Page 34 of Mrs. Rathore

“Noor…” I said again, but my voice trailed off into the noise of the gathering.

And for a moment, I sat still in the middle of the crowd smiling on the outside, breaking on the inside.

She snapped her head toward me when I called her again. “Sorry, we were just talking about this mansion,” she said, brushing off the distraction.

I sighed, irritated. “Have you seen Ira?”

“Yeah, she just stepped out into the verandah,” Kavya replied casually then suddenly, her eyes widened. “Wait... Aryan went out there too. God, do you think they’re still...?”

I rolled my eyes. Of course, they are. The love between them still hung in the air like smoke after a fire. It clung. It lingered. And it needed to be extinguished.

“I thought I could make Ira jealous,” I muttered. “But being near Aryan… it’s harder than I thought.”

“It’s harder because he’s hot as hell,” Kavya whispered with a teasing whistle.

I shot her a death glare.

“I need to be alone,” I said sharply, wheeling away from them before I lost control of my expression.

As I neared the verandah, the sound of their laughter drifted through the open air like poison.

“You remember the time we were stuck in the emergency room?” Aryan was laughing. “And you just fainted in my arms because of your claustrophobia...”

“Stop! That was so embarrassing!” Ira giggled, her voice light, full of fondness.

I didn’t need to hear more. My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out the rest of their happy little reunion.

My fingers tightened around the cold metal handles of the wheelchair as I rolled forward. I hated interrupting, but I’d hate myself even more if I didn’t.

As I got closer, I noticed how little space there was between them. Ira had her hand on his arm, her head tilted back, her smile radiant. And Aryan… He looked happy.

Relaxed.

Like a version of himself I’d never been allowed to see.

Come on, Avni. You gonna sit here watching them like a ghost?

I straightened my back, inhaled sharply, and rolled toward them like I belonged—like I fit in the picture, even if I had to force my way in.

Ira noticed me first.

Her smile slipped, just slightly, but enough. Enough to wound her. That’s all I needed.

“Sorry to interrupt, honey,” I said sweetly to my husband as I rolled up right between them. “Come with me. We have a few rituals to finish together as husband and wife, remember?”

I didn’t look at her. I didn’t need to. I could feel her presence burning behind me.

Aryan’s body went rigid, jaw tightening as his eyes dropped to my hand, my fingers lacing with his. A deliberate move. A public claim. He didn’t pull away.

Not yet.

I looked up at him, beaming a smile so perfect, it almost convinced me. I wanted Ira to believe it too, even if only for a moment.

Aryan hated me for it. For hurting Ira like that. And that was exactly why I did it. Ira didn’t speak. She stepped back, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her eyes darted to our hands. I squeezed harder.

“Let’s go,” I said calmly. “They’re waiting for us inside.”

“Are you done playing games?” Aryan muttered under his breath, leaning down just enough so only I could hear.