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“What are you two lovebirds whispering about?” cooed Deep’s sister Anika, and I turned to smile at her, relieved at the interruption.
When I spotted Aryan standing next to Anika, the smile froze on my face.
“I’m going to head back to the hospital. Congratulations, Jessie and Deep. I wish you all the happiness,” he said stiffly.
My face flamed when I met Aryan’s eyes, and I wondered if I looked as guilty as I felt. I was standing with my fiancé, but all I could think of was the feel of Aryan’s lips on mine. His strong arms around me.
An arm suddenly snaked around my waist, and I looked down at it in horror. Deep pulled me closer, clearly staking a claim as he smiled at Aryan. The feel of his arm around me made me want to gag, and I wondered how I was ever going to bear his touch. I looked helplessly at Aryan and saw that he was staring at me, face pale, jaw set.
My chest felt tight and the faces of those around me began to swim as I struggled to take a breath.
“Are you all right, Jessie?” asked Aryan, taking a step towards me with his hand outstretched.
I wondered what would happen if I grabbed that hand, and I got my answer when Deep tightened his arm around me, pulling me even closer. Aryan dropped his hand and stepped back.
“I think she needs some air. Take her outside,” he ordered.
And before I could say anything, he turned on his heel and walked out. So much for his bedside manner, I thought huffily.
“Is Jessie okay?” asked Veer, coming up to us.
“Aww, she’s fine. But you looked tired. Why don’t you sit down with me?” purred Anika.
I rolled my eyes at her blatant attempt to flirt with my brother.
“Veer, can you take me out to the garden for a bit?” I asked, and he complied happily.
“Why are you insisting on marrying that idiot?” he asked softly.
“Word of a Rajput,” I replied unhappily. “Too late for backsies.”
* * *
ARYAN
His mother was in Manorama mode.
“Why do you hate me so much?” she asked tearfully.
Aryan resisted the urge to roll his eyes because he wasn’t that rude. Also, his mother was capable of swatting him on the head in public if she saw fit.
“I told you I’d have to go to the hospital after the roka, Ma. And you agreed.”
His mother sniffed like the drama queen that she was.
“It’s like your only goal in life is to make me unhappy! All these snooty royals are snide to me because Nivy is an actress. I was hoping I could show you off to them, but you can’t even spare one afternoon for your poor mother,” she wailed.
“Ma, if anyone here is snide to you about Nivy, you should stand up to them. You shouldn’t be pandering to their snootiness. Nivy is a wonderful actress and you should be proud of her,” he snapped.
“That’s not the point, you duffer! The point is that you’re abandoning me when I need you the most. I wish Arshia was here. I’m sure she could have found a way to make you stay,” said his mother with a coy glance at him.
“No, she couldn’t,” he replied, wearily.
No one could make him stay here and put up with the sight of that thug pawing Jessie for one minute more.
“Are you going to meet her now?” his mother asked hopefully.
“No, Ma. Arshia and I have decided that we won’t suit. I won’t be going out with her again.”
