Page 10 of Married in Vengeance

“Here, let me do it.” Priyanka put the heavily loaded silver plate she was arranging to one side and stepped up. “You want it over one shoulder?”

“And tucked in at the waist on the other side please.” Aadhya fidgeted slightly as Priyanka followed her instructions. Her thaali slipped out of her choli as she moved, snagging on the zardozi work on it.

Aadhya’s cold fingers closed around the tiny gold pendant, the symbol of her married status. She was married. To Ram Gadde. Except the man who sat beside her in the mandap, the one who’d tied this thaali around her neck…he was the man she’d wanted to marry and yet, he wasn’t.

“Are you okay?” Priyanka asked around the safety pin clenched between her teeth.

“Yes.” Aadhya forced a smile, smoothing the front of her dupatta as Priyanka wrestled the back of the heavy material in place. “Of course, I am.”

“He’s a good man.” Priyanka wrapped her arms around Aadhya’s waist and squeezed. “I’m happy for both of you.”

He was a good man, Aadhya thought. He was. And she was happy to be married to him.

Why did it feel like she was reminding herself of what were facts she could have sworn to a day before?

“Vadina,” she said now to her sister-in-law. “The bag I packed for the hotel stay is on that table. Please tell the staff not to forget to put it in the car.”

“Of course,” Priyanka said. “All your other luggage has already been sent to Gadde Mansion. It will be waiting for you when Ram and you get back from the hotel tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” She turned, impulsively, pulling Priyanka into a hug. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Sweetie, you’re in the same city and a ten-minute drive away.” Priyanka held on and rocked Aadhya in a gentle motion. “I’m going nowhere and neither are you.”

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to my family,” Aadhya told her, pulling out of her embrace, damp eyed.

“No, no, no. There will be no crying,” Priyanka said firmly. “I can’t do all this makeup magic again and the girls from the salon have already left.”

Aadhya laughed, patting her fingers under her eyes and fanning herself in a vain bid to keep the tears from spilling over.

“Let’s go, Mrs. Aadhya Gadde,” Priyanka said now. “We don’t want to piss of the combined might of the families by being late to your wedding reception.”

“The bag-“

“I’ll get the bag.” Priyanka picked up the hotel bag and slung it over one shoulder.

“Your saree will get crumpled. Let’s call for someone.”

Priyanka made a pfft sound. “Doesn’t matter. No one is going to be looking at me when I’m standing next to the beautiful bride.”

“Aarush Anna wouldn’t look anywhere else.” Aadhya smiled slyly as Priyanka’s cheeks turned rosy.

“But he also wouldn’t care if my saree was crumpled,” Priyanka countered.

“Not unless he’d crumpled it himself.” Aadhya picked up her ghaghra’s heavy skirts to navigate the staircase leading them to the hall more carefully.

“Aadhya!”

Aadhya laughed at Priyanka’s scandalised shriek.

“At least keep your voice down. Your parents might hear you.” Priyanka looked around furtively. “They’re just starting to tolerate me and we don’t want to go down the family drama road again.”

“Give them a little time. They will love you,” Aadhya declared confidently, as she stepped out on to the ground floor. “Anna will tolerate nothing less. And also, they know they could never do better than you.”

“Neither can the Gaddes do better than you,” Priyanka replied handing the overnight bag over to a helper who hurried over. “Put it in the car,” she told him before turning back to Aadhya. “The Gaddes are the luckiest family in the city because they have the opportunity to love and be loved by you in this lifetime.”

“And Ram,” Aarush appeared from God knows where and draped his arms around both of them, pulling them into a weird three-way hug. “Has the privilege of being annoyed by you in this lifetime and the seven ones to follow as well.”

Aadhya dug her elbow into his side, pinching him in mock outrage. Aarush pinched her back.

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