The Veil Of Vengeance

5. A hard task

Shubman and Shahneel entered their sprawling mansion, the echoes of their footsteps resonating through the marble floors. They had just returned from a long day of shopping and a lavish dinner at one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants.

"Finally, home," Shahneel muttered, her voice tinged with exhaustion. She flopped down onto the plush couch in the living room, her legs feeling like jelly after hours of walking.

Behind them, Shubman’s men were carrying in their numerous shopping bags, placing them in a room adjacent to the living area. Shubman shrugged off his coat and tossed it onto the back of the sofa before sitting down next to his sister, releasing a tired huff.

Their parents, who had been waiting patiently in the living room, looked up as they arrived. Mr. Gill cleared his throat and called out, "Shubman."

Shubman glanced up at his father, sensing the weight behind his tone. "Yes, Dad?" he responded, leaning back against the sofa.

His father leaned forward, his expression serious. "Shubman, you’re not getting any younger. It's time to think about settling down and getting married."

The mention of marriage immediately soured Shubman’s mood. He straightened up, his eyes narrowing. "Marriage?" he repeated, his voice laced with irritation. "I’ve told you before, I'm not interested in marriage." He shot up from his seat, his face showing clear annoyance. "I’m not going to get married, so stop bringing it up."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode towards the staircase, heading upstairs to his room without waiting for a response.

His parents sighed heavily, watching his retreating figure disappear up the stairs. Mrs. Gill looked at her husband with a mixture of worry and resignation. "We have everything in this world," she murmured, "but not a daughter-in-law who can give us a grandchild."

Shahneel, still slumped on the couch, glanced between her parents, her expression softening with sympathy. "Good night, Mom, Dad," she said gently, standing up and giving them a tired smile. "I’m heading to bed."

Her parents nodded, still deep in their own thoughts. "Good night, dear," Mrs. Gill replied absently.

As Shahneel made her way to her room, her parents exchanged a weary look. They were feeling more hopeless than ever, knowing that convincing Shubman to marry was not going to be an easy task. With heavy hearts, they also turned towards their bedroom, the silence of the night settling over the mansion.

Shubman slammed the door to his room, his frustration palpable. The mere mention of marriage made his blood boil. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the tension radiating through his muscles. “Marriage, marriage, marriage…” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Why can’t they just let it go?"

Trying to push the conversation out of his mind, he headed straight for the bathroom, turning on the shower to let the cold water cool his heated temper. The icy water cascaded down his back, and for a moment, he closed his eyes, letting it wash away his frustration. But no matter how cold the water was, it couldn’t drown out the annoyance bubbling inside him.

After a few minutes, he stepped out of the shower, droplets clinging to his skin. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he made his way to his wardrobe, swinging it open with a slight tug. He pulled out a black, loose track pant and a matching black T-shirt, slipping into them with ease. The cool fabric against his skin was a small comfort.

He glanced at the wall clock—it read 11 PM. He sighed. It was late, but his mind was far from ready to rest. "Might as well get some work done," he thought, anything to distract him from the lingering thoughts about marriage.