The Revenge Games Read online

  “I definitely will,” he said.

  “You say that. But you barely have more than a few bites, and I end up finishing it all. If I don’t watch out, I’d be as big as a house before the baby arrives,” she stated with a frown.

  His eyes danced in mirth.

  “Baby, I know you mean well. But I have to confess something really urgently,” he said with laughter in his tone.

  “What?” she asked, loving the word ‘baby’ from his mouth. It felt intimate and it made them seem like any other normal couple.

  He was looking at her mischievously. “My stomach won’t be able to take any more of your desserts.”

  When she stopped mixing the dough, and narrowed her eyes at him, he continued grinning.

  “I love the taste obviously. But seriously, I keep going into a sugar coma with only a few bites. And soon, I won’t be able to have the same energy and zeal if I continue eating so much sugar and butter; you keep feeding me every day as dessert.”

  What the hell? She had been rushing home from work over the past few weeks, slaving away hours to make desserts for him. And this was the thanks she got?

  And the maddening man was now chewing on a piece of carrot like he hadn’t just insulted her.

  But obviously her glare didn’t faze him. Because his eyes still danced with mirth.

  “And like you said, you are getting big, and you are already a handful to carry,” he teased. “So I really need more muscles and minimal fat in my body. Last night’s bread that was fried in butter, and dipped in sugar syrup and super sweet condensed cream must have done some serious damage to these muscles,” he said, displaying his still impressive muscles with a grin.

  “That was called Double-Ka-Meetha. Any proud Hyderabadi would have been able to finish a bowl full of it, and then request for another one,” she said haughtily.

  He burst out laughing. “That wasn’t Double-Ka-Meetha,” he said, shaking his head.

  “It most certainly was,” she said, glaring at him.

  He laughed harder. “Baby, I’ve eaten Double-Ka-Meetha a lot of times in my life. It’s a very subtle sweet. So trust me, when I say, whatever you made wasn’t subtle. I almost went into a diabetic coma with just a spoon!”

  She lost it then.

  Taking a handful of cake batter, she flung it towards his face. She missed, and the blob ended up landing on the wall behind him.

  He turned to look at it, and then turned back to her, the smile on his face and eyes gone. Keeping his eyes on her, he slowly began to close the distance between them with an unreadable expression.

  She stood in her place with her eyes still shooting daggers at him.

  “You, my dear wife…” he began.”You really need to work on your aim. This is how it is done,” he said, and soon a blob of batter splattered on her hair, dripping down her face and then landing on the floor. She looked down at it in shock, and then looked at him.

  He was grinning at her again.

  “You dared to…you…” She narrowed her eyes and took an angry step forward.

  Her feet ended up landing on the batter on the floor. With widened eyes, she spread her arms, and flailed them as though trying to find balance.

  “Sia!” he exclaimed worriedly, and he reached out a hand to grab her.

  And instead of accepting his help, she gave him a fooled-you! look, and picked up a huge blob of batter, and smashed it into his face.

  He looked stunned.

  And now, it was her turn to smile at him.

  “You are so going to pay for it,” he growled mockingly, seeing the small smile on her face.

  Soon the kitchen became a warzone. They began to smear whatever leftover batter was remaining in the bowl on each other. And when they ran out of it, she reached for the chocolate powder. She shook the whole tin on his head.

  He was about to pour the oil over her head, but stopped when he saw her gesture.

  “Okay time-out. Time-out! I’m tired” She was shouting and laughing.

  “Okay, so do you concede?” he demanded.

  “I do. I do. No oil on my hair, please,” she shrieked and laughed some more.

  He grinned, and held her hand, pulling her carefully towards the kitchen table.

  “No. No. The chairs will get dirty,” she said, still laughing, looking at his cake battered face and the white flour filled hair.

  Smiling, he sat on the floor and pulled her down gently onto his lap.

  She was laughing with tears rolling down her cheeks.”You look so funny. I think I need a camera to capture your face, and then frame them up on one of the walls.”

  “Oh yeah? You don’t look that sensible either,” he said grinning down at her, his teeth white, surrounded by the dark chocolate cake batter and cocoa powder.

  She laughed even more.

  “Okay I’m feeling hungry after that fight. I need something edible,” he said, and licked the bitter sweet batter from the tip of her nose, and then from her chin.

  Soon, things got heated and they spent several minutes tasting chocolate in the most interesting places.

  After a while they showered and went into her room, where she lunged at him, and then as usual their intimate war began.

  They were opponents right from their kisses, touches and the ultimate decisions on who made the other come first.

  But luckily in their war there were always two winners.

  “I won tonight. I made you come twice,” she declared with a small smile.

  He smiled back, amused at her competitiveness, and rubbed his thumb on her bottom lip, trying to capture her smile.

  “It wasn’t a fair fight because you ambushed me while we were in the shower,” he replied as he began to gently massage her back, and then cupped his hand to her rounded belly.

  She sighed in content.

  “You were begging for it when you gave me that look as soon as you got me started on a cake fight,” she teased slightly.

  He laughed.

  “The night is still young. And remember, these days, you are always in a submissive position and I have to take the lead.”

  That got her riled as he had expected. She reared up with narrowed eyes.

  “That’s because of my belly. If I wasn’t carrying our child—”

  He grinned and pulled her closer, and then kissed her lips, cutting her off. She settled down again next to him, probably more out of exhaustion than surrender.

  His wife was a challenge. His challenge. And he was glad that he had her in his life.

  Soon he would have their child too. To love and to protect. And then, he would have everything.

  But one bad thing about having everything was that, when you lose, you could lose it all.

  CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

  SIA WAS LOOKING at the picture she and Ajay had taken recently in a photo studio. He was kissing her large belly while she watched him with a smile on her face.

  She had several pictures of them on the walls of their home now. And Ajay had brought in a few of his family pictures along with a few of his favorite knick knacks as well. Her once stark house looked like a true home now, radiating warmth around.

  How did he mean so much to her so soon?

  She kept asking herself the same question over and over again. It didn’t matter that she had only known him for only a year, but it had been long enough to fall for him with an intensity that she had never ever experienced before.

  She had tried to stay focused purely on her mission. And she had tried pretty hard to shut herself from feeling anything towards him. But she couldn’t do it.

  And on top of that, she had been feeling extremely guilty about using him.

  Ajay was a good man who had been trying to make a good life with her. And he didn’t deserve to be used in anyway. He deserved someone honest, and someone who would make him their first priority in their lives.

  Not someone who was just biding her time while burning up with the need to take revenge.

  And w
hen the things she had set into motion finally come out in the open, he might even be in mortal danger. And if not danger, his entire life would upheaval for sure.

  He needed to be told the truth. Even if it meant risking the entire mission. And after he found out the truth, if he left her, she would still not regret it. She’d find another way. A way which won’t drag the man she loved into her murky past and war.

  Her phone rang loudly, jerking her from her thoughts.

  It was Ajay.

  Smiling she picked it up.

  “Hi baby, how is your day going on?” he asked.

  “Very tiring. I feel so cooped up at home, even though I’m still technically working. I want the next month to arrive quickly. I—” she broke off and gasped.

  “What happened?” he asked in concern.

  “Your son happened. He wants to be a soccer player, and he’s practicing it way too early,” she complained.

  The baby had been moving and kicking her a lot lately.

  She heard Ajay laugh. “Our daughter must be taking after you. She must have felt your moves while you practiced kick boxing on her daddy during the initial months of the pregnancy.”

  She laughed, recalling the incident when Ajay had taunted her to show him her combat moves.

  “Just relax. I’ll be home in an hour to give you a really long back rub before the party,” he said.

  “Hmm…that sounds great.”

  “Meantime, feel free to get started without me. The last time I walked into that particular scene it ended really well,” he teased.

  She laughed. “For you maybe. I was so embarrassed!”

  “You shouldn’t have been. It was the hottest thing I had ever seen—”

  She could hear someone knocking on his office door.

  “Baby, someone’s here. I’ve got to go now. See you soon,” he said and ended the call.

  With the smile on her face, she began to prepare for the party that night. And more than that, she was waiting in anticipation for the other private party her husband had planned between them.

  ***

  Ajay ended the call with Sia, and looked at the interruption with a frown.

  Surprisingly, it was Jyotika with Harsha who had come to visit him in his office.

  Harsha was glaring at Jo, and she had an uncharacteristically stubborn expression on her face.

  “Hey Jo, what an unexpected surprise. Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Jay, I found—” she began, but was cut off by Harsha.

  “For heaven’s sake, I told you to just let it go, Jo!” Harsha yelled at her angrily, also in an uncharacteristic way. Harsha was never the kind to raise his voice in temper, and always had a ready smile on his face, even when truly provoked.

  “No! I can’t. He has the right to know,” Jo shouted back.

  “Why the hell are you still so hung up on him? He’s been married for a while and they are going to have a child in a month,” Harsha more or less hissed out at her.

  “I already told you several times, I am not hung up on him. But he has the right to know,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

  Ajay interrupted their bickering. “Guys, calm down. What happened?” he asked.

  Harsha and Jyotika spoke at the same time.

  “Jay, I found—”

  “I tried to stop her Jay. But she wouldn’t just let it—”

  They stopped talking, and now instead of glaring at each other, they both looked…hurt?

  “Guys, what are you both talking about?” Ajay asked.

  “I had Sia investigated,” Jyotika announced softly.

  “What?” Ajay frowned.

  “I know I went behind your back and did it. But you were so blinded by her, Jay. And the way she trapped you…” She took a deep breath. “I just had to find out.”

  Ajay looked at the guilty expression on Jyotika ‘s face. “What did you find out, Jo?” he asked her quietly.

  “It’s none of her damn business!” Harsha interrupted angrily.

  “Harsha, wait. Go ahead, Jo,” Ajay said calmly.

  Jyotika looked at Harsha’s angry face, and then she looked at Ajay’s calm one.

  Taking a deep breath, she pulled out a few papers from a folder.

  “It’s all in here, Ajay. A detailed investigation on her. With these papers, you would have enough information to completely destroy Sia’s credibility, and gain the sole custody of your child,” she said.

  Ajay’s calm expression did not change, and neither did he even glance at those papers.

  Not letting that fact discourage her, Jyotika elaborated further. “There are explicit proofs about her past drugs, booze, and indiscriminate sex addictions. Including her various visits to the rehab centers.”

  “Jo, for the love of god, just shut up! And leave!” Harsha shouted again.

  Jyotika flinched, but she stared stubbornly at Ajay.

  “Harsha, stop,” Ajay instructed calmly. And then he looked at Jyotika. “Thanks Jo for the reports. I know you had my best interest at heart,” he said.

  He took the folder from her. But without looking at it, he placed it in his office desk, and locked it.

  And then, he stood up, and grabbed his car keys and cell phone.

  “Jo, let me drop you near your car. I was about to leave now, anyway,” he said, taking her arm gently. And then, he looked at Harsha. “I’ll talk to you later, Harsha,” he said.

  As he walked Jyotika to her car, he felt guilty. “How are you doing, Jo? I haven’t seen you or spoken to you much since the past few months. I went by your home several times to meet with your family, but you weren’t around then,” he said.

  Jyotika smiled tentatively. “I’m fine, Jay. I knew it would be quite awkward to keep in touch with an ex-fiancée after your marriage.”

  Ajay tugged her hair gently. “Hey, you are my best friend first. And will always remain one. Nothing and no one can change that fact,” he said.

  “Yes. I know that,” she said softly. And then she looked at him with an uncertain expression. “Jay, I—” she broke off.

  “What is it Jo?” he asked.

  “I-I’m seeing someone,” she said.

  “Wow, that’s really good to hear. No wonder you are never home,” he teased.

  She smiled shyly, but her smile died slowly. “I don’t know if it can ever work out between him and me though,” she said.

  He was surprised. “Why?”

  “I-I just know it. I jumped into that relationship way too soon. And he is so very different from me. I don’t know if we can ever have a peaceful life together with some sort of trust between us,” she said with a sad look.

  He squeezed her arm in reassurance. “Jo, you are the most sensible person I’ve ever met. And even though you got into a relationship too soon, you definitely must have had some inkling about how compatible you were with that person. And believe me; two extremely opposite minded people can still live happily together. In fact, it makes life much more interesting.”

  Jyotika stared at him quietly.

  “Thank you Jay. You may be right. And I’m very sorry,” she said softly.

  “For what Jo?” he asked.

  “For presuming too many things. It was wrong on my part to go behind your back, and have Sia investigated. You could have done that on your own if had you wanted to,” she said.

  He sighed. “That’s alright, Jo. My relationship with Sia is quite…complicated. I know that you had my best interests at heart.”

  Promising to visit Jyotika at her place soon, Ajay drove home to his wife.

  And during the drive, he thought about what Jyotika had revealed about Sia’s past. Like Jo had said, he did have enough evidence to gain custody of his child. But he had already made up his mind much before that it wasn’t what he wanted.

  Sia and he had been having a great relationship from the past few months. They no longer lived like strangers who were forced into an unwanted marriage. In fact, even though he didn’t
know how the other married couples interacted while they lived together, he could bet that his own marriage resembled a good one. A damn good one.

  Ajay sighed, as his mind filled with thoughts and possibilities.

  But one thing, he knew was that he had to come clean, and tell her, she had been investigated. Because she would find out eventually.

  People always did. No matter how hard or efficient the cover up.

  CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

  SIA HEARD FOOTSTEPS approaching Ajay’s bedroom, where she was waiting in bed for him. It was slightly dark because the sun had begun to set, and she hadn’t turned on any lights.

  The bedroom door opened, and she saw Ajay as he waited at the door, watching her quietly. Something about the expression on his face made her remain quiet.

  He removed his clothes calmly without greeting her or saying a word. And then, he approached the bed to lie down next to her, facing her, continuing to watch her calmly.

  Slowly, he slid his fingers into the hair at her nape, cradling her head. Leaning closer, he kissed her deeply. And when he was done with her lips, he kissed her shoulder blades, and then her breasts.

  She began to tremble as his hands cupped the roundness of her belly. Then moving lower, he pressed his lips, and then his cheek, against her belly, as though kissing their child.

  A strange desperation and fear began to course through her body, and she pulled him up towards her. He kissed her on her lips once again, while running his hands over her body. Each and every spot he touched, and teased, and stroked, came alive. He raised his head briefly to look at her, and then consumed her with his eyes.

  He continued with his intimate exploration, until she could stand no more, and cried out his name.

  And even though she found her release, she still felt desperate. And so she climbed on top of him to get her fill of him. She could not make love to him tenderly enough, or passionately enough. She wanted more and more of him. She wanted to keep him with her somehow. Even when he would be long gone from her life eventually.

  ***

  Sia collapsed on top of him in exhaustion. Gently, he eased her from him, and laid her on the bed next to him. She didn’t stir much. He smoothed her hair from her face, feeling the growing tightness within his chest, because of the surge of protective tenderness he felt towards her.