Page 112 of One Hellish Wedlock
Hotel
Aanya burst into the room and kicked off her boots with a frustrated groan. The cab ride back had been suffocating, but not nearly as much as her thoughts. She still couldn’t believe what Reyansh had told her today.
She collapsed onto the bed as every word he had spoken to her played on a cruel loop.
His regret didn’t change anything. He might finally value their marriage, but she wouldn’t let herself be swayed. She had her goals, her job, her independence. And if that crushed his heart, then so be it. She wasn’t going to care. Not anymore.
*****************
When Reyansh returned to their room, he found her fast asleep or so he assumed. The lights were dim. She lay curled up under nothing but the sheet, trembling slightly. Quietly, he pulled the duvet over her, careful not to wake her, and turned off the bedside lamp.
He stood by the bed, debating. After tonight, after the storm they’d just survived, she deserved peace. He turned and made his way to the couch, lying down to face her.
Aanya slowly opened her eyes. She’d been awake all along. She had felt his hand pull the blanket over her. Heard his silent movements. But she hadn’t wanted another confrontation, not tonight. What did surprise her, however, was the fact that he chose the couch. He was giving her space. Maybe he was finally starting to understand.
She closed her eyes again, exhaustion pulling her back into restless sleep.
******************
In the still hush of pre-dawn, Aanya suddenly woke up. She instantly glanced at the couch and found it empty. A cold dread settled into her chest. This felt just like the morning after their wedding night when he’d left her.Alone. Without a word. Without looking back. Was he gone again?
Just as panic started to rise, the bathroom door creaked open. Reyansh walked out, steam trailing behind him, a towel slung low around his hips and droplets sliding down his damp hair.
“I’m not leaving this time,” he said, reading her panic as easily as if she’d voiced it.
She looked away.
“Reyansh… our conversation last night—”
“It didn’t go well,” he admitted. “But that doesn’t mean we have to act like strangers. You don’t want love, marriage, or anything serious? Fine. But maybe one day, you will. Until then…” he sat at the edge of the bed, “we could at least be friends.”
Aanya narrowed her eyes.
“I know how this plays out. Friends. Then lovers. Then a mess. I’m not walking into that trap, Reyansh. Let’s just stick to the contract and go our separate ways when it’s over.”
She slipped on her slippers and walked toward the bathroom, but his voice stopped her.
“Aanya—”
She spun around, her frustration finally boiling over.
“I’ve always been called fickle-minded, by Dad, by Kyle, even Navya sometimes. Everyone thinks I can’t commit. But for once in my life, I’ve made up my mind. I want to stand on my own feet. I want to succeed on my own, without relying on you or anyone else. So if you actually care about me, let me do this my way.”
Her words hit like a gut punch. Reyansh sat frozen, watching her disappear into the bathroom, knowing he had to fix this. But time was running out.
*******************
“What?” Navya screamed over the phone. Aanya had only meant to check in with her that morning, but somehow, the words had slipped out…about her past with Reyansh, about the kiss that had happened years ago in Cape Town, and how she hadn’t remembered it until now.
“You’re telling me you met him before the wedding and even kissed him?” Navya shouted. “That’s insane, Aanya! How could you forget something like that? Of all the things to blank out, this should’ve been engraved in your memory. You just never kiss a stranger like that. How the hell could you not remember?”
Aanya clenched her teeth. She’d been asking herself the same thing since last night.
“I don’t know, Navya. You have no idea how messed up this feels right now.”
“I can imagine, baby,” Navya replied. “But what now? He sounds completely smitten. Seems like he wants to make this marriage real. Are you going to give him a chance?”
Silence lingered between them.
