Page 175 of One Hellish Wedlock
She led him toward the baby’s room, with Aanya close behind.
Ruhi lay in her cradle, still delicate for a three-month-old. Reyansh had seen her countless times over video calls, but seeing her in person was different.
“She’s beautiful,” he murmured as he stepped closer, his voice low and full of awe.
Radhika beamed as he gently touched Ruhi’s nose, brushing her cheek with soft fingers. Aanya watched from a distance, her heart swelling. For someone who claimed to dislike being around children, Reyansh was surprisingly tender with Ruhi.
The moment his hand touched her, Ruhi stopped crying and pouted adorably.
“Oh God, that’s exactly what she does when Aanya touches her,” Radhika remarked.
Reyansh glanced sideways at Aanya and smirked.
“Want to hold her?” Radhika asked.
“I hope she doesn’t cry,” he said, though his arms were already outstretched.
“She won’t.”
Radhika lifted Ruhi from the cradle and gently placed her in Reyansh’s arms. He held her close, kissing her forehead with love.
“She’s the sweetest baby I’ve ever seen,” he whispered.
“But she’s a menace at night…won’t sleep at all.”
“Is that so?” he asked, rocking her in his arms, eyes still on Ruhi.
She smiled up at him, calm and content.
“I think she already likes you, Rey,” Radhika said.
“I hope so,” he murmured, kissing her cheek this time. “Because I like her too.”
Aanya continued to watch from the side, unable to look away. She had often imagined his first meeting with Ruhi, and now that it was here, it felt perfect.
****************
It had been over an hour since they arrived. Reyansh politely declined another cup of coffee. He’d already had one at Aanya’s place. Radhika, however, couldn’t miss the undercurrent between the two. Something about them was different today. The way they sat across from each other, restless, their gazes colliding every few seconds. It was obvious they were itching for some alone time.
This very tension between them was what Radhika had always hoped to see: the pull, the awareness, the growing hunger between a man and his wife.
“You’re leaving tomorrow? That’s so unfair, Rey,” Radhika complained, frowning. “C’mon, just extend your stay. Please?”
Reyansh glanced at Aanya, who pouted without realizing that she had been mirroring the same silent request.
“Di, I really wish I could,” he replied. “But it’s not in my hands this time. There are others already enroute to Cape Town. I have to be there by tomorrow evening.”
Rishi exhaled loudly in mock disappointment.
“Well then, Radhika,” he said to his wife, “maybe we shouldn’t be hogging their time today. Let them slip away for a bit. The couple clearly needs time alone to reconnect without the rest of us tagging along.”
Aanya’s cheeks flushed, though she quickly masked it with a composed expression. She didn’t want them to see just how badly she wanted that time with Reyansh. She had so much to say, so much she hadn’t shared yet.
“I’ll take Aanya out this evening,” Reyansh said, smiling slightly. “Until then, I’m all yours.”
“That’s a plan I can approve,” Radhika nodded.
“Rey,” Rishi chimed in again. “You mentioned Aanya’s father is here too?”
