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She wants to push me away when I cover her up, but the tray of hot tea and cups in her hand doesn't let her move much. She stares at me in frustration instead.
“You will never be his, Cub,” I whisper in her ear. “And that's a promise. Vikram Singh Grover's promise.”
I feel her body shiver as my breath fans her neck. She staggers back a step while keeping her eyes locked with mine. I don't wait there anymore as I have conveyed what she should know.
I come out and join the Trivedis and Daadi.
“She is coming out,” I say when Daadi gives me a questioning look. I am probably still grinning, and she has noticed that.
“There she comes,” Manohar Trivedi draws our attention to the other side where Maahi walks towards us with the tray. I am glad she looks covered, but when I watch Shyam gaping at her, my fingers curl into a fist. I want to hit his face for seeing my Cub like that.
Maahi keeps the tray on the table between us and takes Manohar Trivedi's blessings. He pats her head and makes her sit next to him.
“How is your fever now? All well?” he asks.
“Yes, Uncle. I am doing fine now.”
“Where was Shyam that night?” I raise a valid doubt. I really want to know what he was doing when Maahi needed him to save her.
“Uh... I was stuck at home. I mean, it was pouring so hard and...” Shyam clears his throat to continue, but I don't let him defend himself much.
“You stay quite close to her boutique and yet you couldn't drive to save her?”
Maahi watches me, horrified, but I don't care. Daadi presses my arm to stop questioning, but I don't listen to her either.
“Don't take me wrong, Shyam. I just want to be sure you can keep her safe.”
My reply confuses Maahi because just a few minutes back, I promised her I wouldn't let her be a part of the Trivedi family ever.
“Of course,” Shyam holds Maahi's hands, and I want to smash something already. “She will always be safe with me.”
Maahi is forced to pull away her gaze from me and look at Shyam. When their eyes lock, I feel my body burning again. I need ice water to cool that kind of burning.
“Don't mind, Manoharji,” Daadi intervenes. “My grandson is always like that. He is very protective of his family.”
“Really?” Manohar mocks. “If he was so protective, why wasn't he here with you all these years?”
I am angered, but more than that, I am hurt. Yes, I should have been here to protect Daadi and Maahi all these years from people like them.
“Mr. Trivedi, we all learn from our mistakes, don't we?” I reply. “This time I am going nowhere. Daadi and Maahi are my responsibility, and I will protect them both with my life.”
I mean it. Maahi's eyes are back on me. There is something in her eyes that glitters. Are they tears?
“Maahi,” Daadi interrupts. “Serve them tea before it gets cold.”
“Jee (yes).”
Maahi starts pouring tea and then serves it to the Trivedis first. The next cup she hands to Daadi and then finally comes to me.
“You know I don't drink tea,” I say, smiling at her. She keeps the cup away, frowning at me, and takes a seat next to Daadi. I am glad she didn't return to the Trivedis again. The talks continue, but Manohar Trivedi doesn't waste time to conclude what he and his son are here for. They plan the engagement for next week. I am about to intervene, but Daadi presses my hand and agrees to it. I am not happy. Soon, the Trivedis decide to leave as they have to prepare for this event, and they don't have much time. Daadi and Maahi walk them out, and I wait desperately for the two to get back in.
“Vikram?” Daadi enters back the living room with Maahi. “I asked you to stay with us, thinking you might help me in the talks. Instead, you were embarrassing them.”
“I was embarrassing them?” I snap.
“Yes. They are good people.”
“I didn't feel so. They are pretending to be good.”
