Chapter 29

Niharika dropped her bag onto the couch with a sigh of relief. Siya was already sprawled across the living room carpet, scrolling through her phone while sipping chai. The half-packed suitcase on the floor next to her looked like a mini explosion of clothes.

"Finally, you're done bringing them," Siya said, looking up with a grin. "Come on, we need to finish packing. Your flight's tomorrow, and knowing you, you'll procrastinate till the last minute."

Niharika groaned but sat cross-legged on the carpet next to Siya. "Fine, let's get this over with."

Siya tossed a couple of swimsuits onto the pile. "Start with these."

Niharika froze when her eyes landed on the bright bikini at the top of the pile. She picked it up hesitantly, holding it like it might burn her fingers.

"What...is this?" she asked.

"A bikini," Siya said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I know what it is, Siya," Niharika shot back, her voice rising slightly. "Why is it here?"

"Uh, because you're going to Paris and Italy? Beaches, pools, nice weather? What else would you wear?"

"A regular swimsuit," Niharika muttered, already feeling her cheeks heat up.

Siya rolled her eyes. "Come on, Nihi. Live a little. You'll look great in it!"

Niharika shook her head furiously. "No way. I'm not wearing this. What if it looks bad? What if people stare? I have clothes for the beach already; I'll wear those."

"You mean that oversized tee and shorts combo?" Siya teased.

"No!" Niharika protested. "I have better clothes now. See this?" She held up a crop top and a matching skirt, which was modest but still cute.

Siya gave her a look. "That's nice, but why not the bikini?"

"Siya, you know I'm not comfortable," Niharika said, glancing down at her stomach self-consciously. "This...this isn't me."

Siya sighed, softening her tone. "Okay, fine. Pack what makes you feel good. But promise me you'll try to have fun, okay? You're going on a honeymoon for crying out loud!"

Niharika nodded, and they continued packing in companionable silence, punctuated by bursts of laughter and random comments about which outfits looked best.

When they were finally done, the two of them sat outside on the balcony, sipping chai. The cool evening breeze ruffled Niharika's hair, and she felt more relaxed.

"So, are things better with Mayank now?" Siya asked casually.

Niharika paused mid-sip, then set her cup down. "Yeah, I think so. We're...getting there. It's not as awkward as before, and he's been nice, you know?"

Siya raised an eyebrow. "Nice? That's it?"

"Siya, stop!" Niharika said, laughing. "I mean it's good, okay? I mean, I don't know. He seems a bit different now—a good different. I don't know what to make of it so I'm going with the flow."

Siya grinned. "Good. I want to see you happy, you know that."

Before Niharika could respond, the sound of the door opening drew their attention. Mayank stepped in, looking a little tired but still sharp in his button-down shirt and slacks.

"Hey," Niharika said, standing up. "Let me get you some chai."

As she disappeared into the kitchen, Siya turned to Mayank with a mischievous smile. "So, how's it going?"

Mayank gave her a confused look. "With what?"

"With Niharika, obviously!" Siya said. "Are you two...comfortable now?"

Mayank shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "Yeah, of course. We know each other from school, so it's not like we're strangers."

Siya smirked. "Oh, I remember. She used to talk about you in college, you know."

Mayank blinked, caught off guard. "She did?"

"Yeah," Siya said, leaning back. "She always thought you were good-looking. Even in school, she used to mention it. She liked your friendship a lot, though. She was pretty sad when you two lost touch."

Mayank felt a faint blush creeping up his neck, but he kept his expression neutral. "Really? That's...nice to know."

"She'll kill me for telling you," Siya said with a laugh. "But yeah, she liked you. A lot. Especially during IPL season. You should've seen her when KKR won."

Mayank smiled at the memory. "I thought about her then too. She was the only other KKR fan I knew back then."

"She wanted to text you," Siya said. "But she thought it'd be awkward since you two weren't talking much by then."

Mayank's smile faded slightly. "I wish she had. I felt the same way. But you know... there's something you haven't told me, right?"

Siya gave him a look, and Mayank leaned in, curiosity written all over his face.

Siya hesitated. "Well, it's not exactly my place to tell you, but... it's something from her uni days. It was really bad, something about her ex-friends, but it's in the past now. She doesn't like talking about it much."

Mayank's eyes widened. "How serious was it?"

Siya looked a little uncomfortable but shrugged. "It's not something you should worry about now. If she wants to tell you, she will."

Before he could respond, Niharika came back with a cup of chai for Mayank. She handed it to him, her fingers brushing his briefly.

"Thanks," he said, taking a sip. "This is really good."

Siya stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her jeans. "Well, I should head out. Enjoy your honeymoon, you two."

Niharika rolled her eyes as Siya left, and Mayank chuckled softly.

As they settled into the evening, Mayank looked over at her and decided to test the waters. "Hey, do you remember how we became friends in school?"

Niharika looked up, startled. "Uh, yeah. Why?"

"Just wondering," he said casually. "Did you...like me back then? Or was it just because Rahil trained with me?"

Niharika flushed. "I—I did like you. As a friend," she added quickly, though her blushing cheeks betrayed her.

Mayank chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Interesting."

"Drink your chai," she said, flustered, and quickly got up to escape to the kitchen.

Mayank watched her retreat with an amused smile, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.

~•~

The next morning, they headed to the airport. The flight to Paris was uneventful, though Niharika kept herself busy flipping through in-flight magazines while Mayank alternated between reading and stealing glances at her.

When they finally landed, the crisp Parisian air greeted them. Niharika looked out at the city, her face lighting up with excitement.

"Welcome to Paris," Mayank said, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched her.

And for the first time, he felt like this trip might just be the beginning of something unexpected.

As they stepped out of the airport, the cool breeze ruffled Niharika's hair, and she inhaled deeply, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's beautiful," she whispered, looking around at the bustling scene of taxis, tourists, and locals going about their day.

Mayank stood beside her, leaning casually against their luggage cart. "It's just the airport," he teased, though he couldn't help but smile at her excitement.

She shot him a playful glare. "Still, it feels so...different. I've always wanted to come here."

"Well," he said, tilting his head toward the waiting taxi, "you're here now. Ready?"

Niharika nodded, gripping the strap of her handbag as they made their way to the car. The drive to their hotel was a mix of her pointing out landmarks and asking questions, and Mayank indulging her curiosity with the little he remembered from his previous trip to Paris.

When they arrived at the hotel, a cozy boutique-style building nestled in a quieter street, Niharika paused in the lobby to take in the elegant decor—muted gold tones, crystal chandeliers, and plush velvet seating.

"This is lovely," she murmured, her voice soft with appreciation.

Mayank checked them in and handed her the room key. "Why don't you go up and freshen up? I'll get the bags."

She hesitated. "Are you sure? I can help—"

"Niharika," he interrupted, a faint smile on his lips. "Go. Enjoy the room. I'll be right there."

She nodded and took the elevator up, her heart thudding slightly. This trip felt surreal, almost like stepping into a dream she hadn't dared to imagine.

~•~

The room was charming, with a balcony overlooking a small Parisian street lined with cafés. She stepped out onto it, the cool air brushing against her skin as she took in the sight of people sipping coffee and chatting animatedly.

A knock on the door made her turn, and Mayank entered with their bags, setting them down neatly near the bed.

"Nice view?" he asked, walking over to stand beside her.

"It's perfect," she replied, glancing up at him.

He looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before he said, "We have the whole day ahead of us. What do you want to do first?"

Niharika bit her lip, considering. "Maybe something simple to start? A walk around, some coffee?"

He nodded. "Sounds good. Get ready, then."

An hour later, they were strolling along the cobblestone streets, the soft glow of Paris enveloping them. Niharika clutched her jacket tightly as they passed by bakeries with the scent of fresh croissants wafting out.

"This place feels so magical," she said, her eyes sparkling.

Mayank chuckled. "You sound like every travel blog I've ever read."

She bumped his arm lightly. "Don't ruin it."

As they stopped at a café, she couldn't help but notice the way Mayank seemed more relaxed here. His usual stoic demeanor was softened, and she found herself wondering if this side of him was always there, hidden beneath layers of responsibility and reserved behavior.

When the waiter brought their coffee, she leaned back in her chair, savoring the moment. "Thanks for suggesting this trip," she said softly.

He looked up, surprised. "You're thanking me?"

She smiled, a little shyly. "It's been a while since I felt this...free. It's nice."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than usual. "It's nice for me too."

For a while, they sat there in companionable silence, letting the city's rhythm surround them. And in that moment, the distance that had always seemed to exist between them began to feel just a little bit smaller.

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