Page 53 of The Defiant Wife

"There absolutely is."

"There isn't."

"You hesitated."

I look at Devraj bhai-sa."Can we replace him?"

"No." Bhai-sa chuckles.

Vihaan points triumphantly."He likes her."

I stare at him.Then slowly lift my hand.And show him my middle finger. "I don't like her."

"Sure."Vihaan collapses into a chair.Looking exhausted.As if he's the victim here.Unbelievable.

The room falls quiet for a moment.

My gaze drifts back toward the photograph.And annoyingly . . . I remember that night.

The wind. The motorcycle. Her trying to remove that helmet with enough confidence to power an entire city despite being completely stuck.The outrage on her face when I insulted her hair.The way she shoved the helmet into my chest.The way she stormed away.The way she looked back once before disappearing inside.A strange feeling settles in my chest.

Not unpleasant.

Not comfortable either.

Just . . . There.

I put the tablet down. Immediately. Because I don't particularly enjoy examining that feeling.

"So what's the solution?" I ask.

Devraj bhai sa becomes serious again."The solution is simple."

Nothing involving the media is ever simple."We meet her parents."

I sigh.Of course."Do we have to?"

"Yes."

"It was a photograph."

"It affected her reputation."That immediately shuts me up.Because regardless of how ridiculous I think this situation is . . . He's right.

Diya didn't ask for any of this.The photograph might be harmless to me.It isn't harmless to her.Especially considering how people might treat her.

Something uncomfortable twists in my stomach.I don't like it.

"We've invited them here," Devraj says. "It wouldn't be proper not to address it."

I nod once.Fair enough.

"There's one more thing," Vihaan says.

I don't like that tone."What?"

"You don't need to continue the NGO visit."

I look up. "What?"