Four days passed, then the fifth. Aditi roamed in the mountains from this hamlet to that, carrying her dwindling supplies of medicines on an increasingly moody Aron. As usual, he was not happy trudging in the mountains all day long. That was a job for donkeys and mules, not for a celebrated racehorse like him.

If she was being honest, he had turned lazy in her absence. None of the grooms could handle him and the silly oaf had become used to getting his way.

Controlling him took all her energy. Then there were the camps. All day long she toiled, spending time with the villagers, talking, treating, and helping them. It was her go-to medicine when she was down in the dumps. Usually it worked like a charm, but this time it didn’t. Everyone kept asking about her husband. Some praised him for his projects, for the new jobs and opportunities they had created for their children. Now they did not have to leave Palampur in search of a living. Everything they needed was at their doorstep. Agreed, there were some troublemakers like everywhere else, be it some unruly villagers or those rowdy workers, but it didn’t mean the projects had to suffer. There must be a way to diffuse the situation. Could she not do something to help solve the problem?

They pleaded to her, their desperation evident in their weathered faces. Aditi listened with an apologetic smile. There was no doubt she was using them as pawns to achieve her means, but it was temporary. Once she got what she wanted, she would compensate them handsomely. She had already instructed Uncle Dawar. Funds were waiting to be released at her signal, but that signal would come only when those all-important papers were signed. She needed that closure. Until then, everyone had to suffer, including her.

She kept busy, was surrounded by people, yet each passing day made her restless. Every moment she tried not to think of him filled her with irritation. Every moment she thought of him filled her with anxiety.

What if he refused to sign the papers? But what if he didn’t? What if he found another way to trap her in? But what if he didn’t?

She was tired of herself. It was easy wish him out of her village and life, but how was she ever going to banish him from her heart? It felt like a futile battle that she kept fighting half-heartedly. There was no chance of winning, she just kept fighting so she didn’t lose.

A week later, when could no longer stand the uncertainty, she climbed down the mountain. People nodded and bowed as she passed through the village. Their smiles were strained. There was a disquiet below their respectful façade, a confusion, possibly even anger. Many of them had become newly unemployed. Those projects had showed them dreams of a better life. Now all hope was lost, and they couldn’t figure out who to blame.

Or maybe they did, but couldn’t do so openly. Loyalty bound them to her, and she was taking brazen advantage.

She kept a benign smile and got out of there as fast as she could. It was only a matter of time. Once her freedom was achieved, Uncle Dawar will get into action. There would be bonuses, pay hikes. The projects would restart, and everyone could happily get on with their life.

The thought brought her some peace. Reaching home, she handed Aron’s reins to a groom and climbed up to her room, only to find Darsh standing where she was a week ago.

Leaning over the edge of the terrace, he gazed into the horizon. His large hulk dwarfed the railing, making it appear like a fence of sticks. A little more weight would have crumbled it, tipping him over.

Her heart jumped to her mouth.

“If you have changed your mind about jumping, don’t bother. It’s not going to change my decision.” She made a frantic attempt to distract him while trying to keep her indifferent façade. He turned, his expression hard, unfathomable.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of throwing away my life to satisfy your ego. Neither are you Ananya nor am I Susheel Sharma. And I have had enough of hankering after faithless women.”

Her panic receded as fast as it had surged. There it was - the casual disdain that showed her her rightful place. She had a bad habit of forgetting it. Luckily, he never failed to remind her.

“Glad you finally got your priorities right.” She said, a wry smile tugging her lip. He shrugged.

“Yeah. It took time, but finally I am here.”

He walked to the sideboard to retrieve a folder, then came closer to hand it to her. Their eyes locked for a moment as they took each other in. He looked strained. On the edge. She knew she herself looked like a homeless vagrant who’d not had a decent meal in days.

Pursing her lips, she stepped back a couple of paces, then sat on the bed to open the file. It was signed. Dated. Stamped. He had gone through the whole hog to make it official this time.

“This is...”

“A divorce agreement. On mutual grounds, so shouldn’t take long. Annulment is not the right option now that...” His eyes dropped to her stomach, then back up. She flushed red. Annulment would mean the baby was born outside of marriage. Divorce gave it legitimacy. It was something she had neither thought of nor cared for. But apparently, he had.

“It was unnecessary. It doesn’t matter to me...”

“It matters to me. My child will not be born a bastard.”

She didn’t know what to say. She supposed she should be grateful but as with everything else, his grand gesture had come a bit too late.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

She slouched in her place as silence gathered around them. This was it, the fate they were destined for since the moment they laid eyes on each other. In an ideal life, they would never have met. Those boys would never have come to Palampur, and she would never ever have had the misfortune to cross her paths with this man. Everything would have been fine… except for her baby. That was the only good thing to come out of this miserable union, otherwise everything was regrettable.

She exhaled as her arms crossed over her stomach. Finally, everything was over. The most difficult surgery of her life that tested her skill, patience and resolve was finally successful. She was still alive, breathing. Yes, it would take time to fully recover, but that was to be expected.

She waited for relief, but there was none. Maybe it was too early to feel it. At this moment, everything was numb. So utterly numb, she almost felt lifeless.

She licked her lips and realized how parched they were. She wiped her face, then realised it was wet.

“You know this doesn’t change anything.” He watched her closely, his fists in his pockets rolling into balls. It surprised her to note he too was flushed. “Divorce or annulment, you still have to come with me. We must keep the pretence for Dadaji’s sake. And I cannot leave you alone in this state.”

She smiled and stood up, clutching the papers to her chest.

“Thank you, but here onwards you need not bother. I can take care of my baby. And as for Dadaji, I have a way that will suit us both.”

His face turned ashen. For the first time, it showed a flicker of panic. “Oh. And what is it?”

“I am going away. I have decided to do a post-graduation. I’ll return only when everything here is truly over. And by that, I mean when this ruse of Dadaji is no longer valid.”

*****

She left after two days, after telling everyone she was going away for further studies. She had signed the papers and given them to Dawar. Everything was to be done under strict secrecy until such a time as they could disclose their secret. That time would only come when Balwant Sharma died his death, but until then, all must go on as if nothing was amiss.

He was to pretend his wife was away for further studies. That she was doing it for her career and with his full, loving support. Meanwhile, he was to play his own charade of a virtuous son-in-law. He might choose to do otherwise and use his power of attorney. That was his prerogative. In which case, she had done further arrangements with her lawyer. In the event he deprived her cousins of their rightful inheritance, she would compensate them with her own inheritance from her mother. She was ready to lose all her property in this bargain, but won’t let her family suffer on her account.

She had worked out a flawless plan, keeping him in the centre as an enemy and working around his crafty mind as best as she could. Not only her freedom was at stake, but her family’s life too. And she would do her best to protect them all.

His heart ached with love as he sat in the study watching her go over the details for a hundredth time. Each paper, each paragraph, every legal jargon, was discussed with meticulous detail. So much she was doing to take care of her feckless cousins, who at this very moment were probably busy cursing her. He had gotten a good measure of them in these past few days.

“Are you sure she’s really gone for a camp?” Nehal had asked him, buttering her toast as they sat for breakfast one day. It was the fourth day since Aditi left. Darsh was worried to death.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… it’s entirely possible Di just got bored with you.” Nehal smirked. “You see, she is used to her freedom. No one could ever control her when she was here. Dadaji had given her a free rein. She used to disappear in the mountains with her friends for days. She was particularly fond of tourists. There were even some boys that she met once…”

“That’s enough!” He thundered. “I know how my wife is and who she likes or doesn’t. I don’t need to hear it from you.”

Nehal shrugged. “I only wanted to warn you. Di was always a free bird, a pampered princess. She only does what she wants and doesn’t really care who suffers because of it. You should have checked who else went with her to the mountains. Maybe there was a new friend… or a handsome tourist? And this new course she is taking up in Mumbai–did you check who else is going with her?”

Darsh kicked his chair back and shot to his feet. He couldn’t believe his ears. The girl was vicious in her hatred for Aditi, and to his utter shock, completely unapologetic.

“Mind your language. How dare you talk rubbish about your own sister! Don’t forget it was Aditi who paid off your father’s debts, or by now your parents would have sold you off to some rich old fart. And Aditi is the most honest and genuine girl I have come across in my life, and believe me, I have seen many.”

His blazing gaze trained on Nehal. The girl coloured, and Darsh saw a surge of jealousy mixed with a weird hunger passing through her eyes.

Frowning, he tried to work out what it was when Mohit spoke.

“Di helps with money because it’s the easiest thing to do. If it was not for her, my parents won’t be in this crunch. We won’t need her help to ‘save’ Nehal. Dadaji would treat us as his own and not as outsiders.”

Darsh felt his irritation building. He’d thought Mohit at least was on Aditi’s side, but clearly, he was wrong.

“You very well know your parents’ financial troubles are a result of their own gambling habits. And how your grandfather treats them is between the three of them. Aditi has no part in it, so stop blaming her.”

The boy merely shrugged. The look on his face was that of disdain, as if he had seen far more world than he let out. Darsh wondered if he had underestimated Mohit too. It was entirely possible. He had done the same mistake before.

“All I have to say is that Vivaan would never have given her this free rein.“ Mohit shrugged as he put down his fork carefully. “Vivaan would never have let her control the projects, nor would he have let her out of his sight. She needs a firm hand. You were too soft for her, so soft, she has you wrapped around her little finger.”

He got up calmly and left from there. Nehal followed her brother, but not before giving Darsh another of those weird glances. He had put the incident behind him, but now it came forth with full force.

He watched as Aditi signed the papers one by one. The lawyer’s disapproval was written on his face, but she took no notice. He caught Darsh’s eye and gave an exasperated shake of the head. There was nothing he could do to stop this. Nothing anyone could do to stop Aditi from what was an obvious mistake.

She left the next day after saying her goodbyes. Her destination was Mumbai, or so she had told, but he knew she would not go there. He had been warned it was none of his business. He was not to send his spies behind her, or he would regret the consequences.

He watched as Zorawar’s jeep disappeared round the corner to drop her to the train station. With laden feet and an empty heart, he dragged himself to the study, only to find Nehal waiting there for him.

She wore a shade of peach he’d only seen on Aditi before. Only her dress was a bit too tight, the neck was a little too low than he’d ever seen on Aditi.

“I thought you would need a coffee.” The girl smiled and pointed at the silver trolley beside her. The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted in the air along with the toasty smell of freshly ground coffee beans. “I hope you like it. If not, you can tell me how you like it. I’ll make it just as you want.”

***** *****