CHAPTER 32
Husband,
I miss you too.
Next month I have a major office event. Our renovated villas are finally ready for handover. I’m receiving a certificate of appreciation and bonuses. But it’s not a public event like your award show.
P.S. When’s your function again?
Wife.
***************
Day 229
Wife,
You made me proud. You deserve every ounce of success. My award function is next month.
Husband.
Day 250
Aanya informed him of her event date and coincidentally, it was the same day as his award function. Reyansh was working late at his Delhi office when her email popped up. The content left him stunned:
Husband,
Shikha and I had a long conversation today, about her past breakup and she came up with something very interesting. Want to share this with you too.
So here it is - You were the first man in my life.
That alone makes you unforgettable. Initially, what we had between us was resentment…
although now it’s something else entirely.
When I started feeling for you, falling for you, I’d no one else to compare you with.
I never had anyone in my life to choose between you and that person. For me, it was only you. Always you.
The point is… sometimes I wonder if we hadn’t stayed in touch through this long-distance relationship, and I had other man in my life, as a friend or colleague whom I liked, would I still have fallen for you? It’s an interesting thought.
I’m not sure if any of this makes sense to you, but I felt like sharing it.
Your wife,
Aanya.
****************
Wife,
I regret to inform you that you seriously pissed me off.
Ask Shikha to keep her thoughts to herself and not brainwash you.
If you’re sharing all this just to suggest we pause our communication for some time so that you can make some new guy friends and then decide if I still matter to you...then you seriously need a spanking. And trust me, my hands are already itching.
Next time I see you, you’re going to pay for this. I swear. That’s how mad I am!
Your (angry, agitated, frustrated, annoyed) husband,
Reyansh Chopra.
Aanya laughed aloud at his reply. The thought of his palms twitching to spank her was both sexy and slightly intimidating because she couldn’t quite imagine him actually punishing her. She took a selfie, blowing him a kiss, and attached it to her email response.
Husband,
Ignore that email if it made you so mad. This kiss is straight from my heart.
P.S. I’m thinking about that twitching palm of yours. Should I be worried it will hurt too much?
Wife.
*****************
Wife,
Hard to ignore, especially for an obsessive husband like me. Your gloss is tempting by the way, although I prefer your natural lips.
And no, this flying kiss won’t save you. My punishment is going to be memorable. Don’t be scared... it won’t hurt. Not too much.
Husband.
California - Day 255
“Surprise!” Navya’s voice rang out at full volume as she stood at the door of Aanya’s apartment.
Aanya nearly stumbled backward in shock, her heart racing with anxiety and disbelief. Nine months. It had been nine whole months since she’d last seen her best friend.
“Navya? Oh my God… Am I dreaming?” she whispered, eyes wide.
“Nope, not a dream, baby. I’m really here,” Navya grinned.
Still unsure, Aanya reached out and pinched her. Navya yelped in pain, and that was all the confirmation Aanya needed. She flung her arms around her and hugged her tight, then quickly pulled her inside the apartment.
“Wow,” Navya murmured, taking in the space. “This is beautiful. You’ve got such a lovely place.”
They sank into the couch, laughter and energy crackling in the air between them.
“What are you doing here? And for how long?” Aanya asked eagerly. “Please tell me you haven’t checked into a hotel. You’re staying here with me.”
“Calm down,” Navya chuckled. “Let me answer one question at a time.”
Aanya giggled, snapped her fingers, and said, “Okay. Go.”
“I’m here for a shoot, only for three days, and then I’m heading back to India. And no, I’m not alone. The entire crew is with me, and our stays were pre-booked. I have to be with them.”
Aanya’s face fell. “That’s not fair, Navya. Nine months apart and you can’t even stay with me?”
“Who said I won’t spend time with you?” Navya countered. “Today I’m completely free. We can do everything we used to—go out, hang around, just like old times. What do you say?”
Aanya laughed, her mood instantly lifted. “I like the sound of that. Give me a second. I’ll call my client and say I’m taking a sick day.”
“Please do,” Navya nodded.
While Aanya made the call, Shikha entered and was pleasantly surprised to see Navya.
“Thanks for looking after my friend, Shikha,” Navya said warmly.
“Oh, I didn’t do anything,” Shikha replied. “It’s Aanya who takes care of all of us here—me, Di, Jeeju, and Ruhi.”
“Really?” Navya arched a brow. “Looks like I’ve missed a lot.” She glanced at Aanya with a look of curiosity.
“I need to head to work now,” Shikha said, grabbing her bag. “See you both later. Bye!”
Once she left, Aanya made coffee and sandwiches. They lay back on the couch, food forgotten for now, deep in conversation.
“So… how’s Di, Jeeju, and the baby?” Navya asked. “Are you the perfect daughter-in-law now?”
Aanya smiled with quiet pride. “That you need to ask them.”
“Interesting. What happened to telling Di after the baby’s birth that this marriage was all just a deal?”
Aanya pouted, her expression turning serious.
“It’s not a deal anymore, Navya. I’m actually giving this marriage a real second chance.”
“Just like that?” Navya asked, not unkindly.
“A lot happened in the past nine months. Reyansh and I grew closer, even while living apart. We share something now…a bond that’s deeper than it ever was.
There’s honesty between us, understanding…
a rhythm we’ve fallen into without even trying.
I know what drives him, and he sees through me like no one else ever has.
Isn’t that enough to build a life together? ”
“And love?” Navya’s voice softened. “Do you love him?”
Aanya’s face changed colour. It was love . Of course, it was. But she hadn’t admitted it to Reyansh. At least not with those three magical words yet.
“You don’t have to say it,” Navya murmured. “Your face already did.”
Aanya hugged a pillow to her chest.
“So… are you ever going to tell Di how it all started? Or will she never know?”
Aanya hesitated. The question struck a nerve.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I haven’t even spoken to Reyansh about it.
Di thinks we’ve been slowly building our relationship ever since I moved into the Chopra Mansion back in India.
She knows we haven’t... consummated anything.
But she has no idea about the lies we told to protect her.
She doesn’t know why Reyansh married me in the first place, or about the Noor Mahal deal.
She knows nothing of it. And maybe it’s better that way.
What matters is where we are now. Reyansh and I are genuinely trying to make this marriage work. ”
Navya nodded slowly. “Maybe it is better. She’d be hurt otherwise, and neither of you want that.”
Aanya sighed. “True. But the real problem is... Nani knows everything. And I have no idea if she’ll keep it to herself forever.”
“Nani?” Navya shuddered. “God, I still get nervous thinking about that woman.”
Aanya laughed. “She’s not that bad.”
“She’s got some seriously orthodox views,” Navya muttered. “Has she accepted you yet?”
“I’m still not sure,” Aanya admitted with a small pout. “She’s good at hiding what she feels.”
A message pinged on Navya’s phone, and her face lit up.
“Is it Rohan?” Aanya teased, spotting the glow on her friend’s cheeks.
“Yes. He’s just checking if I landed safely,” Navya replied, clearly flustered.
“Aww…” Aanya tickled her, and Navya collapsed onto the couch, giggling.
“So this is serious?” Aanya asked, already suspecting the answer.
“Very,” Navya whispered. “We’re getting engaged.”
“WHAT?” Aanya sat bolt upright, her jaw dropping. “You drop a bomb like that on me now? Seriously?”
“I wanted to see your reaction in person,” Navya grinned.
“I’m so happy for you,” Aanya said, throwing her arms around her. “But I need to meet Rohan and check for myself if he’s worthy of you.”
“Oh, that makes two of us. Even I want to see it myself if Reyansh is as changed as you claim him to be,” Navya shot back. “When you come to Delhi, let’s go for dinner—me, you, Rohan, and Reyansh. Deal?”
Aanya smiled, eyes gleaming with something distant, hopeful. “Deal.”
******************
The two friends spent the entire day together—first lunch, then shopping, laughing and talking like they were trying to make up for all those lost months.
But as evening crept in, reality returned.
Navya had to head back to her hotel. Aanya booked a cab for her, and they promised to meet again the following evening after Navya’s shoot wrapped up.
Once the cab drove off, Aanya began walking back toward her apartment.
It was barely half a mile away from the shopping district, but something didn’t sit right.
With each step, she sensed a presence. People were still around, the streets far from deserted, but a cold unease prickled her skin. Someone was following her.
She had felt it earlier too, during lunch with Navya.
A man at the next table had kept watching her.
She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now the uneasiness bloomed into something stronger.
Was it the same man? Or was she being followed by Reyansh’s men, assigned secretly to protect her?
She had no clue, and she wasn’t about to take chances.
She flagged down a passing cab from the corner and got in, even though her apartment was only a block away. When it came to her safety, a short ride was worth the peace of mind.
Back home, she keyed in and bolted the door tight behind her. Emailing Reyansh wasn’t going to cut it. She needed answers now. It had been a while since they’d spoken over the phone, but that didn’t stop her from dialling his number, even if it was late night back in India.
He answered on the first ring.
“Aanya?” His voice was alert. Not groggy. Not sleepy. Awake.
“Reyansh, someone was following me today. In the market. Please tell me they were your men.” Her voice trembled. Reyansh had once told her his men were watching her for her safety, but until today, she’d never felt their presence.
“Calm down, Aanya,” he said, his grip on the phone tightening. God, he wanted to be with her right now. Wrap her in his arms. Make sure she felt safe.
“Just tell me if it was your men or not!” she snapped. “Even if they were, I’ve never felt them this close before. I was scared, Reyansh. You have no idea how I got myself home.”
“Aanya, listen to me. Firstly, calm down. If you don’t, I swear I’ll drop everything and take the next flight to you,” he said sharply.
She took deep breaths before she heard his voice again.
“Now hold on. Just stay on the line and drink some water,” he said, already switching gears. “Give me two minutes.”
While she sat on the couch, gulping water and trying to steady her breath, Reyansh was already making calls on his second phone.
She knew the award ceremony was coming up and Reyansh had a lot riding on it.
Flying to Cape Town to collect the honour was a big deal, but in this moment, she mattered more to him.
By the time he returned to her line, she was okay, but waiting impatiently for updates from him.
“My men tracked down whoever was following you,” he said finally. “It’s being handled. Everything is under control now. I promise. You’re safe, Aanya.”
She froze.
So someone was really following her?
She wondered what would have happened if Reyansh hadn’t assigned his men to protect her?
“Who was following me?” she asked, still in panic.
“We don’t know yet. But we’ll find out. Call Navya and check if she reached her hotel safely.”
Of course, he knew Navya was here. She shouldn’t have been surprised. His men would’ve informed him.
“Yes. She messaged me when I got home.”
Reyansh let out a sigh of relief.
“Why don’t you and Shikha shift to Di’s house for a couple of days? Just until I sort this out.”
“No,” she protested instinctively. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“ I’ll decide that, Aanya,” he said, his tone firm. “When I ask you to do something this seriously, don’t argue. Just follow it.”
She realized he was right. This wasn’t him trying to control her. It was him trying to protect her and she respected that.
“Okay,” she agreed softly.
He hated ordering her around, but until he got to the bottom of this, he couldn’t risk anything happening to her. Hoping to distract her, he shifted the conversation.
“Have you written your speech yet? For the Certificate of Excellence ceremony?”
“No,” she admitted. “There’s no speech. But we’re having a party to celebrate. And what about you? Are you excited for the award function?”
“Not really,” he sighed. “Because I’m going alone.”
His reply hit her harder than expected.
“But I’ll get to meet some old friends there,” he added quickly. “They’ll be there with their families. It’ll be good to meet them after so many years.”
Aanya didn’t respond immediately. But she got the hint. And she already had a plan forming…one that might just cheer him up.
They continued talking. She told him Nani planned to stay another month, and Reyansh didn’t mind. He was traveling to Cape Town so often now, it was better if Nani stayed with Radhika and Rishi than be left alone at the mansion.
She also told him about Navya’s engagement and that she wouldn’t be able to attend.
“It’s in India and it’s a weekday,” she explained. “I’d need at least five days off to travel, and my client won’t approve that.”
“I understand,” he said gently. “If I’m in Delhi that time, I’ll attend.”
“Please do,” she smiled. “Navya will be happy. And once I’m back in Delhi, we four should have dinner together.”
Reyansh paused for a breath.
“I can’t wait for that day, Mrs. Aanya Chopra,” he murmured. “I want you back here. Soon.”
Aanya bit her lower lip, her heart skipping.
“Here?” she teased. “You mean in Chopra Mansion?”
“In my arms,” he clarified. “Forever.”
Aanya dropped back on the bed and closed her eyes, liking this sweet distraction from the panic she faced earlier.
She wanted to hear more, wanted to keep him on the line a bit more, but he was already growing distant.
She knew what that meant. He needed to talk to his men.
Find out more. Solve whatever threat had reared its head tonight.
Hence, she let him go with him promising to speak to her again soon.