Forbidden Mania | 18+

2.

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𝒜𝓇𝓈𝒽'𝓈 𝒫𝑜𝓋~

I left Mishka's home and hopped in my car, the warmth of her goodbye still lingering on my skin. Her smile, the way she'd leaned into my chest before I kissed her forehead, it was those small, intimate moments I cherished.

Tomorrow is her birthday, and I have planned something special. I smiled at the thought, already imagining the surprise on her face when I'd show up at her door with flowers and a day full of plans just for us.

But as I drove back home, a nagging feeling settled in my chest. My mother had been oddly quiet all day. There were no calls, no meetings she dragged me into, which was unlike her. A day without her interference felt rare, almost suspicious.

The Malhotra estate loomed ahead, a sprawling mansion passed down through generations.

From the outside, it was a symbol of prestige and power, an architectural masterpiece of sleek modern lines mixed with traditional Rajasthani accents. Inside, however, it was a battlefield, a place where politics and personal agendas reigned supreme.

I parked the car in the driveway, the glow from the estate's massive chandeliers spilling through the windows. As I walked up the stone steps, I mentally prepared myself for whatever awaited inside.

My family was exhausting, to say the least. Everyone had an agenda, and navigating those waters was like walking a tightrope.

I pushed open the front door, the scent of incense and roses hitting me instantly. My mother's favorite. She believed it gave the house an air of grace and tradition, though I always thought it was just another way for her to assert control.

"Arsh, Beta, you're finally home." Came the smooth, measured voice of my mother, Sumitra Malhotra, as she appeared from the hallway.

There she stood, regal as ever, dressed in a soft cream-colored saree with intricate gold embroidery. Her posture was impeccable, her dark hair pulled back in a tight bun, not a strand out of place. Her face, still strikingly beautiful at fifty, was a mask of calm calculation. My mother was the epitome of grace, elegance and manipulation.

"Ma." I nodded approaching her and touched her feet, trying to gauge her mood. She put her hand on my head as a blessing, her eyes scanning my face as if she could read my thoughts.

"You must be exhausted after your... outing." she said, the slightest edge to her tone. She always had a way of making my time with Mishka sound trivial, like it was an inconvenience to her plans.

"It was fine." I replied, non-committal.

"I'm actually heading to bed. Tomorrow's-"

"Tomorrow is quite busy for you." she cut me off smoothly, as if she already knew what I was about to say.

"I've cancelled tonight's meeting. You'll be attending one tomorrow instead."

I stopped in my tracks, my brows knitting together.

"What? Why tomorrow?"

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"We have some important decisions to make regarding the business. I need you there. You're the face of this family, Arsh, and it's crucial that you understand every aspect of it."

I clenched my jaw. Tomorrow is Mishka's birthday, and I'd already made plans. How could she just cancel tonight's meeting and move it to tomorrow? It felt deliberate, like she was trying to control not just my time but my relationship with Mishka too.