Chapter 33

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the beach in soft shades of orange and pink. The waves lapped gently at the shore, creating a soothing melody that should have made Niharika feel at ease. But she didn't. Not after the last ten minutes.

Mayank stood next to her, speaking with Zaina, his ex-girlfriend, who had unexpectedly crossed paths with them. Niharika had joined the conversation when Mayank had beckoned her over, introducing her as his wife. Zaina had been polite, even friendly, but the undertones of their exchange left Niharika unsettled.

Zaina was gorgeous, a model-like beauty that seemed effortless, with her sleek hair and her outfit looking like it belonged on the cover of a magazine. She exuded confidence, the kind that made Niharika acutely aware of the shawl she now clutched in her hands, unsure whether she should drape it over herself or let it be.

"So, Mayank," Zaina said with a soft laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "do you remember that road trip we took to Jabel Jais during spring break? God, we got so lost, and you were freaking out because we ran out of gas."

Mayank gave her a polite smile, his tone neutral. "Yeah, I remember. That was a while ago."

Niharika shifted on her feet, her hands fiddling with the shawl as Zaina continued.

"And that time we went to RAK with the group? You wouldn't even let me carry my own skis. Such a gentleman." Zaina's laughter was light, but her eyes flicked toward Niharika, as though gauging her reaction.

Mayank didn't miss a beat, his voice still calm. "I wasn't going to let you struggle with them. That's just basic courtesy."

Niharika forced a small smile, trying to seem unaffected, but the knot in her stomach tightened. She hated how she felt at that moment. Zaina wasn't being openly hostile, but the subtle references to her shared past with Mayank felt deliberate. It was as if she were trying to remind Niharika of how much history they had, and Niharika wasn't sure how to respond.

She busied herself looking at the waves, pretending to take pictures of the scenery. Her heart felt heavy, but she told herself it was silly to feel this way. Mayank was her husband now, and Zaina was a part of his past. Still, the thought of them having a past—a carefree, happy one—stung more than she wanted to admit.

Zaina turned to Niharika with a pleasant smile, her tone light but probing. "So, Niharika, how did you and Mayank end up together? It's quite the surprise, isn't it?"

Niharika hesitated for a moment, her throat dry. "It was arranged," she said simply, her voice calm but guarded.

Zaina raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. "Ah, I see. Well, Mayank's always been full of surprises." She glanced back at him, a teasing look in her eyes.

Mayank shifted slightly, his expression unreadable. "We should get going," he said, his tone polite but firm. "It's getting late."

"Oh, of course," Zaina said, stepping forward. "I'm actually heading back to Dubai next week. Let's plan a group meetup. It's been ages since I've seen everyone."

"Sure," Mayank replied, his tone neutral. "We'll see."

Before leaving, Zaina leaned in and gave Mayank a hug, her arms wrapping around him lightly. Niharika watched, her heart sinking a little more. Mayank returned the gesture, but his movements were stiff, his hands barely brushing Zaina's back.

"Take care, Mayank," Zaina said, stepping back with a radiant smile. "And you too, Niharika. It was nice meeting you."

"Nice meeting you too," Niharika replied, forcing a polite smile.

As Zaina walked away, Niharika let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The silence between her and Mayank felt heavy as they turned to leave the beach. Niharika clutched her shawl tighter, draping it around herself as they walked back toward the car. She wasn't cold, but the sight of Zaina had left her feeling self-conscious.

Mayank glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, her tone light but distant. "Just tired."

He didn't press her further, though he could sense her unease.

The drive to the airport was quiet, the only sound coming from the hum of the car engine. Niharika stared out the window, lost in thought. By the time they boarded their flight to Dubai, she had withdrawn completely, her usual warmth replaced with silence.

Mayank watched her carefully, trying to decipher her mood. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but he also didn't want to push her. Instead, he decided to give her space, hoping she'd open up when she was ready.

The flight was long, and though they sat side by side, the distance between them felt vast. Niharika leaned against the window, her eyes focused on the clouds outside. She replayed the interaction with Zaina in her mind, dissecting every word, every glance. She hated how insecure she felt, but she couldn't shake it. Zaina was perfect in every way—beautiful, confident, and clearly someone Mayank had once cared for deeply.

By the time they landed in Dubai, Niharika was emotionally drained. She had barely spoken a word during the entire journey, and Mayank's concern had only grown.

They hailed a cab home, the silence between them stretching on. When they finally arrived at their apartment, Niharika headed straight for her room without a word.

"Niharika," Mayank called out softly, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned to look at him, her expression neutral but tired. "Yeah?"

"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice gentle.

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure."

They sat down in the living room, the dim lighting casting soft shadows on the walls. Niharika tucked her legs beneath her, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Mayank leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he looked at her.

"About Zaina..." he began, his tone careful. "She's my ex, like she said. We broke up in university because of the long distance. It wasn't a messy breakup or anything, and we stayed on good terms because we have mutual friends."

Niharika nodded, her expression unreadable. "Okay."

Mayank studied her face, trying to gauge her reaction. "I had no idea she'd be there today," he continued. "If I had known, I would've—"

"It's fine," Niharika interrupted, her voice calm and polite. She gave him a small smile. "I get it, Mayank. You had a life before me. You had relationships, and I... I know that I came as the unneeded part of your life. It's fine. I don't blame you for anything."

Mayank frowned, taken aback by her words. "Niharika—"

"Mayank, don't," she said quickly, giving him a small smile. "You don't have to justify anything. I'm not angry. It's just... weird, I guess. Seeing your husband's ex in front of you. Even if that husband doesn't really want you around. But I get it. You had a relationship before us and that's completely fine."

Her words stung, and Mayank opened his mouth to protest, but she stood up before he could speak.

"Anyway, I'm tired," she said, her voice soft but final. "Goodnight, Mayank."

"Goodnight," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

As she disappeared into her room, Mayank sat back on the couch, her words replaying in his mind. Unneeded? he thought to himself, frowning. Why would she think that?

He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. He had expected her to lash out, to get angry or upset. But instead, she had handled the situation with a quiet maturity that left him in awe. She had understood the situation, accepted it, and spoken her truth without holding anything back. It made him smile. She handled it well, he thought.

Still, her words lingered in his mind, heavy and unshakable. He couldn't stop thinking about the way she had described herself—as though she were an afterthought in his life.

"You're not unneeded," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible.

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