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And this time, he left. Veda watched him go, wondering why two days suddenly felt like eternity.
Twenty-Nine
AGASTYA
Agastya strode down the corridor that led to his father’s study, Ganesh following closely behind. His mind hummed with what he’d just realised about his wife. Veda should have been ripping him a new one, but she’d forgiven him instead, telling him she understood that he had more important things to do.
He had no idea why she had such low esteem but there was no way he would stand for it. His jaw tightened at the thought that someone, somewhere, had made his wife think she needed to make herself smaller to make other people happier. Like fuck she would! Veda was going to live her life king size. He would accept nothing less.
He knocked on his father’s door and walked in without waiting for an invitation. Ganesh didn’t follow, waiting outside the door for Agastya. He found the Chief Minister sitting at his desk, frowning at his iPad, and scrolling through the tabloids. Agastya grinned. No one would guess that this is how their Head of State started the day.
“Good morning Nanna.”
“Why are you in such a good mood?” his father groused suspiciously.
“Why are you not?” Agastya sat down in the chair facing his father.
Nanna shoved his iPad across his broad teakwood monstrosity of a table. “Because of that.”
Agastya picked up to see Veda’s smiling face, her hair flying in an arc as she danced at some nightclub. Harsh was laughing down at her and he saw Priyanka and Aarush in the background too. The click bait title ‘The First Family of the State having a little too much fun?’ was annoying. The rest looked picture perfect to him.
“Looks like they are having a nice time,” he said mildly, shoving the iPad back towards his father. “You should be happy she’s bonding with the family.”
“I only suggested she go out.” His father’s bushy eyebrows bristled with rage. “She was so sad because you forgot about her, I told all of them to go out. I didn’t tell them to do this.”
The iPad was shoved back at Agastya. He didn’t bother glancing at it.
“What is this?”
Nanna sighed. “You know what I mean. She needs to learn what is expected of her.”
“Nothing is expected of her other than for her to be happy,” Agastya said obstinately, refusing to see his father’s valid point.
“You chose this life kadha?”
Agastya nodded, his chest tightening. “I did.” It was all he’d ever wanted.
“She chose it too when she agreed to marry you. This life demands certain compromises, certain sacrifices. You know this Agastya. Don’t be an idealistic fool about it.”
“We can discuss the compromises,” Agastya replied tightly. “But there will be no sacrifices. Not from Veda.”
Nanna stared at him, his astute eyes taking in everything Agastya wasn’t saying.
“You love her,” he said, sounding bemused.
The truth of that statement slammed through Agastya taking his breath away. “I do,” he said, the weight of his confession feeling strangely freeing.
“This was a marriage of convenience, I thought?”
“That’s what I thought too.” Agastya was aghast. How had this happened? Love was not a part of his plans. It never had been.
Nanna was looking rather entertained at Agastya’s predicament now. Annoyed, Agastya stood, feeling like the earth was tilting beneath his feet.
“I’m going to Delhi for two days. The Defence Minister asked me to come about the Cantonment lands.”
“I know.” Nanna grinned.
“I’ve told the team to keep looking for those missing documents.”
