Shrey

"Why did you do that to me?" The words stretched between us.

She was waiting for a response.

We stared at each other until she understood.

I didn't want to answer her question.

I had already asked her not to have this conversation here.

There were so many factors for it. This was one of her moments when she spoke first and dealt with the aftermath later.

And this was the second time I had completely disregarded her statement. The first was in her father's office when Mr. Mishra had declared our marriage.

I dropped my gaze to the floor. It was unbearable to match her glassy red eyes.

"I knew."

"I'm sorry." But not now, Aditi.

This conversation will give her answers but I didn't know what reliving that phase of my life would do to me.

It was the wrong time—and I wasn't ready to drag that part of my life back into the present.

I hadn't looked back in a decade.

"You acted spontaneously without, for once, considering what it would do to me." A sob escaped her mouth which directed my eyes to look at her. "I felt like... there was something wrong with me."

"I felt I had done something wrong... " she paused, every crack in her voice a strike at my chest. "You were wrong yesterday." She sniffed, roughly tugging her hair behind the ear. "I wasn't quiet because I thought it was a waste of energy. I never spoke because I didn't know how to make friends."

"And then you turned away." She gulped with visible difficulty. "Like I wasn't worth granting a sight."

Her eyes fluttered close. With a muffled moan, she took a step back. I thought the words were dawning on her until her palm flew to her lower abdomen.

It took me a second to understand.

Oh, Aditi.

Then I didn't wait.

"Come here." I pulled her into my chest.

Her revolt shuddered, she let me stroke her back slowly while resting her forehead on my shoulder.

I grabbed her handbag from her hand, guiding her towards the couch.

Eventually her breath stabilized. In the meanwhile, I had quickly delivered a text to Dhruv, asking him to send a cup of green tea to the office. Though my smart personal assistant brought himself to hand it to me personally.

He even offered me a smug look, his eyes dragging all over my crumpled cream shirt since I'd put off my suit jacket on the couch before I sat Aditi.

"Good luck—"

I closed the door on him.

Aditi's eyes were still closed. Hands hovering over her stomach.

I leaned to rest her feet over the table but she flinched back once she sensed my hand. "Don't touch."

"Have this." I forwarded the tea to her which she accepted with slight reluctance.

"I never meant it." I broke the silence again, though I couldn't manage a voice that would reach her.

"No," with a tired expression on her face, she breathed. "I can't forgive you for what you did." Then without a pause she added, "I didn't deserve it."

"And you think I deserve what you're doing to me?"

She shuts me out when something goes wrong—then comes back with it all at once, dragging the past out of nowhere.

Aditi sets boundaries she expects me to follow but when it comes to her, she steps close as if to test me, to get her frustration out.

She doesn't let me in—but still holds me accountable for what's inside.

"I don't know."

I shook my head faintly. "You know exactly what you do to me."

Just not how greatly it impacts me.

I might deserve your hatred for what I did. But I don't deserve to watch you break every time.

"I'm exhausted." She spoke, looking into my eyes. Then shifted to the empty cup in her hands. "I want to go home."

I just nodded.

Next we were in my car driving to her Mansion.

Street lights passed over Aditi's face occasionally.

Surprisingly she was the one to break the silence, yet not comment on me stealing glances at her despite having noticed.

"My sisters want to go shopping with us. If you're down we can fix a date."

"Shopping?" My voice came out quieter than expected.

To some extent the night had insignificantly contributed to easing the earlier tension between us.

"Hm. For the engagement rings and outfits."

I had to finalize the budget of the hotel project by tomorrow. Get the vendor meeting fixed, oversee their arrangements personally.

Additionally, I had to prepare in advance and contact some alternate vendors if the current ones declined our offer.

"You don't have to."

"Will evening work?"

She nodded, holding my stare and adjusted on the seat under my gaze.

En route to Aditi's house, we passed a restaurant my family visited on special occasions when I was younger. We celebrated here occasionally on new year's but unavoidably on birthdays.

It had a small entrance down the street, easily overlooked on the busy road. But the food was unimaginably delicious.

I considered asking if Aditi'd like to check it out as my gaze stuck on it. But I let the thought slide when I looked at her resting the same way she was on her office couch.

Maybe another time I'll have her try my favorite meal that tasted like home—like her presence to me.

_____

While I'd committed tomorrow's eve to Aditi, the workload hadn't permitted me to leave the company before the darkness of night enveloped the sky.

I tried to call her when I was free but it went to voicemail. She had assured me to text the shopping venue.

That's where I decided to head after two missed calls to her. All the time hoping I hadn't ruined the plan by committing to it when I knew it was difficult.

The drive to the shopping venue added another hour to the delay. But once I reached, I stepped in at the moment which made me freeze.

Late but lucky.

"Oh, he's here," A small woman holding papers in her hand was the first one to notice me. "Are you the groom?"

She approached me tugging them close towards her and forwarded a hand towards me.

"Shrey Dixit." I accepted it with a quick nod.

"I'm Tara. Bride's consultant for the day."

"Hey." Avni sat up on the couch behind Tara, waving a hand for me to go there. "Come quick. We were just about to rate di's first look."

Beside her sat Eyana who went first in criticizing Aditi's look. "It's giving mermaid with that aqua blue flare bottom. Handling that trail will be a hassle all day. And I know at one point you'd be pissed for picking this dress when you'll have a hard time posing for pictures. Plus, we can't trust the top hanging with those two thin pieces of thread."

I looked between Aditi and her twice.

When I'd walked into the store and saw Aditi standing before the mirror in that blue studded dress, my mind had stopped. She looked gorgeous.

"And what does the groom think?" The consultant questioned me after Avni's feedback.

"I think she looks lovely."

My gaze flew to Avni when she burst out laughing. "Just look at him," she said. "Ease up. We're not saying anything to her but the dress. You look like you're ready to stab us."

"Fine. It's a no from two. Yes, from the groom." Tara turned to Aditi, standing at a distance. "What about the bride?"

"I've worn better blue dresses."

"Say no more." Tara scoffed dramatically. "Let's get back to the trial room."

"I told you." Eyana side-eyed Avni once Aditi left.

"This was just the first one. I have faith in my choice." Avni flipped her hair back. Unexpectedly she turned to my side then. "You're late by the way."

"We picked three dresses each for her. It wasn't a competition but seems like it has become one now — to see whose dress Aditi picks." Eyana cut in, explaining the silent war going on between the sisters.

"This is going to be fun." I hoped so.

The next dress was Eyana's pick. A peach A-line organza dress with brown embroidery at its foot.

It was soft and feminine.

Avni, however, found as many faults in it as possible.

I wasn't much of a help either. With the lack of my expertise, I went with the majority since I was quite unsure how much or what I could say on this.

"You guys are seriously not helping," Aditi sighed, posing with her hands resting on her waist in the sixth dress which the sisters have effortlessly disapproved of.

"It's not my fault. I loved my green pick on you. It is your dress."

"Seriously, Avni?" Eyana scoffed. "Other than being your choice there is nothing special in that green balloon dress."

Eyana was focused to help Aditi find a good dress, whereas Avni was completely determined to win the unofficial battle between the sisters.

"Girlies!" Tara stepped in their conversation with a helpless look. Both of them turned their faces towards her. "Don't you think it's more important to find Aditi a dress she actually feels special wearing than who picks it?"

"Exactly." Eyana glared at her little sister.

"How about this time all of you go for a dress search." Tara spoke politely. "To pick out dresses together." She emphasized 'together' at the end with a smile.

"No competitions anymore." Aditi reminded as she stepped down the pedestal and followed Tara to the back of the store.

Eyana and Avni started picking out options from the racks, showing Aditi one after another.

"How's this?" Tara held a dress in her hand.

"No. It's too much."

"This?" Avni brought another.

"No!"

I skimmed through clothes on the rack, following behind them when I found a golden sequin studded saree-dress. It had a less-flared skirt and a fabric draping the top effortlessly.

The blouse of this saree was less fabric but nothing inappropriate.

It didn't ask for attention with its subtle sequins. Yet it didn't blend in the room like something ordinary.

"How is this?" I pulled it out of the clothing rack.

"Ooh!" That was Avni's reaction.

Eyana's was a big grin.

Tara remained silent.

Aditi...

She looked at me with a poker face.

I considered putting it back from her look but before that she took it from me and handed it to Tara. "I'll try it."

"That's a good restart." The consultant smiled at both of us.

This time we picked five dresses but all of them were specifically chosen by Aditi. I had also added another outfit after the golden saree into her collection.

She went inside the trial room somewhere deeper into the store. Minutes later, in a beautiful baby pink gown, she walked out holding the front slightly off the floor.

Her hair slipped forward with each cautious step until she paused, to push them back with a flick of frustration.

Like the dress had asked for more attention than she was willing to give.

For a moment, I looked at her—deeply driven in my thoughts about why it was so time consuming to pick an outfit for women.

Because no matter what she wore, she seemed to settle into it like it had always belonged to her.

Tara began explaining about the dress Aditi was wearing, like she had been for every other dress this evening.

"The top is just perfect." Avni began. The next part she whispered to... perhaps herself. "Gosh, look at that cleavage."

"Your curves emerge in this dress exceptionally." she added aloud.

Faces turned to me when it was my turn to express an opinion.

"It... fits you well."

Our gaze met—and she stilled.

Like she had actually heard me.

For a second I felt she might say something. But Eyana spoke over it. "The color washes you out."

She looked away, adjusting the fabric of the dress before she got off the pedestal. "Alright. The next dress please." Marching to the same direction she'd just come.

For the next dress, Tara approached us before Aditi came into our sight. "Everybody! For this one I really want you to close your eyes please." Once we had, she called. "They're ready. Come out."

Tara counted to three and we opened our eyes. . .

My eyes flowed from Aditi's head to her toe.

The muted green complimented her skin tone in a subtle, unassuming way.

Threads of floral and vines on the fabric caught light when she moved. Not dramatic—just precise.

The embroidery spread evenly from the neck to the full length sheer sleeves without overwhelming the fabric.

The cut was simple. But it held attention without asking for it. There was something unsettling in how it balanced softness and presence.

I had seen her in seven different dresses before. This shouldn't have felt any different.

But it did.

She was wearing the other outfit I'd picked for her. It was "A pastel green Anarkali with a full length net skirt, a bodice adorned with intricate multicolor floral and botanical embroidery extending to the vertical kalis that enhance its flare," as elaborated by Tara.

"What do you think?" Tara said, watching not just me but the sisters at my side just as equally stunned.

Eyana awakened the room to the same chaos as earlier. "You look so pretty, I might cry."

That remark earned her a little happy twirl by Aditi.

The same girl who threatens to destroy my life, by the way.

"Would you like to tell how you feel, Aditi?" Tara stood near her. A wide smile playing on her lips like she already knew.

But before answering, Aditi turned towards us. "Avni, don't you want to say something?" Her gaze had almost slid to me after, but she didn't say a word.

"I know you love it, silly. Get it before any of us loses their shit."

"Now Aditi," Tara asked. "Is that your final decision?"

"Yes."

The ladies stood up for a cheer, exchanging hugs. Tara congratulated Aditi with a warm smile.

Somewhere among the chaos, Aditi's gaze quietly settled on me from a distance. She didn't smile. Neither did I.

But the reality didn't wait to settle between us.

Because for the first time that evening—It didn't feel like we were just trying on dresses.

___

"If choosing the engagement outfit was this tiring, I don't know what will happen during the wedding outfit." Avni spoke across the round table.

Since the night had grown darker, we decided to keep the rings for some other day. Apparently the outfit hunt had drained Aditi, so we chose a quiet place for dinner instead.

This restaurant was the only place open at this hour in the mall due to us. Hence, it was unusually calm anyway.

"The wedding outfit will be gifted from my side of the family." I addressed, my eyes unconsciously noticing Aditi's untouched plate beside me.

"Oh." Avni raised her eyebrows thoughtfully. "I didn't know that."

"Shrey, we've met your mother, but what about your whole family?" Eyana asked with genuine concern. "We haven't got a chance to know what kind of people they are."

"I have a younger brother in the family." I looked up. "Arnav. Some distant maternal relatives I'm not very close with. I'm the closest to my mother."

"What about—"

I averted my gaze to the plate ahead of me. "I don't have a father."

"Sorry to hear that."

"Lost him when I was... young to remember."

Nobody acknowledged the silence in the room.

"This marriage came out of nowhere. You two haven't even dated... We just wanted a chance to know you better," Eyana muttered after a few moments of quiet.

"I understand."

"This marriage didn't come out of nowhere. It was intricately-planned." Aditi met my eyes. "He just needed to get things settled with dad before announcing it."

I studied her face for a few seconds to understand the actual meaning behind her words. "His protectiveness kept him from entrusting me with this marriage."

I couldn't decipher the reason that Aditi chuckled at my statement. The kind of dry laugh she never runs out of for me.

I was conscious of how yesterday's suppressed fire was still on the surface.

She hadn't talked to me properly. Neither at work nor at the store.

"I want to know how this reunion happened in the first place." Avni broke me out of my thoughts. "Was it a coincidence you happened to acquire jobs in the same company?"

Her idea made me release a small laugh. "Life doesn't work around such miraculous coincidences, sweetheart."

"For someone who wishes at 11:11, coincidences like that probably seem possible to her." Eyana's comment seemed to have upset the youngest one.

"It was a coincidence to me." Aditi said, her gaze directed at Avni. "I didn't know he was joining."

A smile tugged at Aditi's lips when she looked at me, slowly her arm drew around mine as she leaned towards my shoulder. "I'm happy we met again."

I looked down at her parted lips that told me she wanted to say more, which of course she wanted. She wanted to take more out on me. Everything that was left from yesterday.

But it was due to her sisters and our fake play as lovers holding her tight.

This marriage is real to my sisters. And I don't want this to change for them. . .

"This wouldn't happen if you hadn't." Avni gave us a sweet grin.

"Exactly." Aditi mumbled as she returned back to her normal posture.

Late after our dinner, throughout the drive her act to portray us as a couple kept my head busy.

But it hadn't ended there, I realized when she stayed back in the car.

"I had no idea I'd see you again after the day you'd turned down my proposal." Aditi started in a low voice once we were alone. But the venom in her voice couldn't hide longer. "Actually... I thought you'd never see me again after that day. You were doing it well till the last day I was in town."

I didn't break the moment of silence.

"Then I don't know what changed."

I kept my eyes on the steering. "I thought staying away was the right thing to do."

Yet somewhere along the way, I'd just realized I couldn't let go of you.