Page 88 of One Hellish Wedlock
Aanya nodded, relieved the potential storm had passed. Reyansh, too, relaxed beside her. Once again, she had skilfully handled the situation and he couldn’t help but admire her for it.
The Next Morning
When Reyansh stirred awake, his hand reached instinctively for the other side of the bed but it was empty.He was getting used to waking up with Aanya tucked beside him. No matter how the night started, she always ended up on his side, curled into him like she belonged there. And, annoyingly, it was starting to feel normal.
But at the moment, he blinked, frowning. It wasn’t even 6:30 yet.
“Aanya?” he called groggily.
The bathroom door opened a second later, and she emerged wearing a bathrobe, towel in hand as she dried her damp hair. He sat up.
“Am I dreaming or you really woke up this early?” he asked, his voice still thick from sleep.
She flashed him a grin. “Mr. Sleepyhead, it’s my first day at work. I don’t want to be late.”
She turned to the closet and began pulling out a crisp formal dress. Reyansh watched her for a moment, the realization dawning again. She was no longer just the woman he’d married in haste. She had a life now. A routine. Purpose.
“What’s your in and out time?” he asked, swinging his legs off the bed.
“In at 9:00, out at 5:00. Why?”
“I’ll have the car arranged for you.”
Aanya paused, thoughtful, before replying. “No thanks. I’ll take a cab.”
“Don’t argue,” he snapped mildly. “You didn’t use my name to get this job. Fine. But I’m still your husband. At least let me ensure your safety.”
She exhaled. “Fine. Do it. But only until this deal ends. After that, I’ll manage on my own.”
She disappeared into the bathroom again, leaving Reyansh perplexed.
Forty-five more days and the deal ends.
That was all they had left. Until his sister returned to California. Until Aanya would leave, free to go wherever she pleased.
And yet, just the thought of it made something ache in his chest. Letting her go would be much harder than he had ever imagined.
CHAPTER 16
Chopra Mansion
Aanya’s gaze followed the gentle sway of the puja thali as Radhika circled it in front of her, the soft fragrance of sandalwood and rose petals hanging between them. It was her first day at work, and Radhika insisted on performing the traditional aarti for good luck. But just as the flame flickered, a memory flickered and Aanya’s eyes misted over.
Radhika caught the sudden shift. Her hands stilled as she set the thali aside.
“Aanya?” she asked, her voice soft with concern. “What happened?”
Aanya offered a tight nod, quickly brushing the corner of her eyes with her fingers. “Nothing. Just… remembered someone.”
“Who?”
“Maa,” she whispered. “She used to do this every time before my school exams… to wish me luck.”
Radhika’s eyes glistened with tears. She cupped Aanya’s cheek tenderly. “She’d be so proud of you today.”
Those few words broke through Aanya’s composure. She threw her arms around Radhika and held her tightly. If only her mother had been here, alive to see her trying, striving to make her own name, stepping out of the shadow she had lived under for so long.
Across the room, Reyansh sat silently at the breakfast table, pretending to sip his coffee while his eyes stayed fixed on them.Something stirred within him. It wasn’t pity. It was deeper than that.An ache.Once, he had written Aanya off as nothing more than a spoiled rich girl. But the woman standing a few feet away was not the same. Living under one roof had slowly stripped away her outer layers, revealing a truth he hadn’t anticipated. She was strong, sensitive, stubborn, and utterly real.
