CHAPTER 16
RAGHAV
Raghav’s Office Cabin
I sit in my cabin, the file on the vineyard expansion plan open in front of me, waiting for approval. Land allocation, irrigation mapping, cost breakdowns… everything is structured, exactly how it should be.
And yet, I’ve been staring at the same line for the past few minutes. I’m reading the words, but my mind isn’t processing them. I tap my pen lightly against the desk, trying hard to focus. Instead, my mind drifts back to yesterday.
To the game lounge. To Siya. To the way she stood at the pool table, completely off with her angles. To the stubborn glare she threw at me when I corrected her. To the feel of her waist beneath my hand as I adjusted her stance.
And then… her hair.
F*ck.
I can still feel the softness of those strands sliding through my fingers as I tied them back, pushing them away from her face because they kept falling over her face.
My mind then drifts back to the messages she sent me yesterday morning while checking on my wound, especially that last one. “Abhi bataane ka mood nahi hai.”
A low scoff escapes me. Brat.
That smug little reply has been sitting in my head since yesterday. She’d deliberately refused to explain herself after provoking me on purpose. And the infuriating part is that she succeeded, because she got exactly the reaction she wanted from me.
I had ignored every message before that, but the moment she mentioned Kriti, my fingers moved before my brain could. And I don’t like it. I exhale slowly, shutting the file a little harder than necessary. This needs to stop.
Haider knocks on the door and walks inside.
“She’s out again.”
That gets my attention. My gaze lifts instantly to him.
“This time Siya has stepped out of the RK estate, and her guards have no idea.”
For a second, I just stare at him, before the anger hits. Does she think this is a game? Just two days ago, someone had tried to kill her, and now she decides to walk out alone again? How can she be this reckless?
“She’s not alone, though. Esha is with her,” Haider adds. “She’s taken Siya to the Shivtara Valley temple for tonight’s event.”
Haider continues, already sensing from my expression that I’m not happy with any of this.
“The security at the estate gates didn’t check the staff vehicle,” he explains. “Esha’s car was allowed to leave directly. Siya was apparently hiding inside, which means neither her guards nor the RK Estate security realised she had crossed the gates.”
Unbelievable. So Siya planned another impulsive stunt? She actually had the audacity to slip past armed security right under everyone’s noses, just two days after a hitman entered my estate grounds for her. I lean back slowly in my chair and glare at Haider.
The brain of that woman was raised in a mafia empire. She should have known by now that whoever sent that shooter once can try again. How can she slip away and walk straight into a public gathering full of strangers all alone?
F*ck.
The invitation to tonight’s event had arrived a few days ago, just like it always does.
The locals make a point of inviting me to everything, whether it’s a festival, a religious ritual, or a community gathering.
It’s more out of respect than obligation now.
Even so, I never attend any of these social events. I’m simply not made for them.
And tonight’s gathering, where the women of the valley publicly choose their partners, is not my space either.
As soon as I received the invitation, I declined without a second thought, giving some excuse about work.
And now, Siya is there, amidst the crowd, blending into the festive madness as if she belongs there.
I run my thumb along my jaw in irritation.
“Put eyes on her,” I say, looking back at Haider. “I want men close enough to step in, if necessary, but do it discreetly.”
He nods.
“And keep a close watch on Esha too,” I add.
That makes him pause. “On Esha?”
“Yes.” I push back from my chair and rise to my feet. “After what happened the other day with Siya, I’m not taking any chances. Not when I know there are people out there who want her dead. Right now, I trust no one.”
Haider remains silent, but I catch the flicker of disagreement in his eyes the moment Esha’s name comes up. Almost as if he doesn’t like the idea of me putting surveillance on her. I don’t question him either because frankly, I have bigger things to worry about right now. Like Siya!
Haider leaves the room to pass on my orders to our men. And despite knowing they can handle it, I don’t like that Siya is out without protection. I can’t explain why, but apparently anything and everything related to her matters to me.
Siya is the first woman I haven’t been able to dismiss.
The first woman I can’t seem ignore, no matter what.
The first one who lingers, long after she’s gone.
And right now, although I want to dismiss her thoughts, I know that I won’t be able to concentrate on anything else until I see her safe again.
So, before I can overthink it, I reach for my jacket lying on the sofa, pick it up, and walk out.
Until Siya is back at the RK estate, her safety cannot be compromised.
SIYA
Shivtara Valley Temple
Esha and I step inside the temple grounds.
The puja is already underway. The soft ringing of bells, the sacred chants, the flicker of diyas…
it all feels strangely comforting and peaceful.
It proves I made the right decision in coming here.
I needed a break from all the thoughts juggling in my head from the past few days, especially about my impending forced marriage with Parag.
That reminds me he hasn’t sent a single message since morning.
That feels off. For days, he hasn’t left me alone, bombarding me with messages after messages that felt suffocating.
And today… nothing? It doesn’t make sense.
But then I let it go. Whatever the reason is, it’s working in my favour.
So, I push the thought aside and let myself sink into the moment instead.
The entire place glows under the night sky and is surrounded by lilies.
White lilies are considered sacred in this valley and are the only flowers offered to the Goddess at the temple here.
Because of this, there are lily garlands everywhere…
draped around ancient stone pillars, wrapped around railings, placed near the deity, and even scattered along the pathways.
Wherever I go, their sweet fragrance lingers in the air.
Women move around me in vibrant local attire, laughing, talking, their glass bangles clinking softly as they pass. And for a change, I don’t feel out of place either, because I’m dressed like them.
I’m wearing a traditional Himachali outfit, one Esha had sent over earlier in the day.
It’s a deep maroon and rust-coloured kurta with intricate embroidery in shades of gold and green.
Over it, there’s a fitted waistcoat which sits snug against my frame, adding elegance while still keeping it soft and feminine.
A long, flowy skirt falls around my legs.
It’s heavy yet graceful. But it’s the dupatta that transforms the entire look.
It’s vibrant, with tiny oxidised silver loops stitched along the borders that chime softly whenever I move.
The fabric rests over my head in the traditional style worn by local women, covering part of my forehead before being secured neatly at the back of my head with a hidden knot.
A few loose strands of hair have escaped near my temples, but the rest falls freely down my back.
Esha had insisted on completing the look with heavy oxidised jewellery. The large jhumkas brush against my neck every time I turn my head. I barely look like myself tonight. And strangely enough, I don’t mind. I think the look really suits me.
I glance around again, taking it all in.
Then my gaze drifts towards the temple where Esha is taking me.
The deity worshipped here is Shivtara Mata, believed to be a manifestation of Maa Parvati, the protector of the valley.
According to the locals, it is she who witnesses and blesses the couples whose paths are destined to cross on this rare full moon night.
The priests are chanting mantras, their voices rising and falling with the wind. Then, one of the priests steps forward and addresses everyone gathered here.
“On this rare full moon night, Shivtara Mata reveals the truth of a woman’s heart. She does not listen to what you say… she listens to what you cannot deny.”
I step forward, fold my hands, and focus on the priest’s words. He gestures towards the lily garlands that are placed around the vicinity for the women.
“These white lilies you’ll hold… they stand for purity. For truth. For the feelings you hide even from yourself.”
A hush settles over the gathering as he continues, “Do not think of the man you desire. Do not let your mind interfere.” He lowers his voice. “Instead, let your heart choose the man it cannot walk away from.”
The drums begin in the background now, their rhythm slow and steady. I glance towards Esha, who looks lost in the priest’s words.
“Tonight’s ritual is based on the belief that love is not something that is given to you.
It is something you discover,” the priest continues, “Your feet will move before your mind understands why. And when your heart finds the man it chooses… you will place this garland around his neck. That moment, that choice, will be witnessed by Shivtara Mata herself.”
He takes another pause, allowing the significance of his words to sink in before explaining further.
“But remember, even the man has a choice. He may remove the garland and walk away. But if he accepts it, then that moment becomes a vow. Not one bound by law, but by belief, by truth, and by the Goddess who stands witness to it all. Jai Shivtara Mata.”