Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage(56)
Tina wanted to look away. How did he see all this? What else did he notice? “My mother could have gotten rid of me once my father left. She had considered taking me to an orphanage,” she said as her voice cracked. “Instead she kept me.”
“And you’re a financial burden to me?” he asked. Dev slowly shook his head. “Just how much money do you think you spend?”
“It’s not how much I spend. It’s how much I cost you. You could have ignored me and the baby. You married me because you felt like you should. And what did you get out of it? Your career still took a hit once you got married.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“You will one day.” If he didn’t care about it now, it was because he didn’t know how it felt to be at rock bottom. Soon he was going to resent the trouble she caused. Tina slowly rose from her seat. She couldn’t discuss this anymore. Maybe she was as fragile as Dev thought. She felt like she needed a few minutes alone.
“Excuse me, I need to find the restroom. No, no.” She held out her hand as he rose to escort her. “Don’t worry, I can find my way there myself.”
“I’ll get you a drink while you’re gone.”
“Thank you.” As she walked to the restroom she admitted to herself that she did feel a little wobbly. It might be the stiletto heels or that she needed to drink some water.
Stepping into the dark room with black sinks and counters, Tina glimpsed her reflection in the mirror. Just as she suspected, she looked like a wreck. With a heavy sigh, she combed down her spiky hair with her fingers and readjusted her dress. She stepped into one of the stalls and closed the door. Once she locked it, she rested her head against the cool metal and gave a deep sigh.
Tina frowned when she heard a group of women enter the restroom. She just wanted some peace. Wait until the ache eased in her chest and Dev’s words stopped swirling in her head. All she needed was a few moments to regroup before she returned to the party.
“Did you see Dev and Tina?”
Tina lifted her head. The unmistakable voice of Khushi, the playback singer, was coming from the direction of the mirrors.
“You’d think they were on their honeymoon,” Prisha complained. “I mean, come on. Get a room.”
Tina rolled her eyes at the choreographer’s comment. She was never demonstrative with Dev in public. The reason had more to do with a code of conduct for Bollywood stars than her private nature. One didn’t embrace, kiss or show any overt affection. She didn’t even graze lips with her costar on-screen because it would offend many moviegoers.
“From what I understand, the honeymoon will end in five weeks,” Khushi drawled. “And then they are getting a divorce.”
Tina skin went cold as the blood roared in her ears. Had she heard Khushi correctly? How had she known about the secret agreement she had with Dev?
“What?” Prisha screeched. “Where did you hear this?”
“Shreya.”
Tina exhaled as her hands began to shake. How did Shreya know? She must have heard a rumor, but there was only one source she could have got it from.
“What else did she tell you?” Prisha asked excitedly.
“Tina agreed to stay for two months and she will get to use Dev’s connections in return. I knew that woman had married him for her career. Didn’t I tell you?”