Page 16 of The Defiant Wife

Pointless effort. The damage is done. My clothes are ruined. My dignity has suffered. And somehow the woman responsible doesn't look remotely sorry.

The worst part?

The truly horrifying part?

As I watch the children laugh around her, watch the way they cling to her hands and lean against her legs and look at her like she hung the moon herself—I understand exactly why they adore her.

She's impossible.

Exhausting.

Completely ridiculous.

And apparently capable of convincing an entire army of children to participate in organized public humiliation.

The woman is a menace. A menace with a smug smile.

And unfortunately for me, I still have twenty seven days left.

5. PRINCE UNCLE DOESN'T SMILE

DIYA

It's been exactly one week since Veeraj Singh Shekhawat entered my NGO.

Seven days.

One hundred and sixty-eight hours.

It was wonderful for the whole three days. I loved affecting him, I loved how he always fell for my rage baits but after that he stopped reacting and now I am the one who's angry all the time. No matter what I make him do, or what pranks I play on him he doesn't react at all.

And so I have reached a very important conclusion.The man might actually be a robot.

Not because he's rude. Not because he's arrogant. Not because he's one of those rich men who expect everyone to worship the ground they walk on. Honestly, that would've been easier. At least then I would've had a valid reason to dislike him.

No.

The problem with Veeraj is that he's impossible to figure out.

Every morning he arrives at precisely nine o'clock.Not nine-oh-one.Not nine-oh-five.

Nine.

Always dressed like he's heading to a board meeting instead of an NGO. Crisp shirts. Expensive watches. Perfectly ironed trousers. Not a single hair out of place.

And every single day he wears the exact same serious expression.

The children could be performing a circus act in front of him. A monkey could probably steal his wallet. The building could catch fire. And I am convinced his face would remain exactly the same.

Dead serious.

Unbothered.

Emotionally unavailable to humanity.

The strange thing is that he does everything I ask. Every task. Every activity. Every ridiculous thing I throw his way. The only indication that he's suffering is the way his jaw clenches.

And I would be lying if I said that doesn't bring me immense joy.