ignoring her

Mayukh POV:

After Manisha Bhabhi's words, I had decided it's best I forget her. She is just someone whose life I saved. I don't even want to be married. I know I was rude to her, but seeing her just annoys me right now. That sentence ticked me off. Real wife. She's right. I decided to move on.

I invited my friends home. Riya is hot. If anything, she'll distract me from Nikita, hopefully. I watched Nikita walk in and I instantly put my arm around Riya and didn't look at Nikita's face. I knew she saw us because she ran off. When she left, I got up to take sometime alone when Riya followed me.

"Hey Mayukh." She said, she gets too close sometimes, "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Why?"

"Just noticed you left and looked in anger after seeing that chick."

"Nikita, her name is Nikita and yes she's annoyed me right now."

"What happened?" I can't tell her anything.

"Umm, let's just say I had helped her out, like almost saved her life from an incident a while back and I don't see a sense of gratitude."

"These small town girls are like this only Mayukh. They just want your attention but will not give you anything back." I couldn't believe Riya's words. Nikita can't be like that.

"I guess."

"It's time you show her you don't care." She smirked. Even thought we were not on the same page entirely, I think we were along the same story. She needs to see that I don't care. I smiled and nodded at her and walked back.

Soon we entered class and I watched her look focused at the board. She didn't see us. Maybe... she doesn't care either. Why would she?

A while after class, I watched her talking to Esha and Sid and a few more friends. I noticed she looked different today. She wasn't wearing her usual jeans, instead she was wearing a skirt, with a crop full sleeve top, with stockings underneath and shoes. Her hair was left open with a clip to tie some of it.

I watched her turning my way and I instantly turned back to Riya and smiled at whatever she was saying.

I reached home at around 10pm that day. Esha and Sid had already slept off in their rooms and I saw Nikita sitting in the hall watching TV. I walked in ignoring her and headed to my room when I heard her voice.

"Dinner... it's... kept in the kitchen."

"I don't want."

"I... I made.. it."

"I don't want it." I said and walked in my room, without seeing her at the back.

After two hours, I came outside because I aaa hungry. I hadn't had dinner. I came out to see her fallen asleep on the couch. The TV was still running so I switched it off and knelt before her. She looked peaceful. So peaceful. I laid her down gently on the couch, brought a blanket for her from her room and put it on her, before eating the dinner she made and going off to bed.

~ Two months later ~

It had been two months since that sentence. We barely spoke, I had taken up some internships and work at Dad's office branch in Dubai so I can join as soon as I'm done with masters and I had gotten all my exams done as well. I would keep minding my own business and her minding her own. Deep down, even though I was enjoying my friend group and Riya's company, I still lowkey wanted to be around only one person.

We hadn't talked since that day but I still made sure she was fine and that her aunt wasn't causing issues. I was in touch with Nisha, who would frequently tell me that Nikita is getting better, and that would be it.

Currently we were all packing to go to Kolkata. Ruyash Bhai and Manisha Bhabhi had finished 3 months of their wedding and they hadn't thrown a proper loud reception including family and business partners and friends. The previous reception was only for family. Mom had asked all of us to be a part of the ceremony and had personally booked all our tickets. I was excited but I don't think Nikita would want to join. She made multiple excuses in front of Mom but Mom didn't listen. I don't know why she doesn't want to come, is it me or is it the incident?

Nonetheless, we were soon at the airport ready for our flight. We sat in our seats, with Sid and Esha sitting ahead and Nikita and I sitting behind. Sid and Esha had feelings for each other and were as good as official. Riya Armaan and the rest were coming in the evening since they had a function to attend, so they were coming in another flight. Nikita and I kept a seat's worth of gap between us, only to be filled by another man sitting in between us.

I had started to read my book when I noticed that man trying to talk to Nikita constantly. I watched her face and saw her answer uncomfortably, so I tapped his shoulder and said, "Hey, do you mind if you swap seats with my girlfriend? We were fighting but we'd still want to sit next to each other!"

Nikita looked at me in shock while the man's face turned into a scowl as he reluctantly agreed. They got up and soon she was sitting in between us. The man, observing our moves.

"Hey love, I'm sorry." I said, wrapping my arms around her shoulder and pulling her close.

She knew what I was doing and she gave me a small smile and said,

"It's fine." and came in closer to my chest. I knew she felt safe with me. I stroked her hair and then suddenly said,

"Okay fine, you can have the window seat alright! You win!"

I watched her eyes lit up and we swapped seats so that she was well away from him and I saw in the middle. The man also went back to his movie and we sat in peace.

After an hour, I felt Nikita's head touching my shoulder as she tried to sleep. I pulled her closer and she instantly got up, backing away.

"Sorry, I thought you're asleep." I said.

"No... Just...Sorry."

This was awkward. We barely exchanged a few words in the last two months and now we seemed lost. Her eyes looked like she wanted to say so much but she didn't.

"Are you... are you fine with coming?" I asked.

"Ye...Yes."

"Don't worry about her. She won't be able to do anything."

"Yeah."

The entire flight ride was silent after that. She looked at me with so many emotions and I didn't know how to talk to her.

Once we landed, we had a bunch of people picking us up and taking us to my home. She sat at the back of the jeep, exploring the city. I knew she was scared to be back here, but I made sure that my cousin sister sat with her and kept talking to her. Maya, my cousin sister.

The jeep ride was fun, we spoke and I showed Esha Sid and Nikita around the city. Soon, we were at the doorstep of my home.

The door opened to Mom and Dad who welcomed us excitedly. I hugged her and ran inside to meet the one who I was dying to meet.

"BRUNOOOO!" I screamed.

"Relax Mayukh! He's here." Mom said and from the back of her saree, a small shitzu ran towards me. I knelt and embraced him while he licked my whole face.

"Hey Hey baba relax!" I chuckled.

Suddenly, I watched Bruno leave me and run to Nikita. What? Ye kya? I saw Nikita kneel and take Bruno in her arms and carry him, while holding him like a baby. I walked closer to Bruno and held his head while he played around in her arms.

"They look like a proper family!" I heard Mom chuckle and whisper into Dad's ears and I heard Dad reply, "I agree!"

Excuse me?! What?!

I glared at Dad and they both quickly spoke, "Nikita, you know beta, Bruno is never open to meeting new people. This is a surprising sight for us! Bruno didn't even come to us initially, only Mayukh." Mom said and patted Bruno.

I looked at Sid, who looked at me smirking. I knew what that guy had in mind. He'd asked me a while back as well, I recalled.

Mom told Juma Aunty, our house help, to take everyone's luggage to their rooms along with the help of other staff members and Mom settled us down and Juma Aunty served chai.

"How was the trip?" Mom asked.

"Amazing aunty! This city is beautiful!" Esha replied.

"It really is. Is it your first time?" She asked everyone. Sid and Esha nodded, "Nikita?"

I saw her clutch her duppata tightly and I looked at Mom, hoping she'd look at me. But before she could, Nikita replied, "No aunty, I have some family here."

"Had." I replied. Everyone looked at me and I looked at her strictly. I know she understood as she looked down, "She had family here. They moved out."

"Acha! That's sweet then!" Mom said.

When everyone was busy in conversation, I looked at Mom and signaled to look at Nikita's anklet, where I had tied the evil eye anklet to remind Mom about what happened to her. She knew it happened in Kolkata, she just didn't know that we had to get married for her to let us go. She thinks that I met her after she had escaped from her aunt. Mom looked and the face of realization hit her as she looked drowned in guilt. I gave a small smile saying it's okay and she quickly mouthed a "Sorry" before carrying the conversation on.

After a while everyone had gone to their rooms to freshen up and take a nap. I was roaming around the house when I went to Mom, who was getting everything ready for tomorrow's function. I walked in and she gave me a small smile before saying, "I'm so sorry I forgot about her past."

"It's okay Mom. She doesn't remember it much too now, it's hitting right now because it happened her."

Mom nodded and said, "Anyway, Bruno is glued to her. I'm sure he'll make her feel better." She chuckled.

"I'm gonna go find Bruno." I said and left.

I went upstairs to see her room empty. I went upstairs to the terrace where we had a gazebo and sheltered pool and garden and found her sitting there with Bruno, reading a book. I missed seeing her.

I went closer to find her in a skin tight pastel pink plain salwar, which highlighted her curves, and a while patiala pant underneath. Her duppata was kept to the side and her hair was tied in a clip, revealing her hot mole on her back. I went towards her and found Bruno playing in her arms as she spoke to him while stroking his hair and trying to read at the same time. I chuckled.

"Bruno!!!!!" She said, and Bruno barked as he saw me and ran to me. She followed him and soon she saw me and stopped in her tracks. Her face looked beautiful.

I lifted Bruno and said, "What is this Bruno, you met your Bhabhi and you forgot about your Bhai only?"

What?! What did I just say?! I don't know how I subconsciously said that!

I looked her and her wide eyes with confusion staring at me and then looking down as we made eye contact. Bruno barked, bringing us out of our trance.

"Umm, Bruno's toy." Nikita said and came closer, handing me a toy. I took it from her and Bruno used that chance to escape and start clinging onto Nikita's feet.

"Bruno!" We both said in unison and bent down to pick him up.

Our heads hit each other and we stopped in our tracks, our faces being so close to one and another. I felt her breathing get uneven and I tried to look down but her salwar was giving me a very tempting view of her cleavage. For a second, I lost myself until I realised and quickly pulled myself up. She did as well.

I was about to leave from there and was at the door when I heard her say, "Wait."

I turned around to see her coming. She came to me and her hand went behind my hair as she pulled me closer gently, bringing her face toward me. I felt my heartbeat rising as I came closer. She gently bumped our heads together and instantly let go and was about to run away when I held her hand and pulled her closer, securing my hand on her waist.

"What was that for?"

"Umm actually—"

"What, wife?"

Her eyes widened and she replied, "Our heads banging once is bad luck, banging it two times remove bad luck."

I chuckled, "Oh so banging twice removes back luck."

She nodded.

I moved in closer and whispered, "Let's go to my room then, let's remove all the back luck we have." I smirked and she understood and gasped and pushed me away and ran back to Bruno. I chuckled and left the terrace.

Unknown to them, two sets of eyes were watching their move and smiling in awe.

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