My loveless marriage

Part 32

***Abhimanyu's P.O.V***

An hour had passed since we'd entered the reception to a humongous applause as dad had introduced me and Naina as Mr. and Mrs.... But we'd not spoken a word since Naina's heart shattering words inside the car. Though she was standing next to me, and beaming up at anyone who came over to us to congratulate us on our wedding, yet, I could sense that something was off.

Was it something I'd said, or something I'd done?!

I yet again looked over at Naina who was standing right beside me, wearing her best smile, but her eyes - they looked lost and... hurt?

Finally after a lot of mingling, we found ourselves standing a little away from the crowd, while people got on the dance floor, slow romantic music in the background. The clatter of fork and knives of plate rang softly in the background as people dined, while on the other hand, there was a soft clutter of glasses as people drank at the bar at the other side of the hall. 

Even with the hall bustling with people, yet it felt silent. Though there was a lot of talk and laughter, I felt I could make out every single source of the noise, seeing how I was half bored to death, with dejection coursing through my blood.

"Oh I'm so sorry.... we got... stuck!" I heard a familiar feminine voice, and turning around, found Gayathri - Naina's elder sister, along with her husband Dharam as they made their way towards us.

I felt Naina stiffening beside me, and her arm coil around mine as her sister and brother-in-law finally stood in front of us, beaming.

Tall, fair and deep-set black eyes, Gayathri looked nothing like Naina. Sisters sure but they hardly had any resemblance! While Naina is curvaceous and feisty, Gayathri is slim and dainty. Naina has long beautiful hair with those captivating brown doe eyes while Gayathri has shoulder-length wavy hair and deep-set black eyes.

While Naina hardly smiles, Gayathri always seems to have a smile plastered on her thin lips!!

Dharam looks like a match made for Gayathri, with his tall, well-built body and fair skin and chiseled face and that chin-dimple! He even has normal dimples on his clean-shaven cheeks and brown wavy hair with his loose curls falling on his forehead, giving him a more dashing look. All in all, they sure look like a match made in heaven!

"Congratulations Abhi... or should I say... brother?!" Dharam asked in his usual chirpy voice, grinning broadly at me and pulling me into a man-hug, while Naina still stood there, clutching my arm tightly.

"Congratulations jija-ji!! I must say you both make such a lovely couple!" Gayathri chirped, beaming at me and Naina, who had my left arm in a really tight grip by now.

Shooting a sparing glance at Naina, who too had a smile plastered on her face but her eyes having turned cold, I put my right hand on her arm that was clutching mine in a reassuring sort of way before beaming at Gayathri and Dharam.

"Thank you...thank you so much... I'm really glad you guys could come" I beamed, shooting another glance towards Naina, who still had that weird smile on her face.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say something wasn't right here between the two sisters!

"We really wanted to come too... But well... We didn't realize how fast time flew" Dharam winked, while a blushing Gayathri nudged him by her elbow, to which he chuckled.

"Oh uh..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say for this.

"Excuse me" Naina said curtly before letting go off my hand and dashing off, leaving me shocked and confused with her sister and brother-in-law.