Page 150 of One Hellish Wedlock
Nani chuckled, clearly amused. “Reyansh… this is a huge change in you. You never liked kids. Always avoided them. And now you sound so sure.”
He managed a faint smile. Di’s pregnancy had changed something inside him. But credit didn’t go to Radhika alone. It went to Aanya as well. Because the truth was, he couldn’t even imagine having children with anyone else.But her.Damn it. Why were his thoughts spiralling in that direction again?
“And the other picture?” Nani asked, drawing him back. He clicked open the next image of Aanya in her saree.
Nani’s eyes widened in surprise. Then her expression shifted into a deep frown.
“Aanya is wearing a saree?” she murmured in disbelief.
Reyansh didn’t hesitate. “Hmm. And she looks gorgeous, doesn’t she?”
Nani turned to stare at him, but he wasn’t even looking at her. His eyes remained glued to the screen, admiring his wife with an intensity that was hard to miss.
“Who sent you these?” she asked.
“Aanya.”
Her reaction was swift and incredulous. “I thought you two weren’t on speaking terms.”
“We’re not speaking,” he confirmed. “We’re emailing. Updating each other about our lives. Isn’t that the foundation of every long-distance relationship, Nani?”
She blinked, clearly disoriented. She had been so certain that once Aanya left, Reyansh would snap back to his old self. But it appeared she had been wrong. Her grandson was still very much interested in his wife.
“Is she even serious about this marriage?” Nani pressed.
“She’s serious about her life now,” Reyansh said with a calm confidence. “And as for our marriage, it’s not hanging, Nani. I have hope. Neither of us wants to break it. We’ve both realized what it means to us only after we separated again.”
Nani sighed and slowly rose from her seat.
“I don’t understand all these modern concepts. In our time, marriage didn’t need rebuilding. It was built once and it lasted.”
“Generations change, Nani,” he replied. “But the core values of marriage, love, commitment, those don’t.”
With a defeated exhale, she gave him a gentle nod.
“If this is what you want, Reyansh, I won’t stand in your way. I just hope you both find what’s missing and hold on to this marriage. Seeing you and Radhika happy, is all I wish for.”
She left the room, and Reyansh was quietly relieved. For once, Nani hadn’t taunted Aanya. He returned to the laptop and opened the image again, unable to tear his eyes away from it. Then, he began typing.
Aanya,
Gorgeous. I’m at a loss for words. It feels like you’re here, right in front of me, and I’m watching you live. I missed being a part of this moment.
Wish I had been invited.
Your ‘not so grateful’ husband,
Reyansh.
Aanya bit her lip, reading his message. Of course, she hadn’t invited him. She didn’t think he’d be interested… he was always so buried in work. But maybe she had been wrong.
Dear Husband,
I presumed you wouldn’t make it. My mistake.
But let me invite you well in advance for the Naming Ceremony. I can’t afford to forget it.
Your Advance-Planner Wife,
