Chapter 69

Niharika stirred awake, her head resting on the open pages of her notebook. The dim light filtering through the curtains told her it was morning, and as she slowly sat up, the events of last night came rushing back.

The dinner. The laughter. Zaina.

And Mayank looking at Rohan, shaking his head as if telling him to let her be.

Her chest tightened at the memory. He hadn't even asked her to join. He had simply decided for her. Had she been intruding? Was she not supposed to be part of his world when Zaina was around?

Shaking off the thoughts, she ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Maybe she was overthinking. But why did it feel so heavy?

Deciding that a shower would clear her mind, she quickly freshened up and changed into a crisp white blouse and tailored black pants. It wasn't her usual routine to go to the office on a Friday—she usually worked from home—but today, she needed to get out of the house. A distraction was necessary.

As she made her way downstairs, Mayank, who was sitting at the dining table scrolling through his phone, looked up. He blinked in surprise when he saw her dressed for work.

"You're going to the office?" he asked, setting his phone down.

She adjusted the strap of her bag. "Yeah, I decided to go today."

He frowned slightly. "But you never go on Fridays."

"I know," she said, brushing past him to grab a coffee. "Just felt like it."

"Oh. Okay." He didn't question it further and returned to his phone.

She left without another word, feeling an ache settle in her chest.

The office was quiet when she arrived, and she threw herself into work, hoping to drown out her thoughts. But even as she typed away on her laptop, her mind kept slipping back to last night.

She hated this feeling—the unfamiliar weight of doubt creeping in. She had always trusted Mayank, but something about last night, about the way he had signaled Rohan, about the way Zaina fit so easily into the group—it unsettled her.

She let out a slow breath, shaking her head. Stop thinking about it.

But the universe had other plans.

"Heyyy!"

Niharika looked up, startled by the familiar voice. Standing before her was none other than Zaina, dressed in a chic blazer and jeans, a warm smile on her face.

Forcing herself to keep her expression neutral, Niharika straightened in her seat. "Oh... hi. What are you doing here?"

Zaina held up a small black velvet case. "Actually, Mayank left his watch with me yesterday. I accidentally took it home, and I know how much he loves his Rolex, so I just wanted to return it."

Niharika's fingers curled slightly. His Rolex? The one he treasures the most?

Zaina chuckled, unaware of the storm brewing inside Niharika. "I had no idea you work here too!"

Niharika forced a small smile. "Yeah... I do."

Zaina glanced around. "Well, I can't find Mayank, so can you give this to him?"

Before Niharika could even respond, Zaina placed the box on her desk. "Thanks! See you around." And with that, she turned and walked out, leaving Niharika sitting there, staring at the watch.

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably.

He hadn't once mentioned losing his watch.

Had he given it to Zaina himself? Why?

Was there something between them that she wasn't seeing?

She swallowed, trying to push away the thought, but the doubt was already there, taking root.

~•~

Mayank sat at his desk, his fingers flying over the keyboard, but his mind was elsewhere. It had been a long morning, and despite the work piling up, he found his thoughts drifting toward Niharika.

He missed her presence around the house—her quiet energy, her subtle grace. He hadn't realized how much he had gotten used to having her near until she wasn't.

Unable to shake the feeling, he grabbed his phone and quickly typed out a message:

'Come home yaar, work from here. I miss you.'

He pressed send and leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the desk. He watched the message bubble disappear, waiting for her reply. When the message remained unanswered, he furrowed his brow. Maybe she's busy.

Trying to focus, he returned to his work, but a nagging feeling lingered.

A couple of hours later, the sound of the door opening pulled him from his thoughts. He stood up quickly, his heart picking up a little faster.

There she was—Niharika, stepping into the living room. He wasted no time in walking toward her, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"Niharika!" he exclaimed, and before she could say anything, he pulled her into a tight hug. "I missed you."

His voice was warm, and his hands wrapped around her, holding her close.

Niharika hesitated for a moment, but then gently hugged him back, her arms just barely touching him. Her smile was small, almost imperceptible, but she masked it well.

"Mayank," she said softly, pulling away just a little to reach into her bag. She took out the small black velvet box, the one that had been sitting on her desk. "You forgot this with Zaina yesterday. She came by to give it back to you."

Mayank's smile faltered slightly as he took the Rolex from her, his mind racing. He couldn't help but feel a slight pinch at the thought of Zaina bringing it to Niharika. There was no reason for him to feel this way—it was just a watch, after all. But something about it unsettled him.

"Thanks," he muttered, a little distracted.

Trying to figure out if something was bothering her, he hesitated before speaking again. "Are you okay? You seem..."

"I'm fine, Mayank, relax," she interjected with a forced smile. She patted his shoulder and quickly turned to walk away. "I'm just gonna change."

Mayank watched her leave, a frown creasing his forehead. He knew something was off as he recalled last night's events.

The dinner had been loud, full of laughter and easy conversations. At some point, the discussion veered toward investments and luxury watches.

"See, the thing about investing in watches," Mayank had said, swirling his drink, "is that if you pick the right ones, they actually appreciate in value."

"Oh, so you're a watch collector now?" Rohan teased.

"Not really, but I do have a few good ones," Mayank admitted. "Like this one—" he tapped his wrist, showing off his Rolex. "I've had it for a while, and it's still one of my favorites."

Zaina, who had been sitting across from him, leaned forward with interest. "Oh, I always wanted a Rolex," she said. "Never got around to getting one, though. Can I try it on?"

Mayank gave a small smile, slipping the watch off his wrist. "Sure."

She took it, carefully strapping it onto her wrist. "Damn, this is nice," she said, admiring it.

"Looks good on you," Rohan joked.

Zaina grinned. "Maybe I'll just keep it, Mayank."

Mayank rolled his eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. Give it back before you leave."

But by the time the night ended, between the conversations, the laughter, and the drinks, he had completely forgotten about it. It wasn't until now—when Niharika handed it back to him—that he realized.

Once Niharika reached her room, she sat on the edge of the bed, her emotions spilling out in quiet waves. She had spent so much time masking her feelings, trying to keep it all in, but now that she was alone, she couldn't help but feel the weight of it all.

She felt silly for letting it bother her so much, but the sight of Zaina, handing over his favorite watch with that bright smile, had eaten at her. Why did he give it to her? Why not tell me?

After a few moments, Niharika stood up, splashing some cold water on her face. She took a deep breath, forcing a smile, and headed back downstairs.

Mayank was sitting at the kitchen counter, scrolling through his phone when she walked in. He looked up at her immediately, his eyes searching hers.

"Niharika, are you sure you're okay?" he asked again, concern lacing his voice.

"Yes, I am," she replied, putting on a cheerful front. "Let's have dinner. I'm kinda hungry."

Mayank smiled, relieved that she seemed a little better. He nodded and began to serve the food.

As they sat down at the table, the conversation flowed easily. Niharika was talking about her day, telling him about the work she'd finished and some of the tasks she had to do the next week. They laughed about small things, and for a moment, it felt like the tension from earlier had disappeared.

Then, Niharika mentioned casually, "By the way, your parents invited us for dinner tomorrow night."

Mayank raised his eyebrows, surprised. "They told you and not me? See, I'm being replaced as the favorite child."

Niharika chuckled, her smile reaching her eyes. "Yes, you are."

He shook his head, still smiling. "I guess it's official now. I've been dethroned."

They both laughed, the warmth in the room growing. But even as they joked, Mayank couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was still a little off. He hoped he'd get the chance to talk to her soon, but for now, he'd settle for this—her company, their shared moments, however small.

And as they continued eating, Niharika tried to push the thoughts about Zaina and the watch away, focusing on the present, but a small part of her couldn't help but wonder what that all meant for them.

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