Page 43 of One Hellish Wedlock
She snapped out of it. “Yeah. I’m here.”
Navya barged into the room, all excited, at that very moment. “Aanya, guess what—” she stopped short when Aanya held a finger to her lips.
Reyansh picked up on it immediately. “Who’s that?”
“Navya,” Aanya replied, grateful for the excuse to end the call.
“I won’t keep you long,” he said. “Just one update though. Di is arriving the day after tomorrow.”
Aanya bolted upright. “What?! I thought she was coming three days later.”
“She preponed her trip. Which means… tomorrow, you’re moving into Chopra Mansion. I want you there when she arrives.”
She froze. “That’s too soon. Why didn’t she inform us earlier? I’m not ready. I haven’t even packed—”
“You don’t need to pack anything,” he cut in.
She blinked. “What?”
“I’ve already arranged your wardrobe. You won’t need your clothes.”
“What the hell!” she snapped. “Are you serious?”
“Aanya, look,” he said calmly. “I don’t care what you wear. But Nani does. She’s particular about how things appear. Since we’re doing thismyway, I need to make sure no one in my family feels uncomfortable.”
She groaned, but somewhere in the middle of that irritation, she understood. She herself had planned to buy something more modest before stepping into that house anyway.
“Fine,” she muttered. “I’ll be there.”
“Sunny will pick you up tomorrow.”
“Cool. Good night.”
She ended the call and turned to Navya, who was still sitting silently on the bed.
“You look like someone just told you I died,” Aanya joked.
“Shut up.” Navya frowned. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”
Aanya nodded. “Reyansh’s sister moved her schedule forward. So, yeah… the circus begins.”
Navya pouted, then leaned in to hug her. “Just promise me one thing. Just don’t hurt yourself in this process.”
Aanya smiled weakly and hugged her back. At leastsomeonecared about her.
Chopra Mansion – Next Day
Aanya stepped out of the car with Sunny by her side, at the driveway of the Chopra Mansion. Despite the situation feeling every bit surreal, a wave of nerves coursed through her. She wasn’t supposed to care, but she did.
Sunny gave her a warm, if slightly nervous, smile. “So, whatever I’ve told you up to this point, this is where it starts. Time to apply it.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Feels like walking into an exam hall. I’ve done the studying, yet I still don’t feel ready.”
“I have faith you’ll do just fine,” he replied, offering his hand. “All the best.”
She returned the handshake with a hesitant smile. “Thanks, Sunny.”
The front door creaked open, and Reyansh walked out, dressed in track pants and a simple T-shirt that somehow still managed to still look designer. He looked too relaxed for a man who usually wore his arrogance like an Armani suit. Was he off work today?
