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“One year? Two years? Or more?”
Ranveer stared at her for a long minute before she replied, “Are you ready to be a father, Ranveer?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “It's not something I can answer easily. I don’t remember how my father was. I have no base to start with. I've always lived alone, never had a family to share my time with. It's only after you that I've been blessed with all of this. Every day with you feels like a boon to me. I’m learning to be a better person than I was before. I want to be a good father, but I don’t know how. I don’t know whom to ask, whom to learn from.”
Maya's eyes shone with tears. “You will be an excellent father. Our kids will adore you.”
“Will they?” he smiled cheekily. She pressed her forehead to his and smiled back. “We'll talk about family planning once I'm back.”
Ranveer let her go. He knew she was getting late, and he didn’t want her boss to scold her for that.
“You're taking Martha with you,” he stated, not as a question but as a pre-agreed arrangement she couldn’t deny.
“Hope she doesn’t scare my models and make them run away. Blitz will be shut,” she joked before pecking his cheek again and slipping out of the room.
******************
An hour later
Adira felt restless in the house. Despite its opulence, she felt let down when Ranveer Malhotra remained secluded in his drawing room, engrossed in his work. Flipping through magazines with disinterest, she set them aside. Garima was not at home either, and Ranveer's Daadi was occupied in her room with holy books. Maya had left for work with her bodyguard, which meant Ranveer was alone. Sensing an opportunity to capture his attention, she hurried to the drawing room and gently pushed the door open.
“May I come in?” she sought his permission.
Ranveer was on a business call and hadn’t anticipated Adira’s intrusion, but he allowed her to enter.
“Mr. Singh, take this up with Aman. He knows how to handle it. We will talk again next week. Bye.”
He disconnected and reclined in his chair. Adira had a slim face. At 21, she still boasted a good height and lean figure. He had seen pictures of Adira with her family, and she was a striking replica of her mother, her emotions always transparent on her face. At present, she seemed intent on taking advantage of his solitude and Maya’s absence. Poor girl! She had no idea she would fail, no matter how hard she tried, because no other woman interested him besides his wife. He sighed, noting the vast difference between the two women despite being stepsisters.
“What a beautiful room this is,” she complimented, admiring the interiors.
“I don’t allow anyone to disturb me here. It’s my workplace at home,” he stated, almost as a warning.
“I know that. I won’t take much of your time,” she flashed a grin. “I wanted to use your pool. If I may.”
Ranveer took a moment to decide.
“You are my mom-in-law’s guest. Please feel free to make yourself comfortable in this house.”
“Don’t link me with her,” she snapped.
Ranveer's brow rose. “She is the only reason you are here and alive.”
Adira frowned. “I didn’t ask for any favors. She dragged me here.”
Ranveer waved it off. “Forget it. I won’t waste my time convincing your silly brain. Use the pool and shut the door before you leave.”
He returned his attention to his laptop screen, resuming work. Adira bit her lip and slipped out. He might have ignored her for now, but she hoped to capture his attention soon. She donned her swimsuit and dove into the pool, enjoying the warm water. The pool was adjacent to the drawing room, separated by a glass wall. She had purposely chosen this activity to draw his gaze, hoping he wouldn’t resist her advances today.
However, Ranveer remained immersed in his calls, never casting a glance her way or showing any interest in her activities. After 30 minutes, Adira grew bored and decided to try another tactic to garner his attention. Climbing out of the pool, she sat at the edge, clutching her foot.
“Ouch. It hurts. Somebody help me. Ranveer,” she called out. “Ranveer, please help me.”
Ranveer rubbed his forehead, feeling his frustration mount. This girl was too loud, and he couldn’t concentrate on his calls. Dropping the phone, he emerged from the room.
“Shut up,” he groaned.
Adira pouted seductively. “Ranveer, I'm sorry. I think I sprained my ankle. I can’t walk. Please take me to my room.”
