Fixation (Fatal Attraction #3)

Chapter 26

26

Dubai

R eina flung the romance novel far away from her. Damn these romance novels and their happy endings! In them, the hero and heroine always got back together. They were separated due to a misunderstanding that always got resolved in the end. But real life was far from it. Real life sucked. Falling in love meant getting your heart broken by the most awful man ever, and yet your stupid heart yearned for that same man.

She rubbed her burning eyes. She wasn’t going to cry over him. She was stronger than this. She’d wept all her tears in London. Here in Dubai, she had a very inquisitive family who would notice her red eyes and swollen face. And she didn’t want that. She checked her reflection in the mirror. She looked like she hadn’t been sleeping well. She quickly applied some more concealer under her eyes before heading down to the back of her house toward the basketball court, feeling lost and alone, which was utterly ridiculous because her house was always filled with the love and laughter of her family. Despite that, she felt like she was missing a part of herself.

She walked forward. March in Dubai was a great time of the year. It was not too hot, and was very pleasant indeed. In comparison, London had been cold and wet. Dubai had been her home for too long, but this time, it didn’t feel the same. She missed London, she missed her job, and she missed… Fuck, she wasn’t thinking about him again.

But no matter how many times she told herself this, her mind wouldn’t listen. It kept conjuring images of him in her head. Vedant Oshnov wasn’t the man for her, but her stupid heart had rejected that missive and continued to ache for him. While her heart pined like a fool for him, her mind reminded her of what a fool she’d been over him. And that made her so bloody mad at herself. Why had she quietly tolerated his awful words? She should have punched him before she left. Her mind was a fucking mess oscillating between missing him and wanting to hit him. Oh, she was an idiot of the first order.

Armaan had transferred the balance of a million pounds to her account the second she’d reached home. She’d donated the entire two million to one of the charities her mother supported. It had never been about the money for her. While initially she’d cared for Vedant because she’d not been given a choice, later on, she’d stayed because she’d felt responsible for him. She’d wanted to ensure he healed and got back to being himself.

She sighed.

It had been three weeks since she’d arrived home in Dubai, unannounced and unexpected. Her family had welcomed her with open arms and happy smiles. She’d told them she’d taken a long break from work, and that perhaps she’d consider working here in Dubai to be close to them, and they’d believed her.

Even Navya had been easily convinced when she’d informed her that she’d left Vedant’s care to her team because he was recovering well and didn’t need four medical staff looking after him. And since Navya had moved in with Armaan, she was hardly around to question her more. But she did speak to Navya daily, and during each of those daily phone calls, Armaan asked her about Vedant and if he would recover well, and each time she assured him that his brother would be fine.

She’d also been updated on Navya’s kidnapping, and she didn’t blame Armaan for being paranoid about her safety. Even here, in her own home, she only had to look in a direction and spot the armed guards patrolling the perimeter. Due to Navya and Armaan being together, her family had no choice but to be safe-guarded and protected as well. She’d heard all the details from her brother and Navya about the Oshnovs’ enemies, and now she knew that Su Min’s boyfriend Vasily had kidnapped Navya.

That must have come as an utter shock to Vedant and his brothers—to be betrayed as such by one of their own. Su Min had been calling and texting her since a few days now. Armaan had warned her to stay clear of Su Min; hence, she’d not answered her calls at all. Giving her up as a friend hurt big time. She still found it hard to consider that Su Min could have been complicit with her boyfriend. But for the sake of all their safety, she would stay away from her.

She’d lost so much in these last weeks, and she wanted time to heal from losing a good friend, leaving the job she’d loved, and recovering from her broken heart. Vedant’s face flashed in her mind. She wiped it out immediately. Shit, even coming home hadn’t helped her get over him.

Heaviness weighed on her chest. She felt so damn alone. All this emotional upheaval was saturating her. Confiding in her family meant opening a huge can of worms, one she wasn’t ready for, so she had no choice but to bear the heartache and heartbreak all alone.

The sounds of a ball bouncing, sneakers squeaking, and loud chatter reached her ears. Tonight was one of their customary game nights. It was a sacred ritual at home. Once a week, all her siblings got together to play a chosen game. Last week, it had been Chance, the week before that was Monopoly, and tonight was basketball night. In the past, when she’d been away, she’d always envied such times. Work had always been a priority, and hence, her vacations at home had been few and far. But now that she was home, she couldn’t bring herself to be excited in the least… about anything. Her mind and her heart were thoroughly wrecked, thanks to that asshole.

She turned the corner and paused, watching the happy scene in front of her. Her brother was on the basketball court shooting hoops with his wife and kids. His four-year-old son, Shiven, spoke nonstop, asking multiple questions to his father. Sheena passed her son the ball. He raised the ball in the air, looking expectantly at his dad. Rajiv lifted him up in the air and Shiven slammed the ball in the basket, hooting in joy, his parents and little sister cheering him on.

A second later, Rajiv’s daughter, Nia, demanded attention. Sheena picked her up and handed her a smaller ball. The little girl looked at her father. Laughing, Rajiv lifted Sheena with Nia up in the air and Nia threw the ball in the hoop. Reina laughed. Rajiv put Sheena down and kissed Nia on the cheek, before kissing his wife on the lips.

“Aren’t they amazing?” Ananya said from beside her.

“I love seeing him happy like this,” Reina said. “Sheena and the kids have been good for him.”

“I agree, one hundred percent,” Ananya said.

Like Reina, she was dressed in tracks and a tee, but she was still too damn thin. Reina needed to get her head out of the sand she’d buried herself in and talk to her sister. Ananya needed to look after herself. That’s it. Staring right now, Reina was going to stop moping over her disastrous love life and focus on her family.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Ananya clapped. “It’s time to play.”

Laughing, she followed Ananya. Shiven and Nia ran to the two of them. Ananya lifted Nia up, tickling her tummy. The little girl laughed excitedly.

“Rei,” Shiven squealed, climbing into her arms. “I scored a basket. Did you see?”

“Yes, you are so good,” Reina said. “But hey, isn’t it way past bed-time?”

“It’s Friday,” he replied happily. “No school tomorrow. Mom says we can watch your game.”

She smiled. Oh, he was growing up so fast. He spoke in such proper sentences now.

“See my new t-shirt,” he told her. She appreciated it, asking him about it and the player’s name on the back of it. A few minutes later, Nia raised her arms to Reina. She and Ananya exchanged the children. Her niece was absolutely adorable. Dressed in shorts and a purple tee, and her hair tied in a little high ponytail, she looked too cute. Reina cuddled into her neck, inhaling her soft baby scent and kissing her chubby cheeks.

“Hi, my baby girl,” she cooed. “Are you not sleepy?”

“No,” Nia rejected, loudly and clearly. “I’m playing.”

She wriggled out of her arms and ran to pick up her ball.

Ananya put Shiven down and clapped her hands again. “Alright, how are we doing this?”

Rajiv and Sheena neared them, both of them dressed, ready to play.

“It’s you and me vs Sheena and Reina,” Rajiv told Ananya.

Sheena looked ahead. “I’m not playing.”

“Why, Princess?” Rajiv winked at her. “Are you afraid to lose to me? Afraid of what I will ask from you if you lose?”

She gave him a naughty smile. “I will never be afraid to lose to you, nor will I lose to you. I wasn’t a sports captain in school for nothing. But come to think of it, I ought to play, and then maybe I can ask you?—”

“Okay, enough of your verbal foreplay,” Ananya cut in. “If Sheena’s not playing, then how are we doing this?”

“I’m not playing,” Sheena tipped her chin up, “but she is.”

Reina turned and found Navya walking toward her with their parents. Navya reached her first and gave her a hug.

“How come Armaan let you out of his sight?” Reina asked. “That too at night?”

“I insisted on spending the night here!” Her sister grinned. “He wanted to come too, but I wanted some family time. And he has the bodyguards stationed outside.”

Reina still found it hard to believe that her parents were okay with Navya having a live-in relationship with Armaan.

Her chest warmed. Sara and Anvay were just the best. They were always willing to do things differently for their children’s happiness, and she loved them even more for it. She was so grateful to her parents for giving Navya and her a stable life.

Shiven and Nia rushed to them. Her parents dropped on their haunches to listen to them. It surprised her that they were home on a Friday night, when usually they went out with their friends.

After she finished meeting the others, Navya said, “So, how are we doing this?”

Reina raised her hand. “Wait, if Sheena is not playing, then Rajiv and Ananya have to play in opposite teams. Navya and I by myself won’t work.”

“I agree!” Navya hooked her arm with Rajiv’s. “Come along, brother. We need to confer.”

Reina chuckled. Their game nights were always intense and competitive. Her parents and Sheena took the kids and sat on the benches on the side.

Rajiv and Navya returned, bouncing the ball between them.

“So, here’s how we are going to do this…” Rajiv began. “For every basket Navya and I shoot, Reina is going to answer a question either one of us asks.”

“What?” Reina gasped. “No.”

“Not giving you a choice here, Rei,” Rajiv said. “You’ve been unhappy for too long now. We’ve given you three weeks. It’s time to talk it out now.”

“Agreed,” Navya said. “Just because I don’t live here doesn’t mean I don’t know how you’ve been binge-reading romances and binge-watching Modern Family and Game of Thrones . That is very unlike you, Rei.”

“And you donated two million pounds out of the blue to one of mom’s charities!” Rajiv scoffed. “What did you think, we wouldn’t find out?”

Her eyes popped. Shit, her family had noticed everything. She’d just assumed no one at home would have noted the pain she was hiding behind all the smiles she gave them. She ought to have known better.

Her family was very protective of one another. They’d given her time, and now, they were confronting her head on. She sucked in a breath. She wasn’t yet ready to confide in them. It wasn’t as easy as they assumed it would be. In keeping quiet, she’d avoided a war between Rajiv and the Oshnovs. She wasn’t going to say anything to jeopardise that. She wouldn’t threaten the happiness Navya had found. She wouldn’t destroy her brother’s peace of mind.

“And what if Ananya and I shoot a goal?” she asked.

“Then good for you,” Navya said. “You’re not getting out of this, either way.”

Rajiv tossed the ball at her. She caught it with one hand.

“Rei, my littlest one, do you think we haven’t observed how sad and dull you’ve been these last weeks?” Rajiv said.

“Of course, we have,” Navya said. “Something is definitely going on with you.”

“Hey, why am I left out of this?” Ananya grumbled. “I have questions too.”

“You’re on the wrong team, sis,” Navya teased.

Reina’s heart raced. She looked at her parents. “Are you also in on this? Is that why you’re home on a weekend?”

Sara Mehra gave her a smile. “Out of all four of my children, you’ve always been the quietest one. You never speak about your problems, unless pushed. We all know how much you love London and your job there, and yet you left it all in a blink. And you thought we wouldn’t notice? Your siblings are offering you an easy way out. Win from them, and you can keep your secrets, else…” Her mom shrugged.

Ananya pulled Reina to the side. She touched the corner of Reina’s eye. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the concealer you’ve got going. So, I’m also giving you a choice here. Either I play to win, which means you don’t get to answer all their questions. However, you will have to answer all of mine, privately. We can then decide how and what to tell the others. Or I deliberately lose to them, and you have to answer every question they pose. What’s it going to be, Rei?”

Reina looked at her elder sister. If she had to confide in anyone, then Ananya was the safest option. Navya was too emotionally involved with Armaan to think rationally, and Rajiv would act first without thinking of the consequences. Ananya, however, might just hear her out sensibly.

She sighed. “I’ll tell you everything.”

“Promise me that,” Ananya said.

“I promise.”

Ananya raised her jaw, looking victorious.

Reina studied her carefully. “This whole thing was your plan, isn’t it? You put the idea of this stupid game in Rajiv or Navya’s head. I simply walked into your plan, didn’t I?”

Ananya flicked her nose. “You’re right, and I don’t regret it one bit. You and I are going to talk tomorrow once Navya leaves. For now, let’s go show them what we got.”

They returned to the others.

“Best of fifteen points,” Rajiv said.

“One game only,” Reina declared. “After that, we play for fun. No more questions.”

“You got it,” Rajiv said.

Rajiv and Ananya moved to the centre of the court. Their father stepped forward and threw the ball in the air. Both her siblings leapt in the air extending their arms.Rajiv grazed the ball with his fingertips, but Ananya was faster; she caught the ball, bounced it a few times, and with a quick flick of her wrist,sent the ball soaring towards a basket.

Reina cheered. Navya glared at her. “It’s just begun, sister.”

The game continued with Ananya and her scoring another two quick baskets. Reina dribbled the ball toward the other end, but Rajiv tapped it out of her hand and shot a basket from the middle of the court.

He turned around and put his hands on his hips. “Why did you leave London?”

“Because of a man,” Reina started the bouncing the ball.

His eyes widened. “Fuck. Who is he and what did he do? Do I need to kill him?”

“Score another basket, and I may just tell you. Or maybe, I won’t.”

She ran away from him, bouncing the ball, spinning against Navya’s counterattack. Already, her heart felt lighter than before. She was enjoying this more than she’d expected to. It kept her on the edge and put her mind off... Nope she wasn’t thinking of him . She was going to focus on winning so that she didn’t allow her siblings to coax her into telling them everything about him . She couldn’t allow that to happen.

She tossed the ball to Ananya who dunked it with one hand. The game continued with Rajiv and Navya shooting three consecutive baskets. They were at ten while Ananya and she were at six points.

Rajiv and Navya faced her.

“Alright, talk,” Navya said. “Are you really thinking about working in Dubai now? Why did you quit your job? Who is this man?”

At her silence, Navya said, “We’re waiting, Rei, and we have all night.”

Sighing, she began to speak. She told them about how and why she’d changed her name to Dr. Singh. She told them about how, for the longest, she’d worried about the impact being a Mehra would have on her career. On how her looks made her feel less confident in herself. And finally, she told them about Dr. Williams and the sexual harassment she’d faced from him. Even her parents and Sheena had moved closer to listen to her. She showed them the video she had of her final conversation with him.

“Did he hurt you?” Rajiv asked, his voice stone cold.

“No, it was all verbal. I refused to be alone with him once he’d made his intentions clear. I was lucky. I’m not sure if others were.”

“Fucking bastard,” Ananya fumed. “I can write about him, exactly like you’ve already threatened him.”

“Say the word, Reina, and we will destroy him,” Rajiv said.

“I agree,” Navya concurred. “We can’t let him get away with it.”

“I took care of it,” Reina said. “I met the management and sent them this video, with a clear warning that either they act on it or I would sue them all. I believe they’re initiating action against him as we speak. I’m sure more women will come out in the open once news of his digressions is made public. I’m ready to speak up against him in a courtroom if I have to.”

“I’m proud of you, Rei!” Navya sniffed, her eyes shining.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Sheena asked. “You know you could have come to us anytime.”

“I could have, but unfortunately, I didn’t put myself first then. Now I have, and I always will. I was dealing with a lot internally for too long.” Reina sighed. “Thank you for making me speak up. I should have spoken to you all about this.”

They all stared at her, each of them looking shocked or angry or both. She felt infinitely lighter after sharing this with all of them. Her brain had been so muddled with everything that she’d decided to keep all of her problems inside her. But now she felt so much better knowing they were with her.

Her father approached her and put an arm around her. “I’m proud of you. You stood up for yourself. It doesn’t matter who birthed you; you are my daughter. You are Reina Mehra. You are one of us, and you should never forget that.”

Her mom came to her. “The world will always judge you. Too poor, too rich, too smart, too silly… someone will always find fault with you or judge you because of your success, your wealth, your looks, or who you are related to. That doesn’t mean you lose sight of who you are. You are kind, beautiful, and successful. Show the world that.”

“I will, Mom. I will.”

Seeing all their disturbed expressions, she laughed. “Guys, it’s all behind me now. I’ve dealt with it. And thank you for creating an environment where I could speak easily of this.”

Her heart felt freer. After confiding in them, she could let go of that part of her life. Now, if only she could let go of Vedant completely, her life would be great.

“Let’s play,” Navya said, distracting her. “I still have some questions.”

“I want to know about the donation,” Rajiv muttered. “While I know you can be generous, this seems more.”

Reina tossed the ball to Ananya and the game continued. After a few minutes, they were at ten all, when Navya shot a three-pointer.

Grinning, she faced Reina. “You kept talking about this difficult patient. Did you leave because of him? Did he do anything to upset you?”

“That’s two questions, my dear Navya,” Reina said. “And I will answer only the first. Yes, he was also responsible for me leaving.”

Navya’s eyes widened. She shared a look with Rajiv. They were dying to ask her more. But she couldn’t give them more.

Navya opened her mouth, but Reina shook her head. “No more questions. I’m ending this now.”

She ran midcourt and scored a three-pointer, post which Ananya shot the final basket, thus ensuring she didn’t have to answer any more questions from her siblings.

They continued playing for fun after that, laughing and teasing one another as they always did. For the first time in weeks, she didn’t have to fake her smiles or pretend that she was okay. She laughed from her heart and smiled from her soul. Yes, coming home had been the best decision for her. Now, she only had to focus on forgetting one man, and her life would be perfect. She sighed. If only it were that simple.