CHAPTER 39
When Aanya stepped into the kitchen, she saw Reyansh hunched over the chopping board, slicing vegetables with practiced ease.
So, he did know how to chop. Maybe distance really did force husbands to learn how to cook.
She smirked, watching the way he concentrated on the knife like it was a deal waiting to close.
“Never seen a man cook before?” he asked, breaking her stare.
She approached and nodded. “Never.”
“Then admit it that I’m better than most husbands already,” he replied smugly.
Aanya wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her cheek against his shoulder as she peeked at his knife skills.
“How about you cook every weekend, then?” she teased.
He paused to glance at her, grinning. “Double my reward on weekends and I’ll do it.”
She knew exactly what kind of ‘reward’ he meant, so she gave his arm a playful swat.
“If I give you triple, will you cook on weekdays too?” she fired back, not one to lose a teasing match.
He tossed the knife onto the board and, without warning, lifted her and sat her on the kitchen counter. Her legs wrapped instinctively around his waist.
“I’m ready.”
She giggled, fingers slipping into his hair.
“Nice haircut,” she murmured.
“I know. Plenty of women said the same.”
Aanya narrowed her eyes and untangled her legs from his waist. “Back to work, Mr. Chopra. I’m starving.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He picked up the knife again. Aanya’s smile faded slightly as she remembered something.
“What did you do to Sunny?” she asked, her voice edged with concern. “Please don’t punish him. I talked him into giving me Shagufta’s address. He only helped me.”
Reyansh focused on his slicing. “Loyalty is everything to me. If someone disobeys orders or goes behind my back, they don’t work with me again.”
Her heart dropped. She rushed to stop his hand mid-slice.
“You fired him?” she gasped, eyes welling up. “He was only helping me. I made him do it, Reyansh. Please don’t ruin his life because of me.”
He placed the knife down again and cupped her waist, pulling her close.
“He’s still working for me. I didn’t fire him.”
Aanya blinked at him. “But... he broke your rule.”
“He did. But he also told me everything. Sunny knows the line. He crossed it but made sure I knew he had. Technically, he disobeyed and followed orders at the same time.”
She exhaled in relief and gave his chest a light punch.
“Why scare me, then?”
“To remind you. If it happens again, and he becomes your source behind my back, I’ll have no choice. Don’t make me fire a loyal man because of you.”
Her throat tightened. He was serious this time.
“I won’t. I swear.”
“Good.”
The doorbell rang.
“That must be the pasta.” She hopped down and slipped on her sandals. “I’ll get it.”
A few minutes later
“This is delicious,” Aanya said, chewing a spoonful of the salad Reyansh had made. They sat side by side at the dining table, enjoying their dinner.
Halfway through the meal, he leaned back slightly.
“So how did your one-on-one meet with Shagufta go?”
Aanya’s smile dropped. She set her fork down.
“She was shocked. Didn’t expect me to show up like that.”
“You met her at the pub, right?”
She wasn’t surprised he knew. His guards must’ve reported it.
“But why meet her at all, Aanya?” he pressed. “You already knew she had ties to Vicky. And I don’t believe that’s why you went. What are you not telling me?”
Her throat tightened. She had planned to wait, to tell him at the right moment. But this wasn’t something she could hide anymore.
“Eat first,” she said quietly. “I’ll tell you after.”
He nodded, but she knew he sensed the weight of what was coming. After dinner, they settled onto the couch. Aanya took his hand.
“Don’t lose your calm,” she whispered.
“That depends,” he muttered. “But don’t expect me to take it lightly if it’s as serious as you sound.”
She inhaled deeply.
“When I returned here after our remarriage in Cape Town, Di told me she already knew about our deal. That we were only pretending to fix our marriage for her sake, and we’d planned to separate after she left.”
Reyansh stiffened. “How?”
“Shagufta. She met Di when we were in Cape Town the first time.”
His jaw clenched. Aanya recounted everything Radhika had told her. His body grew rigid, fury radiating off him.
“Damn it,” he growled. “I should’ve seen this coming. I let her get close for too long. I thought she was just a friend. I never saw the poison she harboured for you. Risking Di’s life? That crosses every line.”
Aanya tightened her grip on his hand.
“She’s dangerous, Reyansh. Always was. And when I walked into that pub, she was on a call. I don’t know why, but I felt she was talking to Vicky.”
Reyansh ran a hand over his face.
“We’ll find out. Sunny’s tracking her calls. If she was in touch with him, we’ll know.”
Aanya nodded, a little relieved.
“She’s planning something. I can feel it. I don’t know how this ends, but I’m scared.”
He wrapped his arms around her protectively.
“She won’t win,” he vowed. “Not this time.”
Aanya knew he would do anything to protect her and his family. When he leaned back on the couch, pulling her into his arms, she rested against him, recounting her visit to the gynaecologist. He listened patiently, cradling her like she was the most precious thing in his world.
“Are you taking those medicines on time?” he asked, but no reply came.
When he leaned down, he found her fast asleep. The exhaustion from a full day of work, followed by the intensity of their lovemaking earlier, had finally caught up with her. She needed rest.
Carefully, he rose from the couch and scooped her into his arms. As he carried her to bed, he noticed the faint smile on her lips even in sleep. She looked happy, truly at ease.
And Reyansh made a silent vow then and there. He would do whatever it took to keep that smile on her face.
Next morning
“Reyansh,” Aanya whispered softly in his ear, her fingertips lightly grazing the stubble along his jaw.
His eyes opened slowly, taking in the sight of his wife standing beside the bed, fresh from a shower and draped in only a robe.
The urge to pull her back into bed and make her his again surged through him.
Just as he reached for her, she pinned his arms down.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned. “I’m already running late for work.”
“Work? No,” he groaned like a child denied his favourite toy. “Take the day off.”
“I would’ve, but something urgent came up. Shikha just told me the client called for a meeting.”
“Screw the client,” he muttered, cupping her face. “I came all the way here for you, and you don’t even have one day to spare for me?”
“Aww,” she pouted, brushing his cheek. “Don’t emotionally blackmail me, baby. I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, go visit Di, spend time with the family, and then come pick me up from the office?”
“Now that sounds like a plan.” He propped himself up against the headboard, eyes narrowing. “Why are you still in that robe?”
“Because I don’t have office clothes here. I was planning to call Shikha to bring them.”
“You don’t need to,” he said, eyes gleaming. “Open the closet.”
“What?”
“Just do it.”
She walked over and opened it and gasped. All her favourite brand outfits were hanging neatly inside.
“Oh my God. You went shopping? When?”
“Yesterday. While you were clueless I’d even arrived,” he smirked.
She laughed in delight. “You’re a perfect husband, you know that?”
He nodded proudly. “A perfect wife deserves nothing less.”
Grabbing an off-white pantsuit, she rushed to change. Meanwhile, Reyansh laid back, planning how to spend the day without her.
Negi House - California
“Sorry? Just sorry for all those lies?” Radhika raised a stern brow at her brother. Reyansh had visited her home that morning after Aanya left for work.
Although Radhika already knew, he still confessed about their original deal to fake a reconciliation, and Radhika wasn’t letting him off easy.
“Di, tell me how else I should apologize. I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”
“Think twice before you say that, Rey. You might regret it once you hear your punishment.”
“I’m ready,” he assured her.
Radhika grinned mischievously. “Since you faked being madly in love and fooled me so convincingly, your punishment is—Aanya stays here with me for the next week. You’re staying alone in the Penthouse.”
“WHAT?” he exploded. “That’s cruel!”
“If you complain, I’ll make it ten days.”
Reyansh groaned, throwing his head back. “Di… this is outrageous!”
“You want twelve?”
“Fine!” he growled.
Rishi, sitting on the couch, burst into laughter. “Radhika… spare my brother-in-law. He’s only been here a day.”
“Oh really?” Radhika turned to him. “You’re taking his side? Great. Couch for you tonight.”
“What? I was just trying to help!” Rishi exclaimed.
“You were siding against me. So yes, you’re sleeping on the couch tonight,” she said smugly.
“You’re not the same sweet wife I married,” he mumbled.
“Excellent. Two weeks on the couch for that one.”
Reyansh couldn’t stop laughing now. His sister had gone all out with her fake fury. He pulled her into a hug.
“Okay, okay, stop it. You’ve made your point. I can’t hold my laughter anymore.”
Even Radhika cracked a smile as Rishi joined the hug.
“I would’ve actually punished you, had you not come clean today,” she said, cupping Reyansh’s cheek.
“I had to, Di.” He kissed her forehead, and she kissed him back.
“Where’s my kiss?” Rishi interrupted. “I deserve one for playing along so convincingly.”
“You were terrified when I mentioned the couch,” she teased, pinching his nose.
“You’re a world-class actress,” Rishi admitted, clapping.
Just then, Nani called them all to the dining table for lunch.
“I wish Aanya had seen this. She’d love how panicked you were,” Radhika laughed.
As they sat down to eat, Reyansh pulled out his phone and sent his wife an email.
Wife,
How did the client meet go? Did you have lunch? Don’t skip it, or your medicines.
Husband.