After a chaotic night, everyone slept late in the James family.
Das stirred awake at 4 o'clock in the morning. The sofa in the small hall creaked as he rose, stretching his lean, muscular frame.
The habit of waking up at 4 a.m. was ingrained in his biological clock—a necessary habit from his prison time in D zone.
The Frost family estate at this hour was almost peaceful with greenery all around. Malabar mountain has been a sanctuary for the Frost family since British time in India.
Das arranged his clothes, stepped out in barefoot and began his jog around the sprawling 10-mile estate. The rhythmic sound of his feet hitting the gravel paths and the gentle rustle of leaves calmed his mind.
After completing his laps, he moved to the James's family's small garden. With slow, deliberate movements, he started his routine of ancient yoga, a practice he has been following since childhood.
Lily awoke much later, sunlight streaming through her curtains. She still felt some headache due to yesterday's drama pressing down on her, and for a moment, she considered staying in bed.
But duty called, and she had always been someone who found peace in work rather than shouting mother. As she stepped out onto the balcony, her gaze fell on Das in the garden below.
There he was, performing intricate yoga poses with an ease that masked his rough exterior. The sight momentarily softened her frustration.
"At least I found a good man," she murmured before shaking off the thought. She resolved to leave for the office early, hoping to escape the suffocating atmosphere of her home.
---
By the time Lily was preparing to leave, her sister Soya had already gotten ready and began searching for Das.
She froze mid-step when she saw Das in the garden, now shirtless and jumping rope with a speed and precision that left her speechless. Her eyes widened as she took in his well-defined muscles and the effortless grace of his movements.
"Uh... Brother-in-law! Put your shirt on!" Soya finally stammered, her cheeks flushing red.
Das stopped mid-jump, blinking at her in confusion. "Why? Am I doing something wrong?"
"Just... Just do it!" she declared, peeking at him shyly. "And follow me. We need to talk to the palace manager."
Still bewildered, Das wore his shirt and followed Soya to the main palace where only the patriarch and Ryon family lived.
---
The Frost family palace manager was a stern man in his late fifties, known for his no-nonsense demeanour. He stood at the centre of the outside entrance, delegating tasks to a line of estate workers. He held a book in hands and his sharp voice echoed in the vast space, issuing instructions with precision.
Soya and Das waited patiently until the last worker left. The manager turned to them, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Lady Soya, what brings you here so early?"
Soya climbed a few steps before speaking. "My brother-in-law, Das, needs a job in the family business. As per the family rules, you must assign him one."
The manager frowned but nodded. "Very well. What are your qualifications, Mr. Das? What kind of work are you looking for?"
Das hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I never went to school. I used to drive a taxi for a living. Other than that, I have some knowledge of antiques and... fighting." He admitted.
Soya's smile faltered, and the manager's expression darkened. For a second both of them stared at Das like they were witnessing an ancient being. In the 20th century, it's a miracle to find a youngman with no basic schooling in India.
"No schooling at all? Not even junior college?" Manager asked with stunned face.
Das shook his head, his face betraying no embarrassment.
The manager sighed, flipping through the book in his hand for a long time before replying. "The only position I can offer you is as a security guard at one of the family's cloth showrooms."
"That's unacceptable!" Soya snapped immediately with a fierce look of her mother Ruby.
"My mother will never agree to this. She'll use it as another excuse to humiliate my brother-in-law. Surely, you can assign a better job. Das is a son-in-law to this family."
"I'm sorry, Miss Soya, but without proper qualifications, my hands are tied," the manager replied firmly.
Before Soya could argue further, a loud, mocking laugh echoed through the hall. Eric, the son of Ryon and next heir to the Frost family patriarch, strode in with his usual air of arrogance.
"What an unreasonable request! Soya, have you lost your mind?" Eric sneered, his sharp eyes darting between Soya and Das.
"You're asking for a miracle! This man doesn't even have basic education, and you expect us to give him a respectable position? Be grateful he's being considered for a security job."
"Stop it, Eric! I'm not begging you for anything." Soya reorted, her voice trembling with anger.
"Oh… then what are you still doing here? Do you expect me to arrange a job for your brother-in-law?" Eric asked with a mocking smile.
"I don't need your dog's help. Come on, Brother-in-law." Soya said, grabbing his arm.
As they left the palace, Eric's laughter followed them, creeping on Soya's nerves.
---
By the time Das and Soya returned to the house, Lily was stepping out in her neat office outfit, a navy-blue blazer paired with a long pencil skirt. Her beautiful appearance was a stark contrast to the chaos she had left behind.
"What happened?" she asked, noticing Soya's flustered expression.
Soya recounted the job seeking events, her frustration bubbling over. Lily's face darkened with anger. "Eric is such a—" She bit back her words and turned to Das.
"Come on, Das. Please drop me at the office. We need to get out of here."
Das, sensing the opportunity for escape, quickly grabbed the car keys from home.
They drove down the winding roads of Malabar Mountain. For a long time an awkward silence filled in the old ambassador car of Kent. Lily, sitting in the front seat, glanced sideways at Das. She felt guilty for what Das experiencing because of her.
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Thank you for reading guys!