Sathya's eyes fluttered open, and she blinked against the warm sunlight streaming through the windows. For a moment, she lay still, her mind clouded with remnants of last night's thoughts. Then, her gaze darted to the clock on the wall, and her heart skipped a beat.
10:39 AM.
Her breath hitched. She bolted upright, her disheveled hair falling over her face as panic coursed through her veins.
How could I have slept in so late? she thought, her face heating up with embarrassment. A new bride waking up this late? Amma's going to think I'm lazy!
She glanced around, her cheeks flushing deeper when her eyes landed on the thick red rose petals scattered across the bed. Their fragrance lingered in the air, a rich, sweet scent that felt heavy with last night's unresolved emotions. She hurriedly began gathering the petals, her fingers trembling. Every handful reminded her of the whirlwind of emotions she'd felt-anger, frustration, heartbreak-but no trace of the intimacy her in-laws seemed to expect. Only she and Sidh knew the truth of what had happened, or rather, what hadn't.
The knock on the door startled her. She froze, clutching the handful of petals as a familiar voice called out, "Beta Sathya, open the door."
Her stomach sank. "Who is it?" she asked hesitantly.
"It's me, Parvathi Amma. Open the door, Sathya," came the reply, warm yet firm.
She hurriedly dumped the petals back onto the bed and straightened her clothes, her heart pounding. "Coming, Amma," she said, her voice faltering. She opened the door to find Parvathi Amma standing there, accompanied by her sister-in-law, Hemaja.
Hemaja's eyes sparkled mischievously as she nudged Parvathi. "Look at her, parvathi," she said, giggling. Parvathi's gaze softened as she took in Sathya's appearance. Her smudged sindoor and the dark circles under her eyes told a story neither Sathya nor Sidh wanted to share.
"Oh, beta," Parvathi said gently, "Are you feeling better now? If you're still tired, you should rest more."
Sathya's face burned with shame. "No, Amma, I'm fine," she said quickly, avoiding their eyes.
Parvathi handed her a steaming cup of coffee. "Take this, beta, and make sure to have a good bath. You'll feel refreshed."
Hemaja stifled another giggle as she tugged at Parvathi's arm. The two women walked away, their hushed laughter echoing in the hallway. Sathya closed the door, leaning against it with a sigh. She didn't understand their amusement until she caught her reflection in the mirror.
Her breath hitched.
Her hair was a mess, her sindoor smeared across her forehead, and her puffy eyes bore the evidence of a night spent crying. Her heart sank further. They think we... She pressed a hand to her mouth, mortified.
Only Sidh and I know the truth, she thought bitterly. He didn't even touch me.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the household buzzed with activity. Adhya and Niya were chopping vegetables, Shreya was enjoying her breakfast, and Shwetha and the servant, Sithara, were busy cooking. The aroma of spices filled the air as conversations floated around.
Parvathi and Hemaja returned, still giggling.
Adhya noticed and raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny, Amma?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing," Hemaja said, her smile widening.
Shreya's sharp voice cut in. "Let me guess, Sathya's still sleeping, isn't she? What a wonderful new bride-waking up in the afternoon. Such a shame." Her words dripped with jealousy.
YOU ARE READING
Love Reborn
Romansa"Love Reborn: A Tale of Unlikely Reunion" "Sathya Vishwanath and Sidharth Menon, born and raised in Kerala, India, shared a high school connection. At 18, Sidh was the star football player, charming and confident, while 12-year-old Sathya was a shy...
