𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 : 𝑨 𝑴𝒂𝒇𝒊𝒂 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

{47}•ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴋɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ•

ANIRUDH

Today was the mehendi function, and God fucking damn it, that Nani Maa had declared it a women-only event. Men were not allowed.

It fucking irritated me.

My wife was inside, obviously having fun with that girl-her friend or sister-in-law or whatever. Laughing, smiling, enjoying herself while I was stuck here in my damn room, staring at this godforsaken computer, pretending to work.

Like hell I could focus.

I leaned back in my chair, running a frustrated hand through my hair, my jaw clenching. The sound of distant laughter, the faint echo of music, and the occasional jingling of bangles reached me through the open balcony doors. I knew she was in there, probably with her hands covered in henna, giggling about something ridiculous.

And me? I was here, supposed to be working.

Like shit, I should work.

Because I couldn't be a goddamn puppy and roam after my wife. I had work. I had responsibilities.

Focus, Anirudh.

I exhaled sharply, forcing my eyes back to the screen. The words blurred. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, unmoving. What the hell was I even doing?

I had signed off an email-twice. Deleted the same damn sentence three times. Opened the same file, only to stare at it blankly.

My mind wasn't on work. It was on her.

On how she must be looking right now, dressed in some traditional outfit, her wrists jingling with bangles, her lips stretched into that innocent smile. On how she must be sitting among the women, teasing and laughing, completely unaware of the effect she had on me.

And for what? Some stupid tradition?

I scoffed under my breath, slamming my laptop shut. Screw this. Screw everything.

If I couldn't be inside with her, then fine. But I sure as hell wouldn't sit here like some obedient husband while my wife had all the fun without me.

Let's see how long this stupid "only for girls" rule lasts.

The cursor blinked mockingly on my screen as I hit send on yet another email.

It had been an hour.

An entire damn hour of replying, drafting, forwarding-doing everything that was expected of me. Yet, my focus had been nowhere near work.

I wouldn't admit it. Not even to myself. But I was missing her.

That little troublemaker had somehow managed to get under my skin, crawling into places I never thought I'd allow anyone. And now, her absence was gnawing at me, making it impossible to concentrate.

Fuck this.

I let out a sharp exhale, snapping the laptop shut with more force than necessary. The silence in my room felt suffocating, as if the walls were mocking me for being so utterly distracted by her.

I stood up, running a frustrated hand through my hair.

Enough.

I wasn't going to sit here like some obedient husband while my wife laughed, smiled, and enjoyed herself without me.

My feet moved on their own as I made my way toward Rang Mahal, the section of the palace where the mehendi function was taking place.

As I reached the entrance, my steps halted abruptly.