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VIKRAM
Maahi is gone, and I return to the group at Leela Mahal, whom my father so fondly invited to waste my time.
“Sorry, gentlemen, let's begin,” I say aloud. My father glares at me, but I don’t let him control the conversation. “I see Dad has already told you what the problem is.”
They all nod.
“Groverji, don’t worry,” the politician says. “This is no longer just your fight, but ours too.”
My brows rise.
“Yes,” the Police Commissioner adds. “And this girl, what's her name?”
My fingers curl into a fist. He better choose his next words carefully.
“Maahi,” Dad replies.
“Right. Maahi. We'll make sure she gives up the land without much dispute. She will have to. She cannot fight us.”
I'm counting backward, a technique Dad taught me to use when I'm extremely angry. I didn't think I'd have to use it this soon, and in front of him.
“Absolutely,” the social reformer interrupts. “My men know what to do in such situations. If she tries to build anything on that land without your consent, my men will destroy it in no time.”
I am still controlling my anger. What has Dad done? Who are these people to interfere in our family problems? For the first time in my life, I hate Dad for his errant decision. He is going to repent it soon, I will make sure of that.
“Maahi is a fighter,” Dad says. “She won't give up without a fight.”
“A person fights until they are alive, Groverji. What after that?” the social reformer says with a laugh, and that’s it.
The next instant, I grab his collar and pin him to the wall behind.
“Vikram?” Dad shouts, but I don’t care. I stare at everyone in the room to pass on an important message.
“If anyone among you dares to touch Maahi, I will kill you all myself.”
The social reformer trembles in fear, and the others watch me in horror. I release him and turn to Dad.
“One bruise on her, Dad, and I’m breaking our ties too. Stop this game right here. We don’t need these people in our fight. And if you still choose to involve them, I know how to end this my way.” I stride to my father, eyeing him intensely. “Trust me, this won't end well for any of us.”
Dad watches me, horrified, but I've conveyed enough. I leave the room. Ten minutes later, Dad storms into my cabin.
“What the heck do you think you are doing?” he shouts. “Do you know whom you raised your hand on?”
“An animal who was threatening to hurt Maahi,” I spit. “Thank your stars I didn’t kill him, Dad. I wouldn’t have minded.”
I pour myself some whiskey and gulp it down.
“You’re not making sense, Vikram. What is wrong with you?”
“You're asking me that?” I growl. “Look at yourself, Dad. This is not you. I've never seen you hurting people, and now you plan to hurt Maahi? The girl who has stayed with your mother all these years and gave her love? Only because Daadi gifted her some piece of land you want?”
“I was not going to kill her. I would never do that. I just wanted to threaten her to stop this fight.”
“Threaten?” I mock. “If she could be threatened, she wouldn’t have put up this fight in the first place. I know her. She’s not giving up, Dad. So, you better stop hiring people to force her.”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Don't do anything for now,” I snap. “Get these men off my property and warn them to stay away from our matter, especially Maahi.”
