Chapter 33: chapter 33

Imara found herself pacing restlessly around the room, her mind buzzing with Adhiraj’s earlier words. As she nervously tugged at the corner of her t-shirt, a fleeting thought crossed her mind-should she confront Adhiraj about his sudden interest in her whereabouts and his peculiar behavior about the whole husband and wife thing?In that moment, a knock echoed through the room. She nervously nibbled on her lip, hoping it wasn’t Adhiraj at the door. Despite her earlier bravado, she now found herself silently praying for anyone but him as she cautiously cracked open the door.To her relief, it was Vandana, standing there with a warm smile and a glass of milk. Imara stepped aside to let her in and she pointed out while placing the glass on the side table, “You didn’t eat dinner, Imara.”Imara softly replied, “I just wasn’t hungry...” feeling bewildered by Vandana’s persistent warmth and concern ever since she arrived at their home.Vandana’s query lingered in the air as she asked, “You worked all day and didn’t feel hungry? Did you skip dinner because of Raj?”Imara was caught off guard and couldn’t find the words to respond just yet. Learning that Adhiraj had confronted her father had indeed left her feeling stunned.Vandana approached Imara, gently placing her hand on Imara’s, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity as she spoke, “Imara, I want you to understand something about Adhiraj. He may come across as a shrewd businessman to the world, but deep down, he is much more than that. As the firstborn in his generation, as the first grandchild, he grew up under the guidance of his grandparents. He learned the importance of valuing relationships and respecting our traditions. This wedding, no doubt, resulted from unexpected circumstances, but for Adhiraj, it is a sacred bond. He is committed to protecting and caring for you, as it is ingrained in his very being, passed down by my in-laws. His words to Sanjay ji may have seemed blunt, but they were not born out of ego or rudeness. They were actually a result of his deep sense of responsibility and his right over you as his wife.”Vandana wanted to express more, much more. She believed that Imara should also consider giving this relationship a chance, and should be willing to take a step forward, like Adhiraj was doing. But she held back, understanding Imara’s history and not wanting to push her too hard. However, Vandana took pride in her son, who, despite being aware of Imara’s troubled past, not only agreed to the wedding but was also making efforts to make it work.Imara’s eyes remained fixed on Vandana, trying to decipher the true meaning behind her words. Vandana withdrew slightly and gently cupped Imara’s face, stating, “You remember, right? You need to make something sweet tomorrow!”Imara blinked in response, acknowledging Vandana’s words. With a warm smile, Vandana left the room, leaving Imara puzzled yet touched by her words.Meanwhile, Adhiraj, with a determined stride, headed towards Virender's room. He wasted no time and called out, "Dadu," the moment he stepped inside.While engrossed in his and Devyani’s favourite movie 'Aradhana', Virender gestured towards the chair next to him, inviting Adhiraj to join him.Adhiraj grabbed the remote from the table. The sound of the movie abruptly silenced as he pressed pause. He rearranged the chair, setting it up for a face-to-face conversation with Virender."What's going on?" Virender questioned, puzzled by Adhiraj's behavior.With a determined look, Adhiraj leaned in, his hands firmly clasped together, and stared directly into Virender's eyes as he questioned, "You planned it all!"As the pieces clicked into place for Virender, he couldn't suppress a mischievous grin. Tilting his head, he playfully retorted to his grandson, "Who have you been sending your spies after? Your dear wife or your wise old grandfather?"Adhiraj had his serious face on, ready for some truth bombs. He didn’t have an option to unleash his inner Hulk on his grandfather. Hence, he stayed cool as a cucumber while dropping this mic-worthy line: “You were secretly tracking Imara, weren’t you? You were aware of Namita’s plan to run away. You purposely had Imara’s spot removed from the exhibition, fully aware that she would come to confront her father since the Rathores sponsored it.”Virender examined his grandson, his index finger absentmindedly finding its way between his teeth. After a pause, he nodded in agreement, responding, “Namita was all set to run off on the Sangeet day itself. But I had to pass on a brief message to that boy…what was his name? Tarun, I think. The wedding day was the golden opportunity, as no one would have the resources to track down Namita and drag her back.”“Why?” Adhiraj asked, his mind swirling in complete and utter bewilderment, “Why in the world would you go to such lengths? You put everything on the line just to make sure I ended up marrying her one way or another. Do you realise what you did? I ended up holding Namita hostage, got her boyfriend beaten up for messing with my family’s name. I even took on the Thakurs in court, only to find out you were pulling the strings all along!”"I didn't!" Virender replied, shaking his head. “I never liked Namita, but I had no clue she was planning to run away. It was Sangeet night when I found out about it. And then... well, you know the rest!”Adhiraj's confusion reached new heights, surpassing anything he had ever experienced before. “But why?” he desperately needed answers. “You not only set up a scenario where I had no option but to marry Imara, but you also manipulated her by removing her firm’s position, causing a rift between her and her father, all to make her my wife?”As Virender opened his mouth to speak, Adhiraj demanded, “Come on, Dadu! Just tell me already. Don’t send me on a wild goose chase. What’s the deal with you liking her so much that you went to extreme lengths, even involving the media, just to get her to say yes?”Virender stood up, draped his shawl over his shoulders, and left the room without saying a word. Adhiraj rolled his eyes and followed him, calling out, “Seriously, Dadu? You’re turning this into a real-life treasure hunt!”“You used to love treasure hunts as a child, didn’t you?” Virender teased, motioning for Adhiraj to walk with him outside. With an annoyed sigh, Adhiraj stormed back into Virender’s room as he grabbed not only Virender’s shoes but also an extra bulky coat.“Put this on, Dadu! It’s cold outside!” Adhiraj asserted, gently guiding Virender to the couch in the living room, making sure he was comfortable before helping him into his shoes.He was determined to keep his grandfather warm and protected at all costs. Having lost his grandmother, he couldn’t bear the thought of another loved one slipping away. That moment when he got the call about her passing still haunted him, leaving a gaping hole in his heart for not being there when she breathed her last. In his eyes, she was not just his grandmother; she was a protector, a provider, and his biggest cheerleader. Her love for him knew no bounds.“Time for the coat!” Adhiraj swapped Virender’s shawl for a cosy woollen coat, insisting on adding gloves for extra warmth. December in Delhi was no joke, and Adhiraj wasn’t taking any chances with his grandfather’s health.Virender felt a rush of warmth in his heart when he saw how considerate his oldest grandson was. He and Devyani had always strived to raise him with the love and attention they wished they could have given Jaidev. Virender regretted not being able to spend more time with his own son due to his busy business schedule. If he had, perhaps he and Jaidev would have had a stronger bond, especially when it came to matters like Imara. But seeing that Adhiraj had grown into the person they had hoped for filled Virender with a sense of peace.“Come on, let’s go!” Adhiraj whispered as he led Virender out of the house and into the garden for a leisurely walk and a much-needed Q and A session.=============Author's Note:I am really sorry for the delayed update🙃🙃