CHAPTER 41 #2
His jaw tightens as I shrug innocently, “So technically, you don’t deserve any reward.”
His nostrils flare.
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing.
Poor man. Negotiating with rival mafia clans is probably easier than negotiating with his own wife.
The great Raghav Kundra, who can command a mafia empire with a single look, is standing here trying to convince me to spend an evening with him. And he’s failing.
He runs an impatient hand through his hair before looking back at me.
“Do you have any other reason?” I ask sweetly. “Because that one isn’t convincing enough.”
His eyes narrow dangerously.
“And by the way…” I pretend to check an imaginary watch. “You have exactly thirty seconds left.”
I hold my laugh. He’s so easy to rile up. He simply looks at me before letting out another frustrated breath. Then he gives up.
“Fine. Don’t come.” Without another word, he turns and starts walking towards the door.
I literally laugh as the door clicks shut behind him.
“You might be the most feared mafia prince, Mr. Raghav Kundra, but when it comes to matters of the heart, you still have a lot to learn.”
Still smiling, I turn back to my laptop and continue working on the design, curious about where he wants to take me tomorrow evening.
*****************
Night
I spent the next few hours occupied in my work, and after our conversation, I didn’t see Raghav much.
He did return for dinner, but that was only because he knew he couldn’t refuse Mom.
Even then, he barely touched his food, making sure I knew how annoyed he was because I refused to go out with him tomorrow.
An hour after dinner, I return to the living room, searching for him.
“Siya?”
I turn around to find Mom.
“Whom are you looking for?”
“I...” I hesitate before admitting it. “I was looking for Raghav. He isn’t back yet.”
She studies me for a moment. “I noticed something was off between you two during dinner as well. What happened?”
“Actually... he’s angry.” I sigh. “He wanted to take me out tomorrow evening, but I told him that if he wanted me to come, he had to convince me.” I let out a helpless laugh. “And... he couldn’t.”
Maa bursts into laughter. “Oh, Siya.” She walks closer and affectionately strokes my hair. “You need to go a little easy on him.”
I frown. “Easy?”
“Yes.” She smiles. “Don’t rush him. Don’t overcrowd him with emotions all at once. Believe me, I know men like Raghav far better than you do.”
She chuckles, lost in her own memories.
“Your father was exactly the same after our marriage. Romance?” She laughs again. “He scored an absolute zero. He had no idea how to convince his wife, how to make up after upsetting her, or even how to express what he felt. I practically had to teach him everything.”
I can’t help smiling.
“So give Raghav some time too. Men learn surprisingly fast...” She pauses, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Especially the ones who are truly in love.”
My eyes widen. “Mom!”
She only laughs harder. “What? Don’t tell me you’re still not aware of that. Or that you don’t have those same feelings for him.”
Her smile only deepens as I stay silent.
“I might not say it aloud, but I can see everything that has been happening between the two of you these past few days.” Her voice softens. “I’m happy that things are progressing.”
She is?
“I know the way your marriage began wasn’t ideal, Siya,” she continues gently.
“Sometimes life takes us down the wrong path before leading us to the right destination. And I truly believe Raghav is the right guy for you. He may not be very open about what he feels, and that’s okay.
Men like him don’t express themselves through grand speeches.
They reveal their hearts in the little things, in the ordinary moments, when they think no one is watching. ”
I lower my eyes.
“Now we both know his intentions were never wrong. Whatever happened... happened because he wanted to protect you and couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.
A man doesn’t become this protective or possessive without reason.
He becomes like this when his feelings run deeper than he himself realises.
I’m telling you this from my own experience.
The kind of feelings Raghav has for you don’t come easily, Siya.
There are women who marry the man they love and still spend their entire lives wishing to be loved with even half the intensity that he loves you. ”
She cups my cheek.
“You both deserve happiness. He deserves everything life has stolen from him, and so do you.” She smiles again before asking, “Do you remember how you used to dream about your prince charming?”
I laugh softly.
“I used to think men like that only existed in fairy tales. But today, when I look at Raghav, strangely enough, I don’t think anyone else could fit into that place better than your own Dark Prince.”
Warmth creeps into my cheeks.
“So now listen to me carefully.” She gently holds my hands. “If you have feelings for him, don’t spend your life hiding from them.” Then she pulls me into a hug and kisses my forehead. “I’m so happy for you, Siya.”
I am happy too.
“Now stop worrying and go find your husband.” She gently nudges me towards the hallway. “Whatever is keeping him away... bring him home.”
With that, Mom disappears into her bedroom.
I simply stand there watching her. Until now, I’d kept brushing aside every emotion growing inside me, convincing myself it was too soon, too complicated, too impossible.
But hearing Mom say those words aloud feels different.
As though she has gently spoken the truth I’ve been too afraid to acknowledge myself.
When did this happen? When did Raghav stop being just the man I was married to? When did his smile begin affecting my mood, his silence began bothering me, and his happiness somehow became tied to mine?
I honestly don’t remember. All I know is that when I imagine home now, I think of him.
When I imagine tomorrow, he’s there too…
standing beside me, arguing with me, teasing me, protecting me, making me lose my patience, making me laugh, and making this strange, impossible marriage slowly begin to feel like the life I never knew I wanted.
That future doesn’t scare me anymore. Mom is right. Maybe life really did take us through the wrong roads before bringing us exactly where we were meant to be.
A man I once wanted nothing to do with… is now the only one I can picture spending the rest of my life with.
I really am in trouble. Sweet trouble.
Taking a deep breath, I pull out my phone. There’s only one person who would definitely know where Raghav is. Haider.
The call barely rings twice before he answers.
“Where’s Raghav?” I ask.
A short pause follows before he sighs. “Raghav specifically told me that if you called, I shouldn’t tell you where he is.”
“What?” I almost laugh in disbelief. “Seriously? After everything I did for you and Esha?”
“And what exactly did you do for us?” he asks, confused.
“I made Raghav talk to you about Esha and find out how you feel about her. Which means I opened up your path towards your love story... and now you’re blocking mine?”
The words leave my mouth before I even realise what I’ve admitted.
Haider suddenly laughs, and I freeze. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh like that before.
A smile slowly spreads across my face too.
Love really does change people. No matter how stubborn, reserved, or stone-hearted someone appears, the moment they allow another person into their heart, something softens inside them. Even Haider isn’t an exception.
“He’s at the Clay House,” he finally says.
“The... what?”
“The Clay House. It’s right beside your villa.”
I blink. “Clay house? What… what is he doing there?”
“Pottery.”
My jaw almost drops.
Raghav? And pottery?
The call ends soon after, but I remain exactly where I am. It’s fascinating. Every single day, this man surprises me with another side of himself I never imagined existed. I step out of the villa with a wide smile and head towards the Clay House.
The moment I push the door open, I halt in my tracks, spotting Raghav inside.
He doesn’t notice me. The man is completely engrossed in the spinning pottery wheel before him, dressed in nothing but a black sleeveless vest and rugged jeans.
Damp clay stains the front of his vest, with more smeared across his jeans and the side of his neck.
Somehow, it makes him look even more striking.
His broad shoulders flex effortlessly with every movement of his hands, his muscular arms working patiently as the lump of clay slowly begins to take shape beneath his fingers. There’s something almost hypnotic about watching him like this.
Until now, I knew him as the feared mafia prince, the protective husband, and the broken son.
But today, he’s also Raghav the creator.
A man whose hands once destroyed lives now patiently shapes something beautiful out of fragile clay.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more unexpectedly attractive.
He finally senses my presence and lifts his gaze to me. Although surprised, he doesn’t say a word. He simply looks at me once before returning his attention to the pottery wheel.
I knew it.
Suppressing my smile, I walk a little closer.
“I didn’t know the Dark Prince secretly practiced pottery and was this good at it.”
No response. Someone is clearly still upset.
“Raghav...” I call, deliberately drawing out his name.
He doesn’t so much as glance my way. I let out an exaggerated sigh before walking right up beside him.
“Fine. Be stubborn. Don’t talk to me.” I fold my arms, and my attention drifts back to the pottery wheel.
“But this... this is amazing. I’ve never tried pottery before.
In fact, this is the first time I’m actually watching someone make something like this.
It looks like so much fun. I want to learn too. ”