𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞

9.

Stepping out of the shower, I found a box waiting on the bed. I walked towards it while wrapping my hair on my head from a towel. A frown appeared on my face. I still had to figure out what to wear for tonight's reception ceremony, and it was five in the evening already.

Yuvraj had told me in the morning to be ready by sharp seven and has been gone since then. Not that I minded.

Him not being here wasn't the problem, the problem was what could I wear for tonight? There would be media to capture the Yuvraj Nanda with his wife, aka me, even though I didn't want to be seen with him or relate with him, I'd have to.

I opened the box and found a dress lying inside with a note with something written on it. I grabbed the note and read the content. "Wear this tonight, don't come naked please." His audacity.

I crumpled the note and threw it aside, this was none other than Yuvraj. I eyed the dress inside skeptically, all the charm which this dress held was gone after the realisation it was sent here by him.

I grabbed the blouse by the shoulder and lifted it in the air, it was sleeveless, with sweetheart neckline, adorned with golden bead aligned like glided vine and blooming flower dotted with emerald and crimson gemstone. My eyes went back inside the box, the lehenga was heavily detailed too.

"Ira." I turned around at the voice, it was soft. I found Yuvraj's mom standing with a woman next to her whom I didn't recognise.

"Beta she's here to style you tonight," she said motioning her hand at the woman next to her. "Tumhe milgya na wo outfit?" She looked behind me and said, "han wo outfit Yuvraj ne choose kia hai, khud se."

[That outfit was chosen by Yuvraj himself.]

His choice wasn't something despisable but his attitude was overall making me despise this outfit.

After an hour and half I was ready for tonight, looking like the perfect bride, I looked at myself in the mirror, the outfit hugged all my curves perfectly. I couldn't deny it, the outfit was fabulous. I reached out to touch the choker resting on my collarbone, my fingers grazed on the designs.

"You look absolutely gorgeous ma'am," the stylist commented. I found myself smiling at her complement before I replied her with a "thank you."

"Ma'am wo apke pati apko kab se dekhe ja rahe hai unhe bhi kuch bolna hoga."

[Ma'am your husband has been looking at you, he must want to say something too.]

My eyebrows knitted. "Kya?"

[What?]

"Wo udhar gate pe kabse khade hai."

[He's there standing by the door.]

The thought of him watching me irritated me but also my cheeks turned warm, pulse quickened. I turned around and found him at the threshold, leaning against the door frame. He finally pushed away and marched to me. He moved his head to left looking at the stylist and she excused herself.