CHAPTER 37
Afternoon
Aanya stood before the dressing mirror, ready for another day of sightseeing with Reyansh.
But her attention wasn’t on her outfit. It was on the Mangalsutra resting delicately against her collarbone…
his Mangalsutra. She’d been gazing at it in silence for several minutes now, lost in the quiet power it held over her heart.
“You look different,” Reyansh murmured, his gaze drifting over her reflection in the mirror.
“I feel different,” she replied, flashing him a glowing smile.
“The feeling’s mutual.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“I used to wonder what it would feel like… wearing this,” she whispered, gently touching the sacred chain. “Remember when Di wanted me to wear it at Chopra Mansion?”
He nodded, brushing his stubble lightly along her shoulder blade. The sensation made her shiver.
“You refused to wear it,” he murmured. “And I was genuinely hurt.”
“I know,” she said, pouting in regret. “It’s not just a chain, Reyansh. It’s a responsibility. Back then, I wasn’t ready for it. I didn’t think we had any connection at all.”
He frowned, but didn’t interrupt.
“You know what changed that?” she asked softly, eyes still locked in the mirror with his. “Our email conversations.”
He smiled faintly. Of course. If it hadn’t been for those late-night exchanges across continents, their bond would never have grown the way it did.
“And it looks like we’ll need to go back to them again,” he murmured. “At least for a week until I join you in California.”
“We should upgrade,” she suggested, voice playful. “Messages. Voice notes. Maybe even video calls every day.”
He hummed in agreement. “I was thinking the same. But they won’t have the same charm as emails.”
“Then let’s do it all,” she offered, turning in his arms. “We can choose what suits the mood. Sound fair?”
“Perfect,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Then, without breaking eye contact, he asked, “Do you really want to go sightseeing again?”
“Don’t you ?” she challenged. “Or do you have something else in mind, Mr. Chopra?”
A lopsided grin curved his lips. He pulled her flush against him.
“Now that you’ve asked... why don’t I show you what I want?”
Before she could respond, he swept her into his arms and gently dropped her onto the bed, to make love to his wife one more time before they parted ways again.
A few hours later
Aanya wrapped her arms around her father, holding onto the moment for as long as she could. The thought of leaving again, even after everything they had shared during her re-marriage, made her sad.
“I’m going to miss you, Dad,” she whispered.
“I’ll miss you too, baby girl. Now give me a proper bear hug, like the ones you used to,” Anand replied warmly.
She clung to him tighter, resting all her weight against him.
He hugged her back. Anand had been her role model once, and somehow, even after all the distance and silence, he still was.
Mistakes had been made on both ends, but the man standing before her had accepted those mistakes and made amends. That made him a winner in her eyes.
Aanya pulled back and turned to Kyle, who stood quietly nearby, waiting for her turn.
“Take care of yourself, Aanya,” Kyle said gently, brushing a hand against her cheek. “And don’t worry, I’ll convince your father to plan a trip to the U.S. soon. We’ll do this again.”
“I’d like that,” Aanya replied softly.
Kyle hesitated, unsure if a hug would be welcome. Aanya noticed.
“Don’t overthink it. We’re good now, aren’t we?” she said, stepping in and giving her stepmother a hug.
Kyle chuckled, relieved. “Yes. We’re good.”
Just then, Reyansh entered the lobby with his sister’s family in tow, Ruhi cradled in his arms. The toddler had her fists curled in his shirt and, surprisingly, wasn’t asleep.
“The jet is ready, sir,” Sunny announced.
“We’ll be down in a few minutes,” Reyansh replied.
Aanya walked over to her husband, drinking in the sight of him and her heart ached. Ten days without him already felt unbearable.
“I’m missing you already,” she confessed with teary eyes.
He swallowed hard and cupped her cheek, his eyes dark with emotion. “Don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying,” she murmured, wiping a stray tear with a quick smile.
He leaned down and kissed Ruhi’s cheek. “Look after your silly aunt for me, Ruhi. Will you?”
Aanya chuckled. “Excuse me! I look after her, not the other way around.”
Radhika came over and scooped Ruhi from Reyansh’s arms. The baby immediately fussed at being separated.
“Let’s give your uncle and aunt a minute, sweetheart,” she teased before walking away, leaving the couple alone.
Reyansh pulled Aanya into his arms. “I’ve doubled your security. No more ghosts in the shadows. You’ll see my guards around this time because I’m not taking any risks.”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. She could see how seriously he had taken Vicky’s threat now that he knew everything. It comforted her more than she could admit.
“I’ll join you in eight or nine days, tops,” he promised. “Until then…text me, email, video call, anything you want. Just stay in touch.”
“Yes, sir,” she teased.
“I love you,” he said, tilting her chin up before kissing her full on the lips. Aanya simply melted into the kiss, wishing the moment could stretch forever.
California
“Oh my God, someone’s looking sexy as hell,” Shikha blurted as soon as Aanya entered their shared accommodation.
They had landed earlier that evening and now, back in California, things already felt different, especially with the security stationed outside the villa.
“I don’t know about looking sexy, but I’m surely exhausted,” Aanya muttered, slumping onto the couch.
“Well, duh. I can only imagine what those two nights with your husband were like,” Shikha teased. “I really wish I could’ve been there, seeing you take your marriage vows. But someone had to stay and manage the client.”
Aanya sighed.
“But I’ve got a gift for your re-marriage. Hold on!”
She dashed into her room and returned with a sleek black box.
“What’s this?” Aanya asked curiously.
“Open it.”
Aanya popped the lid and gasped. Inside lay a set of red bold and sultry lingerie, undeniably meant to seduce.
Her cheeks flushed. “Shikha! This is so sexy.”
“I remember you said red was his favourite colour. Give him a hard time when he arrives,” Shikha winked.
“Oh, I will,” Aanya said, giggling.
They chatted late into the night about the upgraded security, the shift in Aanya’s living arrangements once Reyansh joined her, and all the possibilities the coming months might hold.
“Why don’t you move in with us?” Aanya offered. “It’ll be a big house. You’ll have privacy too.”
“Nah,” Shikha smiled. “I don’t want to intrude. I’ll find someone else to share this place with.”
“You sure?”
“Totally. You just enjoy what’s ahead. You deserve every bit of it.”
Aanya smiled, warmth blooming in her chest.
“You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of this, Shikha. I want to wake up beside him… cook his favourite meals… wait for him to come home after a long day. I want to share stories, lean on him when I’m exhausted, and laugh together over the tiniest things. That’s always been my idea of happiness.”
Shikha grew emotional and pulled her into a hug. “And he’s going to give you all that and more. You finally found your person.”
And Aanya, with her heart full, believed that too. All that remained now was for him to arrive, so they could finally begin their life together.
*****************
The next day, Aanya visited her office to collect the Certificate of Appreciation —the one she had missed accepting in person before flying to Cape Town.
Her colleagues and clients gathered around, congratulating her, not just for the recognition, but also for her wedding in California.
Some of them had no idea she was married to Reyansh Chopra , the very name that made headlines and commanded boardrooms.
Now that they knew, they looked at her differently. Not with pity or envy, but admiration. She could have chosen an easy life, staying in his shadow as a trophy wife. But instead, she had carved her own path, and the world around her had started to notice.
Smiling, Aanya shared a few candid selfies with her team, holding the certificate with pride. She sent them to Reyansh through a WhatsApp message.
His response came almost instantly:
“Proud to be your husband.”
Those five words. They did more to her than a thousand promises ever could.
*******************
Aanya spent the evening at Radhika’s home. Shikha was working late, and being alone in the apartment didn’t appeal to her. She joined Radhika in the kitchen, helping her finish the dishes and wind things down.
“Aanya, go rest,” Radhika urged gently. “You work all day, and now you come here to help me every evening. I can manage on my own.”
“I know you can, Di. But I like helping out.”
Radhika smiled at that.
“Fine. Now drink this,” she said, handing her a glass of warm milk. They both sat on the small wooden stools, sharing the quiet peace of a lived-in home.
Aanya turned toward her sister-in-law. “You never stop caring about people, but you want them to stop caring about you. That doesn’t feel fair.”
“I’m the elder one here. That’s my job, to care for you and Reyansh.”
Aanya reached across the table and clasped Radhika’s hand.
“I really admire you so much, Di. You were the one who saw my strength before I ever did. You helped me stand tall when no one else believed I could. Even Reyansh hadn’t seen it then. I owe everything to you.”
Radhika gently tapped her hand with a smile as Aanya continued.
“You gave a lost girl a family. And I’ll never forget that.”
“I’ll take that credit,” Radhika grinned. “But I only lit the spark. You and Reyansh built the flame. That was your effort, not mine.”