Page 11 of The Promise of a Traitor

She tapped her phone open. His number was still displayed there, a haunting reminder of the past. She steeled herself and typed out a message.

We need to talk.

Delivered. Read.

Her heart beat a rhythmic tattoo against her chest as she waited for him to reply. But there were no dancing dots. No reply.

She stared at her screen, willing him to answer her. A moment later a stray thought occurred to her. He didn’t know it was her messaging. He didn’t have her number. He didn’t have this number.

She almost dropped her phone in her hurry to send him another message identifying herself. She tried different variations but, in the end, settled for a simple, ‘This is Aastha.’

Delivered. Read.

She waited. And waited.

Nothing.

Temper sparked beneath the exhausted hurt. He was going to marry her, but he couldn’t do her the simple courtesy of a reply?

She picked up the phone again.

There is a time and place for a temper tantrum, Adi. This isn’t it.

Delivered. Read.

And the spark of temper inside her ignited into a blaze of fury. If he was going to ignore her, then she’d just have to make sure he couldn’t.

“Ma,” she called out, interrupting her mother’s giggly conversation with her friend. “Could I have Aunty Maya’s number?”

Her mother got off the phone immediately and walked over to her. “Why?” she asked suspiciously.

“She is my future mother-in-law.” Aastha shrugged. “I want to get to know her a bit better.”

“Why the sudden enthusiasm to get to know her better?” Her mother wasn’t buying it. “Are you planning to tell her the truth? Give her a sob story about how I am forcing you into this?”

Aastha met her mother’s gaze. “I would never do that. And you know exactly why.”

After another moment of staring at her intently, Binita sent her the number. “Be careful what you say,” she warned.

Aastha ignored the warning. She’d spent most of her life being very careful of what she said and to whom. She didn’t need her mother to underline the strategy now.

She sent Maya Malhotra a quick message.

Hello Aunty. This is Aashika.

This time the reply was immediate.

Aashika! How lovely. I’ve been wanting to connect with you. Thank you for reaching out.

Aastha grinned to herself. “Let’s see you ignore me now, Adi,” she murmured, as she started to reply to his mother.

Chapter Seven

Advik

It was past ten at night before he could make it back home. Advik let himself into the penthouse apartment that had been home since the day he’d known what home or family was. His safe space, his sanctuary, his peaceful harbour.

Tonight, as he stood in the corridor and listened to the sounds of laughter and chatter coming from his living room, he knew it was the last of his peace. Because he knew that laugh. He knew that voice. He just didn’t know what the hell she was doing in his house.