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“Yes, he came directly from the court, and he is not alone. He has a group of people who are surveying the property.”
My heart races. Why did he go there? And why the hell is he doing the land survey? Does he really mean all that he said to me?
“Shuklaji, let me speak to him. Pass him the phone.”
“Okay, wait.”
He takes a minute to reach Vikram, and I hear him talking to him.
“Maahi wants to speak to you,” he says.
“Later, Shuklaji. You see I am busy here,” Vikram replies adamantly.
His reply irks me. It’s high time he stops ignoring me now.
“Maahi, he says he cannot speak now,” Shuklaji informs.
“Just pass him the phone. I am not going to drop the call until I speak to him.”
I don’t like putting Shuklaji in the spot like this, but I have to speak to Vikram now. He finally snatches the phone from Shuklaji, hearing my growl.
“Hi, Cub.”
“Vikram, stop that survey at once.”
“Excuse me? What did you say? Your voice isn’t audible.”
Though I cannot see his face, I can feel him grin.
“Vikram, don’t you dare make these decisions on your own,” I shout.
“Did you ask me before deciding not to fly to the US this time?” he asks. “You just declared it, Maahi. Practice what you preach, sweetheart.”
He is testing my patience.
“Come home,” I shout. “Let’s talk.”
“I am coming home soon, sweetheart, but not to talk. We are past that stage now.”
And the call disconnects.
“Vikram?” I am on the verge of breaking down. I want to throw my phone away and hurt myself so badly for getting into this mess. I never even dreamt of Prince Pompous taking these extreme measures only because I denied traveling with him this time.
CHAPTER 23
VIKRAM
Back home, the guests have finally left. Daadi informs me that the Mooh Dikhai ceremony for Maahi went well. She shows me some pictures on her phone, and I'm instantly mesmerized by my wife in a blue and red lehenga with a veil on her head. Although Maahi smiles in all the pictures, I know it's fake. The truth is, she’s worried about Devki Estate's future, and she better start taking it seriously.
Dad approaches, eager for an update on the survey. I tell him it went perfectly fine. He pats my back, praising me for my efforts even on my wedding day, and mentions that he’s already arranged for our charter plane to start for India to fly us out the day after tomorrow. Two more nights, and I'll be gone to the USA, away from this place, away from my grandmother, and even away from my wife. I don’t like it a bit, but it's inevitable. Maahi won’t fly with me this time. In fact, I suspect she never wants to settle down in the USA with me. She's too attached to Daadi and will never leave her alone in Ratna Mahal, no matter how many servants, nurses, and doctors we keep here to look after Daadi. To be honest, I don’t want Daadi to be here without us. I wish she agrees to stay in the USA with the family, forever.
Mom asks me about their earlier conversation with Maahi, where she declared she’s not coming to the USA this time. I tell her not to worry for now. We know what we’re doing and how to make this work. But truthfully, I’m lying to myself. I want Maahi beside me all the time, wherever I stay. I might slog the whole day at my office back in the US, but when I return home, I want my wife to greet me, to feed me dinner, and I want to take her to bed, making love to every inch of her body. Now that I know this isn’t happening for a while, I am going insane.
“Vikram, what are you still doing here? Go to your room. Maahi must be waiting for you there,” Daadi says.
I know she’s waiting for me desperately, but only to talk, not for anything else. She has nothing to do with this marriage as far as I can see.
“On my way,” I say, giving a goodnight hug to Daadi and Mom before heading to the bedroom.
