Artful Deceit & Love

50. Partners

Mridula's POV

"You should have brought Uday along." Mom said as she served me another scoop of ice cream.

Papa glanced at me as he waited for my reply.

What do I tell them? That my husband stormed out and has still not returned after he got to know that I am a virgin. Coward!

Well too bad. I am not going to apologize for not sleeping around like him. No one can make me feel bad for who I am!

"Mridula." Papa raised his brows to silently ask for an answer.

"Work. He is on a business trip." He nodded and I turned to mom.

"Can I stay here tonight?"

She glanced at Papa and smiled. "Isn't it sweet that she doesn't want to be alone in their home without him?"

Papa doesn't reply but also doesn't accept. That's how fathers are, they never think anyone deserves to be with their daughters.

After dinner, I moved to my room. I sat down at the red pink sofa and unlocked my phone.

I called Uday and waited. He didn't pick up. Again.

This man!

So much for giving another chance to this relationship.

I groaned in frustration and blocked his number. There, if he doesn't want to talk, I won't disturb him at all.

Days pass and I should officially say that my husband is declared missing in my eyes.

I was in my office when Zahir knocked at my door. I looked at him in surprise. He always does his work of guarding from outside.

"Yuvraj." He informed me before giving me his phone and closing the door for privacy. Now, he got the time to talk to me.

"What?" I snapped at the phone. If he was physically here, I would have wrung his neck.

"Come to Jaipur." He seemed on edge about something. It had a hint of seriousness that made me feel anxious.

I stood up and paced around to reach for my bag. "What happened?"

I heard him breath tensely. It didn't sit well with me.

"Your sister. She has been kidnapped."

~~~~~~

The entire journey in the car and plane and then car again, made me so nervous. I didn't even wait for the car to stop completely before I dashed out. Uday was there and without wasting any time he led to where Digvijay was.

"Where is she?"

I didn't waste time as I took that drink away from Digvijay. My sister is kidnapped and here he is drowning in alcohol.

I glanced around the dark room that he had trapped himself in.

I felt Uday's presence behind me but I ignored him.

"I am... working on it!" He blurted out as he seized back the glass from my hand and took another hearty sip.

I breathed in harshly.

"Clearly!" I taunted, forcing him to look at him with raised eyebrows.

He might be the King but this is about my sister.

"Sitting here...and drinking away, would surely bring her back!" I pointed out.

"My sister trusted you and this...this is what she is getting in return!" I gestured at him as I gave him a discouraging look over.