Page 104 of One Hellish Wedlock
“Sunny has your passport and visa,” he informed. “He’ll see you off at the airport tomorrow morning.”
“Alright.”
“Enjoy the birthday party and don’t drink,” he added firmly.
Aanya rolled her eyes. Of course, he wouldn’t let her forget the ridiculous clauses of their deal.
“I won’t,” she muttered. “I know I’ve got a flight tomorrow morning. I’m not that careless.”
He nodded and for a moment, he just stood there, looking at her. His eyes lingered on her face, tracing the curve of her cheek, the way her hair had curled near her jaw, the sleepy crease on her forehead. It was the kind of gaze that made her heartbeat pause. The kind that said things he never put into words.
She watched his throat work as his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly…like he was swallowing a feeling he didn’t dare act on.For one fleeting second, it looked like he might lean in and press a kiss to her forehead. A typical husband’s goodbye.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he reached for his trolley, turned around, and walked out. Aanya sank back into the bed, her eyes still on the door he’d just walked through, her chest oddly heavy for someone supposedly in a fake marriage.
Then, sleep pulled her back under.
****************
Few Hours Later
At the office, Aanya waited for the day to crawl by, counting the hours until Navya’s birthday party. Somewhere between her tasks, she realized Reyansh’s flight must have already landed in South Africa. She picked up her phone and, almost hesitantly, typed out a message—not because she was worried (at least that’s what she told herself), but because if Di asked later, she wanted to have an answer.
‘Landed?’
She tossed the phone aside and resumed work. After thirty minutes, still no response. She typed again, her patience thinning.
‘Landed?’
Fifteen more minutes passed. Still nothing.
Annoyed and now slightly anxious, she called him. His phone was switched off.
The client meeting began, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Why hadn’t he turned on his phone? Hadn’t he landed yet? He should have. The meeting dragged for an hour, and the moment it ended, she rushed out and dialled Sunny.
“Sunny,” she said breathlessly.
“Hello, Aanya.”
“Did Reyansh call you? I’ve been trying to reach him for hours. Even messaged him, but no reply.”
Sunny sounded calm, sensing her worry.
“Relax. He landed safely. Probably attending the conference now.”
“Probably?” she echoed sceptically. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I confirmed with the hotel. He checked in long back.”
Aanya exhaled, but the knot in her stomach didn’t loosen.
“Then why is his phone off?”
“Could be a technical issue. I can’t say.”
She hesitated, then shook her head.
