Married in Vengeance (Dynasty Rebels #4)

Chapter 4

Four

AADHYA

It felt like even the heavens and the earth were holding their breath today. Not a leaf moved, not a grain of sand stirred, not one hint of breeze offering relief could be felt. The flames from the havan only added to the heat, making Aadhya feel like she sat in the bowels of hell itself.

Several rebellious curls slipped out of Aadhya’s bun, her hair, as always, resisting confinement. They stuck to her sweat slicked skin, her carefully applied make up starting to melt off her face.

The white sheet separating her from Ram stayed stiff and unyielding between them. Wasn’t it time to drop it? How much longer was the pujari going to drone on for? If he took much longer, there was only going to be a puddle where Aadhya sat.

And then suddenly, it was like the world went from slow motion to fast forward, the drums picking up pace, the mothers and aunties fluttering around them as they added dollops of jilakarabelam in her palm. Her mother yanked her hand up and pressed it, palm down on Ram’s head, the rough silk of his hair under her fingers making her heart thud.

It was happening. It was finally happening.

Ram’s hand rested atop her own head, firm yet gentle. Aadhya shut her eyes, letting all her senses unfurl and soaking in the moment. She’d never thought she’d have this moment in her life. Ram had been an unattainable dream and one she’d pretended never to have for the sake of her own pride.

And yet, somehow, the Universe had heard her suppressed hope, her whispered wish. And here she was.

The sheet dropped at that moment and Aadhya opened her eyes and looked into Ram’s serious eyes, her smile radiant, happiness beaming from every pore.

He didn’t smile back. He stared at her, for the barest of moments before blinking and glancing away, no emotion on his face or in his eyes.

Aadhya’s smile faltered, unease filtering through her joy and excitement. Something was wrong. But what?

Another blink and their hands were removed from each other’s heads. Aadhya missed the weight of his hand with an acuteness that almost took her breath away. A thin trickle of sweat trailed down her forehead and into her eye, making it sting. She blinked furiously as her mother tugged at her hand, urging her to stand. In front of her, Ram got to his feet in a smooth, lithe movement.

Aadhya rose more slowly, bracing herself with one hand on the ground. She stumbled over the pleats of her heavy silk saree, one foot having gone to sleep from sitting in one position for too long. Before she could faceplant embarrassingly in front of the thousands of guests assembled there, Ram’s hand shot out, wrapping around her arm and hauling her to her feet. She fell against his chest, her cheek resting against warm, damp muscles, his strong, steady heartbeat resonating through her.

Aadhya looked up at him, his arms now encircling her, holding her up as her foot started to prickle and come to life.

“Okay?” he asked gruffly.

She nodded, the same unease making a reappearance again as she studied his remote features.

“Okay. Okay. There is time for all this later.” One of the elderly aunts interrupted with a bawdy laugh. She wrapped a surprisingly strong arm around Aadhya’s free hand and yanked her away from Ram.

With one last look in his direction, a look he didn’t return, Aadhya followed the older woman into the farmhouse to change into another saree for the rest of the rituals.

Something was wrong.

The words echoed like a drumbeat inside the very marrow of her bones, chilling her and dousing the excited flush from her cheeks. She stood in the center of the room, an unmoving statue as the other ladies quickly stripped her of her wedding saree and draped the red and white silk one in preparation of the thaali tying ceremony. Someone removed her ghunghat and she allowed it, not having any fight left in her.

Anxiety had her fingers going numb and her chest going tight. Feeling slightly lightheaded, she reached for purchase against a chair to her right but missed, staggering a little. Someone caught her for the second time that day, righting her

“Aadhya?” Priyanka’s concerned face swam into view. Aadhya blinked a few times trying to focus. “Are you okay? Can I get you something to drink?”

Aadhya nodded. Her blood pressure must be falling. It was the only explanation for what she was feeling. Aadhya’s blood pressure tended to hover on the lower side and sometimes fatigue and stress caused it to fall even lower making her lightheaded and prone to fainting spells.

Priyanka reappeared with a chilled coconut water which she sipped from, allowing it to refresh her and hopefully bring a semblance of sanity to her frantically fluttering thoughts.

She turned towards the air conditioner, standing right in front of it and letting the cold air waft over her face and cool her fevered brow. She took another sip of the coconut water, letting the cool liquid trickle down her throat.

“Aadhya?” Priyanka hovered to one side. “Okay now? I’ve asked them to bring a plate of idli, in case you feel like eating.”

“No.” Aadhya shook her head, squeezing her sister-in-law’s hand in thanks. “I’m better now. Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“Don’t be silly.” Priyanka scanned her pale face. “Are you okay now?”

Aadhya nodded. She was okay. She was just overthinking things. Ram was never the most expressive of men, especially in public. What had she been thinking? That he’d suddenly turn demonstrative in front of literally every single human being they knew?

She was just being a silly goose.

“I’m fine.” She was fine, better than fine. She was a married woman now. She was Ram Gadde’s wife. She allowed her smile to slowly spread across her face. Priyanka smiled too, relief chasing away the worry on her expressive face.

“Time to go, Aadhya.” The same bossy aunt from before reappeared at her side, hauling her to her feet like she was a sack of potatoes.

Aadhya rolled her eyes at Priyanka who stifled a smile and followed them more sedately. Her fingers tapped nervously against her thigh as they approached the mandap. She could see Ram seated there, his firm profile and unbending back filling her view. He seemed to be talking to his father who was standing to one side, hands clasped behind his back.

The minute she placed one foot on the mandap, she saw Ram stiffen and then slowly, ever so slowly, he turned to look at her. Something flared in his eyes, a brief burst of emotion, and then it flattened out. His eyes went blank and cold. As she watched, his lips twisted into a mocking sneer.

And Aadhya felt it again, the strange lightheadedness, the frantic thrumming of her heart, and the lack of air in her lungs. This time she knew what it was.

It wasn’t her blood pressure falling. It was her dreams shattering.