Meera shook her head, and handed her a glass of mimosa. ‘With Gayatri Mom? It was a piece of cake. Yeah, fine, Raghav is the best husband and blah blah blah, but I consider myself truly lucky for having found a mother-in-law like her. But with Neena Aunty? Oh sweetheart, that’s going to be a full-time job, I’m afraid.’
Luv stumbled onto the balcony, followed closely by Kashvi and Swayam. Luv handed Meera a handful of candied fruit stolen from the dessert tray, making her giggle.
Kashvi popped a chocolate-covered strawberry in her mouth as she nudged her. ‘Oh please, you’ve survived our dad. This is no challenge for you.’
For once, Siya didn’t agree with her sister.
Luv chimed in, his voice floating out, light and teasing. ‘Besides, every epic love story has a formidable mother-in-law in it so you’re off to a great start.’
‘Thanks for all the help during the interview, you guys,’ Siya scolded with a mocking smile.
‘We were busy taking bets on whether it’d be you or Abhay’s mother who throws out that journalist,’ Swayam said cheekily.
‘Yeah, she’s the second person I came close to punching today. The way people test my patience will give me hypertension at a young age,’ Kashvi offered.
‘But the way Neena Aunty put her in her place was a sight to behold,’ Luv said.
Soon, the topic shifted away to food, and Siya took a sip of her drink. To her, it felt as if it’d been a long day, though it was only afternoon. Even amidst the teasing and joking of herfriends, she felt the pull of that invisible thread that bound her to Abhay.
Her eyes drifted toward the open archway. Abhay stood across the room, the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up to his elbows, and even from this far, Siya was fixated on the dark veins popping down his muscular arm.
The event manager was talking animatedly, pointing at the file in his hands, but Abhay wasn’t looking at it.
His gaze was solely, undeniably fixed on her. The scalding intensity in them sent a rush of heat crawling up her neck.
‘God, he looks at you like that and you still think he thinks of you as an enemy?’ Meera remarked.
Abhay raised his hand slowly, and pressed his index and middle fingers to his lips and blew her an unabashedly affectionate kiss. Her heart, the damn traitor, skipped a stuttering beat, and she blushed as a reluctant smile pulled at her lips.
In response, his face lit up with laughter, and he placed his palm right above his chest as he stumbled a step back, as if the sight of her red cheeks had struck him in the heart like an arrow.
Siya turned away before he could see the effect he had on her, but the warmth blooming in her chest told her it might be too late for her.
Chapter 14
‘I’ll be up in a minute. Quit calling me!’ Siya urged into her phone and quickly disconnected. One of the worst parts of this charade was how constantly the PR head, Shukla stayed in touch with her, scripting her every move. With a sigh, she stepped into the private elevator.
Her pulse ticked faster with every passing floor. The soft hum was the only sound accompanying Siya as she stood in the steely enclosure. She adjusted the edge of her jade green jumpsuit, a comfortable alternative to a traditional lehenga, for the tenth time in the last minute. The pale gold beads cinched at her waist shimmered under the warm light, and her entire form was detailed with golden floral threadwork.
Her eyes flickered to her reflection in the panelled mirror walls of the elevator as she tried to ignore the fluttering nerves thudding in her chest. Her crystal earrings swayed as she leaned closer to inspect her face.
The dark kohl lining her eyeline was smudge-proof, her lipstick a muted rose, and her cheeks blushed with the right amount of colour. Her open hair, styled in soft waves, brushed her back through the open slit of satiny fabric. She looked far too regal for how hollow she felt.
Everything looked fine, except her expression. God, she looked tired. She’d spent the last week juggling her pending work with public family appearances her father insisted on to stay in the headlines. Her feet were sore from constantly wearinghigh heels.Oh, what I would give for a pillow and blanket right now, she fantasised.
The elevator dinged, slicing through her thoughts, and the steel doors slid open to the opulence of Abhay’s penthouse foyer. She took a step out, and found herself face to face with Kashvi.
‘Finally, there you are! I was about to send a search party,’ Kashvi exclaimed cheerfully and wrapped her into a strong hug, shielding them momentarily from the crowd.
Siya stiffened for a moment but Kashvi swiftly whispered against her ear. ‘Smile, Di. The cameras are on you.’
Siya hugged her back, grateful for the warning. She subtly scanned the room over her shoulder, and sure enough, a section was stationed off for cameras. Flashes glowed in succession, taking in her reaction. She curved her lips in the soft, shy smile expected of a bride.
When Kashvi pulled back, her smile was as dazzling as the chandeliers above them. Her sister had always been a better actor than her, proven true by all the times she’d fallen for her fake tears.
Meera walked up to them in a flurry of velvet dark green anarkali and chiming chandbali, and linked her arm with hers. ‘Look at the bride-to-be. God help the rest of us mere mortals.’
The trio formed a cocoon of solidarity as they walked further into the living room. Guests mingled on one side of the hall, while the cameras captured every movement quietly along the edges of the room. She exchanged nods with a few relatives and acquaintances, but walked by before they could stop her for a word.
