Tainted Love by Maniah (i love reading TXT) 📖

Chapter 34.

"Vani and this came for you." Mrs Lucy told Vani about the box Mritunjay's secretary sent for Vani. 

Vani eyes the box in Mrs Lucy's hand. "What is in this?" She asked Mrs Lucy.

"A dress for tonight's charity event." 

Vani gulped. She clutched the dupatta in her hand tightly as she remembered the day when he took her to a party for the first and last time.  She remembered how happy she was that day. But that was the day when his Grandmother reminded her about her reality. She remembered how Sahil Sehgal insulted her. And how Mrityunjay told her that she was the most important person in his life. And how big of a fool she was that she believed him. 

But that naive girl was dead now. "Please take it away, Mrs Lucy. I will not be wearing it."

"But why? I am sorry to ask you but Sir specifically asked for you to wear this." 

Vani didn't want to argue with Mrs Lucy. She nodded at her. "Put it on the table and leave."

Mrs Lucy did as she was told. Vani walked to the table and opened the box. There was a beautiful long dress inside it. Vani put it back inside the box, recalling the party where he took her once. That day she happily dressed up in the dress he sent for her but not today. 

Vani opened her wardrobe and pulled out the blue saree she bought a year ago. She changed into that chiffon saree and put on a little make-up. Her jewellery was a simple gold pendant with light long earrings. Her hairs were left open and hauled to her left shoulder. 

She was just doing her drapes when Granth came there. "Wow, Mumma. You look so pretty."

Vani smiled and kissed him lovingly. "Thank you. Now Gunnu, you remember what I told you right?"

"Yes Mumma, I will sleep on time and won't ask aunt Lucy to play video games or ask for ice cream. I will be a good boy." 

Vani smiled. "I love you, my baby."

Granth hugged his mother tightly. It was when Mrs Lucy came there. "Vani, Sir is calling you downstairs." 

Vani nodded. "Shall we, Gunnu?" 

Granth giggled. "Yes, Mumma."

And they both descended the stairs together. Mrityunjay who was standing downstairs, waiting for Vani, looked at the stairs and saw Vani. He was awestruck at her beauty. 

How could anyone be this beautiful! 

His eyes went to his son who was walking proudly with his mother. When he was at the last stair he ran to Mrityunjay.

 "Daddy, how does Mumma look?" Granth asked his father whose eyes were fixed on Vani. 

"Beautiful…" he whispered, lost in her beauty. 

Vani frowned. She tucked her hair behind her ear in irritation when Mrityunjay didn't divert his gaze. She pursed her lips in a thin line and cleared her throat to make him look away from her but Mrityunjay didn't turn his gaze away. With no other option left she snapped. 

"Mr Sehgal, if there is something wrong with your eyes then, please go to the doctor but stop staring at me." 

Mrityunjay sharpened his eyes at her words, his eyes swept over her and he noticed that she was not wearing the dress but a simple saree. 

"What are you wearing?" He asked. 

Vani sighed. "Saree!" She replied in a single word.

"I can see that but why are you wearing a saree when I specifically sent the dress for you."

Vani raised her eyes to Mrityunjay. "I don't want anything from you, Mr Sehgal. If you want me to go with you then that's how I would be going or I am happy to stay home with my son." 

Mrityunjay brows pulled together and he gave her a curt nod.  'She is looking beautiful anyway!' He thought.

"Let's go then…" he said and picked Granth in his arms. 

"Sleep on time, it's your school tomorrow." 

Granth looked at his father mischievously. His eyes glinted and Mrityunjay understood that he wouldn't do any of it. Granth went near Mritunjay's ear and whispered in it. "can I play a little video game, please!"

Mrityunjay ruffled Granth's hair. "Alright but not more than half an hour." 

Vani sighed deeply.  She understood what the father-son duo was talking about. "If I found you anywhere near your videogame tonight I will ground you for three days, Granth."

"Daddy…" Granth whined. 

"Vanya If he wants to…"

"No! He is getting stubborn every day. Like father, like son," Vani huffed.

Mrityunjay's eyes widened. "What did I do?" 

Vani shook her head in annoyance. "You are spoiling him."

"I am just saying that if he wants to play for some time then it's fine."

"It's not fine, Mr Sehgal."

Granth looked at them both. It was like a tennis match for him, when Vani spoke he turned his head to her side and when Mrityunjay spoke he turned his head at his side.  He couldn't hold his laughter anymore and laughed clutching his little tummy.

Both Vani and Mrityunjay looked at their son who was laughing. "Mumma, daddy you are fighting like Gill Uncle and Aunty.  Now daddy has to kiss you and give you a gift. Here goes your Fifty thousand Daddy!!"

Vani gasped hearing her son. "Granth! Where did you learn this kind of talk?"

"From Uncle Gill, Whenever he fights with Gill Aunty. Uncle used to say this. Here goes my fifty thousand! I went shopping with him one day, he bought a ring for her and then when we reached home he kissed her on the cheek. Now daddy will do the same,  right?"

Mrityunjay looked at Vani's ashen face.  He cleared his throat and shook his head. "It's your bedtime, go and sleep and you hear your Mom. No video games tonight but tomorrow we both will play together."

Mrityunjay looked at Vani. "Alright, Mumma?" He asked her. Vani looked away from him. He kissed his son and called Mrs Lucy to take Granth to his room. Vani Instructed her to take care of Granth and call her anytime without hesitation.  Finally, they left for the party.

Vani was reading some children's pedagogy book on her phone when Mrityunjay cleared his throat to gain her attention. She sighed and raised her eyes to him.