Reckless Rival : An Indian college romance

Chapter 25

Nami and Rana spent a lot of time together even as he prepared for the international boxing championship. Days after he got back from visiting his parents, they were still discussing what happened to their fathers. She was taken aback at how small incidents turned into a huge wedge leading up to the rivalry the families felt for over a decade.

Determined to bring their families together, they schemed and talked about when it would be a good time to tell Nami's dad as she was somehow worried her father would be upset if he found out. They agreed to implement their plans when they had a semester break.

They even talked about the possibility of not being together for a semester. He had joked about being an exchange student for Cambridge so they could hang out in London.

She was in the middle of her project meeting when she saw her mother was calling. Being in the middle of the discussion, she sent the call to voicemail, but her mother called back immediately.

At that point, Nami knew it had to be something urgent. "Hi, Ma, what's going on?"

"Nami... your father, he is... in the hospital." Her mother's shaky voice made her heart nosedive into her stomach.

"What happened, Ma?" She walked away from her group and out of the library. "How is he doing now?"

She could tell her mother had been weeping. "He is okay now. The doctors are suspecting a silent heart attack. Under observation. But—"

"But what, Ma?" Nami was feeling all the wrong signals going off.

"There is a fraud allegation against the company, and if..." Her mother struggled to speak and just as her mother's voice trailed off, Nami's breathing became ragged.

Worst of the worst thoughts passed through her. "Ma, I'll take the next flight out and come to London."

"No!" Her mother's voice was firm. "Stay where you are."

Nami's eyes widened in surprise. "Why? I want to see Daddy."

Her mother sighed. "We don't know who we are dealing with. You stay put, and I will tell you what to do next."

"Okay, where is Naani? How is she doing?" She was worried about how her grandma was handling the situation.

"She is at home with your brother and uncle's family. I didn't tell her anything about the heart attack yet." Her mother sounded weak.

"Okay, I'll talk to her. You call me and let me know when I should head to London." Nami was worried sick and could not think of being on campus when her father was not well.

"Take care, baby."

Nami felt restless about what was happening. Unable to go back and join her project group, she called her grandma. "Naani, how are you?"

The sobs she heard from the other side of the call made her stomach wrench. "Look what happened, Nami. I told you this would fire back."

Nami was utterly confused. "Naani, what are you talking about?"

"With the influence and connections your father has here in London, who would dare to file a case against him? Except for—" The elderly woman's voice was lost.

A strange thudding started in her chest. "Except for who?"

Her grandma sniffled. "The Simhas. They are doing what they did to him over ten years ago. Unnecessarily blaming him for Dhanush's accident and making us leave our home country."

Nami could not believe what was happening. "Why are you saying that?"

"Nami, be careful. I think the Simhas found out you were at their university, and this is yet again another retaliation." Her grandma broke into uncontrollable sobs. "And all this happened so suddenly. Who will protect my son from all this?"