Page 117 of The Defiant Wife

"He wasn't being cooperative, Bhabhi Sa," I mumble, trying to defend him even though I know they'll never let me. "He was just impatient because he wanted to get back to his reports before lunch. The man practically runs on schedules."

"Oh, please," Poorvi says with a knowing grin. "The whole palace knows his new schedule."

She folds her arms dramatically. "Finish meetings."

She looks at bhabhi sa. "Drive to the NGO." A teasing forming on her face. "Find Diya."

She laughs."I've never seen him finish work so quickly in the last few years I have known him."

"Oh my God," I groan, covering my face. "You people seriously need hobbies."

"We have one," Meher says sweetly."It's watching the two of you fall in love."

I let out the most embarrassed laugh of my life."You all are impossible."

Before either of them can tease me again, something small suddenly lands right in my lap.

"Aah!"Aadhya climbs onto my knees without asking permission, nearly knocking the fruit platter over in the process.She's wearing a bright orange frock, her hair is all over the place, and there's strawberry jam smeared across one cheek.She wraps her tiny arms around my neck."Cha!" she announces proudly.

The nickname instantly melts my heart.

She pulls back just enough to poke one of the pale patches on my cheek with a sticky finger. "Cha pretty."Then she smiles brightly."Play blocks?"

My throat tightens.

I pull her into another hug, burying my face in her soft curls that smell like baby powder and sunshine.

Growing up, I spend years believing there is something wrong with the way I look. That my skin is something people tolerate.

Something that embarrasses them.

But this little girl doesn't see any of that.

To Aadhya . . . I'm just Cha.

The one who builds block towers. The one who plays games with her. The one who makes her laugh.

I blink away the tears gathering in my eyes and look up.

Meher bhabhi sa and Poorvi are watching us with soft smiles. Not pity. Not sympathy.

Just love.

I kiss Aadhya's forehead before tickling her sides.She bursts into loud giggles that echo through the gardens, making all three of us laugh with her.

As the afternoon sun slowly paints everything gold, I look around at the people sitting beside me.

Somewhere along the way . . . This family quietly becomes mine too.

For the first time in my life, I don't feel like someone looking in from the outside.

I feel like I belong.

I feel like I'm home.

46. THE DISTANCE

VEERAJ