Page 50 of Born in Sin (Phoenix #3)

Confusion, worry, fear…a toxic mix of emotions swirled through Celina as she made her quiet way back to her room. What was going on? And why wouldn’t Virat tell her? She hated feeling like she was being covered in bubble wrap and kept in a corner. A bubble wrapped useless idiot.

She opened the door to her room and came to an abrupt halt. Her mother sat on the side of her bed, back ramrod straight, her tight, angry face filling Celina’s vision. Her roommate darted her a frightened look before mumbling something and disappearing from the room. Celina wished she could follow.

Instead, she sank into the chair in front of her study table and waited for her mother to speak.

“When I dragged you away from that disgraceful scene at the track courts, what did I tell you?”

Soft and lethal, her mother’s voice was a whip that cracked across her already shaky composure.

“To stay in my room and to stay away from Virat,” Celina said dully.

“When are you going to accept what is told to you?”

“When are you going to accept that I will never stay away from him?”

Her mother stood slowly, her hands clenched into tight fists at her side.

“If you ever mention his name again, I will make sure you live to regret it.”

Celina rose to face her. “Virat Jha,” she said.

Her mother lashed out, her open palm connecting with Celina’s cheek and sending her spinning. Chest heaving, tears welling, she pivoted to face her mother again.

“I love him,” she told her defiantly. “I will always love him. You can’t beat that out of me, no matter what you try or how hard you do.”

This time she was braced for the slap, the back of her mother’s palm catching the same cheek.

Celina went flying, landing on her back her face hitting the edge of her roommate’s cupboard.

Pain radiated in her cheekbone where it had struck the cupboard.

Tears flowed now, pouring down her burning cheeks.

She pushed herself to her feet and faced her mother.

Her mother caught her by her hair and twisted, pulling painfully on the strands.

“You don’t even know what my worst is. After what that boy did to Mohan, I should have had him expelled.

But his father is too powerful for that.

Mark my words, Celina, if he continues to corrupt you like this, I will show you both what I am capable of. ”

Celina put her palms on her mother’s chest and shoved hard. Maria staggered back, several strands of Celina’s hair coming loose in her clawed fingers.

“Go ahead,” she said quietly. “Do your worst. It won’t change anything.”

“You stupid, stupid girl. You don’t even know what you’re getting involved in.

What that boy is capable of. Why can’t you just study and graduate like everyone else?

All my life I worked in this school, even after Mohan left, for you…

only for you. So, you could have the best possible start to life and this is the thanks I get? ”

Shaking her head in disgust, Maria paced the small room. “I wish I had miscarried. I wish you had died. I wish I had never been saddled with a daughter like you. I should never have had a child.”

“I will never leave him. The only way Virat is out of my life is if he leaves me. I. Will. Never. Leave. Him.”

Maria’s shoulders slumped as she looked at her daughter, standing in the middle of the room, head held high, entire body braced for another blow.

“This boy is going to be your ruin,” Maria whispered. “But if that is what you want, then so be it. I won’t try to help you anymore.”

She walked out, slamming the door behind her. Celina crumpled to the ground, curling into a fetal position, her arms around her legs as she sobbed, the events of the day catching up to her in a tidal wave and taking her under.

The next morning, she made her way down to the cafeteria, keeping her head down in the vain hope that she wouldn’t attract attention.

She served herself an idli from the counter and found an empty table in the corner of the large, crowded space. She was halfway through her meal when she felt it, the burning weight of Virat’s gaze.

She looked up and saw him standing in the middle of the cafeteria, an empty tray dangling from his hands. Fury, bright and brilliant, burnt in his eyes, his assorted cuts and bruises a stark highlight to it.

He stormed over to where she sat alone, the tray in his hand clattering down on the table.

“Who did this?” The words were hoarse, raw, unforgiving.

“Hey look,” Celina said, with a watery smile. “We match, sort of.”

“Celi.”

Her name was a command, harsh and uncompromising.

“Let it be, Vir. There is nothing you can do about it.”

“Watch me.”

She laughed, a soft, sad sound. “What will you do?”

“For you, Celi, I’ll burn down the world and rebuild it to suit you. Tell me who did this and I’ll scorch the earth with their ruin.”

“She thinks you are my ruin.”

He froze, all emotion leaving his face. “Your mother,” he breathed. “Your mother did this?”

Celina nodded.

“Because of me.” It wasn’t a question, just a simple statement of fact.

She nodded again anyway.

She saw anguish rip through him, pain like she’d never witnessed before.

“Celi, I-“

“Jha.” The cafeteria manager appeared behind him. “Breakfast time is up. I’ve been asked to tell you to return to your room until lunch.”

She saw Virat struggle to control his choppy breathing and then he nodded. “Yes, Sir. I’ll come back for lunch.”

“But you haven’t eaten,” Celina interrupted, but no one was listening. Virat left without a backward glance, his head bowed as if deep in thought.

Lunch. She would see him again at lunch, she thought. She arrived at the cafeteria early and sat at a corner table, waiting. But the entire hour passed and Virat didn’t come…