The anger in her eyes shift, her softness slowly returning.
“I know exactly what Siya is afraid of. I know what happened to Shamsher Vardhaan, and I know why she hates this mafia world.” My jaw tightens. “But as long as I’m alive, no harm will come to either of you. And it’s not because I doubt your strength. I’m not doing this because I think either of you are incapable of protecting yourselves. In fact, both you and your daughter are stronger than most people I’ve ever met.”
A faint smile touches my lips. “Consider this entirely selfish of me. All I ask is this: let me protect you both as my family…as my own.”
Yes.Family.That’s what Siya and her mother have become to me. Because whether her mother likes it or not, whether Siya accepts it or not, they became mine the day I brought them here. And I protect what’s mine with everything I have.
Siya’s mother simply stares at me, now more confused than angry. She has no answer to any of this, nor do I wait for one. I turn to the idol once, making sure the diya is still burning steadily before I walk out of the temple room.
CHAPTER 31
SIYA
A week later
A week has passed since the morning I overheard the conversation between Mom and Raghav in the temple room. I hadn’t meant to listen. I’d woken up early that day and came downstairs looking for Mom. When I saw her walking into the temple room, I was about to follow her inside. Then I noticed Raghav standing there and instinctively stopped. Without meaning to, I heard everything.
I overheard him promise Mom that neither of us would ever pay the price forhiswars. That neither of us would ever be restricted here. That he hadn’t brought us to RK Estate to cage us. We were free to chase our dreams, live our lives the way we wanted to, and make our own decisions.
And the problem is that I believe him. Because Raghav Kundra may have many flaws, but lying has never been one of them. Whatever comes out of his mouth is usually the brutal, unfiltered truth. If he gives his word, he keeps it. I know that.
Ever since overhearing that conversation, hating him has become a little harder. Yes, he married me against my will and dragged me into a life I never wanted. That has changed. Yet every time I try to paint him as the villain in my head, he does something that refuses to fit that image.
Right now, I’m not trying to make this marriage work. I’m just trying to survive it. To coexist with it. To accept the reality that I’m Raghav Kundra’s wife and, for now, there’s nowhere else for me to go. And maybe that’s why I’ve started noticing things I wish I hadn’t.
Raghav never enters the kitchen when Mom is there. Instead, he quietly eats at the resort while Mom cooks at the villa, as if he doesn’t want to disturb our routine or make Mom feel uncomfortable in a place that technically belongs to him. Whenever possible, he finishes his prayers before Mom goes into the temple room, allowing her to pray in peace.
Then there are also smaller things that have begun to catching my attention. He never asks where I’m going, although I know he always keeps track out of concern. He never checks my phone, even though I’m fairly certain he has already figured out the password to my new one. And he never behaves the way a man who forcefully married a woman is expected to behave. He has never touched me inappropriately, even though we sleep on the same bed every night.
Whenever he walks into the bedroom shirtless, I deliberately retreat to the balcony, pretending to enjoy the cool breeze. Yet I’m painfully aware of his gaze following me every single time… watching and waiting for me to come back. For me to stop being stubborn and get some sleep. I even have a sneaky suspicion that half the time, he pretends to be asleep just so I’ll let my guard down and crawl back into bed sooner and get my share of rest too.
Maybe I’m wrong. Or maybe I know Raghav Kundra a little better now than I want to admit. So, technically, he has never treated me like a prisoner.
Things around me at RK Estate have changed as well. Earlier, everyone treated me like a guest, someone who would eventually leave. Now, they treat me differently. The staff is fully alertwhenever they spot me. The kitchen staff calls the villa almost every day to check if we would like any special meals prepared for us. Even the security guards seem to stand a little straighter whenever I walk past them.
And then there are the whispers, gossip, and the endless curiosity. The entire estate is fascinated by the fact that their boss finally got married. They’re even more intrigued byhowhe married. The mighty prince of this vineyard, whom they practically worship, falling for a guest and marrying her almost overnight has become the estate’s favourite hot topic.
The only person here who knows the real truth is Esha. A week ago, during one of our conversations, the truth about our marriage slipped out. I didn’t tell her anything about Raghav’s connection to the underworld. I would never reveal that secret to anyone, no matter how angry I am with him.
Today, the weather is colder. Dark rain clouds hang low over the mountains surrounding RK Estate, covering the sky in shades of grey. The monsoon, my favourite season, has finally arrived. There is something about rain that has always comforted me. Maybe because no matter how loud the storm gets, it eventually passes.
Fresh from my workout, I walk out of the resort gym and immediately spot Esha.
“Good morning, Ma’am,” she says with a smile.
“Good morning, Esha.” I return the smile politely.
The poor girl has been feeling guilty for the past week ever since she accidentally revealed the garland incident to Mom. She apologised to me almost immediately afterwards, regretting every word that had slipped out in her excitement. Although I never blamed her for it.
“How are you today?” she asks.
I shrug lightly. “Trying to adjust.”
And that’s the truth. I’m trying to make peace with the fact that I wake up every morning as Raghav Kundra’s wife.
Esha’s attention suddenly shifts somewhere behind me. Curious, I follow her gaze and find Haider standing near the open parking area, speaking to one of the security managers.
Interesting.
