Her Deviant Husband | [✓]

Chapter 30

Athira's pov.

The quiet hum of anticipation filled the air as soft sunlight filtered through the my bedroom's windows. I sat on an plush stool before a mirror, my reflection startlingly unfamiliar.

The lehenga I wore felt like it belonged to someone else— perhaps a princess, no more like a  queen from a storybook, maybe.

The rich red and white fabric was embroidered with intricate patterns of crystals and pearls, a perfect blend of my Rajasthani and Bengali heritage. It felt like I was carrying a part of my parents with me. It shimmered like starlight, but my heart only throbbed at the idea of not seeing my family every day.

I never wanted to marry. I didn't even want romance if I got to live with my family. But instead I am now being stripped from both possibilities. I wanted to cry.

"Sit still, or I swear I'll use lipstick to draw a moustache on you," Aiyanna warned, holding a makeup brush like it was a weapon.

I shot her a glare through the mirror. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"

"Nope," she said, popping the p with a cheeky grin.

"Now stop frowning, or your wedding pictures will make it look like you were forced into this."

I mean... I technically am-

Despite myself, I laughed, letting her swipe some blush onto my cheeks. Aiyanna had always been this way—light-hearted, playful, and impossible to be mad at for long. She was exactly the kind of person I needed in this moment to keep me from dissolving into a puddle of nervous energy.

"Perfect! Now you look like someone who actually slept last night," she teased, stepping back to admire her work. "You know, for someone who's the Executive Director of an empire, you're surprisingly bad at taking care of yourself."

"Thanks, Dr. with no MBBS," I shot back, earning a loud laugh from her.

Before I could retort further, Maa entered the room with a calm smile. She carried a velvet-lined tray filled with my wedding jewelry.

The gold shone brightly, adorned with rubies, diamonds and pearls.

"Time to put these on," Maa said, her voice soft. She set the tray on the dressing table and picked up the heavy necklace first.

"Wow," Aiyanna exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Athira di, this looks like something straight out of a royal museum. Are you sure you're not secretly a princess?"

I rolled my eyes as Maa chuckled.

"This necklace is a shringar-patti," Maa explained, gently fastening it around my neck. "It represents prosperity and protection. A married woman carries the blessings of the family she's married into."

Her hands lingered for a moment, adjusting the necklace.
There was a tenderness in her touch that made my throat tighten.

"Maa," I began, but she cut me off with a smile.

"Wait, there's more," she said, holding up the nath. "This nose ring symbolizes your strength and determination. Wearing it reminds a woman of her inner power."

Aiyanna snorted. "So basically, it's saying, 'Don't mess with Athira di.'"

"Exactly," Maa replied, giving Aiyanna a pointed look.

As she moved to the bangles, Maa's smile grew wistful.

"You know, when your papa and I got married, he did something unexpected. After the ls, he knelt and kissed my feet in front of everyone, promising to always love and was all mine for the rest of our lives."