CHAPTER 35
Next Day - Afternoon
“That’s awful,” Kyle muttered, frowning in disappointment as she studied the uneven mehndi design she had drawn on Aanya’s palms. “I’m terrible at this. It’s the first time I’ve ever drawn mehndi for anyone.”
Aanya chuckled, glancing down at the design. It wasn’t intricate or professional, but it was sweet… sentimental . Far from perfect, but perfectly acceptable for her wedding day.
“I wish we’d brought in someone who actually knew what they were doing,” Kyle continued, visibly frustrated with herself.
“Kyle,” Aanya interjected gently. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. I know it’s not perfect, but it’s not a disaster either.”
Kyle narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion. “Was that a compliment or a taunt?”
“Both,” Aanya said with a grin, bursting into giggles.
Kyle laughed with her, but then her expression shifted, turning serious. She reached for Aanya’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Thank you.”
Aanya tilted her head, curious. “For?”
“For everything,” Kyle replied softly. “But mostly… for making me feel like I have a child too.”
Aanya’s throat tightened. Kyle and her father had always tried to have a child together, but it had never worked out.
“Kyle—” Aanya began, but Kyle raised a hand, silencing her.
“Let me speak, Aanya. I don’t know if I’ll get another chance to say this.”
Aanya nodded, her heart open and listening.
“When your father proposed to me, I knew he was doing it for you. He wanted a woman who could be a mother to his daughter, someone who could fill the space your real mother left behind. But I wasn’t ready.
And I didn’t want to lose a man like him, so I agreed.
I loved him, truly… but I couldn’t bring myself to love you.
I was insecure, afraid you’d take him away from me.
I should’ve tried harder to make peace between us, but I failed.
My mind got in the way. Please… forgive me. ”
Aanya reached out and gently rested her hand on Kyle’s shoulder.
“It’s okay,” she said quietly. “I hold nothing against you anymore.”
Kyle smiled faintly and wiped away a tear before it fell.
“Well, that wasn’t the most poetic apology,” she added, trying to lighten the moment, “but I hope it counts.”
“It does,” Aanya said with a teasing smile. “I accept both—your mehndi and your apology.”
Kyle laughed, the tension easing between them.
“Let’s get you dressed before your father storms in here and yells at me.”
Aanya nodded, her heart lighter than it had felt in years.
Kyle stepped over to the table and retrieved the bridal lehenga Reyansh had personally chosen. A deep maroon piece with diamond embellishments stitched into its borders—classic, bold, and breathtaking.
“Oh my God,” Aanya gasped. “This is... this is stunning.”
“Your husband has excellent taste,” Kyle replied proudly. “He had the top designer of the country create this just for you.”
“I thought I was the one surprising him, by flying in for his award ceremony,” Aanya murmured, fingertips grazing the lehenga with love.
“He’s been planning this remarriage for weeks,” Kyle replied. “He just needed the right moment and you gave it to him.”
Aanya pouted. “I hope I can carry all that weight. This lehenga weighs more than me.”
Kyle smirked, her tone playful. “Just bear it until the evening. After that, you probably won’t be wearing it much longer.”
Aanya blushed furiously. Was Kyle seriously teasing her about the wedding night?
After helping her dress up, Kyle left to check on the other preparations, just then her phone beeped. Aanya glanced at the screen. It was her beloved husband’s email.
She rolled her eyes with a smile.
Seriously? He was just in the next room, and he was still sending her emails?
Typical Reyansh.
Wife,
I’ve always kept my promises, Aanya, and today I vow to keep you blissfully happy for the rest of our days.
P.S. I can’t wait to marry you… again.
Husband.
His words wrapped around her heart like silk. She quickly typed back a reply.
Husband,
I vow the same.
P.S. I wouldn’t mind if you snuck into my room for a minute…
Wife.
The reply came almost instantly.
Wife,
The sneaking offer is quite tempting.
But it’s inauspicious for the bride and groom to see each other before the wedding. We’ve come too far and I don’t want anything to go wrong.
Husband.
Aanya sighed, disappointment tinging her mood. She turned back to the mirror for any last touch-ups and that’s when she saw him. He was standing at the door, leaning casually against the doorframe, eyes dark and locked on her.
Was he really here?
Reyansh didn’t say a word. He simply stood there, taking her in. She looked ethereal…like an angel wrapped in maroon and diamonds. And God help him, he had never wanted anything more in his life.
Desire coiled in his gut, hot and urgent. His restraint trembled under the weight of his need for her. Tonight, he wasn’t going to wait for permission from tradition or luck.
She was his.
And he was hers.
No more contracts. No more distance. No more pretending.
Just the two of them. Finally together.
Forever.
He hadn’t blinked, hadn’t looked away for even a second as he finally strode towards her.
“What happened to your orthodox views?” she managed to ask, despite her thoughts had scattered seeing him in the room.
“Forget them,” Reyansh muttered, scooping her effortlessly into his arms and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Aanya groaned inwardly. Her forehead? Was he testing her patience? It felt criminally rude at this point. His lips lingered there a moment too long, igniting a slow-burning ache that pulsed deep within her. Then, with a deliberate grip, he tilted her chin, making her look into his eyes.
“What are you doing to me, Aanya?” he asked, looking deeply into her eyes.
“Even a single minute apart and I cannot keep my heart still. I crave you with every breath, and when I’m finally near you…
all my energy goes into accepting that you’re real —that we are together now. What’s happening to me?”
She had no answer.
Because she was drowning in the same storm.
He leaned and kissed the tip of her nose, their lips barely an inch apart from each other.
“I love you, wife,” he confessed.
Aanya froze. She was exceptionally happy that he had finally said those three magical words to her…on their wedding and that too in the sweetest way possible.
“I love you too, Husband,” she murmured, eyes shining.
Reyansh closed the space between them, claiming her mouth with a kiss that sealed every unspoken vow. It was a kiss not just of love, but of completion. A silent, desperate promise between two people who had gone through too much to ever lose each other again.
They broke apart reluctantly when the doorbell rang. Her gloss was smeared, but thankfully, her hair remained intact.
“I hate people doing this to us,” Reyansh growled as he headed toward the door. Aanya giggled and dabbed at her lips, reapplying her lipstick quickly.
“Di?” Reyansh exclaimed in surprise, swinging open the door to find Radhika, Rishi, and Nani standing there.
“Surprise!” the couple sang in unison as they stepped inside.
“Did you really think we’d miss this?” Radhika teased.
Aanya rushed to hug her, overwhelmed. She then touched Nani’s feet and took her blessings.
Anand Malhotra entered the room with a wide smile, warmly welcoming the Chopra family.
“Dad?” Aanya asked, eyes narrowing playfully. “You knew they were coming?”
Anand nodded proudly. “Of course. It wasn’t just you and Reyansh who wanted this wedding to be complete. Kyle and I wanted their blessings too.”
“Exactly,” Rishi chimed in. “That’s why we asked Uncle not to tell you both. Not even Sunny.”
Nani turned to Anand. “Anand, I’d like to speak with the priest. There are a few family rituals I’d like him to include.”
“Of course. Please come with me,” Anand said, and led her out.
“Where’s Ruhi?” Aanya asked.
“She’s with Sunny in our room,” Radhika replied. “She fell asleep in the car, so we left her with him until we could come up here and surprise you.” She turned to Reyansh and playfully pinched his cheek. “We made it in time.”
Reyansh pulled her in for a hug. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
Radhika arched a brow. “Don’t try to dodge the question. What were you two doing alone in this room before the wedding?”
He rolled his eyes. “Aanya called me to fix her gloss,” he said with an exaggerated wink, shooting his blushing bride a mischievous glance.
Rishi cleared his throat, playing along. “Radhika, don’t tease him . Did you forget our wedding day? You were even more desperate to see me. ”
Radhika scoffed, smacking his chest. “You sneaked into my room. I pushed you out. Don’t twist the story.”
Reyansh and Aanya looked on, amused as the married couple bickered playfully.
“Where the hell was I during all this?” Reyansh asked with mock curiosity.
“Reyansh, don’t listen to him,” Radhika warned, but Rishi wasn’t done.
“No way! He needs to know the truth—that his beloved sister sent him away that day so she could let me in.”
Reyansh’s eyes widened, finally connecting the dots. So that’s how it had gone down.
“Okay, okay, enough about us,” Radhika said, gently cupping Aanya’s cheeks. “Today is about you two. Let’s not steal your spotlight.”
Rishi raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, Rey. Allow me the honour of escorting you to the mandap. ”
Aanya’s gaze met Reyansh’s one last time before the ceremony. His eyes held the same heat, the same promise, the same impatience. Without another word, he turned and walked out with Rishi, toward the private beach where their wedding rituals were about to begin.
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