The Charade

53|𝕳𝖆𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖉

Chapter 54, 56, 57 is available on Stck and Patreon.

KASHI'S POV

"Where are we going, Mr. Agnihotri?" I asked, looking outside the window. The road to our home was left behind, yet he continued driving.

We had returned from the headquarters earlier, and he hadn't spoken a word to me since. I kept myself busy with Reyaan, my baby boy, while he locked himself in the study the entire time.

Not a single word since last night. It feels like everything between us is falling apart.

I love him so much. But it feels like he doesn't care. In his world, being right matters more than my love.

He didn't respond to my question. I turned to look at Reyaan sitting in his baby seat, pointing at the trees passing by as if he were counting them. But he doesn't know how to count yet.

Reyaan glanced at me from the corner of his eyes, a faint smirk playing on his lips before he rubbed his eyes, leaned back, and closed them as if he had fallen asleep.

I looked away, down at my lap.

The silence in the car was suffocating. My emotions were clawing at me, and I felt my eyes brimming with tears. I've been crying non-stop since yesterday.

What was my fault?

Everything I did, I did for him.

Doesn't he know how rigid his family is about their so-called values? If I had gone out screaming that Dhir Agnihotri was going to harm me, do you think they would have believed me? No, they wouldn't.

Even if they did, they would have tried to discuss things between us and make me stay with that man. His family was like that.

They aren't even speaking to him now. They've guessed Reyaan is not Dhir's son but his—Adhikrit's. Reyaan's green eyes, just like his father's, gave it away. None of the Agnihotris have ever had green eyes. Except for Adhikrit.

Any fool could figure it out. Yet, I acted blind for him, for his sake.

The car stopped, and I realized we had reached my parents' house. My heart skipped a beat.

"Mr. Agnihotri?" I whispered.

"Get down, Kashi," he said sternly. His tone left no room for argument.

Shaking, I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out, adjusting my dupatta. He already had Reyaan in his arms. I don't know how I was so lost that I didn't even notice when we reached my house and when he took Reyaan in his arms.

He walked to the door and rang the bell. I followed him silently.

The door opened, and Mummy's face lit up in surprise.

"Kashi?" she gasped, stepping forward to hug me. I tried to smile, but tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Mera bacha, how are you?" she asked, holding me tightly.

"I'm fine," I managed to say, wiping my tears.

Mr. Agnihotri bent down and touched her feet. "Namaste," he said.

"Bless you, beta," she replied, patting his head.

Mummy's attention turned to Reyaan. "And how is my little baby boy?"

"He's tired," Mr. Agnihotri said normally, avoiding her gaze. Reyaan looked at my mother, or stared at her.

I couldn't hold back my tears anymore when Papa appeared. His face lit up in surprise as he rushed towards us.