Chandigarh (Haryana state, India)...
"Arun, where's your sister? And where's Anup? Didn't you two tell us that you're going to wake your sister up so she would take you to the park today?" Charvi asked with a teasing smile.
She was sure that they weren't successful as Sevina might want to sleep in since it's the weekend
But...
"Haaahhaa. Papa." Arun cried and ran to his father instead.
Parvesh immediately picked him up. "What is it? Why are you crying? Stop crying and tell us what happened."
"Hm. Hm. Sister... sister is sick. She...is hot." Arun managed to say amidst whimpering.
"Your sister is sick?" Parvesh asked.
"Yes, sister is sick. Anup is watching over her. Let us call the ambulance, Papa."
"Alright. Let's check on her condition first. Now, stop crying, will you?"
Parvesh then signalled to his wife, and the two of them got up and went to check on her.
Little Anup sat by his sister's bed. His attention kept going towards the door as he waited for his parents together with his twin. His eyes lit up once he saw the three enter.
"Mama, sister is wet. She's sweating." He hugged his mom by the leg.
Charvi called their nanny to get them out of the room before she checked Sevina with her bare hand.
Her facial expression changed. "Honey, we need to take her to the hospit..."
Sevina held Charvi's hand and shook her head.
"Why? You don't want to go to the hospital? But you're hot, and you seem quite lethargic." Charvi asked her.
"I'm fine. I just haven't been able to sleep well in a while, so I'm slightly feverish and weak. Let me sleep in today. I'll be fine when I wake up." She said, through sign language.
*
A few hours later...
"You're finally awake. How are you feeling now?" Charvi asked her stepdaughter.
They were about to leave the house for an afternoon walk in the park with the twins. They've given the day off.
Sevina just nodded that she was now okay and went for a bottle of water from the fridge.
Parvesh leaned into his wife's ear and whispered. "Should we ask her about the model thing now?"
"Hmm, do you think that now is the appropriate time?"
"I guess. Or? I mean, she can go through the papers while we're away and give me her response when we return. I only have up to tomorrow. We are to start the new model on Monday."
"Ok then."
"Sevina." Parvesh called his daughter. "There's some documents on the centre table. Can you check them and let me know if you're interested?
It's a new product that I am heading the team to work on. I would be very happy if you were to agree to it, though. We're going to the park now. See you later."
Sevina nodded.
*
"Are you really sure about that?" Charvi asked for which Sevina reaffirms with a bop of the head.
"I don't want you to feel pressured into doing this. Your face is going to be used for a robot. Aren't you concerned?"
Sevina shook her head and replied in sign language. "I don't really mind. It's my dream to be in the entertainment industry, both as a model and an actress.
I've been auditioning but have had no success so far. But if I succeed omeday, Isn't my image going to be on many magazines and ad boards? Besides, the pay is really high, so it's not a bad deal at all, mother." Sevina tried to explain to stepmother.
Parvesh then said. "Oh, that's great. I did discuss that with Charvi before, but she says we should leave you to decide. I'm glad that you also think the same. Then sign the documents since you've agreed. I have to turn them in first thing on Monday."
"Sevina, have you really thought this through?" Charvi asked, still a bit concerned.
Sevina bopped her head several times and smiled to assure assure her.
*******************************
That Evening...
Alpha Rajesh Kumar and his heir, Renjith Kumar, together with his Luna, Lalita, and his three concubines and other children, are now at the dining table having dinner at Kumar's main family mansion.
After the servants cleared the table, the Alpha turned to make eye contact with his oldest son and the rest of his family that were at the huge dining table and said to Renjith, "Son, it's good that you're here today, for I have an announcement to make. In fact, there are two announcements."
All eyes were on him, including Renjith's, as they all waited to hear what announcements he had to make.
"I have asked the council to move this year's mating ball here. We're going to move it from the National Assembly Hall and host the ball here this year instead."
"Why, father? There will be too many people. Why make them come here when there's already a designated place for that? I hate large crowds." Rakesk, the Alpha's fifth son, stated, but the second and last among those still alive.
"It's because of you that I am doing this. You just turned nineteen. I want you to find a mate among the attendees. Don't waste time like your brother did, only to be divorced the next day." The Alpha stated.
Luna Lalita clenched her hand into a fist in anger at his last words while the concubines tried hard to hide their laughter.
As for Renjith, he tried very much to keep his cool and to wait till his father finished with the second announcement, so he too would inform them of his engagement and leave there afterwards.
"But father... ouch!" Rakesk wanted to refuse further, but his mother stepped on his foot to prevent him from doing that.
"Sorry for that, honey. Please go on." Gita, the Alpha's third concubine, said and gestured with her hand for him to continue with his announcements.
"Alright." Alpha Rajesh turned to his first son and heir, Renjith. "The second announcement is about you, son."
Renjith raised his brows, wondering what this was about.
"I heard from your ex-fiancée that she'd be coming down into the country before the ball. I've spoken with the Singhs, and they've agreed to allow a match between you two again. You better not mess it up this time.
As my heir, you can not remain unmarried any longer."
"But honey, our son just got married and divorced less than a month ago. Shouldn't we wait for a while before bringing up such a topic again?" Luna Lalita asked.
"What are you saying, Lal? Our son is closer to forty than he is to thirty. He was already ten by the time we were his age.
Look at what happened when we allowed him to marry at his own time. Where is that supposed love of his now? The last time I heard, she didn't even want to go anywhere near him."
"I've heard you, Father, but I've already proposed marriage to someone else, and I plan to introduce her soon." Renjith interrupted. His announcement got the attention of everyone at the table.
"Really, son? Who is she? Is she someone that we all know?" Lalita's eyes lit up at the news.
"Yes, big brother. Who is she, and where does she stay?" Rakesh asked excitedly.
"If indeed you have a new fiancée, then bring her home and introduce her to us." The Alpha stated.
Renjith only nodded in the affirmative.
"So when is it then?" Gita chimed in. She wasn't too happy about this news, but she dared not voice it out.
"Since the mating ball is just around the corner, I'll use the opportunity to do our engagement on that day then. But I'll be sure to introduce her to you before the engagement. And yes, she's someone that you all know very well. It's Aiesha, my old friend."
Pptsstpspsts!!!
His brother, Rakesh, spat out the water that was in his mouth as soon as he heard his elder brother's new fiancée's name.
"Sorry." He apologised.
"Did you say, Aiesha?! Aiesha Jhaveri?" The Alpha asked. He, too, is very surprised, but he tries to keep his emotions in check before his family.
"Yes, father. She and I have been good friends since childhood. I trust that this will work."
"Um...son, a word, please." Luna Lalita said Renjith before turning to her husband and asking, "Honey, may we please be excused?"
"Sure." The Alpha permitted them to leave. He, too, got up from the table right afterward and went straight to his study.
"I guess the rest of us can leave now." Padma, the Alpha's second concubine, said and got up and took her ten-year-old daughter's left hand. "Reshmi, let's go."
The other concubines and their children also left the dining hall and went to their respective buildings on the Alpha's huge compound.
*******************************
Renjith followed his mom to her own chambers for their private conversation. He hadn't used his own room at his father's compound since he moved out. He normally stayed at facility #2 whenever he was at the Kumar's mansion instead.
"What was that about, Ren? How can you blindside me like that? You didn't think that you had to discuss it with me first before announcing your engagement to the whole family? Hm?"
"I was going to tell you first before informing the others. It's why I came here today. It just happened this way because you and Father were trying to make me get back with Vivian Singh, and I didn't like that."
"And you did not get anyone to marry but Aiesha Jhaveri? That vixen that you call your friend? Why? There are so many nice women around. I can get you someone better if you do not like Vivian."
"No, mother. Leave me to make my own decision on my marriage. I don't want anyone's interference, please."
"Hmm. I'm just worried. You know how much it took to stop that ex-wife of yours from telling anyone about your condition. I'm afraid, but I cannot trust that this Aiesha would not use it against you some day. She's not that good of a person as you think, you know."
"Don't worry, Mother. I'll make sure that she doesn't cause any problems for us. Be rest assured."
Lalita didn't like his decision, but she also did not have any proof of the stories that she had heard about Aiesha, so there was no way that her son would believe them anyway.
Seeing his mother looking so worried, Renjith tried to ease her mind as he added. "Also, I have another reason for this."
Lalita's eyes turned to him with curiosity. "And what reason is that? Is it worth risking everything because of her?"
Renjith went ahead and told his mother all that happened between him and Aiesha over a week ago.
Luna Lalita's eyes lit up. "Really? Are you sure?"
Renjith smiled at her now relaxed face. "Yes, mother. So I am trusting that this could be the Moon Goddess' answer to our prayers? I believe that she may be my cure."
Luna Lalita nodded while trying to process all that her son had just told her. "Alright. You have my support then. Let's see how things go. But still, I'll keep an open eye on her.
In the meantime, I've arranged with Dr. Jaya to put a robot at the main facility. It will serve you whenever you have to spend some alone time in there since you don't have anyone with you in there while in a rut."
"But mother, I've already told..."
"No buts, son. I've given in to you marrying Aiesha; you must let me have my way this time."
Ren couldn't refuse.
Lalita smiled happily to herself.
'There's no harm in having many options. I do not like that vixen, but if there's any chance that either that woman or the robot is able to help my son, then at least he'll live a longer life than anticipated. Maybe he might even be able to give me a grandchild someday.' She thought.
*******************************
Once in his study, Alpha Rajesh made a call to someone, but they didn't answer. He tried two more times but got no answer still, which has never happened before.
"Huh. So you want to eat your cake and have it too, right? You want to have both me and my son, right? We shall see." The Alpha said and banged the phone down on his desk.