Esha was a master of the "indirect approach." She realized that Ishita was a fortress built on the bedrock of South Indian tradition and moral rectitude. Attacking the front gate would only make Ishita bolt the doors. To get to Ishita, Esha needed to infiltrate the inner sanctum of her heart: her family.
Mihika Iyer, Ishita's younger sister, was the perfect candidate. She was modern, vibrant, and fiercely loyal, but she also possessed a streak of rebellion and an appreciation for the "finer things" that Ishita lacked. Most importantly, Mihika was currently working in marketing—a field Esha could easily manipulate.
The Corporate Bait
Esha arranged for Mihika to be headhunted for a "Senior Brand Consultant" role at Khanna Industries. The salary was astronomical, and the perks included a luxury company car and a travel stipend. To a young woman trying to make her mark in Delhi, it was an irresistible lure.
"I don't know, Esha," Mihika said during their first meeting in the penthouse office. Mihika was cautious, knowing the history between Ashok and her family. "My sister isn't your biggest fan. She thinks you're... well, she says you're 'overwhelming'."
Esha laughed, a warm, rich sound that made Mihika relax. "I'm a businesswoman in a man's world, Mihika. I have to be overwhelming. But I'm not my brother. I want to modernize this company, and I want you to be the face of that change. Think of what we could do for the image of the Indian woman."
Esha spent the next hour subtly charming Mihika. She didn't use the heavy, predatory energy she had used on Shagun. Instead, she was the "cool, successful mentor." She spoke of female empowerment and the "sisterhood of ambition." By the time Mihika left, she wasn't just an employee; she was an admirer.
Ashok's Counter-Strike
Meanwhile, Ashok was busy spinning his own web. He had seen the way Esha touched Ishita at the clinic and the way she looked at Shagun. To a man like Ashok, this wasn't just "foreign behavior"—it was a weaponized scandal.
He invited Raman Bhalla to a neutral location—a high-end cigar lounge—under the guise of "settling corporate scores."
"Your wife is spending a lot of time with my sister, Raman," Ashok said, blowing a cloud of thick smoke. "Have you noticed how... affectionate Esha is? She spent a lot of time in London, you know. They have different 'tastes' there."
Raman scoffed, though a seed of doubt was planted. "Ishita is a woman of character, Ashok. Unlike the women you keep. If she's spending time with your sister, it's probably to fix the mess you've made of your life."
"Is it?" Ashok smirked. "Ask her about the private dinner. Ask her why Esha is suddenly the 'savior' of her clinic. My sister doesn't do anything for free, Raman. She's a collector. And right now, she's eyeing your wife as her newest piece."
Raman stormed out, but the poison was working. His insecurity was his greatest weakness, and Ashok had just poured salt on it.
The Sisterly Influence
That evening at the Iyer household, the tension was palpable. Ishita was distracted, her mind constantly drifting back to the sensation of Esha's hair against her cheek.
"Akka (Sister)," Mihika said, sitting beside her on the sofa. "I took the job. Esha is actually amazing. She's so misunderstood."
Ishita looked up, alarmed. "Mihika, you have to be careful. There's something... different about her. She's not like us."
"That's why I like her!" Mihika exclaimed. "She's free, Ishu-Akka. She doesn't care what the neighbors think. She told me today that she thinks you're the most 'radiant' woman she's ever met. She really respects you."
"She said that?" Ishita felt a treacherous flutter in her chest.
"She did. She even asked if she could host a 'Women's Achievement' brunch at her place and wanted us both there. She wants us to be her 'inner circle.' Imagine, Akka! The power we'd have to do good for the clinic and the community."
Mihika's excitement was infectious. To Ishita, it felt safer if Mihika was involved. If her sister was there, it wasn't a "tryst"—it was a social connection.
The Web Tightens: The Brunch
The brunch was held at Esha's private villa on the outskirts of the city. It was a lush, secluded estate surrounded by high walls and blooming bougainvillea. Shagun was already there, looking nervous but mesmerized by the lifestyle Esha was displaying.
Esha played the perfect hostess. She sat between Mihika and Ishita, her movements fluid and elegant.
"You know, Mihika," Esha said, leaning over to adjust a stray lock of Mihika's hair, her fingers lingering just a second too long on the girl's temple. "You have so much potential. But you're still playing by everyone else's rules. You should be a queen, not a consultant."
Mihika giggled, a slight blush creeping up her neck. "And what about Ishu-Akka? Is she a queen too?"
Esha turned her gaze to Ishita. The intensity in her eyes was like a physical weight. "No. Ishita is the Goddess. And every Goddess needs a temple where she can be truly understood."
The conversation drifted to the "limitations" placed on Indian women. Esha spoke eloquently about how men—like Raman and Ashok—use women as emotional anchors but never let them sail.
After several glasses of chilled mimosas (which Mihika drank readily and Ishita sipped cautiously), the atmosphere shifted. The heat of the afternoon and the soft music created a sense of heavy, languid intimacy.
"Mihika, dear, why don't you go show Shagun the new art gallery in the North wing?" Esha suggested. "I want to speak to Ishita about the trust documents for the clinic."
As they left, Ishita felt a sudden spike of anxiety. She rose to follow them, but Esha caught her hand.
"Stay, Ishita. Just for a moment."
Esha didn't let go. Her hand was warm, her grip firm. She pulled Ishita closer, not into an embrace, but into her personal orbit.
"Mihika is starting to see the light," Esha whispered. "She sees that there is a world where women don't have to fight for crumbs of affection from men. Why are you so afraid to see it too?"
"Because it's a sin," Ishita whispered back, her voice trembling. "What you're suggesting... the way you look at me... it's against nature."
"Is it?" Esha stepped so close their sarees brushed together, the silk whispering against silk. She reached up, her thumb tracing the line of Ishita's lower lip. "Or is it the most natural thing in the world? To want someone who understands your pain? To want a touch that isn't a demand, but a gift?"
Esha leaned in, her forehead resting against Ishita's. She could feel Ishita's heart racing like a trapped bird. She knew she couldn't take her yet. She needed Mihika to be her advocate. She needed to break the sisterhood to rebuild it in her own image.
"Go home, Ishita," Esha breathed against her skin. "Go back to your husband who yells and your brother-in-law who schemes. But tonight, when you're lying in the dark, you'll remember the way my hand felt. And you'll wonder why you're so afraid to be happy."
Ishita fled, but as she ran to the car, Mihika was already there, looking flushed and happy.
"Isn't she incredible, Akka?" Mihika asked, her eyes shining with an unnatural brilliance.
Ishita didn't answer. She was too busy trying to ignore the heat blooming in her own veins.