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As soon as we landed in Banaras after the chaotic events from earlier, I headed straight to the office to wrap up some meetings with the board members and staff. Just as I was diving into work, I received a call from Maa. She instructed me to drop Vidya at her father's house that evening-apparently, she wanted to visit him.
So, to fulfill the great husband's duty, I had to cancel the staff meeting, something I'd never done for anyone before. But for her, I did.
She's the exception.
Now here I am, driving her through the streets of Banaras, demoted from CEO to personal chauffeur. I glanced at her in the rearview mirror. She was sitting in the back seat, dressed in a simple green anarkali suit. Busy scrolling through her phone like it was the only thing that mattered. Ever since that sleep terror night, her behavior had shifted. She'd become distant, cold-treating everyone around her with a frosty demeanor.
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Except for Maa sa, of course. She was the only one immune to Vidya's temper, while the rest of us, including me, were left dealing with her unpredictable mood swings.
Quite annoying.
Our eyes met briefly through the mirror, and I looked away, hoping to avoid another argument. But she wasn't going to let it go that easily.
"Raste pe dhyaan do," she said, her voice clipped and bossy.
"Hume mat batao kispe dhyaan dena hai aur kispe nahi. Tumhare driver nahi hain hum," I shot back, clearing my throat to keep my tone steady.
She didn't miss a beat. "Acha, toh Manvi ke ban jao," she taunted, her voice laced with sarcasm.
I clenched the steering wheel but said nothing. For the sake of peace, I told myself. What was her problem? Why did she keep taunting me like this?
Kabhi dosti, kabhi dushmani, kabhi py... No, that's impossible. I shouldn't even go there.
She broke the silence again, snapping irritably, "Hume ghar ke pass wale mandir pe drop kar dena, or tum wapas chale jana."
