My Cold Hearted Wife

HAD NO CHOICE!

'See you at home!' a text message popped on Dhivya's phone when she took a cab from the hospital. The guests stayed for quite a long time that she and Rahul had to take them to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

After spending some more time with her dad, she went back to the apartment to meet the most important person of her life, Isha who was waiting for her since evening.

Isha was her best friend, more like a soul sister who visited her occasionally whenever her work permits. She is a travel photographer who works for a reputed travel magazine. Though most of the time she is not available even for calls, she made sure to visit her dear friend once every three or four months.

'How's your dad?' Isha asked as soon as the apartment door clicked open.

'I am fine and you look absolutely good,' Dhivya said kicking away her shoes at the door.

'Put them back properly,' Isha said in a strict tone folding her hands,' Now!'

'Fine! Mom,' Dhivya rolled her eyes putting her shoes in a shoe rack.

'Raj was here!' Isha said when Dhivya walked in.

's**t!' Dhivya panicked looking at Isha's "I know it all!" look.

'Shouldn't you be greeting at the least Dhivya?' Isha asked with a stern voice.

'You look fine excluding your tanned skin,' Dhivya said gulping in some water from the freezer.

'Manners girl!' Isha groaned and walked into another room.

Dhivya stood there alone in the drawing-room,' Did I just ruin her mood?' she thought.

'Yes, you did!' Isha opened the door the next minute and screamed.

'Will talk tomorrow then!' Dhivya slowly uttered this time.

'In detail!' Isha shut the door with a bang.

Dhivya retired to her room to call Raj, she had to be prepared for the morning storm!

The next day morning even before Dhivya could complete her sleep, Isha barged into her room.

'Get up and come out soon!' Isha said pouring cold water on Dhivya's face.

'To hell with you!' Dhivya screamed in frustration and woke up from her sleep.

'Raj is waiting for you,' Isha said and walked to the door,' You deserve this dear,' she said throwing the remaining water on her bed and walked out.

After few minutes, Dhivya joined Isha and Raj in the drawing-room for coffee, they were busy talking about each other's whereabouts.

'Dhivya, have you lost your senses?' Raj asked at the very sight of her, she simply shrugged.

'What is it?' Isha interrupted.

'She gave all the money she got from her previous venture to her brother this morning,' Raj stated.

'Did I hear that right?' Isha was baffled.

'Yes! So what?' Dhivya said casually.

'You lost everything dumbo! That was your money, the only source for next venture if the investors decide to turn their backs at you,' Raj was clearly frustrated too early in the morning.

'Didn't you say you will come with a plan?' Dhivya asked looking at Raj straight in the face.

'This was the key perhaps the only one,' Raj hit his head.

'So you are doomed!' Isha mocked.

'And you are happy,' Dhivya retorted.

Isha gave her an angry look,' Stop it, girls,' Raj interrupted them before they blew flames at each other.

'Dhivya, What was the need to help your brother?' Raj asked calming himself down after a while.

'It was a promise!' Dhivya said,'To my father,' She added.

'So do you have any backup now?' Raj asked.

'No!' came a short reply.

'What about the money you have set aside with Isha?' Raj asked. Dhivya had set a certain sum of money aside with Isha, for some reason known only to her.

'That's for emergency and I can't use it moreover it is not enough,' Dhivya said.

'You are doomed!' Raj declared.

'I can get my investors back,' Dhivya challenged looking at her friend who gave up.

'And you exactly know what you need to do to get your investors back,' Raj said, frown lines were now clearly visible on Dhivya's face.

'What is it?' Isha asked noticing them.

'She needs a backup from her family which she is not ready for or else she can get married to secure a lifetime back up,' Raj said and Isha was more surprised this time,' As said by investors not me,' Raj added when Isha glared at him. She doubted him for the stupid idea.

'I can get it done,' Dhivya said with some determination.

'Attitude girl!' Isha warned, 'Don't tell me you will get married for the sake of your business!'

'If I need to, I will and there is no doubt in that!' Dhivya said nonchalantly.

'This is the problem with you and your shitty attitude. You can't just keep doing this your way all the time, you have to think of the consequences. You just can't put yourselves first all the time. It is good to be ambitious Dhivya but not at the cost of losing and hurting the people you love and who love you,' Isha said with fury.

'Consider the situation Dhivya, it's not too late to change your attitude at least towards the people around and the betterment of your business,' Raj spoke with calmness.

'If you guys are done ranting, I still have a meeting to attend with the investors so excuse me!' Dhivya said getting up from her place, with a coffee cup in her hand she walked into her room, not heeding their advice.

When she stepped out of the room she noticed the drawing-room empty and a sticky note was on her door which read,' I am going out!'

'I can go to the hospital, will take care of dad's discharge so don't worry and go to work,' Dhivya's phone pinged. It was a message from Rahul.

'You are a savior bro!' Dhivya thought and walked out of the apartment with a whole new determination for her meeting.

'Will see you at our place @10pm' she placed a note on Isha's door before stepping out.

Late in the afternoon when her meeting ended, Dhivya checked her phone to find 6  missed calls from her mom. She panicked and dialed back.

'Come home soon!' her mom said and the call went blank even before she could speak. She immediately called Rahul, who assured her of Vasudev's safe return home.

Though Dhivya didn't feel like going to her mansion House, she had to oblige her mother to save herself from the worst consequences, and most importantly she had to see her father.

'Grow up Dhivya!' her mom chided as soon as she stepped in.

'I was at a meeting!' Dhivya reasoned.

'Neglecting your responsibilities!' Latha taunted.

Dhivya kept silent for a while and then spoke,'Where is dad? How is he?'

'He is very much alive!' came a sarcastic reply, Dhivya calmed down and smiled at her mom, a genuine smile. 'I will go see him!' she walked towards her parent's room.

'Dad?' She called before entering the room. Vasudev was busy watching some sports, he switched off the TV as soon as she entered.

'How are you now?' Dhivya asked.

'Very well!' he smiled at her with warmness.

'You asked for me?'

'Yeah! I wanted to talk to you about your last venture,' Vasudev said.

'I am not at loss dad,' Dhivya answered even before she was questioned.

'I know! Can you settle down at least now?' He asked.

'Now!?'

'I am old and done I guess, Your brother's business is seeing slumps. I can't risk everything I have,' He spoke after a brief pause.

'What are you implying dad?' she asked knowing the answer.

'Marriage of course but I will give you a chance,' Vasudev said holding her attention entirely,'Settle down! You can't keep on venturing and risking your assets. I can help you out of whatever you are dealing with right now but get married,' He said.

'Why are you doing this to me? I have given you 100% results and more profits?' Dhivya sniffed, was she crying?

'They all are just numbers princess so listen to dad for once, I never said anything against your wishes right!' Dhivya understood where exactly this was heading.

Her mom who was at the door by now barged in,'Fine! I will,' Dhivya said before Latha could speak.

'Very well then! You can go meet him tomorrow,' Vasudev said giving her a small hug. Dhivya looked at her mother, for the first time in years she saw her mom smile and feel happy for her,' Am I dreaming?' Dhivya thought when her nephew barged in.

'Grandpa!' Little Nishanth who was 5 years old ran towards Vasudev. Neha walked in behind him greeting her mother-in-law first.

'Is Rahul here?' Latha asked.

'Yeah! He is in the kitchen,' Neha replied and walked to the bed to greet her father in law who was holding up Nishanth now. Dhivya smiled at her and walked out of the room, a weird feeling was about to hug her in the closed room.

'How long did the moment last?' Dhivya asked herself remembering being in her dad's embrace and her mom's warm smile.

'Congratulations!' her brother grabbed her into a hug as soon as she came to the kitchen, who was in conversation with Latha.

'Stay for dinner!' her mom said patting her cheek, the sudden warmth from her always angry mom nauseated her.