’t ever take that name here again.”
Her hand wraps around my wrist before I can move. I look down at her hand, then back at her.
“Fine,” she says, not loosening her grip. “Then give me Uncle’s number. I need to send him the selfie.”
“No.”
“But he literally asked you to give it to me,” she argues. “You can’t just decide otherwise. What if he waits for my message and asks you about it later?”
“That’s my problem. Not yours,” I reply, pulling my hand free and breaking the contact in one clean motion.
Her expression shifts instantly from stubborn to annoyed. But I’m already done with this conversation, so I turn away from her again and head towards the buggy waiting for me.
“RK!” Her voice rings out behind me, now filled with anger.
I don’t stop.
“I hate you!” she yells, loud enough for her voice to echo across the Shivtara Valley.
That makes me pause. But not enough to turn around or acknowledge it. If Siya expects a reaction from me, she’s not going to get one. I exhale slowly and continue walking as though her words meant absolutely nothing.
Without looking back, I get into the buggy and keep my eyes fixed ahead as it starts moving.
Yet instinctively, my gaze shifts to the rear-view mirror.
And there she is, standing exactly where I left her, frustration written all over her face.
She stomps her foot down in irritation before finally marching back towards her own buggy, clearly furious.
Good.
***************
Night – Horse Stable @ RK Estate
The stable is quieter at this hour, except for the faint rustle of hay and the occasional sound of horses shifting inside their stalls.
I run my hand along Rogan’s flank, checking for any tightness in his muscles before adjusting his feed myself.
He has settled in well here, but I don’t take that at face value. Not with a horse like him.
Although the staff is capable of handling everything here without me needing to step in, tonight, I still choose to do it myself. Maybe because it’s easier being around horses than dealing with the noise in my own head.
Just as I step back and brush the hay from my hands, my phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s a video call from Ayaan.
I stare at the screen for a second before answering, already knowing this conversation isn’t going to end quickly.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
Ayaan smiles, pausing a moment longer as if reading me and my surroundings.
“I hope Baba is resting,” I say, stepping out of the stall and leaning back against the wooden partition.
“He is,” Ayaan replies. “Dad handled the authorities at that rehab home, got interim protection in place, and made sure the girls were safe before leaving. By the time he came home, Meher practically forced him to go to bed early. You know how she can be.”
A corner of my mouth tips up. That I can imagine.
“And what about you?” he continues, narrowing his eyes slightly. “What are you doing at the stable at this hour?”
“Nothing,” I reply easily. “Just wanted to check on the horses myself.”
“Hmm. Are you alone?” he asks after another pause.
I sigh. “Who exactly do you expect to be here with me?”
Ayaan grins. “Stop deflecting, Raghav.”
I let out a slow breath and glance away for a second before focusing back on the screen.