Chapter 55

Mayank noticed Niharika sitting on the bed, her posture tense and shoulders hunched as if trying to shrink into herself. He frowned. She hadn't eaten much at the event earlier, and after everything that had happened, she needed a distraction.

"Get up," he said softly but firmly, walking over to her.

She looked up, startled. "What?"

"Come with me," he repeated, holding out his hand. "Let's make some dinner. You'll feel better."

Niharika hesitated, her eyes scanning his face as if trying to gauge his intentions. Finally, she nodded and let him pull her to her feet. He led her to the kitchen, where he began pulling out ingredients for pasta.

"Sit here," he said, patting the countertop.

She stared at him. "On the counter?"

"Yes. Do you need an engraved invitation?" he teased, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

Reluctantly, she climbed onto the counter, her legs swinging slightly as she watched him move around with practiced ease. He started chopping vegetables, the rhythmic sound filling the room, before glancing at her.

"Niharika" he asked casually, his tone light.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Yeah?"

He shrugged, his lips twitching with amusement. "I never understood Chennai Express. What's the big deal? It was so chaotic."

Her reaction was instant. Her eyes widened, and she leaned forward slightly, her previous gloom momentarily forgotten. "What? Chaotic? Mayank, it's a masterpiece of comedy! How could you not understand it?"

He grinned, watching as she launched into an impassioned explanation of the movie's plot, characters, and comedic nuances. She gestured animatedly, her caramel-highlighted hair swaying as she spoke, her cheeks flushing with excitement.

As he stirred the pasta, he couldn't help but glance at her. She was leaning over slightly, her attention shifting between him and the food, her hands moving as she explained a particularly funny scene. She looked so alive, so genuinely herself.

For a moment, he forgot everything else. All he could think was how much he wanted to hold her. The thought hit him like a wave, and before he could second-guess himself, he turned off the stove, walked over to her, and stood between her legs.

Niharika stopped mid-sentence, blinking in surprise as his hands gently rested on her sides. Her heart raced as he leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.

It was their first kiss—technically.

Her breath hitched, and a warm, fluttery sensation spread through her chest. Butterflies. That's what it felt like. Butterflies dancing in her stomach.

Mayank pulled back slightly, his hands still on her. He cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek as he looked into her wide eyes. "Keep yapping like this," he said quietly, his voice soft but teasing. "It suits you."

She blinked, stunned and flustered, as he stepped back and turned toward the stove. "Food's ready. Come."

They sat at the dining table, the aroma of freshly cooked pasta filling the air. Niharika took a bite and frowned slightly.

"This needs more cheese," she declared, getting up to grab some from the fridge.

Mayank raised a brow, leaning back in his chair. "More cheese? Don't you think one cheesy person in the house is enough?"

She paused, holding the block of cheese, and turned to him with narrowed eyes. "Cheesy person? You're calling me cheesy?"

He smirked. "I didn't name anyone. You took it upon yourself."

"Oh, please. You—" She stopped, realizing she was about to laugh, and shook her head, grinning despite herself. "You're impossible."

"And you're predictable," he shot back, earning a playful glare as she sprinkled more cheese onto her plate.

They finished their meal with light conversation, and for the first time that day, Niharika felt a much lighter.

"I'm going to sleep early," she announced after dinner, standing up and stretching.

Mayank nodded. "Goodnight."

She hesitated, then smiled softly. "Goodnight."

~•~

Later that night, when niharika had slept, Mayank walked down to meet his friend Arjun, who was waiting by his car. The cold air bit at his skin, but his mind was too preoccupied to notice.

As he approached, Arjun turned and raised a brow. "I figured you needed some company. Your call didn't sound good."

Mayank leaned against the car, crossing his arms, thinking about how to tell him everything. "You know Niharika? In our office."

Arjun nodded as he leaned against the car, "Yeah. Why?"

Mayank glanced at his friend. "The Niharika in our office... she's my wife."

Arjun blinked, caught off guard. "Wait. What? Since when?"

Mayank sighed. "It was an arranged marriage. Our families knew each other, and it just... happened. She wasn't exactly thrilled about it, and neither was I, to be honest. But we're married now. And we didn't tell anyone sooner because we were going to keep it a secret. It's been almost 3 months now."

Arjun studied him for a moment. "And? You don't seem upset about it."

"I'm not." Mayank's voice softened. "She's... different. Stronger than she looks. But today, I realized how much she's been through."

He explained everything about the gathering, the ex-friends, and Ruhan.

"Ruhan," Mayank repeated, his tone sharp. "That guy works in your team, right?"

Arjun nodded slowly. "He just joined. Why?"

Mayank's jaw tightened. "He hurt her, Arjun. Broke her, in ways I didn't even realize. I saw it in her eyes tonight. She's terrified that I might believe him over her."

Arjun frowned. "What are you planning to do?"

Mayank's eyes darkened, his voice a quiet growl. "I'm going to make him pay. No one gets away with hurting her like that. Not anymore."

He glanced at his shirt, noticing faint black smudges—her tears mixed with her kajal. His chest tightened, and he vowed silently to himself.

"They'll regret everything," he said, his tone final.

While Mayank's face was burning in anger, Arjun couldn't help smile a little. This was the first time Arjun had seen his friend talk so passionately about a girl—his wife.

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