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“Yeah! My problem is as bad as yours,” chimed in Isha. “And just as important.”
She still hadn’t moved away from Ranvijay, I observed furiously. It was unprofessional, that’s all. I mean, I wasn’t unreasonable. Would I be happy if there was a big purdah between them to make sure the bearded brute focused on his work instead of charming my woman? The woman, not mine. I frowned at my mental blip but forged on. Would I prefer that? Sure. But like I said, I was a reasonable man, and I’d settle for them discussing her problem professionally. With the whole length of the room between them.
“I’m sure a house is as important as the fate of a whole state,” I said nastily. “But I called him first. So there!”
“Look, Laajwanti! I know your saviour complex makes you blind to what you think is a first-world problem, but it matters to me,” she snarled.
Ranvijay barked out a loud laugh just as Isha’s mother gasped in horror.
“Isha! You can’t be so rude to our guest,” she said faintly. “Haye, Didi Sa! How will I ever find a husband for this girl when she can’t even control her tongue?”
“Actually, I see a solution for both your problems,” said Nandini Aunty with a crafty smile that put me on my guard instantly.
I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like whatever she was planning.
“Ma, please stay out of it,” warned Ranvijay. “Don’t interfere in my professional matters.”
“I’m just offering a solution,” argued his mother.
“It’s my job to offer the solutions here. And I’m already doing that. We’re sending takedown notices to the websites running those articles and images about Veer. And we’re trying to track down the source of the leak. As for Isha, I’m going to review the terms of her will before I offer my legal opinion.”
“Yes, yes, beta. I’m sure you’re doing your best. But it’s not good enough,” said his mother.
The glare Ranvijay shot at his mother should have turned her to ashes where she stood, but she was clearly made of sterner stuff.
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not your fault, beta. You’re looking at both of these situations from a legal angle. But I’m more practical in my approach.”
“I hate to say this, Ma, but my clients haven’t asked you for help,” he snapped.
“But I did,” said Isha’s mother firmly. “Isha is my daughter, and I have every right to ask for a second opinion on her behalf.”
“I agree. Ranveer might not know what’s good for him, but as his mother, I do! And I want to hear Didi Sa’s solution.”
“As I was saying,” continued Nandini Aunty mildly. “I have the perfect solution to both of your problems. Isha needs a husband…”
“I really don’t,” Isha broke in desperately.
“…and from what I understand, Ranveer needs a wife,” said Nandini Aunty with a flourish.
I stared at her speechlessly.
Why… what… Was she out of her fucking mind?
I took a deep breath and bit back my instinctive response.
“Nandini Aunty, I don’t need a wife. My problem is more political,” I said gently, trying not to be rude.
It wasn’t her fault she was losing her mind. Dementia was increasingly common in the elderly, and I wasn’t going to hold it against her.
“Don’t be an idiot, Ranveer,” she said bluntly. “Your main problem is that your public image has been ruined and you can’t be CM with such a tarnished image. The easiest way to fix that is to marry a woman of impeccable breeding and lineage. Everyone loves a reformed rake.”
“I’m not a rake at all,” I yelled.
That was the most important point here.
“I’m not interested in ‘fixing’ my image, Aunty. I’ve done nothing wrong and I will prove it!”
“And Veer is the last man on earth I’d ever marry,” declared Isha angrily.
