Page 149 of One Hellish Wedlock
Dear Unhappy Husband,
Attached is my picture with Di and Jeeju.
Hope you’re happy now.
Your obliging wife,
Aanya.
Reyansh eagerly opened the attachment, only to let out a low, irritated groan. The image did feature her but it was a side-angle shot. Her back faced the camera, draped in a soft pink saree, her attention clearly focused on Rishi, who was singing into a microphone for Radhika. Beautiful, yes. But this wasn’t enough.
He typed furiously.
Dear Not-So-Obliging Wife,
As much as I appreciate admiring your flawless back, I’d very much prefer to see your angelic face.
Please send me your picture.
Your frowning husband,
Reyansh.
The moment Aanya read the reply, she burst out laughing. So, he wasn’t going to settle. Her heart skipped at the thought of how desperately he wanted to see her. That strange warmth spread through her body again, a slow burn she refused to name just yet.
Smiling, she selected her favourite photo from that evening, one in which she wore the same pink saree, her hair pinned neatly to the side, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She looked radiant, almost glowing.
She attached it to her reply and hitsend, then sat back… waiting.
Waiting for his next reply.
Waiting for the next moment their words would bridge the miles between them.
CHAPTER 27
Day 55 - India
Reyansh was spellbound.
Aanya. In pink. It was an innocent and disarming combination. She had recently cut her hair. It now brushed softly between her neck and waist. She held a placard in her hand that read“To Be Aunt”, posing with a casual grace that stunned him. How could a woman look that ravishing in something as simple as a saree?
He wanted to reply immediately, but instead, found himself lingering on the image. In her effortless smile, she looked radiant. Was that happiness because she was far away from him? Or was that glow the result of the gentle warmth slowly blooming between them as they exchanged words and emotions across continents?
“You didn’t tell me Radhika sent more pictures from the baby shower,” Nani disrupted his private moment.
Reyansh didn’t bother closing the laptop. He simply turned it slightly as she approached.
“Just two,” he replied curtly.
Nani seated herself beside him on the recliner. He first showed her the image of Rishi singing into a mic, while Radhika giggled from the decorative swing.
“Oh... they look beautiful together,” Nani smiled. “Radhika is glowing, isn’t she?”
“She is,” Reyansh agreed, without hesitation.
“I think it will be a boy. What do you think?”
“A girl,” he murmured. “I want Di to have a daughter. Just like her.”
