The Corporate Monster ✅

D I S T O R T E D

When he was discharged an hour later, Devi was a complete mess. She scolded him with so much rigor, Aniket practically ran after the lengthy lecture about eating properly.

"Phew." Aniket sighed, igniting his motorcycle with the silver key.

Devi had provided some food, and he ate without complaint, savoring the delicious, mouth-watering Biriyani and omelette, like a complete pig.

He drove through the Sunday traffic, watching the drivers pass by on the by-pass. He observed a young girl sitting in the front part of the motorcycle, sitting in front of her father, while her mother sat facing sideways behind her father. The family looked happy, and Aniket felt green with envy.

He wanted to settle down. He was one for reading about adventures, but he was never up for one.

Aniket stopped at another red signal and blatantly stared at all the happy families surrounding him. He doesn't know how he got back home, but he comes face to face with the mother of all angry-birds a few minutes after he got of his bike, forgetting the key in the ignition.

"Hi." He greeted his mother, brushing past her as she opened the door wider to let him in. Maykala watched with a quizzical frontier, unsure why her son was so upset even after he saw the love of his life.

"What happened?" She asked, closing their distance. She hugged her son, her short height made her seem like she was the one comforted, but, nonetheless, Aniket was happy for having his mother.

"I'm not sure I can pull this off, ma. I want Krithi. I can't wait anymore. I'm already miserable." Aniket said.

"Do you hear yourself?" His mother scolded, pulling away from the embrace. "That girl gave her heart and soul to you, and all you say is I, I, I! The world does not revolve around you!"

Great, two angry momma-birds. First Devi and now, his own mother.

Why can't they understand him?

Why can't they see that he was heart-broken without his Krithi?

When Aniket hung his head in shame, Maykala sighed, calming herself. "She's getting married, babu. If you want your wife back, you have to confess to her soon. Or else, she's going to be some other man's wife and your heart will need to harden to watch your love be with another man."

Aniket clenched his fist at the mere thought. Did she have to remind him?

Aniket closed his hands around his ears, as if hearing voices. It drove him crazy to think about Krithi's fiancé. How could she agree to marry another person just two months after he had left her life? No matter how her parents had persuaded her, she should've refused if she had truly loved him.

"I'm going to kill him." His toes curled in anger. Clenching his teeth like he was pressed under stones, the man stood with renewed vigor. He was going to go to Krithi's hospital again and— and then what? What would he do? What could he do? Confess that he was her husband and expect a welcoming?

She wouldn't even be able to look at him.

"Killing her fiancé wouldn't do you any good." His mother reprimanded. "It would just make her more angrier at you when she comes to know your true identity."

"Then what choice do I have? I have nothing!" He ruffled his messy hair, frustrated.

Suddenly, his stomach growled. Even though he had ate a few mere hours ago, he was hungry yet again, now that his stomach has gotten so used to food.

Maykala chuckled at her son when Aniket's angry expression changes to a embarrassed smile. "No wonder you're hungry. You're a growing boy, babu. You have to eat." She smoothed over his hair like he was still four years old. Aniket shoved her hand away. He was not her little boy anymore. "I'm your mother. You'll always be my little boy." She said, as if she read his mind.

Aniket smiles a sad smile. Who was he not lying to? He hid the fact that he was not Maykala's son. He hid his true identity from his wife.

"Wait a minute, okay? I'll bring out some food." Maykala said, speed walking to the kitchen.

Aniket wanted to go help his mother, since he knew she will he rushing the cooking process. Yet, his body was too tired to even move an inch. He wanted to lay in his mother's lap and just cry until there was no tears left.

He huffed. He wanted too much, but he had nothing.

He wanted to beg at Krihti's feet and plead her to take him back. He wanted to bribe Aruvi with a chocolate shower to accept him as a father again. He wanted to watch his twins until they fell sleep, kiss them until they cried for the first time, and hold him in his arms until they choked for breath.

He wanted so much, he needed their love to live, to function, to breath.

He swiped his cheek in angst, and slumped down down on the velvet red couch. He looked at his reflection in this mirroring black screen of the television and frowned. He stuck his tongue out and spit at himself.

He loathed his face, the cause of all these problems in the first place. He wanted to rip it apart, tear it into pieces and— and he didn't know what to do.

He knew one thing.

Whatever road he chose in the crossroad facing him, the path would lead to his one end destination: his Krithi.

He knew what he wanted then.

His mother was right. Enacting revenge on Krithi's fiancé or confessing to Krithi wouldn't do him any good. He needed to be on the inside, like a spy, to learn about what's going on in the outside world. In other words, he needed to learn the beat to Krithi's heart before he can set the gait for her family's.

He sighed as he came to a conclusion. At least, now he had a goal.

He set goals all the time, but he never planned anything. Aniket traveled life with the wind as his guide and he usually ended up where he wanted to be. But this was not a game. His Krithi was his life, and he wasn't going to take any chances when it came to her.

He needed a plan.

He groaned after a few minutes, as no ideas had entered his head. Just then, the pitter patter of feet and giggling came from a few steps away from him. Preesha and Chinna entered with the twin girls in their hands.

He turned to look at his cousin and sister in law.

Then, his heart jumped.

He scampered off the sofa and came face to face with his worst enemy.

The man who had betrayed him.

The man who had the heart to whip the son he had raised.

The man he had once called father.

Prakash.

🌺🌺🌺