Aditi's arms fell to the side with a whack.
“You’re the girl from that party, aren’t you?” the older lady barked.
Aditi’s brows furrowed, unsure which party Leela was referring to.
“What are you doing in Rian’s house?” Leela demanded, looking like she’d decided she would dislike Aditi irrespective of the answer.
“I live here.”
Oddly enough, the response caused Leela’s lips to twist cruelly. “You moved fast. How long have you lived with him? How did you convince him?”
“I. . .Nanamma brought me here.”
“That bitch. I should have known she’d meddle in my plans for him. I don’t care. You need to pack up and leave. I order it.”
Aditi blinked, slowly recovering from the shock of realising who it was she was speaking to. She’d thought Leela was a sophisticated and beautiful lady when she’d first opened the door. A few minutes of staring into the eyes of someone she’d never wanted to meet, combined with the knowledge of the terrible things she’d done to Rian, and Aditi saw clearly that the elegance was just skin deep. The unblemished face that glared at her, though wiped of wrinkles, was also wiped of humanity. There was no graciousness in her tone, no distinction in her bearing.
Aditi couldn’t help but compare her to Nanamma, whose intelligent grey eyes and kind personality, so much like her grandson, spoke of a strength that belied her age.
The woman in front of her was cruel. And cruelty was a crutch for the weak.
“Did you hear me or are you deaf?” Leela snarked, snapping her fingers rudely in Aditi’s face. “I said I order you to leave my son. Immediately.”
“Youorderme?” Aditi huffed out a sarcastic laugh.
Leela, having said her part, had already stopped paying attention. Clearly, she did not believe in extending the courtesy of listening to the opposite party. Aditi saw her rake a critical gaze over the apartment, stilling at the sight of the mess in the kitchen.
She scoffed. “I see what he is doing.”
“And what is that?”
Leela turned to her, a superior look on her face. “Rian always does this to get my attention. Act out in extremes. Pick unsuitable women and unworthy pursuits just to make me angry.” She pointedto Aditi before letting out a single, derisiveha.“I will not allow the two of you to be together. Do you think you can live easily without my approval? He will listen to me in the end. Because he craves my acceptance.”
“If it makes you happy to think so, you’re welcome.” She shrugged, conceding to the older lady’s delusion if that meant she would leave soon. Leela Shetty was a narcissist. Her behaviour confirmed it. There would be no point in Aditi engaging in a war of words with this woman.
“I don’t just think so,” Leela said, eyes narrowed. “I know him.” She pulled out her phone, flicking it open.
Aditi peered at the picture of a model that was presented to her, unsure what the purpose of this was. Tall, with immaculate makeup and wearing a skintight dress that required the kind of perfect body Aditi had once dreamed of, she was forced to accept that whoever this lady was, she was stunning. There was not a hair out of place, not an additional ounce of fat on her hips. Her bearing and looks screamed money and confidence, clearly not misplaced.
“This is Sonia Dasavi,” Leela announced. “She is the only daughter of the CEO of Dasavi Constructions. Sonia is the perfect choice to be my daughter-in-law. Beautiful, educated, with a family that matches ours in status. You don’t compare.”
Lips firm, Aditi crossed her arms, trying to stave off her irritation from the continued insults. “I’m not in competition with whoever this Sonia is.”
“Are you sure?” Leela swiped to the next picture, one that Aditi was unprepared for.
In the cosy setting of a restaurant she only recognized all too well was Sonia, bodily draped over a handsome man.
Herhandsome man.
Rian and Sonia resembled a pair of Greek gods when together. The power of their combined physicality was staggering and Aditi, to her chagrin, found that she was not immune.
“This picture,” Leela continued, “is from when the two families met to discuss Sonia and Rian’s engagement.”
Aditi's stomach flipped, anxiety gurgling within her. The three cups of coffee she'd consumed threatened to make a reappearance. Her eyes fell on the expensive shoes Leela had not bothered to remove at the door, the flash of red on its underside—a dead giveaway for the brand. If she was going to upchuck the contents of her stomach, those shoes were precisely where she would aim.
“If you don’t believe me,” Leela added slyly, her shrewd eyes locking in on Aditi’s wan face. “You can ask Rian.”
“I don’t have to. Pictures don’t always show everything. If what you said is true, Rian would have told me.”