CHAPTER 12
Chopra Mansion – Birthday Party
“Hello, Reyansh,” Kyle greeted as she approached him mid-conversation with a group of guests. Reyansh turned swiftly at the familiar voice, offering a formal smile to his in-laws. He extended a hand, which Anand took with practiced grace.
“Glad you could make it,” Reyansh said politely.
“Of course,” Anand replied. “We could never miss your party. I must say, it’s quite extravagant. These arrangements are definitely over the top.”
“Thank you, Mr. Malhotra,” Reyansh said, his pride evident. “I always aim for the best.”
“We’re well aware of your taste, Reyansh. Which is exactly why we’re... surprised by how easily you and Aanya reconciled,” Kyle interjected. “It does seem a bit sudden, especially after how furious you were that she left in the first place, eighteen months ago.”
Reyansh didn’t flinch. Instead, he met her gaze with controlled charm.
“Are you disappointed that we patched things up, Kyle?”
Kyle smirked, not missing the calculated dodge in his reply.
“That wasn’t the answer I was looking for.”
“You’ll find your answers soon enough,” he said coolly. “By the way, have you met my sister yet?”
“No,” Anand replied.
“Then come along. She’ll be happy to see you both.”
Reyansh led them across the hall toward his sister.
“Di, this is Mr. Anand Malhotra and his wife, Kyle. Aanya’s parents,” he introduced.
Radhika’s face lit up with warmth.
“Hello! I’m so glad to finally meet you both.”
Kyle embraced her, offering a surprisingly gentle smile. “Which month?” she asked, gesturing toward Radhika’s rounded belly.
“Beginning of the fourth,” Radhika replied.
“Ah, just five more to go before you welcome your little one.”
Radhika rested a hand on her stomach, her smile turning tender. “Yes... I can’t wait.”
“I heard your doctors advised bed rest. Then why travel all the way to India?” Kyle asked, a note of accusation in her tone.
“I couldn’t resist meeting Reyansh’s wife,” she admitted. “He told me about his decision to give their marriage another chance. I wanted to be here to support him. But I’ll be leaving in two months. I can’t risk traveling in the final trimester.”
Kyle nodded, satisfied. She had connected the dots. It couldn’t be a coincidence that Radhika was here just when Reyansh and Aanya gave their marriage a second chance… or at least as they claimed.
Just then, Aanya joined the group.
“Dad,” she greeted, her eyes lighting up.
“Aanya, my baby,” Anand exclaimed, embracing her. “You look lovely in this gown.”
“Thanks, Dad. It’s Reyansh’s choice,” she replied with a casual smile.
A server appeared with drinks. Reyansh motioned for Anand and Kyle to help themselves. Radhika was called away by Rishi to greet more guests, and Aanya seized the chance to bring up what mattered most.
“Reyansh, did you mention to Dad that you’re ready to move forward with the new venture?”
Reyansh offered his signature lopsided smirk.
“That’s right, Mr. Malhotra. My assistant will reach out shortly. We can arrange a meeting early next week if your schedule permits.”
“Absolutely,” Anand replied with enthusiasm. “Just tell us which day and we’ll be there, right Kyle?”
“Yes,” Kyle said as she sipped her drink, eyes narrowing at Aanya, who now casually slid her arm around Reyansh’s. The movement was natural, but Kyle didn’t miss its intentionality. Neither did Reyansh. He understood exactly what Aanya was doing and played along.
“Excuse us,” he said to the Malhotras. “The media’s waiting to take a few clicks.”
He grasped Aanya’s hand and pulled her away from Kyle’s prying gaze. Once out of earshot, Aanya exhaled deeply.
“She’s sharp,” Aanya muttered. “If she even gets a whiff of this arrangement, she’ll make a scene.”
“She’ll find out eventually. What then? When Di leaves and this... ends?” Reyansh asked pointedly.
His reminder cut deeper than she expected. Of course, it would end. This was always temporary. Still, his tone stung.
“I don’t care what she finds out then ,” Aanya replied flatly. “My only goal was to secure my father’s business deal. I’ve done that.”
Reyansh didn’t like how unaffected she sounded. Before she could walk off, he caught her wrist.
“Has this always been business for you?” he asked, eyes narrowing.
Aanya read the shift in his gaze, then pulled free from his hold.
“ You are asking me that? Weren’t you the one who started all this? Marrying me wasn’t out of love, Reyansh. You did it for your own reasons. I simply followed your lead of treating relationships like transactions.”
“Who told you that?”
“No one had to. It was obvious. You never tried to get to know me. Not before the wedding, not after. That speaks for itself. So why pretend now?”
He clenched his fists but said nothing. They were surrounded by guests. Any public fallout would become tomorrow’s headlines.
He signalled Sunny to let the media in. The photographers swarmed inside, ready for the couple to pose.
“They’re here,” Aanya whispered through a strained smile. “Let’s give them what they came for.”
Reyansh slipped an arm around her waist, pressing her body closer as flashes erupted around them. The proximity didn’t faze her, but it made his thoughts spiral. So much had been left unsaid between them... and maybe that was why their marriage had never found solid ground.
“Mrs. Chopra, what kept you away from your husband all these months?” one reporter called out.
Aanya blinked. She wasn’t prepared for real questions. She had only expected smiles and pictures. Before she could stammer a response, Reyansh stepped in.
“My wife is an interior designer. She had some ongoing projects abroad that needed her attention.”
Aanya turned sharply toward him. Interior designer?
How did he even know that she had done her masters in it?
Although, she never practiced. All these years, despite having a degree, she had been spending her father’s money, wasting time and opportunity.
The realization sank like a stone. Her public image tonight wasn’t earned.
It was borrowed, courtesy of the man beside her.
Radhika and Rishi joined them for photos. Aanya, caught in the moment, casually shared Radhika’s pregnancy news to a few curious reporters. Nani, standing nearby, bristled.
“That’s enough. No more questions,” Reyansh said, motioning for Sunny to escort the press out. Once the photographers left, Nani turned sharply on Aanya.
“How could you be so careless?” she snapped.
“What did I do?” Aanya asked.
“Why would you announce the pregnancy to the media?” Nani scolded. “Do you know nothing? Such news must be kept a secret from people’s evil eye. It could endanger both mother and child.”
Aanya stood silent, absorbing the blow.
“Nothing will happen to Di or the baby. These are just superstitions,” she replied calmly.
“Superstitions?” Nani hissed. “What would you understand about loss? Radhika lost her first child, and only we know what that pain felt like.”
Aanya felt her chest tighten. Why did everyone assume she couldn’t feel? Couldn’t care?
Reyansh finally stepped in.
“Nani, Aanya didn’t mean harm. And I don’t believe in such superstitions either. Besides, anyone who saw Di tonight, must have already guessed that she is pregnant.”
Nani’s eyes blazed. “So now you’re taking her side too? I can tolerate her presence under this roof, but if her actions hurt Radhika, I won’t forgive either of you.”
She turned and stormed away. Aanya didn’t react in anger. This time, she was only worried.
“Did I really mess up?” she whispered, biting her nail.
Reyansh gently pulled her hand down. “No.”
“Whatever,” she muttered and brushed it off. “I’ll just take extra care of Di from now on. As long as I’m around her, nothing will happen. I promise.”
She walked away, leaving Reyansh staring after her. She had no obligation to care so deeply, but she did. And it wasn’t for show. And that made him wonder how could someone like her , wild and rebellious, connect so genuinely with someone like his sister, who lived by values and restraint?
Maybe Aanya wasn’t the woman he thought she was. She was much more.
A while later – Party continued
“No, Aanya,” she whispered to herself, eyeing the glinting glass of vodka on the tray.
Her fingers itched to curl around it. The temptation burned through her veins, urging her to defy her own restraint. But every time she reached for the drink, the terms of their agreement echoed in her mind. No alcohol. Yet one peg couldn’t possibly do much harm, could it?
She reached out again, hesitating, when suddenly a voice called her name.
“Aanya?”
She nearly jumped at the sound, jerking away from the glass like a thief caught red-handed. Radhika chuckled at her startled reaction.
“What are you doing here all alone?”
Aanya turned, flustered. “Di… I’m tempted to drink,” she confessed, not even attempting to conceal her desire.
Radhika smirked playfully. “Then have one. Who’s stopping you? As long as you know your limit, I doubt Reyansh would care.”
Aanya shook her head firmly, brushing the idea away. “No, Di. He will care. He’s already warned me. If I go against him, he’ll break the deal.”
“Deal?” Radhika frowned, clearly caught off guard. Aanya quickly tried to cover her slip.
“I mean... the deal we made to give our marriage a real chance.”
Radhika studied her for a moment, then softened. “Well, I’m glad you two even made such a deal. If you hadn’t, I would never have had the chance to know you.”
Aanya sighed inwardly, relieved that Radhika hadn’t pressed the issue. But her eyes caught something else that twisted a knot inside her stomach.
Reyansh was standing across the room, deep in conversation with a tall, striking woman. She appeared stylish and sophisticated. The kind of woman who looked like she’d be printed on the glossy pages of a luxury magazine, right beside a man like Reyansh.
“Di, who is that woman he’s talking to?” Aanya asked, trying to keep her tone casual.