The Only Heir

Old Cis Misogynists

A sleek grey town car stopped a few feet away from us and the driver hurriedly stepped out to open the gate for an elderly man dressed in a closed-neck suit and a walking stick.

"Rajendra!" Vikram called out, smiling and walked towards the man.

Behind him another man stepped out of the car, an inch Or so shorter than Arjun, he looked like he was in his thirties. He must be Ashwini.

"If Mohammad doesn't come to the mountain we must bring the mountain to Mohammad," said Rajendra, laughing and hugging Vikram.

Arjun had also moved forward to touch Rajendra's feet as Ashwini moved forward to touch Vikram's.

And then Arjun hugged Ashwini, "Hello bhaisa."

"Hey, lil bro. What a surprise, I didn't know you were back!" said Ashwini. "Were you even planning to meet me or what."

"Are bhaisa I was actually planning to come to meet you but the hotel work has been taking up all my time."

"Oh, I know you're a grown-up now," he said, slapping his back hard.

I couldn't help but laugh at this interaction and as soon as the sound left my lips, our guests looked at me with surprise as if they hadn't noticed me before.

"Vikram, who is this young lady we have here?" Rajendra asked.

"She is the surprise I told you about," said Vikram, beckoning me towards him.

Rajendra simply cocks his head to a side and stares at me perplexed as I walk into Vikram's outstretched arm.

"This is Meera, my granddaughter and my heir," he says.

Rajendra turns his head towards Vikram, "But you don't have any children let alone a grandchild."

"She is Vikrant Bhaisa's granddaughter. Hence, also mine," he said and patted my head.

"I don't think you understand," Rajendra said, looking perplexed at Vikram, "she's a girl."

He nearly spat out the last word.

Utter silence follows his words

"Rajendra I think we should sit down and talk, " said Vikram.

Rajendra looked at him as if Vikram had lost his mind. He turned his eyes towards me before immediately turning them away as if he couldn't even bear to look at me and stormed past us all towards the exit.

Vikram and I sat across from Rajendra and Ashwini. Arjun had already excused himself to get to the hotel while Vikram asked the staff for tea.

"I do not understand why you are doing this, what is the need for this," said Rajendra, raising his arms in the air in incomprehension.

"The reason is pretty simple Rajendra, I need to leave this to someone. I don't want to sell it to become a hotel or go into the hands of the government to be turned into a heritage site or something. I want to keep my legacy and our family name alive. Wouldn't you have done the same if you were in my position?" said Vikram beseechingly.

"Oh I understand all of that but why didn't you just adopt a son all those years ago? He would have grown up to be a part of the family and learned our ways since the beginning!"

"Because I didn't see the need for it plus why would I adopt anyone when I have my blood and bone alive and well and ready to take our family name ahead."