EPISODE 28
I want her.
For a man who had understood from his youth that to depend on a woman was the beginning of all pain, this realization—this recognition that he wanted this woman in his life—came upon Raghav Rao so suddenly he was propelled to his feet.
How had this happened?
He was not an untried boy to have his head turned by a woman’s beauty. Or to have his heart leap out of his chest from a mere kiss.
He was a man—hot-blooded and passionate; yet, he had lived a life of strict self-discipline—because he had decided he would never give himself over to a woman completely.
Raghav’s men teased him for his monkish lifestyle. They joked he was too particular—whom was he saving himself for? And he had gone along with the joke but only he knew the truth: Raghav Rao would never depend on a woman—and certainly never-ever depend on her love.
It wasn’t that he could not love. He could feel deeply.
He loved his men like they were his blood. He would die for any of them. He loved Chelli—she was to him his own innocent child. But his mother—Amma had taught him that a woman could bestow and remove her love when she chose.
If a woman could close the door on a son—she could also close the door on a lover.
Yet—! Despite this—what he had never looked for had happened. Pallavi had slipped into his life.
In whichever form she had taken—the jewel thief, the burqa-lady, the shop-girl—like a multifaceted gemstone—all aspects of the same woman had captivated him in a way that he had never before experienced. And this morning—when he saw her standing in the hospital corridor, her skin glowing from her exertions, her words generously offering herself—he recognized her as one who had become to him a necessity.
When had she become that indispensible one?
Yesterday when they left Koffee Kahani and she had told him to stay back—to not walk her back to the shop—indeed, to never visit the shop again!—the force of that had set him back like a physical blow. Her command had been practical and prudent. Had he been thinking clearly, he would have insisted on the same. If they were to effectively help his sister, their association had to be hidden.
Yet, her command had hurt.
When he had received her text last night—he found himself in the car driving to see her. She didn’t want his help to build her business. She was closing a door. But he would not allow her to close the door.
He had gone to tell her so—but left without speaking the words.
“Annah?” Farhad’s hand on his shoulder brought him out of his reflections.
Farhad indicated with his eyes that the surgeon was approaching.
“Where’s Chelli?” Raghav asked Farhad.
Farhad told him she had gone down to the hospital café. That was good. He would hear the surgeon’s news, absorb it, and then relay it to his sister.
The news was good.
The surgery had gone well. There had been no complications. But he warned—it will be a long recovery. Once she leaves the hospital, she must be prepared for several months of rehabilitation, and there could be no shortcuts.
Raghav thanked the surgeon, and turned to Farhad.
“I’ll tell Chelli she’s returning to the Palace with us today. I don’t think she will resist. By the time Amma is ready to leave the hospital—Chelli will convince her that we should be under one roof,” Raghav said.
Farhad nodded. “Convince Kirti—and she will convince Amma.”
“That’s the plan,” Raghav put his hand on Farhad’s shoulder and said, “Call the Palace to prepare a room for Chelli. I’ll go speak with her.”
Farhad was as always ahead one step. “Kirti’s room is ready. Gorilla had their servant pack a suitcase of her essentials. It’s in the car.”
Raghav asked, “Did you return the scooter to the saree shop?”
“Yes, Annah. And Johnny will watch Miss Deshmukh as you requested.”
“She’s not a Deshmukh,” Raghav corrected Farhad. “Any word from Vivek?”
“It’s not even been half a day. Give the man some time.”
Raghav said, “Impress upon him that it’s urgent.”
“What’s the urgency?” asked Farhad, his brows drawing together.
“I need to know that she is free.”
“Free? For?”
“Free to be mine.”
Book Talk
Aami Daakini
