CHAPTER 20 #2
Aanya slowly opened her eyes. She’d been awake all along.
She had felt his hand pull the blanket over her.
Heard his silent movements. But she hadn’t wanted another confrontation, not tonight.
What did surprise her, however, was the fact that he chose the couch.
He was giving her space. Maybe he was finally starting to understand.
She closed her eyes again, exhaustion pulling her back into restless sleep.
******************
In the still hush of pre-dawn, Aanya suddenly woke up. She instantly glanced at the couch and found it empty. A cold dread settled into her chest. This felt just like the morning after their wedding night when he’d left her. Alone . Without a word. Without looking back. Was he gone again?
Just as panic started to rise, the bathroom door creaked open. Reyansh walked out, steam trailing behind him, a towel slung low around his hips and droplets sliding down his damp hair.
“I’m not leaving this time,” he said, reading her panic as easily as if she’d voiced it.
She looked away.
“Reyansh… our conversation last night—”
“It didn’t go well,” he admitted. “But that doesn’t mean we have to act like strangers. You don’t want love, marriage, or anything serious? Fine. But maybe one day, you will. Until then…” he sat at the edge of the bed, “we could at least be friends.”
Aanya narrowed her eyes.
“I know how this plays out. Friends. Then lovers. Then a mess. I’m not walking into that trap, Reyansh. Let’s just stick to the contract and go our separate ways when it’s over.”
She slipped on her slippers and walked toward the bathroom, but his voice stopped her.
“Aanya—”
She spun around, her frustration finally boiling over.
“I’ve always been called fickle-minded, by Dad, by Kyle, even Navya sometimes.
Everyone thinks I can’t commit. But for once in my life, I’ve made up my mind.
I want to stand on my own feet. I want to succeed on my own, without relying on you or anyone else.
So if you actually care about me, let me do this my way. ”
Her words hit like a gut punch. Reyansh sat frozen, watching her disappear into the bathroom, knowing he had to fix this. But time was running out.
*******************
“What?” Navya screamed over the phone. Aanya had only meant to check in with her that morning, but somehow, the words had slipped out…about her past with Reyansh, about the kiss that had happened years ago in Cape Town, and how she hadn’t remembered it until now.
“You’re telling me you met him before the wedding and even kissed him?
” Navya shouted. “That’s insane, Aanya! How could you forget something like that?
Of all the things to blank out, this should’ve been engraved in your memory.
You just never kiss a stranger like that. How the hell could you not remember?”
Aanya clenched her teeth. She’d been asking herself the same thing since last night.
“I don’t know, Navya. You have no idea how messed up this feels right now.”
“I can imagine, baby,” Navya replied. “But what now? He sounds completely smitten. Seems like he wants to make this marriage real. Are you going to give him a chance?”
Silence lingered between them.
“I’ve denied him and my decision is final,” Aanya said quietly.
“Hmm. Alright. Just come back, and we’ll figure things out here. Where is he now?”
“Work,” Aanya muttered. “That joint venture thing with Dad’s company is wearing him out here. So, I’m just in the hotel room resting.”
“Then go out,” Navya urged. “Get some air. You need it.”
But Aanya had something else in mind…someone else who could talk to and feel refreshed. Radhika .
“Thanks, Navya. I know what’ll help. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay. Call me if you need anything. Love you.”
She disconnected and immediately dialled Radhika’s number. The phone rang several times, but there was no response. Maybe it was on silent. A sudden unease settled in her chest. She tried Rishi’s number next, hoping to get some answers.
He picked up after a few rings. “Hello?”
“Jeeju, where’s Di? I’ve been calling her.”
“Uh... yeah. She’s... she’s resting,” he replied, stumbling over the words.
“Resting?” Aanya’s voice tensed. “Is everything okay? What’s going on?”
Rishi hesitated, then sighed. “I’m at the hospital with her. She had sudden pain again, so I brought her here.”
Aanya froze. Her hand clutched the phone tighter. “What? Pain? But she was fine until I started yesterday. What did the doctor say?”
“They’re running tests. I’ll update you as soon as I know anything.”
Her eyes welled instantly. The memories of Radhika’s previous miscarriages stabbed at her chest. She knew how delicate this pregnancy was and how many precautions were being taken to protect it.
Knowing Radhika was in pain again sent her heart spiralling into panic.
As soon as Rishi disconnected, Aanya dialled Reyansh.
Despite being in the middle of a conference, he didn’t ignore her call. The moment he heard the tension in her voice, he stepped out and asked her what was wrong.
When she explained, his entire demeanour shifted.
“Pack your things and get to the airport. I’ll meet you there,” he instructed without wasting a second.
Aanya didn’t question him. It was the right thing to do. Nothing else mattered now. Not Cape Town, not their contract, not the fights between them. Radhika and her baby came first.
*****************
Reyansh arrived at the airport to find Aanya already waiting. Without exchanging more than a glance, they boarded the private jet.
“I called Nani,” he told her as they fastened their seatbelts. “Di’s still at the hospital.”
Aanya’s lips trembled. “The baby? Is the baby okay?”
“Hope so. They couldn’t find a heartbeat earlier.”
A lump formed in her throat. But when she noticed the worried expressions on his face, she just reached out and slipped her fingers into his. It was a quiet gesture, but it meant more than words. Reyansh needed the strength, and she had enough to share.
“Nothing will happen to Di or the baby this time,” she assured.
He didn’t speak. He turned to the window instead, letting the tears in his eyes remain unseen. But Aanya knew. She held his hand tighter. She knew what Radhika meant to Reyansh and she prayed for their safety.
*****************
After more than ten gruelling hours in the air, they finally landed in Delhi. Reyansh immediately called Nani and learned Radhika had been discharged and brought home. It was a relief neither of them could put into words.
They arrived at Chopra Mansion shortly after. Nani met them at the door.
“How is Di?” Reyansh asked.
“She’s resting.”
Reyansh made his way straight to the bedroom. Aanya followed, but Nani caught her wrist.
“This is why I warned you not to make Radhika’s pregnancy public,” Nani scolded. “Evil eyes fall where there is happiness.”
Aanya wasn’t one to believe in superstition, but at this moment she felt guilty. Without a word, she pulled away from Nani’s hold and stepped into Radhika’s room.
Radhika lay resting. Rishi and Reyansh stood away speaking in hushed tones as Aanya approached them.
“What did the doctor say?” Reyansh asked. “You’re not hiding anything, are you?”
“No, Rey. She’s alright. The baby’s heartbeat is normal again. Nothing to worry. But the doctor said no travel for Radhika from next month onward. So, we’ll be flying back to California this weekend.”
The announcement hit both Reyansh and Aanya like a hammer.
“Why not continue her care here?” Reyansh asked, struggling to mask his disappointment. “We’re all here. We can look after her.”
Rishi shook his head. “The doctors back there in California are already familiar with her entire history. It’s better if we continue her next trimester there. Besides, Radhika too has agreed. So, we’re leaving.”
Reyansh said nothing.
Rishi placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’s just four more months. Once the baby is born, we’ll come back. And in the meantime, you, Nani, and Aanya can visit us anytime.”
Reyansh swallowed the lump in his throat, fully aware of what Radhika’s return to California would mean.
Their two-month contract would end prematurely, and with it, Aanya would have no reason to stay at Chopra Mansion.
Chances were, she’d walk out of his life just as easily as she’d walked back in.