Vrishali's lips pulled into a straight line when the strange lady took long steps towards Padmanabh and hugged him tightly.

"Harika?" Vrishali heard Padmanabh.

Padmanabh was surprised to see Harika but even more surprised when she hugged him. She knew that he didn't like physical contact, which is why they had never hugged in their eighteen years of friendship.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him.

"I'm here with my family. What about you?" Padmanabh asked her, finally stepping away from the hug.

He feels uneasy and uncomfortable whenever people invade his personal space, even if they are his friends. He doesn't understand why Harika needed to hug him, but it would be rude not to return the gesture.

"I'm here on a business work. Wasn't expecting to meet you."

"When did you return from London? I thought you were in London," Padmanabh said.

He met Harika eighteen years ago through his close friend Vijay. Although she had been part of the trio, Padmanabh never really opened up with her. Padmanabh is aware of Vrishali standing behind him. He is waiting to introduce her.

"I was in London last year. I moved to India a while ago." Padmanabh nodded before turning around to face Vrishali. "Anyway, Vrishali, meet my friend Harika." Padmanabh then faced Harika. "Harika, meet my wife Vrishali."

Vrishali felt the relief flood through her body when Padmanabh stepped towards her. She watched Harika's eyes twitch when Padmanabh was smiling at her. Vrishali smiled and shook hands with Harika.

"It's nice to meet you," Vrishali said.

"Likewise. I'm sure I couldn't attend the wedding. I was in Tokyo, and I wasn't expecting Padmanabh to get married this soon." Vrishali didn't know what to make out of it, so she just watched Harika.

"Aren't you from India? Your accent sounds different."

"I was born and brought up in New York," Vrishali answered vaguely. She isn't getting friendly vibes from Harika. There's this bitchy vibe radiating from Harika. Harika is beautiful and she looks like one of those runway models.

Harika broke her attention from Vrishali and looked at Padmanabh. "Is your family here?"

"Yes, they are taking rest. Ma and Papa are out to meet a local minister." Harika nodded. "Well, it's pleasantly surprising to see you marrying a NRI. You never liked Westernised things." It was like a jab to Vrishali. Before she could utter a word. Padmanbh answered,

"Well, you don't know me well enough to throw the comment. And, things and beliefs change accordingly." Harika's cheeks flushed pink, and Vrishali felt smug.

"True. I'm sorry if I offended you. I was just surprised. Anyway, why don't we catch up? Vijay is in the city too. Let us three meet for lunch and catch up on our lives," Harika suggested.

"Okay, text me the time and location."

"Perfect." Vrishali tried hard not to roll her eyes. They parted ways. Padmanabh and Vrishali stepped into the elevator and waited for their floor. None of them spoke anything. Vrishali was in a sore mood, and she wasn't happy meeting Harika.

Padmanabh unlocked their suit. It was a presidential suite; Vrishali looked around and looked at the interior of the suite. There was only one bed and she isn't sure what Padmanabh was thinking.

Padmanabh's gaze went to Vrishali and the bed. "Hmm, I will be sleeping in the living area. You don't have to worry about it. I couldn't book different rooms for us." Vrishali nodded.

"You can use the restroom first to freshen up. We will leave in an hour to meet my friends."

"Hmm— I'm tired. . . I want to rest." Padmanabh was taken aback. He was wondering if Vrishali would join in for lunch. "Are you sure? We can return as soon as possible."

"I'm sorry but I don't think I can."Padmanabh nodded before heading to the restroom. Vrishali sighed; she wasn't ready to meet his friends. Usually, she wouldn't mind meeting them, but after encountering Harika, she was sure she wouldn't feel comfortable.

Vrishali picked up her phone and browsed through the photos in her gallery. Among them, she found pictures of Padmanabh. In one particular photo, she noticed Harika standing in the middle. A sudden unease settled in her stomach; she couldn't shake her uncomfortable feeling about Harika.

*

"You married an NRI? The guy who never had a relationship is tied down to an NRI?" Vijay asked. "She is going to be a resident of India."

"Yeah, but this is surprising. When you said you were going to marry, I thought it was Radhika Mewar." Padmanabh stared at Vijay. "She is a Mewar."

"Who?" Harika asked.

"Radhika, obviously," Vijay said, but Harika was looking at Padmanabh. "My wife is a Mewar."

"Wait what?!" Vijay asked. "She is Radhika's cousin."

"Woah, how did you end up marrying the NRI Mewar? That must be such a drama." Vijay beamed as he waited for Padmanabh to open up about the marriage history. "It was never Radhika. Dada and Dadi loved Vrishali, and it's a mystery. So, I don't have the answers to your questions."

Vijay hummed. "How is she though? Is she like Radhika?" Harika looked at Vijay. "Have you met Radhika before?"

"Yeah, I have met a couple of times. She is a beauty but has the attitude."

"Vrishali— Vrishali. . ." Padmanabh doesn't have the proper word to describe Vrishali and he isn't sure how to put it out. "She is a beautiful person."

"And?" Vijay asked, but Padmanabh kept his mouth shut. After a while, Vijay gave up asking when he got the memo that Padmanabh wasn't going to open his mouth.

"Are you happy with this arrangement? I saw the distance between you two. . . Did your grandparents force you to marry her?" Harika asked. Vijay looked in between Harika and Padmanabh.

Padmanabh slightly narrowed his eyes at Harika. From the moment they met, Harika had been behaving indifferently. "I was not forced into this arrangement. It is an arranged marriage that takes both of us to open up. What you may have seen or interpreted is simply a misunderstanding, not the full picture of our situation."

"We both are new to this relationship. We both are mature enough to make our decisions, and I don't want to disrespect and rush into something that would make my wife uncomfortable. Nor do I want to rush something. I'm happy with our process, and it's a new experience knowing one other."

Harika bit her tongue as Padmanabh tapped his finger on the table. "And I do not like it when people question my personal matters."

Vijay could feel the tension. He is sure that Harka might've said something that she shouldn't have. Vijay let out a chuckle trying to break the tension. "You are right, brother. No one has the right to question others."

Padmanabh looked at Vijay. "What are you doing here?"

"There's a major project that I'm working on personally. It's a minister's property and I had to come down to check on it. We will be returning in three days." Vijay owned an architecture firm.

"Harika had left her job. She joined me four months ago as a team member." Vijay felt the urge to add it at the end of the sentence.

"Why have you left London?" Padmanabh asked. Harika's family have settled down in London five years ago. "My mum wants me to get married and I'm running away."

Padmanabh nodded his head in acknowledgement, deciding not to ask her any more questions. The lunch continued as they caught up on their business and personal lives. Despite feeling Harika's gaze on him, Padmanabh avoided looking at her. He felt uncomfortable, and there was a strange tension in the atmosphere between them.

*

Padmanabh returned to the hotel room shortly thereafter. He was certain that room service, along with some herbal tea, had been sent to their room. He had requested room service while leaving, he was hoping to have Vrishali beside him. Vijay had been a close friend, and he was hoping for them to meet, but she declined. 

To ensure that she ate something for lunch, he ordered room service. All he wanted was for her to have a meal. He knocked on the bedroom door and waited, but when there was no response, he opened the door and stepped inside.

He paused at the doorway, taking in the sight of Vrishali peacefully asleep. Soft strands of hair fell gracefully across her face, and the warm light from the window highlighted her serene expression. An empty plate lay on the table. A gentle smile spread across his lips as he admired her tranquil beauty, before quietly easing the door shut, ensuring not to disturb her slumber.

*

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