Veer smirks, sarcasm lacing his words. “Oh, it was just fantastic, Bhabhi.”
“That’s good to hear. Now that I am here, I’ll make sure you visit that place very often. In fact… next time, it’ll be for longer,” she says, smiling sweetly, but with a venomous edge.
Veer opens his mouth, clearly ready to retort, but she cuts him off.
“Please, don’t bother thanking me for it. Thank your brother. He’s the one who married me and got me here. Thatway, I can keep a close eye on you. I am sure you must’ve heard the saying… keep your enemies closer.”
“I am going to meet Dad,” Veer mutters, moving to brush past her. But Meera isn’t done. She steps in front of him, blocking his way.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you one important thing, Devarji…”
“What?” He scowls.
“You’re really photogenic. You wouldn’t believe how many likes your photos got me.”
Veer glares at her, then stomps up the stairs to his room without a word. Meera turns to me, that devilish smile never leaving her face.
“Your brother has no manners. He didn’t even thank me for the photos.”
I arch a brow. “Was it necessary for you to show your claws like that?”
“It was.” She folds her arms across her chest. “You think you can hurt my loved ones and I’ll just take it? No, Dev. I’ll hurt yours too.”
“You really don’t learn, do you?” I take a step closer. “The fact that you’re standing here, married to me, already proves exactly how far I can go when someone touches my loved ones. And you still think striking back at me is a smart move?”
“Smart or not, I won’t take attacks lying down.”
“Mrs. Rathore, what you’re doing isn’t brave. It’s stupid. This marriage will destroy you long before it ever affects me.”
This time, she doesn’t reply. She simply turns on her heel and walks towards the bedroom. Grinning, I follow her in and shut the door behind me. She ignores me. Grabbing a blanket and a pillow from the bed, she heads straight to the couch and begins making her makeshift bed.
I settle on the edge of the bed and slide my watch from my wrist, my eyes never leaving her. “So… I don’t get any action on our wedding night?”
She doesn’t even glance up as she fluffs the pillow. “Not even in your dreams.”
I pout. “Not even a kiss?”
She finally looks at me. “If you come one inch near me, Dev, this wedding night will turn into your funeral.”
I press a hand over my heart in mock hurt. “Violent wife. Just my luck.”
She huffs under her breath, rolls onto her back, and pulls the blanket up to her shoulders. “Exactly what you deserve. Now shut up so I can sleep.”
Grinning, I switch off the light and lie down.
This marriage is going to be one hell of a ride… one I am going to enjoy far too much.
Chapter 13
Meera
I stand before the mirror, locking eyes with the woman who is now married. Yet the more I look, the more I realise that nothing about me says I am married. No sindoor on my hairline. No mangalsutra around my neck. Nothing that marks me as someone’s wife. Even my peach salwar suit feels far too plain for a bride’s first morning.
But then again, I am not a blessed bride who left her home with blessings or truckloads of wedding trousseau.
I swallow, remembering that if it weren’t for Sonia, I would’ve still been in the same outfit I was brought here in. After Dev left to bail his brother out, I had called her and told her everything, including how I was blackmailed into marriage. The guilt hit her so hard she could barely speak, her words tumbling out as she kept blaming herself, apologising over and over again. After what felt like an eternity of pulling her out of her guilt and reminding her that she would’ve done the same in my place, she finally asked if I needed anything. That was when I asked her to go to my house and bring me some clothes, which, of course, she did.
Pulling in a deep breath, I take in the room through the mirror. Even the sunlight can’t soften the dark charcoal walls, the sharp edges of the heavy wooden furniture, or the massive king-sized bed that looks more like a power statement than a place for resting. The sleek black wardrobe and the matching nightstands only add to the cold, imposing aura of the space.
