Married in Vengeance (Dynasty Rebels #4)

Chapter 20

Twenty

AADHYA

She was filthy, covered in dust and grime from six different project sites. She was also heartsick, angry, hurt, and lonely. So very lonely. She’d been married for sixteen days now. A marriage that had taken her away from her dysfunctional family that loved her and plonked her in the middle of an even more dysfunctional one that didn’t seem to care too much for her.

Aadhya stood on the broad, marble stairs that led to the front door of Gadde Mansion and wished she could be anywhere but there. Maybe she could check herself into a hotel for the night. One night without the complicated vibes and tense but obtuse innuendo would mean better sleep, she was sure.

Before she could turn on her heel the front door opened and her mother-in-law stared out at her.

“How long were you going to stand there?” Athama asked.

“As long as it took me to decide whether to come in or leave,” Aadhya replied candidly.

The older lady’s eyes didn’t even flicker at the blunt statement. She seemed to be thinking something through and after a moment of thought, she said, “Would you hear me out for a moment? After that you can decide whether to come in.”

Curiosity kept Aadhya in her place. She dropped her laptop bag to one side and waited. She didn’t ask to enter the house and her mother-in-law didn’t step aside and order her in either.

“When I said you were too dark for that shade of lipstick, I wasn’t looking to insult you. I was just stating a fact.”

Aadhya flinched, her mother-in-law’s eyes tracking the miniscule movement.

“Does it bother you?” Athama asked. “Your complexion?”

“No.” Aadhya shrugged. “I’m comfortable with who I am.”

“Then why did you feel bad when I said what I did?”

“I didn’t,” Aadhya began to protest instinctively and then checked herself. “Well okay, I did. A little bit. But not because I am sensitive about my complexion.”

Ram’s mother cocked her head to one side, waiting silently.

“I wanted you to like me. I wanted all of you to like me.” She shrugged again, unable to stop the nervous gesture. “It hurt that you were disappointed in the daughter-in-law you got.”

“Disappointed? Aadhya, I am the disappointment in this house. How can I be disappointed in you?”

Aadhya’s gaze flew to hers, her lips parting but no sound emerging.

“When I got married, I wasn’t educated, independent, confident like you are. My children are like you. Strong and wonderful. There is nothing of me in them. I’ve never worked, wouldn’t know where to start. I knew nothing of this world and I found that I didn’t have much of an aptitude for it either. I’m good for one thing,” her mother-in-law continued. “To look pretty and decorative. All I was trying to do last night was play my part.” She smiled sadly. “I was trying to offer my expertise, the only thing I know.”

Aadhya stepped over the threshold of the house and wrapped her arms around Ram’s mother.

“Thank you. I’m really glad you did.”

“Good.” Athama sniffed a little and pulled out of her arms. “Because that colour of lipstick really doesn’t suit you.”

Aadhya laughed, a loud, uncontrolled sound. “We’ll go shopping together and you can pick out the shades you think will suit me.”

“Really?” Athama’s eyes brightened and her entire face came alive. Aadhya had always thought Ram’s mother was nice enough but completely disconnected from the family. But Aadhya finally saw in her mother-in-law what she hadn’t until now. Loneliness. The kind of soul deep loneliness that was already settling into Aadhya’s bones. Maybe, this was the fate of all the women who married the Gadde men.

She shook the melancholy off. “Really,” she said. “How does this Sunday sound? I need some new shoes also.”

“I know the perfect place for that. Now, come.” Her mother-in-law shut the front door behind them and gestured a maid forward to take Aadhya’s laptop bag from her. “Eat your dinner and go to bed. Ram has been home for hours. He’ll be waiting.”

Aadhya’s gaze went to the top of the staircase and the corridor that disappeared into the general direction of their room. She doubted Ram was waiting for her. But she really needed a shower and to get into bed. She was wiped out.

“I’ve already had dinner, Athama,” she fibbed to her mother-in-law. “I’ll just head straight up.”

Ram’s mother nodded. “Tell Ram I fixed it okay?”

“Fixed what?” Aadhya asked, looking over her shoulder at the other woman.

“The problem between us. He was very upset with me for what I said to you.”

Aadhya’s stupid heart stuttered. Ram didn’t care if her feelings were hurt. He hurt them himself on a regular basis.

“I’m sure he’s not,” she said derisively.

“Just tell him.” Her mother-in-law was insistent.

Aadhya nodded, agreeing since that was easier than arguing at this point. “Goodnight,” she said. “And don’t forget our date this Sunday.”

Dhanvantri Gadde laughed. “Now, I definitely won’t. After all, it is my first date ever. Goodnight Chinna.”

Aadhya was still smiling as she reached the bedroom door and pushed it open. Darkness greeted her, chilly air floating around her, enveloping her and making her shiver. A small glow of yellow lamplight in the corner of the room cast the only illumination and had her looking over at her own peril.

He sat in an armchair, a glass of whiskey in one hand. Tie askew, shirt unbuttoned revealing a large expanse of muscled, toned chest. Black pants with their knife edge pleats hovered over the black polished leather of his custom made shoes.

Aadhya saw all of it and none of it. Her gaze lasered in and locked on to the murderous rage in his.

“Hello darling.” He swirled the whiskey in his glass, ice cubes clinking together. “Welcome home.”