A marriage for revenge

Chapter 12

Molten rage rolled through Vinoth as he thundered towards his office building. His anger was directed towards one woman. He wanted to destroy her but she had been lying dead sick for the past two days. If not for Nelson's wife, he would have dumped her in a river and gotten rid of her forever.

Missimma was very adamant and was taking complete care of Anu. He wanted to laugh out loud when she even dared ask him to call the doctor for a general check-up. Even if that lying w***e were seconds away from death, it wouldn't bother him. He would watch her dying without an ounce of humanity. She was a creature who didn't deserve the word mercy. She managed to turn him into a beast and now she would not go without facing his wrath.

Steering clear of his thoughts, he took his seat and called for Ajay to hear from him the day's schedule.

"You were supposed to meet your mother this evening, sir." He reminded Vinoth after briefing him on the to-do list.

With a sigh of annoyance, he leaned back on his chair, "At what time?"

"She has invited you for lunch."

With a nod, he dismissed Ajay.

Vinoth wanted to get over with this lunch. It was long pending and he had been postponing it for too long, but he wasn't unaware of the fact of how sick his mother was lately.

Just for once, he wanted to forget the past and spend the afternoon with his mother, but all the thoughts scurried back to his head when he saw the familiar bungalow where he spend his childhood. For a short moment, he wanted to bark at him his driver to turn around and leave the premises.

However, his eyes were quick to catch the attention of his mother and brother, who were eagerly waiting for him at the entrance of the house.

Swallowing the thick lump of resentment, he got out of the car and pulled his sunglasses away.

"Vino.." His mother urged her eldest son to wheel her near him. Her eyes were already brimming with unshed tears to see her son after so long. She was both happy and sad about seeing him. He no longer looked like the young, chirpy boy who had the natural tendency to attract people and make them laugh. Now he was only radiating endless darkness and hatred for people around him.

His mother didn't wait as she leaped to encircle her arms around his legs, almost slumping to the ground.

He swiftly carried her and made her sit back in her wheelchair.

"Did you not miss your amma, Vino..?" She sobbed into his chest. "I thought I would die without seeing you, my son."

He had promised himself to not get affected by anything happening here but it proved to be challenging.

Vinoth wouldn't want to admit it, but her condition was badly impacting him. He remembered as a young boy, he considered her to be the most beautiful woman, and she still was. Not just that, she also possessed a kind heart, which not all rich people do. She was a gem of a woman.

The constant thoughts of both her sons' failed lives gave her a stroke one day and made her bedridden since then. And now her disease was slowly killing her.

What did this family ever do to anyone to see this day?

She definitely didn't deserve to be stuck in a wheelchair. Again, this was all because of her.

He gritted to control his nerves. Now was not the time to let his anger overpower him.

"I am here now.." Though he didn't want to, he whispered as he rubbed her back to soothe her.

She sniffled and pulled away, "Let's get inside.."

Vikram was there to silently welcome his little brother but he didn't acknowledge his presence by turning a blind eye to him. He was here only for his dying mother and for no other asshole.

He attempted to zone it out but the house looked nowhere near how he remembered it. The place which once held happiness, laughter, and fond memories, was now dark, glum, and lifeless. Except for his mother, brother, and a number of servants, no one resided there anymore.

His maternal grandmother passed away two years back and his sister, Vaiga, got married last year and now lives in the US. Of course, even after lots and lots of begging and coaxing from Vikram, he didn't attend her wedding. Though he secretly prayed for her happiness, there was no point in Vinoth being there at her wedding. He simply lost the trust he had in his family. He was happy being away from all of them.

"You have lost so much weight, Vino.." His mom commented once he took a seat at the dining table. "Are you not eating well?"

He sniggered in reply to her question.

His unpleasant way of ignoring her question drove a spike through her heart. Her son was never like this and watching him turn all rebellious made her feel like a big failure as his mother.

To kill the awkwardness in the room, Vikram called the butler to bring the lunch.

"I have made sure everything you like is on the menu. Let me serve you.." His mom wheeled herself closer to Vinoth, but he was quick to stop her with a movement of his hand.

"Don't bother. I can help myself.."

He never once called her 'amma' or asked about her health. It broke her heart to think about it. However, his anger at them, especially at her, was justifiable. As his mother, she should have been his biggest support during his dark days but she decided not to believe her child and made the biggest mistake of her life. Now she was eating the fruit of her sins.

"How's work?" Vikram asked. He knew his brother would hurt their mother and it was his duty to protect her fragile heart from being stomped on again and again.

"Good.." Vinoth's one-word answer didn't disappoint him. In fact, he was surprised that he even took the pain to reply to him.

The rest of the lunch went in awkward silence with Vikram and his mother's failed attempts to keep the conversation alive.

"You know, Vaiga has a daughter. She's six months old. Amma, why don't you show him Tinu's photo?" Vikram beamed enthusiastically when he got another topic he thought would grab Vinoth's interest, but his smile fell with his next word.

"I am least interested in anyone. Please tell me why am I here?" He pushed the empty plate and leaned back on his seat with his face devoid of any expression.

The main reason for having him here was because his mother was, in all literal sense, dying to meet Vinoth, but there was another reason why he was called for.

Vikram cleared his throat. "Well, there's something I wanted to discuss with you.."

Vinoth listened to him stoically.

"I.. uhmm.." Vikram looked around searching for words. He didn't know how to say this. Seeing his struggle, his mother piped into the conversation.

"Your brother is getting engaged.." She spoke at once and watched him read her lips. She waited for him to say something.

Even to Vinoth, the news came as a wave of shock. He never thought his brother would have in him to ever marry again, but he concealed his shock. What did he have to do with it, anyway? He didn't care about them anymore, he told himself.

"Congrats to you.." He smirked hauntingly and only got a downcast nod from him. Anybody could tell from the frown between his eyebrows that Vikram wasn't happy about this engagement.

"As his only brother, you need to come, Vinoth.." His mother covered his palm with hers and pleaded. "I will be expecting you.."

His face hardened and his jaw tightened. It'd been years since he'd attended a wedding. In fact, it was his own wedding that he last attended, but it turned out to be the most horrid day of his life. He never got to see the happy end of it that people usually talk about.

He wanted to immediately tell his mother not to expect him, but a voice in the back of his head stopped him from doing so. And soon a demonic grin adorned his face. Suddenly, he was now dying for this day to approach fast so that he could see the horrific expression on her face.

What a perfect way to break her down!

"I will be there.." Without another thought, he agreed to his mom's plea, which noticeably surprised them both.

"Really?" His mom couldn't contain her joy. Finally, this house was going to see happy days after such a long period of agony. She was aware that Vikram wasn't happy about this marriage. He didn't want to go through another marriage or heartbreak, but she couldn't leave her son just like that. It took her five years to convince him to finally say yes and she hoped this time he would truly have a happy married life. It was an added happiness that her younger son was willing to join the ceremony.

"Yes, text me the venue and time. After all, I wouldn't miss my brother's engagement.." Vinoth's eyes twinkled with an enigmatic glint that his mother missed seeing amidst all the happiness. However, Vikram noticed it but failed to fathom it.

****

Coming back home, his eyes landed on the closed door of the guestroom. He had the urge to go pay a visit to the unwanted guest who was staying free at his place, but instead, Vinoth stormed into his study. He had a hell lot of work to do as he had an important meeting the next day.

The next morning, the first thing he opened his eyes to was the online invitation his mother had sent him on w******p, and to his almost bliss, the engagement was taking place the next evening. He had to find a way to take her there.

Vinoth couldn't wait to see Anu's reaction. He desired her to understand the depths of the damage she'd cost to the people around her and this would shatter her like nothing else. The evening was going to be so full of entertainment. He smirked to himself.

The next morning, when he went to the kitchen to get a cup of his morning coffee, he saw Missimma preparing breakfast. He didn't remember appointing her as his maid or cook. He preferred to cook his own meals and he didn't wish to see her around any longer. And if she was there for Anu, then he had more reason to chase her off.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, filling his cup with the hot milk from the pot.

"Preparing breakfast for Anu.."

"Your help is really appreciated but your service is no longer required. You can go.."

"But she's sick.."

"Not sick enough to die. And, moreover, you don't have to worry about her.."

The severity of his words got to her and she wanted to spit out at him for being a pathetic human being, but she chose to remain quiet. "Let me please stay for another week. I will leave once the girl is strong enough to stand on her feet. Please.."

Thinking about it, Vinoth didn't want to go through the pain of taking care of her. If this woman insisted on staying there for another week, then no harm would come to him from it.

"Fine but, I don't want to see your face next week on this day.."

"I promise, you won't."

He didn't understand what this woman saw in Anu for being so affectionate to her. If only she knew what a cunning slut she is. She didn't deserve anybody's love or care.

The day passed in a haze of work. Gloomy, dull, and as usual, but he was thrilled to go back home at the end of the day. He asked one of his female employees to get a decent saree and all the accessories that Anu would need for the evening's function. Once the package was delivered to him, he didn't waste a minute getting home.

Without knocking on the door, he opened it with a loud bang, startling both the women present there.

Anu cowered back on seeing him, which didn't go unnoticed by Missimma.

"Get ready. We are going out. And you will wear this.." He ordered and didn't give her a chance to ask any questions as he left the room, dropping the bags on her bed.

Missimma wanted to run behind him to remind him that the girl wasn't in the right health to go out, but restrained herself upon acting on impulse. "Let me help you.." She said, holding Anu up from the bed.

Anu wanted to protest with him. She had no will to go out. She didn't want to meet people. Although she wasn't the talk of the town anymore, she doubted she was forgotten. She didn't want to open old wounds, but she was wise enough to know she didn't have many choices in this matter.

If Vinoth wanted her to go with him then, she better not disobey him. But she was curious to know where he was taking her and why he wanted her to accompany him.