wooing Meera Rai

XXII | an idiot

XXII | an idiot

"So, it's over?"

"It's over."

"Just like that?"

Vihaan scoffed. A small smile on his relaxed face.

Out of everything he thought he'd do after being forced to resign from his firm, a smile was the last thing on the list. Yet as he finished signing the last of the legal formalities and glancing through the legal papers - the one that stated his liability for the crores of money he flushed - Vihaan simply took a deep breath and looked at Shaurya.

"Come on, don't act like you actually care about me." Vihaan said, shutting the nip of his pen and sliding the papers aside. "The partnership is over, Mr. Arora. And your company has already sued me for the loss along with my board members. So, I may have to sell both my kidneys, but hey - atleast your babysitting job is over."

Shaurya glared at Vihaan, ignoring the nonchalance which the architect was trying to highlight under the pretext of actually being both angry and scared. Vihaan was thrown off the post of his CEO by the board. Not only was he stripped of the title, he was also sued for the millions of losses the firm incurred because of him. And if things couldn't be worse, his father had frozen all of his assets - bank accounts, portfolios, Swiss cards and also, his house.

Millionaire Vihaan Singh Chauhan had been reduced to nothing but rags in a matter of weeks. Everything that Vihaan was once proud of, was snatched from him.

Including his wife.

The divorce hearing was scheduled for the next day, and while Vihaan contemplated his next move - Shaurya wondered what colourful words he could use to make sense to Vihaan.

"Vihaan, stop acting like you don't care what's happening with you."

Vihaan raised his eyes, a confused look on his face. "And what's happening with me?"

"Vihaan -"

"I told you. My father is testing me." Vihaan relaxed in his chair, even though the fact that the circumstances he was in right now demanded him to rage. "This is just temporary. I'll be back."

"And what about Meera?"

There it was. That tiny flinch. The slight curvy frown emerging on his nonchalant face. The almost fisted hands. The repulsive and erratic breathing.

Vihaan took a deep breath.

"What about Meera?"

"The divorce hearing is tomorrow."

"And?"

"You said that your father wants you to stay married until the elections. What are you going to do to stop getting divorced?" Shaurya was tensed, more than he should be. After all he knew the evil side of Vikram Chauhan and what came with that devil. "Don't you think she should know?"

Vihaan matched Shaurya's gaze. "Know what?"

"That her life is in danger. And that staying married for a year is the best you can do to save her."

Vihaan scoffed again. "Try telling Meera Rai that staying married to her asshole of a husband for a year is going to save her life and watch her kill herself the very next second."

Shaurya couldn't help but chuckle at that. He took a seat from across Vihaan as the two men sat in silence. There was nothing they could do now. The dice were rolled, the games had started and now, it was best to let things unfold by themselves.

"I could bribe the judge." Shaurya suggested during their fourth round of drinks. "Easily deny the divorce and save you from the hassle of pretending to be a good husband."