“Now enjoy your final night of command. Tomorrow, I rule again.”
She blinked, her mouth slightly open. Nilay never let an opportunity go. He gently pulled her down by the waist. Fixated by the moment, she came. Her mouth was open, close to his. And he pushed closer to take it when his doorbell rang.
“Fuck that bastard!”
“Who?” She pulled back.
“Whoever that is! Just come here and finish this…”
“Shoo!” She swatted his hand away and padded to his door. He had never been more grateful for a spacious hall that was never-ending. To see her walk, to see those hips sway without ‘swaying’ was alone responsible for half his recovery.
She pushed the intercom camera button and frowned.
“Who is it?”
“Your… father. And, brother.”
Nilay got to his feet and strode to her. “Go inside.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to expose you to whatever poison they have brought again.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I am here. Let them come. You go and sit down.”
“Ritu, we are not telling them about the attacks.”
She frowned.
“They don’t matter to me. Haven’t mattered to me for a long time. Bad news, just as good news, is shared with people who matter.”
Her eyebrows went down — “They are your family.”
“No.”
“Fine, open the door. But I am standing right here.”
Nilay turned the knob and opened the door. Sanket Patel and Parmeshwar Patel stood, side by side, two peas of one pod. Even their polo T-shirts looked like they were made from the same exact fabric, in different shades, falling down to their thighs in uncle cuts identically.
“Yes?”
“Nilay,” Sanket looked stunned. “How are you?”
“I am fine. Are you both returning to Dubai?”
“Yes… no. I mean…” he looked hesitantly at their father, then back at him. “We heard about your heart attack. How are you? They said you have not been coming to the office for a week…”
His face hardened.
“Can we come in?”
Nilay glanced at his father, then back to his brother. He looked over his shoulder, and Ritu was standing there, out of their sight. He raised his eyebrows. She blinked her assent.
Nilay stepped back, and saw both pairs of eyes widen at the discovery of the woman behind him.
