Page 48 of Lawfully Yours

“He just went to Mr. Verma’s cabin,” the peon informed her.

Without thinking, she changed course.

She reached her uncle’s cabin and pushed the door open only to find both men mid-conversation. Both turned sharply at her sudden entrance.

“Sorry to interrupt, Uncle,” she said, quickly regaining her calm as she stepped in.

Kushal’s eyes locked onto hers immediately. He looked surprised just for a second as she walked straight to where he stood and held out the pack of tablets. “You didn’t have to bother.”

Handing them to him, she turned, ready to leave, but he reached out and caught her by the right arm, not harsh, but firm enough to make her stop and face him again.

“It’s just medicine, Arundhati. Why are you making it a big deal?”

She looked at his hand holding her and then up at him.

“Because I don’t want you walking into our court hearings the next time, acting like the devoted husband who still cares. Using things like this and manipulating the court, to make everyone believe that our marriage is salvageable.”

His eyes darkened, and she knew what that look of his meant. He didn’t like what she just said. So what? That doesn’t change anything.

“If a strip of antacids could save our marriage, I’d open a pharmacy just for you, right next to your cabin,” he retorted.

Her lips parted in disbelief.

“Even if you buy the entire pharmaceutical company for me, Kushal, I still wouldn’t want to continue this marriage.”

In a fit of frustration, she shoved him back with her left arm and gasped, stumbling slightly, as pain shot through her shoulder right then.

Before she could react, Kushal’s arms were around her. He steadied her, one hand on her waist, the other cradling her injured arm with care she didn’t expect. His brows pulled together in genuine concern as he began massaging the tender muscle gently.

“Easy,” he murmured. “You’ll make it worse.”

She should’ve pushed him away. Should’ve said something biting. But the warmth of his touch, the sincerity in his tone, the way his thumb moved in soft, slow circles, it all made her heart thud traitorously in her chest. Again!

Raj stood up, frowning. “Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here? Is Aru hurt? When? How?”

Arundhati didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Not when Kushal’s hand was still wrapped protectively around her arm… and not when she realised her uncle wasn’t the only one who’d seen her pain before she’d said a word.

“Nothing serious, Sir,” Kushal said. “She met a small accident last night while I was dropping her home. A biker brushed past and hit her arm.”

Raj’s eyes widened, his expression hardening. “Why wasn’t I informed? Did either of you get her checked? Aru, you should’ve called me immediately. We should have had you examined—”

Arundhati raised her hand, stopping her uncle gently. “Uncle, I’m fine. I spoke to Dr. Deepa this morning. She said it’s a minor soft tissue injury. There’s no swelling. Just some shooting pain now and then. She prescribed strong painkillers, and I’ve already placed the order. It’s all under control.”

Raj sighed, but nodded, clearly still uneasy. That was when Arundhati’s gaze drifted to the strip of antacid tablets she had handed back to Kushal moments ago.

“You called Dr. Deepa, didn’t you?” she asked Kushal.

His expression didn’t change, nor did he answer immediately. For a moment, he just stared at her.

“I didn’t realise I had to report to you if I called our family doctor,” he said evenly.

She narrowed her eyes. “You wouldn’t have contacted her just to make small talk, Kushal. You knew I would call her, and that’s how you knew she had written me these strong painkillers, which would need me to take these antacids too. What was that? Another witness who can testify from your side in our divorce trial that you are a caring husband?”

He smirked, but it lacked its usual arrogance this time. “I called her because I had a sudden mild ache in my chest last night. Thought it might be serious.”

Raj was immediately on alert. “What? Kushal? A chest ache?”

“She assured me I was fine,” Kushal immediately replied, observing Arundhati’s expressions. She didn’t flinch at all. As if she knew he was lying.