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“Forgotten to take elder’s blessings?” she asked, her voice brittle with annoyance for how everything had played out.
Harsh sighed. Clasping Raashi’s hand, he tugged her forward, touching first his father and then his mother’s feet before pivoting to her father. They were rewarded with stiff pats to their heads and gibberish mutters in the place of blessings.
“Dhanvanthri will be in touch to plan the wedding,” Raashi’s father said, sounding strangely exhausted and not in the least bit smug about his win.
“We’ll have a simple wedding.” Harsh’s father nodded, as if reassuring himself that his decision was sound. “Doesn’t have to be too elaborate.”
Of course, Harsh thought cynically. God forbid he warranted anything elaborate.
“It will be a celebration.” Veda spoke for the first time that evening. “A party to rival all parties and to celebrate two people I love with all my heart.”
“Hell yeah!” Harsh winked at his sister-in-law, staying in character. It wasn’t necessary. He didn’t need the big party. He just wanted someone to care enough about him to throw one.
“No.” Suryakanth Kodela was not going to be dictated to by his daughter in law, even if she was his favourite member of the family. Which said something about his feelings for the rest of the family, the ones he shared blood bonds with. “Simple. Fast. Private.”
Chaitanya Gadde nodded. “We’ll share the pictures with the media post the event. We can have a small, family wedding.”
“That’s decided then.” Harsh’s father crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the back of a recliner.
Veda glared at Agastya who sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes with the balls of his thumbs. He looked ready to walk away from this room and probably just keep walking until the end of time.
“Nothing is decided,” he said, his voice firm and clear. “Not until we hear what Harsh and Raashi want.”
His mother stared at him like he’d sprouted horns. “We didn’t ask you what you wanted when you married Veda.”
“That’s because all I wanted was to marry Veda,” he said, giving his wife a nauseatingly sappy look. “I didn’t care about the rest.”
“Aww.” Harsh dragged the word out, blowing a kiss at his brother who frowned ferociously at him. “You’re the sweetest.”
“Shut up,” Agastya snapped. “You’ve done enough damage for one night.”
Ahh yes. That he had. Damage. Harsh had not just damaged his life. He’d detonated it. All because he’d looked into big, big eyes and seen a reflection of himself looking like a hero.
He was an idiot. His professional life was all about being a hero. That should have been enough of a high. Did he need to play the role in his personal life too?
“Raashi.” Her father called out. “It’s time for us to go.”
Raashi let go of his arm and went to stand next to her father. Harsh flexed his hand, feeling strangely off kilter with her absence. He watched as they said their goodbyes to everyone in the room, embracing Veda tightly more than once.
And then they were gone and it was just his family. Harsh could feel the noose of judgement tightening around his neck. He cleared his throat and looked around.
“So, is anyone going to congratulate me?” he asked, forcing a lightheartedness to his tone that he really wasn’t feeling.
“Why are you like this?” his father asked, resignation saturating his every pore. “What did I ever do to deserve such a useless son?”
“Ahh. So, no congratulations then?” Harsh prodded, still grinning insolently.
His parents walked out, not bothering to look back or acknowledge his question. Harsh’s throat tightened. He was alone with his brother and sister-in-law. It was a lot harder to fake life around the people you loved than the ones you didn’t really care about.
“What the fuck, Harsh?” Agastya Anna asked. “What the actual fuck?”
Harsh exhaled. “Fair question,” he acknowledged.
“Would you like to answer it?” Agastya looked done. Done with the day, done with his brother, done with the shit Harsh had just dumped at all their feet.
“The thing is,” Harsh said carefully. “I don’t think I have an answer.”
Veda came to stand beside Agastya, leaning into him, offering support and comfort wordlessly. His arm went around her drawing her in closer.
