9. Engaged

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?" 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, they don't even want to come 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 chairman 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." Lalita said, and then turning to her husband to ask, "Honey, may we please be excused?"

"Sure." The old man 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 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 chairman'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.

"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 those ex-wives of yours from telling anyone about your condition. I'm afraid, but I cannot trust that 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 his friend over a week ago.

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 universe's answer to our prayers? I believe that she may be my cure."

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 your friend; 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, chairman 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." He banged the phone down on his desk after that.