Chapter 53

The air in the venue buzzed with chatter and laughter, the kind that wrapped around Niharika like a suffocating blanket. Her shoulders tensed as she noticed the two girls from her past—Ananya and Sneha—walk by. For a moment, their gazes lingered on her, and she held her breath, but then they continued forward without a flicker of recognition.

She relaxed, exhaling shakily. It seemed they didn't remember her. Yet, as she glanced at Mayank, she caught the flicker of dissatisfaction in his sharp, assessing gaze. He didn't say anything, but she knew he wasn't happy about how she was avoiding them.

"They didn't recognize me," she murmured to him as they rejoined Meera and a few acquaintances.

Mayank's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't respond. Instead, he let her slip into the conversation, his focus shifting to the crowd around them.

The evening moved along smoothly, or at least that's what Niharika tried to convince herself. But her nerves prickled when Mayank's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, muttering, "I need to take this."

She nodded, trying not to let the growing sense of unease show as she watched him stride toward the exit.

While Mayank was gone, Ananya and Sneha noticed him returning to the group. Their eyes lit up, and they exchanged glances before approaching him near the bar. Their overly confident smiles were impossible to miss.

"Hey," Ananya said, her tone bright and flirtatious. "We don't think we've seen you here before. Were you in college with us?"

"No," Mayank replied with a polite smile. "I wasn't."

Sneha tilted her head, her curiosity growing. "Then how do you know everyone? You're not from our university, are you?"

"I studied abroad," he said simply, his calm demeanor making it difficult for them to push further.

Before the conversation could go deeper, the rest of the group joined them. Ruhan, the loudest and most arrogant of them all, extended a hand toward Mayank.

"Hey, man. I'm Ruhan. You're new around here?"

"Mayank," he introduced himself, shaking Ruhan's hand firmly. "Just here for the event."

Ruhan nodded, already sizing Mayank up. "Cool. So, you're not from our batch?"

Mayank gave a small smile, keeping it vague. "Nope."

Ananya, Sneha, and the rest of the group—Rohan, Manan, and Kabir—quickly launched into introductions. The chatter turned casual, though the women's interest in Mayank was unmistakable.

"Did you see Niharika?" Ruhan asked his group casually—ignoring Mayank there, his tone light but with an undertone that Mayank caught instantly.

Rohan chuckled, nudging Ruhan. "Yeah, he's gonna go around her. Wants to intimidate her a little. You know, for old times' sake."

Sneha smirked. "She always was so easy to rattle."

Mayank's expression didn't change, but his eyes sharpened. He felt an icy anger settle in his chest, though he kept his tone neutral. "So, where do you all work now?"

The question shifted the focus, and the group began boasting about their careers. Ananya and Sneha spoke about their jobs at a marketing firm, while Rohan, Manan, and Kabir listed various companies. Ruhan, predictably, took the opportunity to brag the loudest.

"I just joined Microsoft," Ruhan announced, his chest puffed out. "Big role, amazing pay. Can't complain."

Mayank chuckled softly, though he didn't comment. The names of the companies floated in his mind—connections, opportunities. He could already see how he might use this information, but for now, he stayed quiet, simply observing.

Excusing himself, Mayank stepped away for a moment. Ananya and Sneha's eyes followed him as he left, their giggles faint but audible. Meanwhile, Niharika found herself caught in another uncomfortable moment.

One of the guys, Rohan, began deliberately circling near her, his voice obnoxiously loud as he recounted exaggerated stories from college. He dropped small jabs and comments, his tone filled with mockery.

Niharika's chest tightened, old memories rushing back. The hurt, the humiliation—they felt fresh again. But then, she remembered Mayank's words: Ignore them. Don't give them the power to hurt you.

Straightening her back, she walked past them with her chin held high, her expression carefully blank. The lack of reaction clearly irritated Rohan, who muttered something under his breath, but she didn't stop. The silent victory felt small, but it was hers.

As the event neared its end, the group found Mayank again. This time, they approached him with a different motive. Ananya and Sneha resumed their flirtatious act, clearly intrigued by his reserved demeanor.

"So," Sneha said, her tone dripping with curiosity, "what's your story? Where are you from?"

Mayank's lips curved slightly, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Here itself," he said simply.

"You should totally join our group," Ananya suggested, leaning in slightly. "You seem like you'd fit right in."

Just then, Niharika walked by, her focus elsewhere. The group's attention shifted to her instantly.

"Niharika!" Ananya called out, her voice unnaturally sweet. "It's been so long. Don't you want to say hi?"

Niharika hesitated, her pulse quickening. She hadn't told Mayank the full extent of her past with them, and now she felt trapped.

"Come on," Sneha added, her tone turning sharper. "At least reply. Don't act like this."

"Damn, Niharika. That attitude doesn't change. I mean—you do us wrong and then you only show attitude. It doesn't look right."

Niharika's face was paling. She didn't want Mayank to have a wrong idea of the story. She hadn't even told him the problem with her and her ex-friends.

Before Niharika could stammer out a response, Mayank stepped forward, his hand sliding around her waist possessively. "She doesn't owe anyone a reply," he said, his voice calm but firm. "If you have something to say, say it to her husband."

The group froze, their shock evident.

Ananya's eyes widened. "Wait... Niharika, he's your husband?"

Mayank's gaze was unyielding as he nodded. "That's right."

Rohan, sensing the tension, chuckled nervously. "We were just joking around, man. No harm meant."

Mayank's smile didn't waver. "Good. Let's keep it that way."

Ruhan, however, wasn't ready to back down. He started to say something, but Mayank cut him off with a steely glare. Leaning in slightly, he whispered just loud enough for Ruhan to hear, "I know exactly what you did to her. Watch your steps. She's not alone anymore."

Ruhan's confidence faltered, his smirk fading as Mayank straightened and turned back to Niharika. Taking her hand, he led her away, leaving the group stunned and silent in his wake.

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