Chapter 38
A week later – Verma & Associates Office
Kushal sat across from their new client, Mrs. Devika Malhotra, a high-profile socialite.
“…and that’s when I knew,” Devika said dramatically, “he’s been cheating on me. All those late-night meetings, those so-called business trips, it’s very obvious, isn’t it? I can’t live with that humiliation anymore, Kushal.”
Kushal leaned back in his chair, studying her. Every flicker of her heavily lined eyes said she was performing. Not grieving. He’d seen real pain before, and this wasn’t it. Devika had approached Verma & Associates only two days ago, claiming betrayal and emotional damage in her marriage. Being the daughter of one of India’s biggest industrialists, money and power dripped from every word she uttered. Devika had an arranged marriage to Parth, another hot shot coal businessman in the country. The marriage worked or rather survived for only a couple of months after which here she was straight to them wanting to file her divorce.
Raj Verma who had contacts with the Malhotra family, had spoken to them over a call and realized that despite all the family’s attempts to make peace between Parth and Devika, there was no luck.
Devika was way too adamant in wanting a separation. The hefty alimony wasn’t a problem here or Devika’s need, it was her ego and pride that had probably been hurt.
Before he could respond, the glass door clicked open and Arundhati walked in.
She wore a striking lavender saree today, her hair tied neatly, the faint line of sindoor gleaming against her dark locks. The red tint of her bindi drew his gaze upward before he could stop himself. His heartbeat steadied only to spike again as his gaze dropped lower to her lips.
She carried a file in her hand, but Kushal wasn’t looking at the file anymore. He was looking at her, the woman who had his heart and who somehow managed to own every space she entered, whether it was the courtroom, their penthouse, or this office.
With their due honeymoon nearing, the heat when they were around each other, the simmering tension of getting back home into their bubble and make love, undid him even with a single look at her.
Her eyes met his briefly as she walked over to him.
Even Devika, mid-rant, paused, glancing between them.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Arundhati said professionally, as she set the file down in front of him. “These are the disclosures from Parth’s counsel.”
Kushal nodded, forcing his gaze back to the papers. “Thank you, Mrs. Nair,” he said smoothly.
Devika’s eyes darted between them again. “Ah,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “So this is the famous Mrs. Arundhati Nair. No wonder you two win every case together. Quite the power couple, I see.”
His lips twitched, just slightly, but his gaze never left Arundhati who shot him that warning look for admiring her so openly before their client.