Page 90 of One Hellish Wedlock
He simply shrugged.
“Fine,” she huffed. “Let our kids get your IQ, but I hope they inherit my heart, my compassion, my empathy. Things you wouldn’t understand even if they hit you in the face.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but both of them suddenly froze
They were talking abouttheirkids? A future that had never been part of the plan? This marriage wasn’t built on dreams. It was forged in convenience, held together by obligations, and destined for an expiration date.
She turned her head toward the window, unwilling to look at him again. Reyansh did the same. The mere idea of having kids with Aanya shouldn’t have stirred anything inside him. But it had.
The car came to a halt.
“We’ve arrived, sir,” the driver announced.
Without saying a word or sparing Reyansh a glance, Aanya stepped out and disappeared into the building. Reyansh stared at the closed door, his hand clenched into a fist. She didn’t even let him wish her good luck.
Icon Interiors
After a brief induction where Aanya was acquainted with company policies and the professional code of conduct, she was introduced to Prem, the Senior Designer she would be assisting on several high-profile décor projects.
“Nice meeting you, Aanya,” Prem said, shaking her hand firmly. “I caught some of the ideas you shared during this morning’s induction. Classy stuff.”
She returned the handshake with a polite smile. “Thank you, sir.”
“Call me Prem,” he corrected with a friendly grin. “Everyone does.”
“Alright… Prem,” she replied, still adjusting to this new dynamic. “When do we begin?”
“Immediately,” he answered. “My assistant, Shikha, will walk you through our client’s expectations and requirements. Once you’re up to speed, we’ll review your thoughts and discuss our design drafts. For the first week, I want you to focus on understanding the vision. After that, you’ll join us onsite to help bring it to life.”
“Sounds great,” she said, genuinely eager to dive in.
Prem called over a petite woman with a perpetually sunny smile. “Shikha, this is Aanya. Get her started with the client briefing.”
Shikha nodded enthusiastically, and the two women moved toward her cubicle. Aanya quickly immersed herself in the project details, analysing the layout and the client’s brief for a recently acquired corporate space.
A while later
Back at Reyansh’s office, work kept his mind focused, until the brief pause of a thirty-minute break that gave his thoughts room to wander.His wife… Her first day in a new world,surrounded by strangers, trying to fit in without letting her pride show.
With a sigh, he typed out a message.
“How is it going?”
Back at Icon Interiors, Aanya sat at Shikha’s desk, listening intently. Her phone buzzed inside her purse, but she ignored it. She couldn’t afford distractions on her first day. And besides, she already knew who it was.
After waiting twenty minutes without a reply, Reyansh scowled and typed again.
“Don’t pretend to be so busy on your first day at work. Reply, dammit!!!”
The phone vibrated again. Shikha glanced at it with a grin. “You can answer that if you want. Might be important.”
“No, it’s just my husband checking in,” Aanya replied with a dismissive shrug.
Shikha’s eyes widened. “Wait. You’reignoringyour husband Reyansh Chopra?” she asked in disbelief.
Aanya noticed the faint blush colouring Shikha’s cheeks and didn’t miss the admiration hidden in her tone.
“Yes,” she confirmed, clearing her throat.
