Siya exhaled slowly through her nose and dragged her fingers through her curls. Her first instinct while watching the news was disbelief. Then came the realisation that her father hadn’t kept his word and that maybe he had never meant to.
Her stomach tightened with the familiar churn as anger and disappointment buried their way through her. She still fell for her father’s tricks. It would be laughable if it weren’t so tragic.
After Abhay left in the morning, she’d called Kartik to tell him that Abhay had agreed to the sham marriage, keeping his one-year marriage deadline only to herself. All she’d asked in return was that this news be kept under wraps until she’d spoken to Kashvi. It should have raised alarms in her mind when Kartik had agreed too easily. When would she learn?
‘Sources claim that a potential pregnancy might be the reason the couple is finally announcing their union. Could it bethat the jewellery heiress is carrying the Agrawal heir? Could this baby be the olive branch that finally ends their long-standing corporate hostility and give a happily ever after to the star-crossed lovers?’
Of course, that would be the angle. A scandalous and sensational pregnancy rumour. She leaned forward, dropped her face in her hands, and blinked against the dull throb building behind her eyes.
Meera groaned audibly. ‘I swear to God, if one more news channel uses the words “star-crossed lovers,” I’m throwing my TV out.’
‘We can easily create a drinking game out of it. After all, today calls for a celebration, doesn’t it? Will you please make us some pakodas?’ Swayam poked Meera’s arm, but she swatted it away.
Siya could hear them bickering, but her mind was numb. It was the second day in a row that the breaking news had changed the course of her life. Was she on a reality show and no one had bothered to inform her?
‘I could go for a drink. It’s not every day you’re accused of being pregnant on national television,’ Siya grumbled.
‘To be honest, the meme they’ve created of Abhay holding a baby above his head like in Bahubali 2 was a bold, artistic choice. Can I take a picture like that with your baby? I’d like to be in a meme too.’
Kashvi made a choked sound and facepalmed herself.
‘There will be no baby and we’re not married!’ Siya snapped at him.
Swayam clutched at his chest and dramatically sighed. ‘You mean you and Abhay aren’t secretly raising a dynasty in the shadows? I’m devastated.’
‘Shut up, idiot,’ Kashvi scolded, and punched him hard on the shoulder. It might have left an impact if she weren’t a dwarf against his muscular, caveman build.
He simply laughed and made atsksound. ‘Baby’smaasiis so touchy.’
Meera patted Siya’s knees. ‘Yaar, this was bound to happen. Your families aren’t exactly low profile. It’s not just about you two being married, it’s two rival powerhouses suddenly coming together. People need a story to make sense of it, and if they can’t find one, they’ll invent it.’
Siya nodded, even as her teeth bit into her bottom lip. One look at Kashvi and she could see the overwhelming fear of being left behind simmering beneath her anger.
She swallowed against the guilt rising up in her throat and patted the empty space next to her. Kashvi plopped down but wouldn’t meet her gaze.
Siya caressed her tousled hair and patted her head gently. She could see Kashvi was close to tears, so she wrapped her arms around her in a hug.
‘How could you make a decision like this without even talking to me?’ Kashvi asked in a trembling voice.
‘If I had told you, you wouldn’t have let me do it.’
Her voice rose. ‘Of course, I wouldn’t have! Because this doesn’t make any sense. Why are you doing this?’
‘Baby, I know you have questions, and believe me, if I could talk to you about it, I would. I promise I’ll answer them in time, but not now. Please just trust me.’
‘Is Dad behind this? Is he forcing you to do this?’
Siya gripped the armrest so tightly her knuckles went bloodless. Her father’s threat on their call rang loud in her mind, then settled in her gut like a stone.
‘If anyone finds out the truth about this marriage, you know things will be out of my hands then. Ravindra Bhatt is still interested in Kashvi, and he’s more determined than ever. You don’t know how generous his new proposal is, and you do know how easily I can be persuaded.’
She wanted to say something to her sister that would make this easier, but her throat ached from all the jagged edges of the bitter truth.
How could she tell her that their father was ready to essentially marry off his daughters to the highest bidders for his benefit? And even though Siya was doing all she could to protect her, that didn’t mean the reality wouldn’t hurt her baby sister.
And if she did tell her, Kashvi would fight. She would scream, rage, and throw herself into the fire for Siya’s sake without hesitation. And their father would laugh as they burned to ashes.
Blinking back tears, Siya looked up—but at Meera. She clenched her jaw and hoped her best friend would understand her silence. Meera’s expression softened, and she placed a hand on Kashvi’s shoulder. ‘Kashu, look at me.’
