Page 17 of One Hellish Wedlock
“I don’t give a damn what she thinks,” she snapped. “And I have zero interest in meeting her.”
Navya hesitated. “What do I tell her if she asks for you?”
“Tell her whatever you want. Lie anything, I don’t care. Just make sure she knows I’m not crawling back into their good books.”
Navya exhaled heavily, defeated. “Fine. I’ll see what I can do.”
With that, she hurried downstairs to meet Nani at the entrance. But Aanya, restless and irritated, couldn’t sit still.Curiosity gnawed at her, and within minutes, she marched out of her room, tiptoeing toward the lobby. She hid herself behind a wide pillar, straining to hear the conversation unfolding below.
“Hello, Granny—I mean Nani,” Navya greeted awkwardly.
Nani looked genuinely startled. “You? When didyoureturn?”
“Uh… yesterday,” Navya replied quickly.
“Hmm. Where are your parents? I came to speak with them.”
“They’re not back yet. They’ll be home next week,” Navya answered, confused. “Why? Did you need something urgent?”
Nani’s disapproving glance narrowed. “That’s between me and your father. Tell him to call me once he returns.”
She turned on her heels, preparing to leave but paused midway, as if recalling something. She slowly turned back.
“Issheback too?”
“Who?” Navya asked, feigning innocence.
“Your friend.”
“I have many friends. Which one?”
Nani’s patience thinned. “Aanya,” she bit out, the name dripping with restrained contempt.
Before Navya could answer, Aanya stepped out from behind the pillar on the upper floor.
“I’m right here,” she called out, descending the stairs confidently.
Nani froze. Her eyes widened at the sight of Aanya in her bold, skin-baring outfit. With a visible shudder, she averted her gaze and whispered a quick prayer under her breath.
Aanya chuckled as she reached them. “What’s wrong? Didn’t like my outfit?”
Nani met her eyes, her expression grim. “I never expected anything different from you.”
“Oh really?” Aanya’s tone sharpened. “That’s strange, because during ourfirstmeeting, you seemed to expect a lotmore. Let me think… what exactly did you call me that day?” Her voice dropped, venom seeping into each word. “Characterless, wasn’t it?”
Nani stiffened, the memory clearly returning.
“I didn’t come here to argue,” Nani said coldly. “And I’m certainly not here to seek your forgiveness.”
“Good,” Aanya snapped. “Because I’m not offering any.”
“I’m not interested in talking to you.” Nani turned to leave without another word, but Aanya couldn’t resist one last jab.
“I don’t think your grandson wants the same,” she said, voice rising just enough to make sure the words landed. “Hewasvery desperate to talk to me last night at the pub.”
Nani halted mid-step, stunned. Her spine went rigid. Reyansh had met Aanya? Why hadn’t he mentioned it? She didn’t wait for clarification, especially not from Aanya, thinking the latter would twist the truth just to provoke her. Nani stormed out without so much as a glance back.
The moment the door shut behind her, Navya exhaled in relief. “What the hell was that, Aanya? You said you didn’t want to see her!”
