She was creating a distance between them and he was getting worried. Dev’s eyes flicked across the white-and-gold ballroom. Why had she been crying earlier today? It had been more than crying. It had been gut-wrenching sobs that had torn at him.
Instinct had guided him when he’d tried to break down the bathroom door. Dev rotated his shoulder as he felt a twinge of pain. He had panicked but this time he knew not to dismiss the signs.
This time. Dev pulled uncomfortably at his tie. Was she falling into a depression again? Was this arrangement triggering it? No, he decided. He refused to believe that.
Tina might think he had overreacted, but for the past two weeks he had noticed a change in Tina’s behavior. She had been listless and staring off into the distance. He had woken her from a bad dream the night before and soothed her back to sleep only for her to talk in her sleep. Why wasn’t she telling him what was troubling her?
Dev’s heart clenched when he found Tina. She stood among a circle of friends, tilting her head back as she laughed. He yearned to hear that sound more than the chime of her bangles or the faint jingle of her gold anklets.
She didn’t wear the sari he had suggested. Dev thought she looked feminine and graceful in a sari but he had to admit she was incredibly sexy in the emerald green ghagra choli. The short sleeves emphasized her toned arms and the snug shirt revealed the smooth, golden skin of her midriff. The long beaded skirt flared at the knee, but it wasn’t as modest as he had hoped. Instead it clung lovingly to her curves.
Tina looked strong and healthy. Elegant and stunning. He was damn proud to have her at his side. As his wife.
Dev’s expression grew fierce as he watched Tina. He was proud of her. She had achieved so much through hard work and perseverance. She didn’t seem to be aware of her own strength. Not only had she faced challenges to support her family, but she had also struggled to recover from grief and illness.
He saw Tina’s posture stiffen before she raised her head and captured his gaze. She gave him a questioning look and Dev allowed his eyes to linger on her tiny blouse and bare stomach. He dragged his gaze back to her face and watched his wife blush.
Her smile faded as he approached. She quickly said something to the other women and briskly met him in the middle of the ballroom.
“What do you think of the wedding?” Dev asked.
She glanced at the round stage. “I feel sorry for the bride.”
Her words pinched his chest. He grabbed at his dark tie and loosened it. Was this her opinion on marriage? Did she feel sorry for all brides and wives? “Why is that?”
Tina gave a small shrug. “It’s supposed to be her day but no one is paying attention to her. Not even the groom. They are all too busy trying to do business and make deals.”
Dev placed his hand on the small of her back and was rewarded with the touch of her warm, smooth skin. “I paid attention to you at our wedding,” he said against her ear.
Tina shivered from his nearness. “Yes, but I made sure there were no other distractions.”
Their elopement had been stripped down to the essentials. He had ignored the postwedding rituals that included welcoming Tina into his house and his family. His wife was modern but he should have honored her new role. He should have shown how important she was to him.
“I’m sorry how I acted,” he said as they walked outside the ballroom.
“On our wedding day?” Tina frowned. “What are you talking about? You were very solemn during the ceremony.”
“I was arrogant when I asked you to marry me,” Dev admitted. He stopped on the red carpet and looked at the ropes of lights coiling around the pillars at the entrance of the party. It was quiet and there were only a few servants walking around. “I didn’t ask or propose. I told you that we were getting married.”
Tina pulled away and stood in front of him. “What’s going on? It’s not like you to be this...introspective. How many drinks have you had?”
“I’m not drunk. I was thinking about when we first got married. You were my wife but I treated you like a guest in my home, in my life.”
Tina gave him a look of concern and rested her hand on his arm. “It’s okay, Dev. If I had a problem with that, I would have spoken up.”
“No, you wouldn’t. You were afraid to make waves. Cause any inconvenience.”
She dropped her hand and looked way. “You make me sound like a coward.”
“Coward? You?” He scoffed at the idea. “You wanted everything to be perfect even if it required you to make the sacrifices.”
Tina crossed her arms. “I’m not a martyr.”