Rebel Hard (Hard Play #2)(61)

How very strange that her often flighty sister would say that on the verge of Nayna’s decision to step out into the world on her own. “Promise me that if Sandesh ever hurts you, you’ll tell me.”

“Promise,” Madhuri said at once.

“Do you want to pursue anything against Vinod now? A police case?” There probably wasn’t much the police could do with the evidence of violence long faded, but laying the complaint could help Madhuri heal.

Her sister shook her head. “No. It probably makes me a coward, but I just want to move on.”

“It doesn’t make you anything of the sort,” Nayna said fiercely. “You have to look after yourself and heal the best way you can.”

Madhuri shuddered out a breath, as if Nayna’s words had taken a weight off her shoulders. “Ninu? I’m sorry you didn’t get to go to parties, or on that exchange trip you earned.”

It was an apology that had come years too late, but Nayna had already forgiven her sister, had no more resentment in her heart, only love and hope that Madhuri’s second marriage would be as joyful as her first had been horrible. “It’s okay, Maddie.” She rose onto her knees to hug her sister.

After they parted, Madhuri returned her attention to the mirror to do the final tweaks to her makeup. “This time around, I picked a good man,” she said. “Just like you have.” Smiling with a determined brightness that thrust the past away, she lifted up her wrist. “Look what Sandesh gave me as a present after I accepted him,” she whispered conspiratorially. “I haven’t told Ma or Dad. They’d be scandalized.” A giggle.

Nayna’s eyes widened. “Are those diamonds?” On Madhuri’s wrist was a bangle that blended in with all the others except that the fire in the stones was icily real while the others were all pretty fakes.

“Of course they are.” Madhuri put down her lipstick. “I’m marrying a filthy-rich man. And he knows how to treat me.” A frowning glance in the mirror. “Oh my gawd, I just realized what you’re wearing. Go, change!”



* * *



Nayna dressed quickly in an ombré-blue half sari with pearlescent beading, the skirt swirling around her ankles. Though this kurta was longer than her usual preference, it was cut to flatter her figure, and once she pinned the gauzy white dupatta in a front-facing style, the outfit turned quickly elegant.

Hair up in a bun, a dash of makeup, and she was done.

Walking out to the kitchen, she helped her mother arrange the last of the snacks. “Thank you, Ninu,” Shilpa Sharma said with a quick side hug. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Nayna’s stomach hurt.

Smiling through it, she picked up the tray of sweets and took it out into the living area, her mother bringing the savories. Raj managed to brush his hand over her hip as he ducked into the kitchen to carry out the tea and cups.

That was when her mother announced that Madhuri’s affianced was bringing along his elderly parents as well as two siblings and their wives and children.

“Our living room isn’t that big,” Nayna muttered to Raj while her parents were distracted. “Why is he bringing so many people?”

“Probably because he wants to show off his fiancée.” Raj’s dark gaze was solemn. “You doing okay?”

She just had time to nod before her mother waved frantically. “I think I hear their cars! Go make sure your sister is ready!”





32





Extreme Danger Warning: Duck for Cover





Nayna didn’t have another chance to talk to Raj in the two hours that followed. Dr. Patel’s family exclaimed over Madhuri’s beauty with plenty of “Wah, wah, etna sundar” and “Poora film star!” Being told she was as beautiful as a film star was nothing new to Madhuri, but Nayna’s sister managed to produce an excellent facsimile of a meek and blushing bride overcome by their compliments.

Nayna elbowed her at one point. “You’re laying it on a bit thick, Maddie.”

A soft giggle. “I thought about pulling my dupatta across my face, but who wants to get condensation marks on a new silk dupatta?”

Nayna’s lips twitched.

Across from them, Madhuri’s doctor—a distinguished older man with wings of gray in his hair and a rangy frame—couldn’t take his eyes off her. And every so often, Madhuri would shoot him a private look that gave Nayna hope her sister’s marriage would be a happy one.

As for Raj, her father introduced him to the guests as his younger daughter’s fiancé. Nayna’s fingers clenched in the folds of her skirt, but there was no way she could correct her father in front of strangers. Raj captured her eyes in the aftermath, gave a tiny shake of his head, a silent reminder that she didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want.

Her lungs expanded, her mind clearing.

Just as her father stood up and clapped to bring the meeting to attention—after returning from a private chat with the doctor. “My future son-in-law has asked permission to marry my daughter far more quickly than would usually be acceptable. It turns out he’s just been offered a prestigious position at a teaching hospital in London.”

Everyone gasped. Madhuri did a good job of appearing shocked and amazed.