Finding the Lost Souls (Watty 2018)

8. BEING HER HUSBAND

The party was in full swing—alcohol flowing, the DJ playing upbeat tracks, and a lavish buffet keeping the guests entertained. Mr. and Mrs. Bhalla, along with the Iyer couple, played the perfect hosts, mingling and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Meanwhile, Raman stood at the center of attention, precisely the man his father wanted him to be, engaging the Australian guests and Business Council members.

Everyone was lost in their own world, enjoying the grandeur of the evening. But there was one person who stood apart—a young woman trapped among a group of middle-aged ladies, smiling weakly at their half-hearted jokes while feeling utterly detached from their shallow conversations.

Ishita sighed inwardly.
Parties like these were never her thing. Even before marriage, she found them dull and superficial, always finding excuses to avoid them. Now, standing among the socialites, she mentally cursed her best friend.
“Argh! These socialites are painfully boring. Makeup, gossip, and scandals—that's all they ever talk about! Where is Mihika? If she delays any longer, I might just pull my hair out!”

She forced a polite smile at a woman offering unsolicited advice on how to "seduce" her husband. Ishita could only wonder why people were so keen on distributing advice no one asked for. Adjusting the pallu of her saree, she took a sip of her juice.

"Ishita, next week, I’ll take you to Mrs. Sinha’s card party. They’re quite famous across Delhi," her mother-in-law said excitedly.

Ishita nodded absently, her mind elsewhere, eyes scanning the crowd for Mihika. Instead, her gaze landed on Raman. He was standing with a group of investors from Mumbai, his posture formal, his demeanor professional. Their eyes met briefly, and he sent her a questioning glance. She responded with a silent plea for rescue, making a puppy face and subtly gesturing toward the women around her.

Raman understood immediately. Unlike his father’s friends, who were at least discussing business, Ishita had no interest in endless talks of cosmetics and gossip. He reassured her with a small smile and returned to his conversation. Ishita sighed, resigned to her situation.

After some time, Ishita noticed Raman had moved to a group of friends, including Romi and Mihir. She considered calling him over but decided against it, seeing him engrossed in conversation.

"At least he’s enjoying himself," she muttered under her breath. "And here I am, stuck with—"

Her thoughts were interrupted by Romi’s cheerful voice.
"What's going on here?"

"Nothing, beta," Mrs. Bhalla replied. "I was just introducing Ishita to my friends."

"Aunty, if you don’t mind, can I borrow Bhabhi? A few of our friends want to meet her," Romi said with a mischievous grin.

Ishita internally squealed with relief. Her mother-in-law agreed, and Ishita quickly followed Romi, her smile finally genuine.

When they reached the group, Ishita greeted them with a small smile, instantly easing into their friendly banter. She took a seat beside Raman, who noticed her discomfort and subtly wrapped an arm around her, offering silent comfort.

"Bhabhi, how did you agree to marry this nerd?" one of Raman’s friends teased.

Raman glared at his friend, while Ishita chuckled.
"Bhabhi, you look beautiful! You both complement each other so well," another friend added.

Ishita managed a shy smile, adjusting her saree once more. Raman, who had been observing her closely, tightened his hold on her shoulder.

"If you're uncomfortable in these clothes, you don’t have to wear them," he said softly.