Page 16 of One Hellish Wedlock
“Hello, Rey,” she beamed. “How was the party? And did your client, Suzzane, leave for Cape Town already?”
Reyansh schooled his features, careful not to let his irritation from earlier show.
“The party went well,” he replied evenly. “Suzzane’s flight is tomorrow morning. How areyoufeeling? Weren’t you scheduled for your check-up today?”
Radhika’s cheeks flushed with a soft blush. “Everything’s good. The doctor said both me and the baby are doing fine.” Her hand instinctively cradled her small baby bump, her joy evident even through the screen.
Nani exhaled in relief beside him. “That’s wonderful news, beta. But what about your travel plans? Did the doctor approve your travel to India? I hope this won’t affect your health.”
Radhika nodded. “Yes, Nani. She said I can travel safely until I complete five months. After that, I’ll be on strict bed rest. But for now, I can’t wait to come back and see you all.” Her eyes sparkled as she turned to Reyansh. “And you, Mister, haven’t forgotten my birthday gift, have you?”
Reyansh forced a smile and gave a vague shake of his head. “Of course not.”
Nani, however, frowned at the mention. “Radhika, I still think you should reconsider. You know howthatgirl is. She will bring nothing but shame to this family.”
“Nani, please,” Radhika said with quiet firmness. “She’s Reyansh’s wife. She has every right to be part of this family. It’s been eighteen months since they began living separately. Someone needs to take a step toward change, and I’m determined to see them together. Reyansh has promised me.”
Reyansh saw the disappointment and the fragile hope in her expressions and it stabbed at something inside him. He jumped in before the conversation soured further.
“Yes, Di. I did promise. And I intend to keep that promise. You’ll see us together when you come, I assure you. Now, where’s my Jeeju (brother-in-law)? Hiding from the camera again?”
Radhika laughed, the tension easing. “Where else would he be? Making breakfast for his pregnant wife, of course.”
“Give him our regards. I’ll call you again tomorrow. Rest well,” Reyansh said.
“Bye, Reyansh. Bye, Nani.”
The screen went dark as he ended the call. Reyansh turned to Nani, his jaw tightening slightly.
“Why do you always pick arguments with Di? You know how emotional she is. The doctor has strictly instructed us to keep her stress-free.”
Nani lowered her eyes. “I know… but I just can’t accept what she’s asking of you.”
“We’ll deal with that later,” Reyansh replied. “Right now, her health comes first.”
“You both matter to me equally,” she countered softly. “Is it wrong for me to want what’s best for you? You expect me to happily accept an impulsive, reckless girl as your wife without question? She’s uncultured, Reyansh. Completely out of step with our values.”
“She’s a spoiled brat, I agree, but she’s not uncultured,” he corrected. “And we don’t get to sit in this room and pass judgment on her life. It’s just a matter of two months, Nani. Once Di returns to California, things will go back to normal. Aanya will leave, and I’ll get back to my work. So until then, I’m asking you to bear with me.”
Nani studied him for a long moment. His reasoning made sense. Radhika would be in India only temporarily, and once she was gone, this pretence of marital harmony would dissolve. Aanya would return to wherever she came from, and life in the Chopra mansion would resume its cold, predictable rhythm. With that thought, Nani decided to keep her silence for now. She would endure the drama, just for two months.
Later That Night – Reyansh’s Bedroom
Reyansh lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, sleep miles away. His unplanned encounter with Aanya earlier at the disco replayed in his mind on a loop. Her behaviour had been aggressive, attention-seeking, and downright dangerous. Snatching someone else’s drink just because it was unattended? It wasn’t just rude; it was reckless. What if the drink had been spiked? What if someone had taken advantage of her? The thought sent a chill through him.
She had no sense of consequence. No understanding of how the world worked outside her bubble of arrogance.
He closed his eyes, desperate to shut her out. But instead, the memory ofthatnight crept in. Their wedding night. A night that should have marked the beginning of something, but had turned into a humiliating catastrophe.
He hated that it still lingered in his mind despite a year and a half now. Then somewhere between anger and exhaustion, he finally drifted off to sleep, the memory of that night refusing to let him go.
Singh Residence - Next Morning
“Damn it! Why the hell isshehere?” Aanya hissed, peeking through the window before spinning around to glare at Navya.
Navya glanced over her shoulder, filing her nails anxiously. “I’m guessing she’s here to see you. You should get dressed. She’s definitely not going to be thrilled seeing you inthat.”
Aanya turned toward the mirror, running her eyes from top to bottom. She stood in a black tank top and barely-there shorts—comfortable, yes, but enough to give Reyansh’s Nani a heart attack on sight. Not that it mattered. She didn’t dress to impress anyone, least of all that judgmental woman or the man she was once forced to call her husband.
