Page 10 of One Hellish Wedlock
“No,youlisten! I don’t know what you’re playing at, but I’m not going to fall for it. If you don’t want to take responsibility for me anymore, say it clearly. Don’t make excuses. I’m capable of surviving without your money. Goodbye!”
She hung up and threw the phone aside before sinking onto the couch, seething.
Navya peeked out from between her fingers. “Whoa! What wasthat? Do you even realize how loud you get? I think my eardrums are shattered. I need an ENT, like,now.”
Aanya hurled a pillow at her. Navya caught it mid-air and sat beside her with a sigh.
“Okay, okay. Now explain what just happened.”
Delhi
Reyansh stepped into the grand entrance of his home, his personal assistant, Sunny, trailing behind him, an iPad in hand, reciting the next week’s schedule.
As they moved through the hallway, the faint sound of Sanskrit chants reached his ears. The rhythm of it was familiar. He immediately guessed his Nani must have organized yet anotherhavanfor the wellbeing of the family. He rolled his eyes inwardly. He had no time or interest in such beliefs.
Reyansh’s parents had died in a tragic train crash when he was just three. His sister, Radhika, was seven at the time, old enough to remember everything, and too young to bear the loss. Their maternal grandmother, Nani, had taken them in and stayed by their side since.
Their family business had started to crumble soon after their parents’ death. Nani had tried to keep things afloat, but she hadn’t been equipped to manage it all. Years later, it was Reyansh…freshly graduated with a business degree…who took over the reins. Under his leadership, the company not only recovered but soared beyond even what his father had once envisioned.
Though he had no memories of his parents, Radhika did. She had always been emotional, grounded in family, while he had learned early to measure everything by profit, power, and precision.
Nani had been loving and devoted during their childhood, but as Reyansh grew older, their ideologies clashed, repeatedly and bitterly. Eventually, their differences erupted into a verbal war so severe that Nani had packed her bags and threatened to leave for a pilgrimage. Had Radhika not intervened, he and Nani might never have lived under the same roof again.
Still, no matter how harsh Nani pretended to be, Reyansh knew she loved him. She had always cared. But he was an adultnow, capable of making his own decisions, and equally prepared to bear the consequences.
“Sunny,” he continued as they passed the corridor, “what’s the status of the party arrangements? I want no compromises in its grandeur.”
“None at all, Sir,” Sunny replied confidently. “It will be the grandest celebration this country has seen in years. Trust me.”
Reyansh gave a subtle nod, mildly impressed, and continued walking.
“Reyansh,” Nani’s voice called from behind.
He cursed under his breath. One minute earlier, and he would have missed her entirely. Still, he paused and turned to face her with a composed expression.
“Yes, Nani?”
“I’d asked you to come home early today,” she said with a disappointed look. “Thishavanwas arranged for you.”
He gave her a faint smirk, one that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Why do you keep insisting I take part in rituals I don’t believe in?” he asked bluntly.
Nani’s face darkened.
“I’ve done everything for your happiness, Reyansh. From the moment I took you and Radhika under my care, that has been my only goal. Is that too much to ask in return?”
Sunny, sensing the conversation was veering into personal territory, quietly excused himself.
“I’ll wait in the drawing room, Sir.”
Reyansh nodded without breaking eye contact with his grandmother. Once Sunny left, the tension thickened.
“Nani, let me be very clear,” Reyansh said. “You’re free to do whatever you want in this house. But don’t involve me. These things aren’t for me.”
“I already have enough worries on my plate,” she snapped. “Don’t add to them. Radhika told me you promised her that Aanya would attend the birthday party. Is that true?”
He sighed deeply, realizing now what this confrontation was really about. No wonder she had been so adamant about cleansing the family’s aura today. She didn’t like Aanya.At all!
