Page 24 of Married in Vengeance

Aadhya felt like a fraud even as the words left her lips. That house did not feel like her house from any angle. Half the time she kept getting lost in it, the other half she tiptoed around like an unwanted guest.

“Are you sure, Aadhya?” Gayatri sounded worried. “You’ve only been married a few days. Why don’t you check with your in-laws if they’re okay with everyone coming? You know what the girls are like. Maybe I should come alone.”

She knew exactly what the girls were like and that’s exactly what she was aiming for.

“No, bring everyone. Ram’s been wanting to meet my friends and this will be the perfect time to introduce him to them.”

“Okay,” Gayatri said doubtfully. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

Aadhya disconnected the call, a smile on her face.

“What are you planning?” Aarush asked, as he walked past her and towards his own massive cabin.

“What do you mean?” She did her best to look innocent.

“I know that look on your face, you monster,” he said drily, walking backwards so he could still look at her. “Whatever it is, dial it down.”

She shrugged, not bothering to deny his implied accusation. “But nothing’s fun, if it’s not dialed up to a million or more.”

Aarush stopped at the large double doors that led to his room. “Be careful?” he asked.

“I will.”

“Be mindful?”

Aadhya grinned. “I’ll try.”

He shook his head in defeat before pushing the doors open.

“Don’t worry,” she called after him. “I’ve got this.” She totally did!

Thirteen

RAM

Exhaustion clungto him like a second skin as Ram finally made it home that night. It had been a mind numbingly exhausting day and all he wanted was to fall into bed and find absolution in sleep.

“Is this going to be a daily thing?” his father demanded, the moment Ram walked into his home.

“What?” he asked, shifting his briefcase to another arm. It was only then that the noise registered.

Loud, earsplitting music blared from the top floor. His floor. A shriek sounded, laughter following, the noise seeming to reverberate in the great hall. It sounded like a pack of hyenas had taken up residence.

In the drawing room below, his mother sat quietly, leafing through a magazine, looking completely at ease with the mayhem playing out above.

In direct contrast, his father looked ready to explode.

“Who does she have up there with her?” Ram asked, his right eye starting to twitch as another onslaught of rock music assaulted his ears.

“You don’t know?” his father sneered. “If you don’t know, how will I?”

Ram sighed. “I’ll take care of it.”

His father made a scoffing noise before storming off in the direction of his study. Ram reached down to kiss the cheek his mother tilted up to him as he was walking past her.

“Good evening Amma,” he murmured.

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