I forced a brittle smile. “Yes. He’s stable.”
“And you?”
“I'm fine.”
“I don't like liars, Kavya.” He looked at me, a slow, unexpected smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. The warmth of his palm seeped through my clothes. “Tell me... are you suffering from constipation?”
The sheer absurdity of the question broke through my misery. “What?”
“Your face,” he laughed, the sound rich and genuine. “You look exactly like someone who hasn't seen a bathroom in a week.”
I couldn't help it; a small smile cracked my expression. He explained that he had come to visit Mr. Chauhan, and I watched through the door as he went in. To my surprise, the two of them shared a bond deeper than anything my husband, Saurav, had ever offered his father. They spoke like father and son, laughing and debating.
Later, Abhiraj insisted we have lunch together in the hospital cafeteria. It was an odd sight as the richest bachelor in Rajasthansitting at a plastic table, sharing his meal with me. He didn't act like the arrogant, cold-hearted millionaire the tabloids described. He was carefree, almost jolly, his presence acting as a temporary shield against the storm waiting for me outside those hospital walls.
_______
I hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours. Between juggling the accounts and realizing I was still short by 150,000, I’d been forced to use Saurav’s golden card. After hours of stress, I finally managed to transfer the funds to my father. He was on cloud nine, thrilled to get his hands on that kind of cash so quickly.
I slumped onto the bed and covered my face, the distress weighing me down. I had worked so hard to save, only for my father and brother to snatch it all away. How much longer would they torture my sister and me? If they kept this up, they’d suck every last penny from the Chauhan family. They were greedy bastards, the type who would sell a dead body if it meant a quick payout.
The sudden ring of my phone startled me. I nearly threw the device across the room, fearing it was my father calling for more, but the screen showed an unknown number. I pressed it to my ear.
“Hello?” I whispered.
“Hello. It's Saurav.”
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his smooth and deep voice. I stayed silent, waiting for him to explain why he was calling.
“I received a notification this morning that you withdrew one lakh and fifty thousand rupees.”
“Yes, I… ” My voice trailed off.
“Is everything alright, Kavya?” he asked. I was shocked to hear the thread of worry in his tone. “I mean… I thought something might have happened to you.”
“I’m alright,” I said, on the verge of tears. I expected a demand for an explanation, a lecture on the huge withdrawal, but instead, he was concerned for me. “But your father… he isn’t well.”
“I heard,” Saurav replied. “Just take care of him. Make sure he doesn’t touch any alcohol or sugary foods. He’s disciplined in business, but he forgets everything when it comes to his own health.”
“Rest assured, I’ll take good care of him.”
“Thanks.” He paused for a few beats. “I’ve got to go.”
“Yes.”
“Take care of yourself, too.”
“You too,” I said, a massive smile spreading across my face until my jaw practically ached.
The line went dead. I jumped up and down, twirling and erupting into a wild bhootni dance. I caught my reflection in the mirror, beaming, glowing and hugged my phone to my chest as if it were my husband himself. One call, and I’d completely lost my mind. I blasted my favorite music, danced through the kitchen,and cooked a feast just for myself since my father-in-law was still in hospital.
_______
Chapter 24
KAVYA
“That looks great,” Abhiraj said, his eyes scanning his new office with the kind of awe usually reserved for a child in a candy store or a billionaire in a private jet showroom.