Shehnaaz Maniyar: The Twin Sissy Blessing Or Curse

Ansari's Heir

Shehnaaz stared at her twin sister in shock. You surely don't mean to go through with it?'

Rida gave her a defiant look from beneath lashes heavy with thick black mascara. I can't cope with a baby. Besides, I never really wanted her in the first place.'

But Lily is so young!' Shehnaaz protested. How can you possibly think of giving her away?'

It's easy.' Rida pouted. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I don't take it with both hands it might never come again.'

But she's only four months old!' Shehnaaz cried. Surely you owe it to Nidab's memory to raise her.

I owe him nothing!' Rida spats. You seem to be forgetting that he refused to acknowledge her as his child. He wouldn't even agree to a paternity test, no doubt because he didn't want to upset that cow of a fiance of his.' She paced the room angrily. I should've known he wasn't to be trusted. The Ansari males are known for their playboy lifestyle; you have only to look at yesterday's paper to realize that.

Shehnaaz was well aware of the photograph of Sidharth Ansari, Nidab's older brother, in the Sydney weekend broadsheet. It was rare for a week to go past without some reference to his billionaire fast-paced fast-women lifestyle. His dark good looks had been the first thing she'd noticed when she'd opened the paper.

Does Sidharth Ansari know about your intention to give his niece up for adoption?' she asked her sister.

Rida turned back to face her. I wrote to his father in India a few weeks ago but he flatly refused to acknowledge Lily as his granddaughter. So this time I sent a photo of her. That should set the cat among the pigeons, when he sees how like Nidab she is. I felt the need to twist the knife since it's his precious son's fault my life has been stuffed up.'

"But surely"

Rida gave her a bristling look. As far as I'm concerned, I want nothing more to do with the Ansari family. I gave them a chance to claim Lily but they brushed me off. That's why I'm leaving now to get on with Plan B.'

Leaving? Shehnaaz stared at her in consternation. Leaving to go where?'

'London.'

But what about Lily?' Shehnaaz gasped, her heart tripping in alarm. You're surely not thinking of...' She couldn't even frame the rest of the words.

Rida gave a dismissive shrug of one shoulder. You can look after her for a month or two"you do most of the time anyway. Besides, it's clear she loves you more than me, so I don't see why I shouldn't hand her over to you temporarily. You can take care of her until someone adopts her.'

Shehnaaz's stomach rolled over painfully. It was hard for her to imagine her sister having so little regard for the tiny infant who lay sleeping in the pram near the window. How could she be so unfeeling as to walk away from her own baby?

Look"' Shehnaaz tried to reason with her "I know you're upset; it's only been a few months since Nidab went.'

Rida turned on her furiously. What's with the pretense? Nidab didn't go somewhere he died

Shehnaaz swallowed. I.. "I know.'

I'm just glad he took his stupid fiance Humera with him,' Rida added in a surly tone.

'You surely don't mean that?'

Rida's features twisted in bitterness. Of course I mean it. I hate the Ansari family and anyone connected to them.' She tossed her hair over one shoulder and looked back at her sister. I have a chance at a new life with Farhan Qureshi in London. He loves me and has promised me a part in one of his films. This will be my chance at the big screen. I'd be a fool to let it slip out of my hands. And if I play my cards right he might even ask me to marry him.'