***
"So," Veer smirked. "How was the experience of spending the night with Shivaay?"
Tej ignored the question. He handed him the files to Veer and snarled. "Here. All signed. And you know what? I was a big fool to believe that you will not double-cross me."
Veer smirked. "I agree."
Tej just stared at him. Veer walked a little away from him while checking the signatures on the files. "Nice. Now go and announce your divorce with Aunty. And while you are at it, speak about Mom like our deal."
Tej sighed. "Yes."
From the corner of his eyes, Tej eyed Shivaay. He didn't have the heart to leave but he had no choice. He had to leave to be able to help Shivaay. Taking a deep breath, he started to walk out.
"Wait!" Veer commanded.
He came around and stood before Tej. He kept a hand on his shoulder and threatened, "Don't think that you can go and tell all of this to your family. Because if you do, I will know. I can see and hear everything. So don't try to act smart. Just quietly stick to the plan."
Even though his heart palpitated, Tej mutely nodded. Without a backward glance, he walked out of the apartment.
***
"What the hell is this Tej?" Jhanvi screamed. "I told you that we need to wait for this. How can you go ahead and announce our divorce in the midst of all this? Does Shivaay mean nothing to you?"
Annika watched the older man flinch at Shivaay's mention. But then he hid it well. She was surprised to see him in Goa. He wasn't that good of a man to travel all the way to Goa to tell Jhanvi about the announcement either. There definitely was something more than what met the eye. Annika keenly observed him.
Tej crossed his arms and said, "It had to be told one day or the other."
"Yes but now the media will hound us Bhai saheb. We don't want that now. Don't you get it? It will slow us down..." Shakti argued. "How could you do this?"
"How?" Pinky mused bitterly. "Mein toh pehle se hi janti this that this man hates Shivaay. He has proved it now."
"You must be happy now, isn't it?" Om quipped. "Kids gone. Wife gone. Shivaay gone. The business is all yours. What a beautiful life."
Tej remained uncharacteristically quiet in the face of all allegations. Annika saw it silently. She knew that Shivaay was a reflection of Tej. And whenever Shivaay remained quiet, it always meant that someone was blackmailing him into doing things that were not supposed to be done. Was it the same for Tej right now?
If it was, then Annika also knew that someone was keeping an eye on him. Otherwise, there would have been a retaliation. She couldn't text Tej, nor call him. She couldn't openly ask him. She rubbed her head thinking of ways wherein she could have a conversation with Tej without actually letting anyone know.
"Why are you playing with Badi Ma's life?" asked Annika suddenly. She was just desperate now. She had to do anything, something to reach Shivaay.
Tej was not surprised to hear such a question. But when he looked at Annika's face, he was surprised. Her eyes were beseeching and it was bloody obvious that she didn't mean the question. She was hinting at something else. Perhaps, she had seen through his facade?
