Tainted Love by Maniah (i love reading TXT) 📖

 32.

Writer's POV:-

"Thank you so much, Mrs Jennet," Vani said when she received a call from the Heritage Foundation School for the appointment of her as one of the kindergarten teachers. Her experience and work ethic played a crucial role in getting the job and the principal from the Shimla branch had helped her as well. Overall, Vani was happy that she got the job in Granth's School. 

She had to join from Monday as it was Friday today. She cooked dinner for herself and Granth while Mrityunjay played football with him. 

"Mumma, I want Milkshake…" Granth sang from the garden. Vani sighed at the order. 

"Yes sir…" Vani sang in the same manner, chuckled and started making Milkshakes for her son.  She was pouring the Milkshake into glasses when Granth came and hid behind Vani's legs. 

"Mumma hide me." 

Vani frowned, "Why?" She asked but before he could reply, Mrityunjay entered the kitchen. Vani's eyes met Mrityunjay's gaze. 

Mrityunjay's brows pulled together, thin lines formed on his forehead as he noticed the same thing again. Vani was cooking for herself. From the past two weeks, he had noticed many things about her. The girl who used to dress up seductively, now only wears simple Indian Salwar suits. He remembered her as the girl who used to be in makeup from day to night and now, she used none. Her face was bare of any artificial glamour but still beautiful.

Vani scowled when Mrityunjay kept staring at her. She pursed her lips in irritation when he didn't look away. 

Granth giggled from behind her. 

The sound of Granth's giggle broke the trance Mrityunjay was lost in.  Mrityunjay nodded at her, telling her to move so that he could catch Granth but Vani didn't move an inch, refusing to do anything he asked her to do. 

Mrityunjay Pursed his lips at her stubbornness. He took a step forward, Vani gulped. The air in the kitchen was so thick from the tension that one could cut it with a knife. Both of them were staring at each other.  Again Granth giggled and Vani looked away. She moved aside, "Mumma…" Granth pouted. 

"Play later, your Milkshake is ready." 

His eyes brightened up, "Really!" 

Vani nodded and washed his hands. "Here is your Milkshake." 

Mrityunjay kept watching the mother and son. Vani was like an enigma for him. How could a person change so much? When she was with him as his mistress, she was different from everyone else he had ever been with. He knew he was her first customer. Money was everything for her and which was no issue for him. He respected her practicality in life, she asked what she wanted without any hesitation,

Which was money!

For the first time in his life, Mrityunjay Sehgal was conflicted with his own beliefs. "What are you, Vanya?" He whispered. He kept looking at her while Vani was trying to convince Granth to eat some fruits as well.

He smiled when Vani put the hair strand behind her ear in irritation. She always hated her open hair and he used to adore her with open hair. 

"Mumma, Doremon," Granth asked permission to watch cartoons. "Alright, come with me…" She said and stood up to leave. 

For a moment her eyes went to Mrityunjay and he looked away instantly. Vani scowled seeing his weird behaviour. Vani ignored him and walked to the media room with Granth. 

Mrityunjay sighed when she left. He cursed himself for behaving like a fool. He ignored his thoughts and decided to work. In-office he was checking the reports Dhigraj sent him. He smiled seeing the shares in his name. 

Your end is near, Veer Sehgal!

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes. The memory which he hides in a corner of his mind came back which shook Mrityunjay to the core.

"Please don't send me mom, please I don't want to go. I want to live with you. Don't send me away…" Nine-year-old Mrityunjay cried while hugging his mother's legs.

"You have to go, Do you understand me? I don't want you here with me, Mrityunjay." 

He opened his eyes, as the pain in his chest grew again. He rubbed his head with his hands, the memories suffocated him. He would never forget what his mother did to him. 

Meanwhile, Indrani Sehgal was talking to her father who came to meet her in Mumbai from Delhi. 

"Why are you like this? If you want I can talk with Mrityunjay." Rajeev Bajaj asked Indrani. 

"No, you won't. It's between him and me, Father. I am happy with his hatred, at least he is giving me that. 

I couldn't give him what he needed. Instead of a son, I saw him as the person who will avenge me. I couldn't become a mother to him. I sent him to you so that he could be away from these hideous people," Indrani whispers in pain. Her throat was heavy with emotions.  

She wiped the tears that gathered in her eyes, "He is doing what a son should do. He is fulfilling his duties as a son and this time, I will fulfil his mother's duties. He deserves happiness,  father and he will be happy. Vani is a nice girl and Granth. He is a bundle of joy. I forgot everything when I saw him for the first time."

Rajeev patted his daughter's hand, "He will understand you one day."

She shook her head. "I am happy that he married Vani. She is well suited for him. I would not be able to find a girl like her for him," Indrani smiled. "He is doing what a son should do and this time I will do what a mother should do."

"Don't interfere...you know Mrityunjay." Rajeev squeezed his eyes, some tears rolled down his cheek. "I couldn't protect you, Indrani. I should have…" 

"No, father. My anger for you vanished a long time ago. Because what you couldn't do, my son will do that. He will ruin everyone. He will take back what belongs to him. It's not about a company but my honour. Revenge is what I need, Father."

" Veer Sehgal tried to molest me after Yash's death. My son will not let him live. They used their money and power to shut me. Gaytri Sehgal crossed every line to protect Veer. But this power and money won't be of any use now. My son will snatch it from their hands."