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“What product would that be?”
“Drugs, weapons, women… it could be anything at any given time,” replied Veer with a shrug.
“And what’s the police doing when all this is going on?” asked Chandel Sahab sceptically.
“Snoozing. Because most of them are on the company’s payroll. Commissioner Dhaliwal is doing his best to catch them in the act, but every time they’ve raided the vehicles, they’ve found nothing. The company has insiders in the police force, so they find it easy to stay one step ahead of the cops.”
“And do you think you can stop them when the police can’t?”
“I know I can’t stop them, Chandel Sahab. But I can do my best to make sure my people don’t end up as collateral damage when they expand their business operations,” said Veer fiercely.
“You speak very well, beta. But it takes more than public speaking skills to be a good leader. It takes great strength of character, and I’m afraid your very character is under a cloud. Yes, yes,” he held up a hand when Veer began to reply. “I know you have your answers down pat. I know everything you’re going to say. But your image is all wrong. People don’t want a single playboy prince to be their neta. They want a family man. Someone they can trust.”
A kind of madness came over me just then. All evening, I had been mulling over my problem. If even Ranvijay couldn’t help me find a loophole to break the will, I was probably going to lose Gulab Mahal. Unless I did something quite crazy.
Taking a deep breath, I went and sat down next to Veer, who turned to me in surprise. I winked at him and wound an arm through his. I could feel him stiffen against me.
I smiled at Chandel Sahab warmly.
“But Veer isn’t single, Chandel Sahab. He’s well on his way to becoming a family man. Aren’t you, baby?” I asked, laying my head on Veer’s shoulder.
“Is this true, Veer? This news changes everything. With Isha beti by your side, you could possibly swing enough support to take the state,” he said thoughtfully.
Veer shot me a quick glance, eyes blazing with fury. But he forced a smile when he turned to answer Chandel Sahab.
“We were trying to keep it quiet for now, because the Trikheras are still in mourning,” he hedged.
“But we are looking at a quick wedding,” I added hastily.
Veer took my hand and held it against the side of his thigh, and squeezed my fingers painfully. I drew in a sharp breath and it took every bit of strength I could muster to not cry out in pain.
“Of course,” he said. “I can’t wait to make her mine.”
“Badhai ho,” said Chandel Sahab.
He extended a hand to Veer.
“Welcome aboard, Ranveer. You should file your nomination immediately and begin campaigning soon after your wedding. And don’t forget to bring Isha with you. Our people love a beautiful and kind princess.”
CHAPTER 12
VEER
Chandel Sahab droned on about the electoral process, but I couldn’t pay attention to a word he said because all I could think about was that Isha had just announced our engagement. Without consulting me.
We saw him off hand-in-hand, and as soon as his car drove out of sight, Isha tried to pull her hand from mine, but I held on tightly. She wasn’t getting away so easily. Not after she had put everything I had worked for in danger.
Ranvijay and our mothers turned to us in surprise.
“What the hell was that, Isha?” demanded her mother.
“I think that should be my question,” I said bitterly. “If you don’t mind, Isha owes me some answers right now. In private.”
Before anyone could argue, I dragged her by the hand and took her into the garden. I flung her onto a wrought iron bench in the formal rose garden and began to pace up and down the small space. Thrice I opened my mouth to speak, but no words would come out because I had been rendered speechless with fury.
Finally, I stopped before her and glared down at her unrepentant face.
“How dare you?” I seethed. “How dare you put all my hard work at risk with this ridiculous farce?”
