A Business Deal [MxM]

Chapter 21: End

Two years ago, when Vansh had decided to move to Europe to be with Dhruv, little did he know that life would turn out the way it had. He was wary of Dhruv's answer, and the fear of rejection had shaken him up from the very core. Nevertheless, he had dared. And it had worked.

Vansh and Dhruv are now on the same continent at least. They cannot always be in the same city due to reasons that amount to more than one: their work often requires them to travel here and there, they have their own circles to maintain, but most importantly, their relationship is still a secret to everyone apart from their families. And why would it not be? Vansh and Dhruv are not in a relationship that can be celebrated by many. Rather, it poses a question of inheritance. If there's one thing they are certain about, it's that they won't be inheriting much. Their siblings would take a larger share happily. In the end, they would have nothing except each other. And they are fine with it.

Tara gave birth to a daughter a few days back. Vansh and Dhruv arrive together, raising significant eyebrows and questions. Questions are most jokingly dismissed. The coincidence of them being in Paris together for business and then arriving in India together quench a great deal of people's curiosity. Vansh and Dhruv, on the other hand, had each taken off a week from work to travel and spend time together. Their trip to France was little apart from pure hedonism- all they did was drink and have sex. They seldom left their room and when they did, it was usually around dinnertime. They walked around the city, barely able to keep their hands off each other. The walks usually involved them finding themselves a quiet spot for a quick kiss. And while they weren't usually like that, they wanted to be wild for a week, and they did end up doing some wild things. Paris was also the first time that Dhruv had penetrated Vansh, and the latter had most definitely enjoyed it. At the end of it, when they were returning to India, they could barely sit in the flight.

The culmination of the celebrations leads to a worse scenario for the men- a family dinner. The family dinner is a tense space. Everyone stares at Dhruv and Vansh as if they are criminals deserving a death sentence. Uneasy silences prevail more than logical conversations. Tidbits of conversation revolve around business as usual, and Dhruv and Vansh choose not to respond. They are familiar with the air around them, and their contributions to any dialogue would merely serve to escalate tensions at the dinner table. They prefer their own quiet, away from all of these judging eyes.

"What's up with you two?", Tara asks condescendingly.

"Nothing.", Vansh responds.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"I don't feel the need to."

"And you, Dhruv?" Tara looks at Dhruv imploringly, making all heads turn towards him.

Dhruv gulps. He presses his lips uneasily. "Nothing." That's all he musters up. He lowers his head to look into the empty plate. He balls his fist.

Vansh places his hand over Dhruv's fist. He then looks at Tara. "How greedy can you be for my share of the inheritance?"

All heads now turn to face Tara. She looks aghast. "What do you mean? I never eyed..."

"I have more than enough evidence to prove you did."

"You two won't be producing an heir anyways."

"Tara!", her father exclaims. "We are not discussing this here. Not right now."

"Which means it is discussed otherwise. Today is an exception because we are here. How often do you discuss us?", Vansh asks.

"Vansh.", Dhruv whispers. "Don't."

"More often thank you think.", Jagat answers.

Vansh chuckles, only to raise all eyebrows in the room. "We don't even live here. We have nothing to do with all of you for most part. And yet... and yet you cannot help but discuss us. Do we scare you that much?"