Chapter 34

The week had passed uneventfully, slipping into a rhythm that felt routine yet distant. Niharika had spent most of her time at the office, diving into work with a level of focus that kept her distracted. Mayank, too, had been occupied with his own tasks, but his mind often wandered to her—her silence, the way she had smiled when he asked her if she was okay, and how that smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

It was mid-morning when Mayank leaned against the dining table, a plate of parathas in front of him. Niharika sat on the couch, typing away on her laptop. She was in a loose beige kurta, her hair tied in a messy bun, and the faint glow of sunlight highlighted her profile.

"Are you okay?" Mayank asked after a moment, his voice cutting through the quiet hum of the AC.

Niharika glanced up, startled. "Hmm?"

"You've been... quiet lately," he said, his tone carefully neutral.

She gave him a small smile, the kind that was meant to be reassuring but wasn't. "I'm fine, Mayank. Don't worry."

He didn't push, though he felt a faint unease creep into his chest. "Okay," he said, looking away.

They ate lunch together, the quiet only broken by the clink of cutlery. Halfway through the meal, Niharika looked up and said, "Siya and Samar are coming over this evening. We're going out after."

Mayank paused mid-bite, a strange feeling settling in his stomach. "Oh," he said, forcing his tone to stay casual. "That's nice."

She nodded, sipping her water. "They'll probably be here around seven."

He nodded back, the weird feeling still lingering. He didn't know why, but the thought of her spending time with Samar made him feel... unsettled.

By evening, the doorbell rang, and Mayank opened it to see Siya standing there, smiling brightly.

"Hi!" she said, stepping in.

"Hi," Mayank replied politely, stepping aside to let her in. "How are you?"

"Good, good. How was your honeymoon? I saw pictures." Siya said, glancing around.

"It was really nice. Um, Niharika is just getting ready—give her a bit," Mayank said, gesturing toward Niharika's room.

Siya smiled and nodded, sitting down on the couch. A moment later, Niharika emerged, and Mayank found himself staring.

She was dressed in a fitted black jeans that fell just at her ankle, paired with delicate white top with sleeves ending just above her elbow. Her hair was loose, the caramel highlights catching the soft light. She looked... stunning.

"Ready?" Niharika asked Siya, grabbing her purse.

Siya nodded enthusiastically, and the two of them moved toward the door. Mayank stepped aside, his gaze lingering on Niharika for a moment longer than he intended.

"You look nice," he said, his voice quieter than usual.

Niharika glanced at him, surprised. "Thanks," she said softly, a faint pink tinge coloring her cheeks.

After they left, Mayank got a call from his friend Arjun.

"Bro, we're meeting the gang tonight," Arjun said. "Bowling. You coming?"

Mayank hesitated for a moment before saying, "Yeah, sure. What time?"

"Eight. Be there," Arjun replied.

Mayank agreed. Then, he got dressed in a simple beige teeshirt and jeans and stepped out. He drove to the alley—his mind somewhat glancing back towards the fact that Niharika was with Samar as he drove.

By the time Mayank reached the bowling alley, the group was already there. Among them was Zaina.

He was surprised and he walked over to Arjun. "What is she doing here?" He asked.

"We invited the group. It spiraled. They invited the big group as well and I thought Zaina is still in Italy—as you told me." Arjun said.

Mayank sighed, "No worries. It's not your fault."

Then, putting a hand on his shoulder, the two friends joined the group.

"Oh, hi!" Mayank said politely, nodding at Zaina as she smiled and was walking to him.

Zaina smiled. She was as striking as ever, her tall, slim figure accentuated by a sleek white blouse and jeans. "Hi, Mayank," she said warmly.

As they started bowling, Zaina gravitated toward him. "Niharika didn't come with you?" she asked casually—keeping it quiet.

"She's out with her friends," Mayank replied, keeping his tone light.

"That's a shame," Zaina said with a small smile. "Does the entire group know about you two?"

Mayank looked at her, a little discomposed by her line of questioning, "No. only you Arjun and Imran."

"Oh." She said, with a small tug of a smile, "Don't worry, Mayank. I won't let anyone know."

Mayank just gave her a small smile and nodded, not wanting to engage further. They played a few rounds, and Zaina stayed close, occasionally bringing up their time together. Mayank remained polite but distant, focusing more on the game.

Meanwhile, Niharika and her friends arrived at the bowling alley. She was laughing with Siya and Samar when her gaze fell on Mayank—and Zaina. They were standing close, talking, and Mayank was smiling faintly.

Niharika's chest tightened. She quickly looked away, but Siya had already noticed.

"Who's that?" Siya asked, following her line of sight.

"His ex," Niharika said quietly.

Siya frowned. "Oh." She immediately understood why Niharika looked uncomfortable.

Samar, who had been watching the exchange, said, "Bro, what's going on? Even at Palm, the vibe between you and Mayank was... weird."

Niharika and Siya looked at each other—and nodded. They found a table nearby, Niharika quietly told Siya and Samar about everything—starting from the marriage, to Indore and Kolkata up until Zaina and the encounter at the beach. Samar listened, his brows furrowing.

"That's... a lot," he said finally. "Do you want to leave?"

Before Niharika could respond, Arjun spotted them.

"Wait, is that Samar?" Arjun said loudly, walking over. "Samar!"

Samar looked at Niharika and muttered a small sorry before turning to Arjun and smiling, "Hey Man! How are you?"

"All good bro. What's going on?"

"We just came out—haven't met Niharika since she went for her trip." Samar said and Mayank overheard it. He walked over to the entrance.

Niharika froze as the entire group, including Mayank, approached them.

Mayank's eyes widened slightly when he saw Niharika, Siya, and Samar standing there. "What are you doing here?" he asked, walking over.

Niharika hesitated, feeling her face heat up. "We were... bowling," she said awkwardly.

"Small world," Zaina said, appearing beside Mayank. She gave Niharika a polite smile, but there was something calculating in her gaze.

Samar stepped forward, his tone casual but firm. "Guess it is."

The tension was palpable, but Mayank quickly said, "Why don't you guys join us for a game?"

Niharika hesitated. Samar noticed it and nodded, not wanting to make things more awkward.

As they moved toward the lanes, Niharika felt Siya squeeze her hand in silent support.

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