Chapter 71

Niharika sat at home, her heart heavy with the emotional weight of the past few days. Her mind raced as she recalled the events that had left her feeling insecure and uncertain. Zaina's presence at the office, the subtle but unmistakable connection between her and Mayank—it all felt too much to handle. She wiped away the tears that threatened to fall, frustrated with herself for feeling so vulnerable.

She couldn't shake the thought of the Rolex incident—how Zaina had casually handed it over to her, with no sense of discomfort or hesitation. And then the office. The moment when Mayank had brushed his foot against hers. She couldn't help but wonder if there was something more between them, something she was too blind to see. It seemed like Mayank and Zaina were still so close, and that feeling of being left behind gnawed at her.

It hurt. It hurt more than she could explain. Niharika wanted to believe that there was nothing more to Mayank and Zaina's past, but every little thing made her doubt it. She couldn't shake the feeling that maybe Mayank still had feelings for her. Maybe he never fully moved on.

Unable to keep it bottled up any longer, Niharika grabbed her phone, her fingers trembling as she texted Siya and Samar, asking if they were free to meet. She needed to talk to someone—someone who could help her make sense of it all. Within moments, they both replied and suggested they meet up. Niharika felt a small sense of relief as she quickly got ready, determined to get some clarity.

Niharika walked into the café where Siya and Samar were already waiting. As soon as they saw her, they knew something was wrong. Her face was drawn, and her eyes were clouded with frustration. After the usual greetings, Siya and Samar both looked at her expectantly, sensing that something was weighing heavily on her.

Niharika took a deep breath and finally spoke, her voice shaky but determined. "I need to tell you everything that's been going on. I don't know what to think anymore."

She began recounting the events of the past few days, starting with the Rolex incident. She described how Zaina had casually handed the watch over to her, like it was no big deal. Then she moved on to the uncomfortable moment at the office when Mayank had brushed his foot against hers, how it made her feel like she was invisible.

"I can't stop thinking about it," Niharika continued. "When Zaina handed me the Rolex, I couldn't help but wonder... why did he give it to her? He's never even mentioned that watch to me. And then there was that moment at the office, when his foot brushed hers. It just felt wrong. Like he was too comfortable with her. And every time they talk, I just feel like... I don't even exist."

Siya listened carefully, her brow furrowing in concern. "Niharika, I get why you're upset. But do you really think Mayank would do something like that to you? You've seen how much he's been trying to include you, make things work. If he didn't care, why would he do that?"

"I don't know, Siya," Niharika replied, shaking her head. "But when I see him with Zaina, it feels like she's the one he's really comfortable with. Like I'm just here, trying to keep up, while they have this history that I'll never be a part of."

Siya looked at her thoughtfully, before responding. "But do you think it's possible that Mayank doesn't even realize how this is making you feel? I've seen the way he's tried to reassure you, how much he's invested in your marriage. Zaina may still be part of his life, but that doesn't mean they're together."

Niharika sighed, feeling torn. "I don't know, Siya. I want to believe him, but every little thing makes me question it. And I can't help but feel like... maybe he's still interested in her. Maybe I'm just the backup plan."

Samar, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "This just doesn't add up, Niharika. You guys were doing so well. Why is Zaina even here in the first place? She seems to be pushing boundaries, but it's hard to believe that Mayank would still have feelings for her."

"I don't know," Niharika said, her voice wavering. "But when I see them together, laughing, talking, it's like I'm invisible. Like I don't belong there."

Siya leaned forward, trying to offer some perspective. "Niharika, maybe Mayank doesn't realize how this is affecting you. But you have to talk to him about it. Don't let this spiral into something that it doesn't have to be."

But Niharika didn't feel reassured. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest and shook her head. "I don't know. I just... I feel like I'm not enough. And Zaina? She's always around. The watch thing, the foot brushing—it all just adds up to me feeling like they're still connected in a way that I can't compete with."

Siya took a deep breath, her eyes searching Niharika's face. "Niharika, I get why you're feeling upset, but like I said, you know how much Mayank has been trying, right? He's been there for you in ways I can't even describe. You've both been through so much together. Why would he go back to Zaina now?"

Niharika's brow furrowed. "I don't know, Siya. But every time she's around, I can see how they talk to each other. I'm not imagining this. I know it. I think something is going on between them, and I just can't ignore it anymore."

Siya leaned back in her chair, processing her thoughts carefully. She had seen how Mayank had been trying to support Niharika, making an effort to be there for her even after everything that had happened with Ruhan. Their marriage had been growing stronger with each passing day, and it was hard for her to believe that Mayank would do something to jeopardize that.

She looked at Niharika, who was still sitting rigidly, her hands clenched into fists. "I understand where you're coming from, Niharika. But do you really think that Mayank would go back to Zaina? You've seen how he's been. He's been trying to make you feel like his priority."

Niharika's face remained hard, her voice quiet but firm. "I don't care. I think he's still got feelings for her. I don't know what's going on, but I just feel like I'm in the way, and she's always around. It doesn't feel right, and I can't tell him to cut her off—what rights do I have to do that? It's a mess."

Siya could see that Niharika was completely convinced, and it made her heart ache. She didn't think Mayank was capable of doing something like that to Niharika, but she couldn't force her to change her mind. "Okay, Nihu. If that's how you feel, I just want you to remember that you don't have to carry this on your own. Talk to Mayank. Tell him how you feel. But I don't want you to make assumptions without having that conversation with him."

Samar, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "Siya's right. You know Mayank better than anyone. If something was really going on, you'd be able to feel it, wouldn't you?"

But Niharika shook her head, her mind still set on what she believed. "I don't care what you two say. I've seen enough. I'm not wrong about this."

Siya exchanged a look with Samar, both of them knowing that Niharika was struggling to let go of the feeling that something was off. Siya had seen how much Mayank had been working to prove his commitment to Niharika, and she genuinely didn't believe that he would ever want to go back to Zaina. But there was something in Niharika's eyes that told her she was too deep into her own insecurities to see it clearly.

"I'm getting another coffee." Niharika said and got up. As she walked, Siya and Samar shared a quiet look. They smiled slightly, their expressions knowing. Niharika wasn't just upset. She was finally opening up, something that had always been a challenge for her. It was a breakthrough, one that Mayank had unknowingly helped her reach.

Siya chuckled softly under her breath, "Well, look at her. She's finally opening up. Mayank's definitely rubbed off on her in more ways than one."

Samar grinned, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, who would've thought? Nihu used to be so closed off. But now, I guess she's just... finding her voice."

They both watched Niharika as she ordered the coffee, not realizing that, despite everything, she was beginning to understand herself a little more through all this. But for now, her emotions were tangled in the past few days' events, and she wasn't ready to let go of her suspicions about Zaina.

Still, Siya and Samar knew that this would eventually work itself out, and they couldn't help but feel a little proud of how far Niharika had come, even if she didn't see it yet.

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