Page 44 of The Redemption
Good?
Raghav looks at me, his gaze questioning, as though he already knows that’s not what I said.
Kailash Uncle continues as if nothing is off. “Tell me something, Raghav, why were you insisting that Siya sign up for the vineyard tour today?”
I immediately step in. “It’s okay, Uncle,” I say a little too quickly. “You don’t have to get into this. I’ll handle it with him separately.”
“No,” he replies, turning to me. “I would have a problem if something like this is happening to my guest.”
“Yourguest?” I ask, confused now.
“Yes,” he chuckles softly as if enjoying my confusion. Then he turns to Raghav. “Raghav is my son.”
It takes a few seconds for his words to register, and then my gaze snaps back to Raghav.
“Yourfather?” I murmur, the question slipping out before I can stop it. It doesn’t make sense.
I know Raghav is Tej Khurana’s son, and that his father is dead. The entire mafia world knows how Tej was ambushed andkilled by a powerful global law enforcement network. So who is this man claiming to be Raghav’s father? And how many truths is Raghav hiding that are unintentionally being revealed to me now?
Raghav meets my gaze for a brief second before he speaks.
“This is my Baba,” he says, reintroducing me to Kailash Uncle. “He raised my twin brother. And now… he’s a father figure to me too.”
Something in his voice makes my heart pause. His twin brother? The one I saw on the video call. Why was he raised by this man, while Raghav was raised by his mafia father? Although these questions haunt my mind, I slowly turn back to Kailash Uncle, whose warm smile eases all my tension.
“That’s right. Raghav is my son, and I came from Mumbai today to meet him,” he says. “But I must say, it’s really nice to meet you as well, Siya.” There is a small pause before he adds, as if amused, “For the first time, I’ve met someone who has spoken about Raghav so fearlessly and with such depth, as though you’ve known him for a long time.”
My lips part slightly, but no words come out.
“Everyone here loves him,” he continues. “I’ve never heard anyone talk about him the way you just did. That’s why I was a little surprised.”
His gaze shifts between the two of us, curious now.
“Do you both know each other?” he asks.
Raghav answers immediately.
“No,” he answers without hesitation. “We don’t.”
I frown as he continues.
“Siya isjusta guest at RK Estate,” he adds flatly. “She has checked in for a month.”
Just a guest?
As if he didn’t know me before seeing me at RK Estate. As if we haven’t crossed paths in ways that cannot be ignored.As ifhe didn’t stand just inches away from me yesterday, allowing me fix something he never lets anyone touch.But why do I care if he treats me only as a guest and nothing more? I should be okay with it, right? But I’m not.
Strange! I keep my expression composed, but the irritation is there. Then, as if remembering what I just said, a sudden heat rises to my face before I can stop it. Of all the people I could have vented to… it had to be hisBaba. I shouldn’t have spoken so freely about him to anyone.
I exhale slowly, already deciding it’s best to leave before this gets any more awkward.
“I should go,” I say.
But before I can take a step, Uncle stops me.
“Where are you going?” he asks. “Your matter is still not resolved.”
I glance at Raghav before looking at Uncle, who is now questioning Raghav. “Tell me, why have you booked her vineyard tour? Or rather, why are you insisting she go for one?”
