The Sangeet
By late afternoon, the De Luca mansion no longer looked like the cold, intimidating home it usually was.
It had been transformed.
Strings of golden lights hung from the balconies.
Marigold flowers covered the entrance, while red and gold fabrics flowed from the pillars.
The enormous garden had been decorated with flowers, lanterns, and a beautifully decorated stage.
Music played softly through the mansion.
Servants rushed around carrying trays of food and arranging chairs.
Guests had begun arriving.
It was Purvi’s sangeet.
And everyone seemed excited.
Everyone except Vincenzo.
He stood inside his study, staring at his phone.
“I have a meeting.”
Lucia, sitting comfortably in the armchair across from him, didn’t even look up from the jewelry box in her lap.
“No, you don’t.”
Vincenzo’s jaw tightened.
“I do.”
“With whom?”
“A client.”
“Name?”
He paused.
Lucia finally looked at him.
“Exactly.”
Vincenzo exhaled sharply.
“Grandmother, I have actual business to handle.”
“And you have a wife whose sangeet is tonight.”
“I’ll attend for thirty minutes.”
“Two hours.”
“One.”
“Two.”
“Grandmother—”
“Three.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
Lucia smiled sweetly.
“Your mother and father will be there.
Your brother.
Your sister.
The entire family.
And your wife.”
“I understand.”
“Then act like a husband.”
His expression darkened.
“This is a contract.”
Lucia’s smile disappeared.
“Perhaps.”
She stood.
“But she is still a young woman who has left her family and entered ours.
Whether you love her or not, she deserves kindness.”
Vincenzo said nothing.
Lucia walked past him.
“And if you attempt to escape through that study window, I’ll have Alessandro lock your bedroom door from the outside.”
Vincenzo stared after her.
He couldn’t believe his grandmother.
Upstairs, Purvi stood before the mirror.
She barely recognized herself.
She wore a stunning red sari with delicate golden embroidery, the fabric draped elegantly around her petite frame.
Gold jewelry adorned her neck and ears, while her bangles chimed softly whenever she moved.
Her head was partially covered with the edge of the sari.
She looked down at herself and smiled.
A knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
Isabella entered.
The moment she saw Purvi, she stopped.
“Oh my God.”
Purvi laughed.
“What?”
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Isabella walked closer.
“Vincenzo is going to have a heart attack.”
Purvi laughed again.
“Why?”
“Because you look nothing like the woman who was helping the cooks yesterday.”
Purvi adjusted her bangles.
“I’m still the same woman.”
“I know.”
Isabella smiled.
“That’s what I like about you.”
Before Purvi could answer, music suddenly grew louder downstairs.
Guests had arrived.
Isabella grabbed her hand.
“Come on.”
The moment Purvi stepped into the main hall, several guests turned toward her.
Whispers filled the room.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Look at her.”
“Such a lovely bride.”
Purvi smiled shyly.
Then she saw Vincenzo.
He stood near the entrance with Alessandro.
He wore a black traditional sherwani, his broad shoulders making the outfit look almost unfairly good on him.
His expression remained as cold as ever.
Until his eyes landed on Purvi.
He stopped.
For a brief moment, he simply stared.
His gaze moved over the red sari.
The gold embroidery.
The way the fabric fitted her delicate frame.
The exposed line of her waist where the sari was traditionally draped.
Then he immediately looked away.
What the hell was he doing?
She was his wife.
Contract wife.
Nothing more.
He had no business noticing how the sari fitted her.
Alessandro caught the expression on his brother’s face.
He smirked.
“You okay?”
Vincenzo glared at him.
“Fine.”
“You look distracted.”
“I’m not.”
Alessandro glanced toward Purvi.
“Right.”
“Don’t.”
Alessandro raised both hands.
“I didn’t say anything.”
Vincenzo gave him one final warning look.
Purvi approached them.
“Good evening.”
Alessandro smiled.
“Good evening, sister-in-law.”
Vincenzo simply nodded.
“You took long enough.”
Purvi blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“We’ve been waiting.”
She looked at Isabella.
“I thought I was early.”
“You are,” Isabella said.
Alessandro laughed.
“Ignore him.”
Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed.
“I can hear you.”
“Good.”
Purvi tried not to laugh.
Then the music stopped.
Lucia stepped forward.
“Come, child.”
Purvi walked toward her.
Lucia held her hand.
“Tonight, you officially become part of our family.”
Purvi smiled.
“Thank you, Grandmother.”
One of the elderly guests smiled.
“Where is the groom?”
Lucia turned toward Vincenzo.
“Come here.”
Vincenzo reluctantly walked forward.
Purvi stood beside him.
The guests smiled.
Someone brought forward a tray filled with flowers.
Blessings were exchanged.
Then Lucia suddenly looked at Purvi.
“Child.”
“Yes?”
“Touch your husband’s feet.”
Purvi’s eyes widened.
Vincenzo’s expression changed immediately.
“Grandmother.”
Lucia ignored him.
“It’s a blessing.”
Purvi hesitated.
Then she carefully bent down.
Vincenzo immediately stepped backward.
“What are you doing?”
Purvi looked up.
“Grandmother told me to.”
Lucia gave him a look.
“Stand still.”
Vincenzo muttered something under his breath.
Purvi finally touched his feet respectfully.
Lucia raised her hand over them.
“May you both have a long and happy marriage.”
She blessed them warmly.
“May your home always be filled with peace, love, and children.”
Purvi’s cheeks turned pink.
Vincenzo looked uncomfortable.
Lucia smiled.
“Now bless your wife.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“Grandmother.”
“Do it.”
He slowly placed his hand over Purvi’s head.
His palm barely touched her hair.
“Be happy.”
It was the shortest blessing imaginable.
Everyone laughed.
Purvi looked up at him.
“That’s all?”
“What else do you want?”
“A proper blessing.”
“You got one.”
She smiled.
“Thank you.”
Something about that smile made him look away.
Serafina watched them from across the room.
Her expression hardened.
She had been polite toward Purvi since the wedding, but she hadn’t warmed to her.
She watched how easily Purvi had captured Lucia’s affection.
How Isabella already treated her like a sister.
How Alessandro teased her like he’d known her for years.
And now even the guests adored her.
Serafina didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
Monisha stood beside her.
“She seems to be settling in quickly.”
Serafina’s lips tightened.
“Too quickly.”
Monisha looked at her.
Serafina continued watching Purvi.
“Vincenzo’s life was perfectly ordered before this marriage.”
Monisha said nothing.
Across the room, Purvi was laughing with Isabella.
Vincenzo found himself looking at her again.
She looked different tonight.
Not because of the jewelry.
Not because of the sari.
It was the way she smiled.
So freely.
So naturally.
He quickly turned away.
This was exactly why contracts were safer.
No emotions.
No complications.
No attachments.
He had made that clear to Purvi.
And he intended to keep it that way.
Then Purvi’s bangles chimed as she walked past him.
Vincenzo’s eyes followed her for half a second.
He frowned.
He really needed to stop noticing her.
Because the contract was supposed to keep things simple.
And somehow, his wife was already making that impossible.