Chapter 31

Chapter 31
"Did she eat?" He asked on the phone call. "No sir, I have tried multiple times but madam refused to eat anything" a lady answered on the phone call. It was almost lunchtime and she didn't eat much of her breakfast. He doesn't want to acknowledge but her thoughts didn't take off his mind.

He was feeling uneasy from the time he left the mansion. It was getting difficult for him to torment her whenever he saw tears in her eyes. He just wants to comfort her, brush her tears off, and embrace her to his heart's content. He was bewildered by his own feelings.

"Alright, make sure to feed her something if she asks," he spoke out. "Sure sir" the lady answered and he cut the call. He had told the lady to look after her, who was also the caretaker of the mansion. Heaving a deep sigh he proceeded with his work on his laptop shrugging all the nagging feelings.

"Sir, I have informed Mr. Singhania about the meeting. He said he will be here by 2 pm" Tarun said. "Send these files to Natasha and ask her to attend the meeting with shareholders. I will be busy with Mr. Singhania" he said implying toward the files. Avyaansh narrowed his eyes at the grinning Tarun but before he could say anything Tarun pressed his lips in a thin line and straightened himself and nodded before grabbing the files and left his cabin.

Here Shanaya was sitting on the bed hugging her knees and shedding tears. Why does it have to be with her? She didn't anticipate this behaviour from him on the first day of their marriage.

But then again it was her fault she didn't answer him and got engaged to Neil. How she would tell him that it was not her choice but helplessness. How can she turn blind eye to her father when he was in dire need of money.

She never liked Neil, not even a bit but just for her father's sake she agreed to the marriage. She didn't predict her fate would take a drastic shift and that she would get married to Avyaansh.

"I will erase that misconception of yours," she mumbled, dabbing her tears from her cheeks. Now she will do anything to win his heart again. She was adamant to clear the misunderstanding between them and she won't back off.



"It was decided to announce the marriage today to the media," Rajeev let out while a frown etched on his brow. Today was the announcement day in the media about their marriage as per decided by Rajeev. When Avyaansh called him to meet him at RM Holdings regarding the media announcement Rajeev was sceptical.

"Wrong, it was your decision, I never approved of that," Avyaansh declared, his voice deep and authorized while he was busy going through files in his hands. "Why do you want to keep it a secret?" Hiding this news didn't sit well with Rajeev. His suspicion arose when Avyaansh declined to publicize their marriage. The corner of his lips twitched in a slight smirk hearing Rajeev; however, he masked his face before Rajeev could notice.

Rajeev came here after finishing his pending work and attending the meeting with the finance team. "Because Mr. Singhania, like you, I too have my enemies who are desperate to get a hold of my weakness, apparently which I don't have" Avyaansh commenced leaning on his swivel chair with his fingers intertwined. His facial form was rigid and void of any emotions. Rajeev couldn't comprehend what was going on in his mind. When he didn't interrupt Avyaansh began again.

"But I don't want to drag your daughter into this. So let's just postpone the announcement for now. Also, Shanaya wants to complete her studies first so I don't want her to get distracted because of this wedlock" he declared each and every word clearly and Rajeev seems to agree with him. Before that, he was sceptical about Avyaansh's decision but when he said to postpone the news and let the things be as it is for now he seemed relaxed.

"Within three days she will be turning 21. We can have her signature and proceed with the contract" Avyaansh stated and Rajeev gave a nod in approval.

"How's she?" Rajeev inquired after they were done discussing business. Avyaansh looked pissed but before Rajeev could detect he disguised his face with his signature look. Taking a sharp intake he looked at Rajeev before saying "She is absolutely fine. Now she is with me so you don't have to be distressed about her," his deep, rich voice resonated inside the cabin. His eyes showed determination.

"She is very sensitive. I know you will take care of her but I will still prefer to say. She's very precious to me, don't ever make her cry" Rajeev spoke out. His voice held a serious note that Avyaansh was clearly conscious of the invisible threat behind his remarks.

His upper lip tugged into a smirk as he glanced at Rajeev with a lifted brow. The atmosphere inside the cabin suddenly tensed. Avyaansh's eyes didn't miss the perplexed look on Rajeev's face. "I know how to treat my wife Mr. Singhania. You don't have to worry about her from now on" although his demeanor was calm but from inside he was burning lava. The game has just begun and he won't back off until he destroys the very person responsible for his mother's suffering. Soon Rajeev will be left with nothing. "Alright, I will take my leave then," Rajeev said and stood up, fixed his coat, and shook hands with Avyaansh.

Rajeev was still sceptical about how Avyaansh was behaving coldly yet he didn't raise his voice because this contract is important to him.

"What was he saying?" Natasha asked. She was standing in front of the large window of his cabin. Walking towards the wooden desk she grabbed her seat and inclined back. "His daughter is very sensitive, I should take good care of her and blah blah blah" a dark chortle left his throat and a laugh resonated inside the cabin.

"So, what's your next step?" She asked, stifling her laugh. "You're coming tonight," he let out as his eyes carried an evil glint and a smug smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I can't wait to meet her" she let out and stood up from her seat. Before sauntering out of his cabin. Avyaansh gave her a nod.



A knock sounded on the door and she came out of her trance. "Come in," she said in a hoarse voice and a lady came into her room carrying a tray of food. She was an elderly lady in her fifties. "Ma'am, please eat something, it's past lunchtime," she said in a polite voice. "I don't…" before Shanaya could decline her, she interrupted her. "Ma'am, sir will be very angry if he comes to know you didn't eat. I don't want to lose my job" After listening to her, she didn't have the heart to deny the poor old lady.

She nodded in assertion before saying "please call me Shanaya" and getting off the bed she was about to walk into the ensuite bathroom when she heard her say. "I work for sir, I can't call you by your name" Shanaya turned to her before letting out "you're older than me, just like my Reema bi. Please don't call me ma'am" her soft voice sounded and the old lady couldn't help beaming and nodded at her. She found her soft person and already liked her nature.

Shanaya gave a slight smile before she sauntered to the washroom to freshen up. She sprinkled some water on her face and dabbed her face with a towel and came out of the bathroom. The lady placed the tray on the coffee table and left after Shanaya sat on the couch in the room with a food tray in her hand.

"I am outside here, please call me if you need anything" she said and left. She took a morsel in her mouth and tears brimmed in her eyes. She missed Reema bi's handmade food. How she always took care of her. How she cooks for her or sometimes feeds her with her hands. She silently ate her lunch and after she was done she took the used dishes and walked out of her room.

The lady was right out there. She took the used dishes from her and walked away. She was in her room since morning so she decided to look around the mansion. She was wandering through the hallways but looked lost in his big mansion. His mansion was a kind of maze alley with a black-and-white interior.

"Shanaya?" the same lady called her when she found her roaming in the hallways, Shanaya turned to the source of the voice. "Do you need anything?" The lady asked. "Umm… nothing I was just looking around" Shanaya answered politely and the lady nodded. "Let me show you around," the lady said and Shanaya followed her behind.

"Sir barely stays at home, he mostly prefers staying in his study if he's home," the lady spoke walking before her and Shanaya trailed behind and gave attention to her keenly.

"A team of cleaning staff only come into the mansion to clean and depart before sir comes back from his office. He doesn't like the maid's handmade food so he prefers cooking himself or sometimes he asks me to cook for him. I look after the mansion as sir has to fly Abroad sometimes for business so I stay in servant quarters" the lady told her about everything and Shanaya only gave a nod.

"Since how long have you been working for him?" she asked after a while. "I have been working here for the past 3 years," the lady answered. "And my name is Sarah," she said, which Shanaya was about to ask next.

Sarah showed her the whole mansion and for a moment she went in awe looking at the interior and a big chandelier hanging in the middle of the hall. The interior of the mansion was either black, grey, or even white. She wondered if he was allergic to colours. Even the dining table was pitch black and the cutlery also.

They walked to the down floor where the gym was. And then they came to the lawn to their next destination. She saw a beautiful garden in the backyard of the mansion. Her eyes sparkled looking at the garden with beautiful flowers and on the left side, there was a big swimming pool. The exterior of the mansion was as beautiful as the interior. In front, there was a beautiful fountain. Overall she loved the house and the most important thing she liked about his home was the garden.

Taking a walk in the garden made her feel light and calm. It had taken her mind away from the uneasiness. She sat on a wooden chair in the garden and closed her eyes. The whooshing breeze rustled her hair and she crossed her arms on her chest leaning backward and heaving a deep sigh and filling her lungs with fresh breeze.