Page 177 of The Redemption
The very next second, his phone rings. The timing is so perfect that I almost laugh. Raghav glances at the screen in relief.
“I need to take this.”
Without waiting for a response, he answers the call and steps aside.
Coward.
Meher watches him leave and comments, “He’s definitely acting strange.”
I lower my gaze before anyone can notice my expression.If only she knew.
Baba chuckles and adds, “I’ll leave you ladies to settle in.” Then he looks at Mom and me warmly. “Please get some rest, Rukmini ji. Dinner will be ready in an hour.”
With that, he heads towards the kitchen, already discussing something with the staff.
Meher slips her arm through mine. “Come on.”
Together, Mom and I follow her towards the grand staircase. For the first time in years, walking into a house doesn’t feel like enemy territory. It feels a little too much like cominghome.
****************
A few minutes later, I stand in the middle of Raghav’s room and slowly look around. This is the room he uses whenever he comes to Mumbai and spends time with the Shergill family. For some reason, that thought alone makes me study every corner more carefully.
The room is surprisingly spacious. Floor-to-ceiling windows open towards the mansion gardens, filling the space with natural light. A king-sized bed occupies the centre, while one entire wall is lined with bookshelves filled with a variety of books, from business and history to crime thrillers and biographies. My gaze falls on a framed photograph resting neatly on a side table. It’s a picture of Raghav and Ayaan with Kailash Uncle in the middle.
“That one was taken on my brother Vishnu’s birthday last year,” Meher says, noticing me looking at the photo. “You won’t find many photographs of him with the family. He rarely lets us take his picture. But that day, for once, he didn’t object.”
She gently holds the frame in her hand before putting it back on the table. “Raghav is impossible to figure out,” she continues fondly. “You know, sometimes even when he’s in Mumbai for work, he doesn’t come home to meet the family. We keep telling him this is his home too, but half the time he disappears before anyone even realises he’s in the city.”
I immediately bite back a smile. That sounds exactly like him.
“He’s always been like that,” Meher shrugs. “He acts as if he doesn’t need anyone and keeps everyone at arm’s length. But the moment one of us is in trouble, he’s the first one to stand beside you.”
My fingers tighten around the strap of my handbag.
Yes. I already know that. The man has practically taken a bullet in his arm…for me.
“But now,” Meher says, smiling, “he can’t run away from family obligations as easily anymore. Because now he has you and Aunty.”
I blink.
Me. Mom. Raghav.
Those three names together as a family still don’t belong in the same sentence in my head. Before I can respond, Meher reaches across and squeezes my hand.
“How are things between you and him? If you don’t mind me asking...”
I already know where this is going, so I immediately shake my head. “We can talk about that later. Right now, you should be focusing on tomorrow instead,” I divert smoothly.
She narrows her eyes, and a dramatic sigh fills the room. “Trust me, everyone else is worrying enough on my behalf.”
I laugh.
“Anyway, what am I wearing tomorrow?”
That instantly makes her grin.
“No chance.”
