Page 115 of One Hellish Wedlock
Aanya broke the hug and laughed at the blush colouring Radhika’s cheeks.
“Jeeju, stop complaining. Once you both return to California, you’ll have Di all to yourself.” She winked.
Radhika chuckled and swatted her gently on the arm. Reyansh smiled too, though Radhika wasn’t fooled it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Oh yes,” Rishi chimed in, suddenly remembering. “I’ll ask the staff to book the return flight for the weekend.”
Reyansh’s expression tensed.
“Have you both finalized that decision?” he asked, his voice low, strained.
Aanya caught the flicker of unease in his tone. She knew exactly what was on his mind. If Radhika left, the foundation of their contract would dissolve... and with it, the reason for Aanya to stay.
“Reyansh,” Radhika replied softly, “I would’ve loved to stay longer, but I trust my doctors back home with this pregnancy.”
Reyansh gave a reluctant nod. “Understood. I’ll have Sunny make your travel arrangements.”
Aanya mentally tallied the days. Just four more before Radhika and Rishi left. The house would feel unbearably empty without them.
“I’ll get some soup for you, Di,” she offered, rising from the bed.
“No, I’m not hungry,” Radhika said quickly.
“Of course you’re not. But your baby is.”
“How do you know?” Radhika giggled.
“The baby told me,” Aanya grinned. “It was a heart-to-heart…from the little one to its Maami (Maternal uncle’s wife).”
As soon as the wordMaamileft her lips, her eyes locked with Reyansh’s. A shiver passed between them. Yes, technically she was the baby’s aunt. But would she still be, once all this ended?
“I—I’ll go get the soup,” she stammered, fumbling with her phone before rushing out.
“And I’ll check on your other medicines,” Rishi said, excusing himself.
Reyansh stood silently but Radhika reached for his hand.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” she asked gently. “You’ve looked distracted since the moment you walked in.”
He forced a smile. “Nothing, Di. Just tired.”
“Don’t lie to me,” she said firmly. “You and I are mirrors. We reflect each other’s pain, and I can see yours clearly. Is it about Aanya?”
He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he looked away, as if trying to mask the emotions swirling inside him.
“Did you fight again?” she asked.
Reyansh exhaled deeply. “Didn’t you teach me once to own my mistakes?”
She nodded slowly.
“That’s what I did, although it didn’t work out. But I’ll handle this,” he said.
Radhika squeezed his hand as he continued.
“If you hadn’t pushed me to give this marriage a chance, I might never have realized how much I messed up. I’m trying to fix it now. I just need your blessings.”
Radhika looked at her brother and saw not the hard-edged, emotionally guarded man the world knew, but a broken, guilt-ridden soul searching for redemption.
