Chapter 98: chapter 98

SRUTHII frown at Madhav. “You have to be clear. I’ve had many conversations with her in the Boiren Mountains. Be specific.”Madhav is silent for a few seconds, deep in thought. I wait patiently for him to answer. When he does, he looks a little ashamed of himself. “The conversation you had with her in the room. The part where you told her that you married me only for an heir and would never fall in love with a criminal like me. It hurt like hell to hear those words. I believed that you had feelings for me and was preparing to confess, but I was shocked to learn that you were toying with my feelings, all for a child.”“What?” I say, still confused. “I never had such a conversation with Ragini. Besides, I don’t need an heir. The only thing we did in Ragini’s room was record the story. Recording the story... Holy shit!”“You were that room cleaner?” I ask, remembering the irresponsible man who left the room without cleaning it. I still remember vividly the lines I spoke when the cleaner was in the room because I had to repeat it again because of the noise caused by the mob falling to the ground. “Yes, it was me,” Madhav answers, looking away.“God! How messed up this is,” I say as understanding clicks in. I frown at him. “You not only eavesdropped on my conversation with Ragini, but you also assumed the worst of me. Why the hell did you think I was desperate for an heir? It’s not like I have acres of property in my name for someone to inherit or a position to take over. Why did you even entertain that idea?”Now, it’s Madhav’s turn to frown. “Because your brother is impotent.”My eyes widen in shock. “Come again, my brother is what?”Madhav’s eyes widen in realization. “You didn’t know? The injuries Vikram suffered on his last mission have made him infertile.”I close the gap between us and grab Madhav’s shoulder in a strong grip, blood pulsing through my body. “Is it true? Vikram can’t have children?”Madhav’s hands wrap around me. His strong presence grounds me, and I try to calm down.HEAVENS!THIS IS HUGE! Because if Vikram can’t have children, then if a child is ever born between me and Madhav, that child would become the heir. That’s the law of the country. Vikram needs to announce the heir to his position before he turns thirty, or else he’ll have to relinquish his position as minister. It’s a crazy law made years ago, but it’s still a law nonetheless.“It’s true, Sruthi,” Madhav’s voice is soft.“I had no idea. Vikram didn’t tell me, and neither did Pavitran. He assured me that aside from the injuries, Vikram was fine.”“I think Vikram would have asked Pavitran to keep it a secret from you,” Madhav says, gently stroking my hair.“Why would he do that?”“Isn’t it obvious? He didn’t want you to worry.”I groan. “Why is he always like this? He wants to shoulder every burden alone without anyone knowing. Of course, as his sister, I’m worried about him.”“Do you want to confront him about this?” Madhav asks, cupping my face gently in his hands.“I must. I’m going to give him a good scolding for hiding something as serious as this from me. But that’s not important right now. Talking to him can wait. What’s important now is clearing the misunderstanding we have between us,” I say, getting up from the couch.I walk into my room and search for my phone. When I find it, I retrieve it and scroll through my chats with Ragini. I sit down next to Madhav and say, “So, on that day in Ragini’s room, we were actually recording an audio of the legend of the Boiren Mountains. I was giving the voice of the princess in the story.”I press play on the audio recording Ragini sent me. My voice sounds loud in the quiet room as I talk in the tone of the haughty princess. I fast forward to the part where the princess is having a conversation with her maid about her pirate husband. “This is what you heard me talk on that day. I wasn't speaking about you. But, about the pirate that comes in the story.”Madhav opens his mouth, then closes it. He opens it again, then closes it. He looks speechless. Then he runs his hand through his hair and looks at me with a guilty expression. He looks so adorably cute that I try to hide my grin.“I’m sorry,” he says finally, in a soft tone. “I shouldn’t have eavesdropped on your conversation.”“Yeah, you shouldn’t have. Come to think of it, what were you doing there in that cleaner’s uniform?”“I was there to investigate the trafficking gang. I was on my way to investigate the gang leader’s lair when you called me to clean the room.”I shake my head. “God! I had no idea it was you. Now I understand why something about the cleaner felt familiar.”“I’m sorry,” Madhav says again. “I should have asked you about it directly rather than acting like a moron, but I didn’t have the courage to face you after hearing those words.” He meets my eyes, and I’m taken aback by the vulnerability in them. “I was afraid that if I asked you about it, knowing your bluntness, I thought you’d tell me outright to my face how you hate me for my job. I wouldn’t have been able to bear that.”I wrap my arms around Madhav and pull him into a tight hug. I understand his fears. Knowing his past, I can see where he’s coming from. He didn’t want to face another situation where the woman he cherishes most humiliates him for his job or despises him for it.I had despised him in the past. I was horrified when I learned that he was an assassin for my brother. But now, I love him. I trust him, and I know he isn't the monster I thought he was. He has his flaws and imperfections, but that’s what makes me fall for him even harder.I rest my forehead against his, and we stay like that for a few seconds, our breaths mingling as one. There’s still a long way to go for us. There are a lot of things I’m yet to know about him, and I’m looking forward to it.“I love you,” I whisper again. He smiles in surprise.“Can you repeat those words?” he asks, looking shy. There is a boyishness to him when he blushes. I’ve seen him ruthless and cold, but this shyness and adorableness make him so human. I press a kiss on his forehead and cup his face. This man has gone through so much, and I have this strong protective streak in me to give him what he missed in life: affection and love. I feel an overwhelming sense of affection for Madhav as I utter the words again, “I love you, Madhav.”He lets out a happy sigh. “I’ll never get tired of hearing those words from you.”“Are you sure?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.“Yep, I am,” he replies.“Then brace yourself, Madhav, because I’m going to smother you with so much love that you’ll get sick of it.”Madhav’s laughter rings out through the whole house. “Bring it on, Sruthi. I’m looking forward to it.”❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥