Chapter 13

It was 7pm when Mayank and Niharika drove towards his home. It was a silent drive with some music playing in the background. None of them said a word to each other, despite being married.

It felt strange, but somehow they both seemed to have gotten used to it.

He parked outside his parent's house. It was weird to say that. It was his house, but now he was calling it his parents' house. They stepped down and Niharika rang the doorbell.

Maya opened it. "Mayank! Niharika! Hello!"

Niharika touched her feet and Maya smiled. She looked at Mayank, who was in awe but knew how to hide it well.

They stepped inside and settled themselves on the couch. Niharika was surprised to see her family sitting here as well. Mayank then started, "Mom Dad, what was it you needed to say?"

"Okay. So we need to go to Kolkata for Debo's daughter's wedding. Now my only question is, those people don't know about the wedding. Because you told us to keep it quiet. So how are we going to explain it to them? We also need to go to Indore, for a function at Niharika's place."

Niharika looked confused, "How do you know about Indore?"

"Your mom told me, beta. We all will go."

"Mom," Mayank interrupted, "Can we just keep this a secret? The wedding?"

Niharika was used to such comments. Now, almost a month into the wedding, she knew this was her fate. So there's no point fighting it. She sat there quietly.

"Why would we hide this? And what are we supposed to say then?" Madhun added.

"Madhun is right. We can't just hide the fact that you two are married. How can we hide this?"

"I don't know, but can we? I would appreciate it." Mayank said.

All the parents looked at each other. Then back at them. Maya looked at Niharika, "Niharika? Do you mind? Are you okay with this?"

Niharika felt put on the spot. She looked at him. He wasn't going to be a husband to her. So there was no point in putting on an act that they can't play. Hence, she nodded. "I'm fine with it."

Maya and Madhun nodded, sadness evident in their eyes. Abhijeet and Yangeeta Doshi agreed too, disappointed in the children. But they couldn't do anything about it. They had already asked their kids to marry—now they had to deal with these.

"So," Maya asked, "How are we going to go as a family without giving away their marriage?"

Everyone pondered. That was a good question. Why would a family belonging in Indore come to Kolkata, and vice versa?

Eventually Madhun replied, "Well, the first function is in Kolkata. We can say that Abhijeet and his family came to explore Kolkata and we were coincidently there, so we invited them to the wedding."

"Yes and," Abhijeet added, "In Indore, we can say that you all were attending a wedding. And you were leaving the next day, so we asked you to join."

"That works out." Maya completed, still sad.

"Sorted then." Mayank said, "We'll do that."

"Come, let's have dinner now." Maya said as she got up and started to heat the food.

Niharika followed her into the kitchen. "Can I help, Aunty?"

Maya looked at her and smiled, "You can, but only if you call me Maa or Mom. I'm not your aunty." She smiled, "Remember that."

Niharika nodded, "Sorry. What should I do?"

"No need to apologize." She said and looked around, "Just bring the plates outside."

Doing as she said, she took the plates outside and set the table, while Mayank sat with his dad, her dad and Rahil as they all stayed in talks. All except Mayank and Rahil.

"Dinner is ready." Niharika announced and everyone walked over and sat down. She stayed standing and helped in serving the food until everyone was done.

Mayank noticed her behavior and felt a sense of pride. He didn't understand why, but his heart felt light. But he shrugged those thoughts and continued eating. After he watched Niharika go into the kitchen again, Maya and Yangeeta came out. Mayank instantly spoke, "Mom, Aunty? You all won't eat?"

"Yangeeta is Aai or Mom for you, Mayank. And we'll sit after you all eat." Maya said

"Sorry. No need. You all sit." He said and pulled two chairs. Then he guided them to sit down. After that, he looked on, "Where is Niharika?"

"She's making more roti's inside." Maya said, "I think she should also start. Mayank, call her."

Mayank nodded and got up. He walked into the kitchen where he saw her trying to make the roti while her hair bothered her.

Chuckling internally, he walked over to her and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her hair is soft, he thought. Niharika startled at the sudden contact. She looked at him—her eyes widened at his proximity.

"Umm," Mayank said, stepping back, "Mom said that you come eat now. Don't make this."

"Okay." She said and got the last roti. Then they both walked out, earning a small tug of smiles from everyone in the room.

Settling herself on the chair next to him, they started to eat while discussions kept going on about a range of things. All of a sudden, Mayank spoke, "I forgot to ask, when is the wedding? And the function?"

"We have to leave in 2 days." Maya said, "and the function starts in 3 days. And we will go to Indore a few days later."

"So, when will we be back?" Niharika asked.

"We should be back in 2 weeks." Abhijeet said and Niharika nodded in understanding.

The rest of the dinner went by peacefully. Then, Mayank and Niharika headed home. The drive home wasn't too bad. But it wasn't much of talking either. Just a conversation regarding the sudden plans and how unprepared everyone was regarding it.

Once they arrived home, they went to their rooms and started to pack. Niharika found it easy to pack, considering the Indian outfits she had gotten during her wedding.

Same with Mayank.

They spent 3 hours in their rooms packing, until they finally dozed off.

This was very last minute, they thought.

~•~

"Niharika?" Mayak's voice came in the hall. They were flying tomorrow and luckily the two of them had finished packing yesterday night. Now, they sat in the hall, living the usual Saturday morning.

She looked at him, "Yes?"

"Have you applied for a leave already?" He asked her, "For the two weeks."

"I'm going to work to get that sorted today." She said, as she drank her chai. Mayank hummed in response. She looked at him and continued, "Uh, have you got it sorted?"

He nodded in response. It was strange. It was a mix of silence and comfort, yet awkwardness. He was trying to think of what to say next when he heard her voice, "I'll be leaving now."

Before he could reply, she had left, shutting the door behind her. He watched her retreating figure until the door was closed and pondered. When did she become so cold?

You haven't been that warm either, Mayank. He muttered to himself.

🩷