Chapter 19

The morning started quietly as Niharika prepared for their journey to Indore. She chose a simple baby pink salwar suit, the soft fabric flowing easily as she adjusted the dupatta around her shoulders. Her hair was tied in a neat braid, and she wore minimal jewelry, just a small pair of gold studs and a delicate bracelet. The understated look made her feel comfortable, even though her nerves about traveling with Mayank were quietly simmering under the surface.

As she stepped out of her room, she found her parents in conversation with Deboleena, who had stopped by for a quick chat. Deboleena's warm smile greeted her as she joined them.

"Ah, Deboleena," Yangeeta said, her tone filled with affection. "The wedding was a wonderful affair. Everything went perfectly."

Niharika gave a polite smile and added. "It indeed was, aunty," she said softly.

Deboleena's gaze turned to Abhijeet and Yangeeta, her tone playful but pointed. "You know, speaking of weddings, it's time to start planning for Niharika's."

Niharika froze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a sudden rush of heat to her face. Her parents exchanged quick glances, the tension between them palpable. Yangeeta let out an awkward laugh, brushing it off. "Oh, let's not rush her," she said lightly, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.

But Deboleena wasn't one to let go so easily. "I'm just saying," she continued with a smile, "a girl like Niharika won't stay single for long. Better to start looking now."

Niharika forced another smile, but her discomfort was evident. She wanted to say something, anything, but the secret of her marriage held her tongue. Instead, she excused herself, mumbling something about checking the bags.

As she walked to the corner where the luggage was stacked, Mayank approached her. His friends Arjun and Imran weren't far behind, chatting and laughing as they discussed their plans for the day.

"Hey," Mayank said, his voice low. "I wanted to ask—would it be okay if my friends came with us to Indore? They have some free time, and..."

"It's fine," Niharika interrupted warmly, her tone brisk but not unkind. "I'll text Krutika to arrange for an extra room at the hotel."

She pulled out her phone and sent a quick message, letting her cousin know about the additional guests. Mayank watched her silently, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he nodded.

~•~

The flight to Indore was uneventful, and they arrived at the hotel by mid-afternoon. The atmosphere was lively as family members and guests bustled about, preparing for the upcoming thread ceremony. Niharika quickly changed into a simple turquoise saree, the soft fabric draping her elegantly. She tied her hair in a single braid, keeping her look traditional and minimal.

Mayank, meanwhile, stepped out of his room in a crisp white kurta, feeling slightly out of place amidst the crowd of unfamiliar faces. As he walked through the lobby, he caught snippets of conversations in Marathi.

"Arre, sagla ekdam changla chalalay, na?" said an elderly woman to another.

"Ho, pan mala kalat nahi ki sagle guests time var yetil ka," the other replied with a knowing smile.

The unfamiliar language made Mayank feel like an outsider. He paused, trying to catch a word he might understand, but the rapid flow of words left him lost. The realization struck him: this must have been how Niharika felt at the wedding. Surrounded by strangers, in a space that felt alien to her. The thought unsettled him.

As he stood there, Krutika approached him with a friendly smile. "Hello, you must be Niharika's school friends," she said, switching to English. "Welcome to Indore!"

"Thank you," Mayank said, offering a polite smile.

Krutika introduced herself to Arjun and Imran as well, chatting with them briefly before excusing herself to handle some last-minute preparations.

Nearby, Niharika was busy organizing the seating arrangements with the event manager.

As the day turned into evening, the family gathered for a casual dinner. The Datta's stayed by Yangeeta and Abhijeet as Preeti, one of Yangeeta's cousins, approached them with a curious look.

"You must be the Datta family, right?" she asked, looking at Mayank and his parents, who were standing near Yangeeta.

"Yes," Yangeeta replied smoothly. "They're family friends. They were here for the wedding, so we asked them to join us for the celebrations."

Preeti nodded approvingly. "Good decision. Now come on, everyone—dance floor time!"

As the music started, the crowd moved toward the dance floor.

Mayank walked with his friends towards the food area, scanning the scene for something light to eat. He spotted an older man, clearly one of the cooks, standing by the tandoor, expertly flipping rotis. The aroma of fresh bread filled the air. Mayank approached and gestured towards the steaming rotis.

"Ek roti milega?" he smiled and asked politely.

The man, smiling warmly, responded in rapid Marathi, "Arre, ek roti kasa? Tumhi minimum teen roti khaanar!"

Mayank blinked, slightly startled. "Uh... sorry, I don't understand Marathi."

The man chuckled heartily, slapping his knee as if Mayank had just cracked a great joke. "Arre Dada, Marathi, Hindi, kuch nahi hai. Good-food ki language sab samajhte hai!"

He grabbed Mayank's plate and placed three fresh rotis on it. "Minimum teen roti lena. Yeh tumhara ghar hai, khaane ki kami nahi hogi."

Mayank stood there, slightly taken aback but smiling. The warmth in the man's tone and the way he treated him like family reminded him of something he hadn't experienced in a while. He looked around and noticed other people helping one another, laughing, and making everyone feel welcome, regardless of whether they were strangers.

As he walked back with his plate, he thought to himself, This is the same kind of warmth Niharika has.

As Mayank Arjun and Imran sat and sat, they found it difficult to talk, due to the loud noise. Curious about the commotion, they wandered over to see what was happening. Mayank followed, though his attention was quickly captured by the sight of Niharika.

She was dancing with Krutika and a few others, her movements light and carefree. Her laughter was visible through the room, and for the first time, Mayank saw a different side of her—a side that was completely at ease.

"Wow," Arjun said, nudging Mayank. "She looks happy."

Imran nodded. "She's really handled today well."

Mayank didn't say anything, but he felt a swell of pride.

~•~

Later that night, Mayank wandered downstairs to get a bottle of water. The hall was quiet, but he noticed a light still on near the event area. Curious, he walked over and found Niharika sitting with the event manager, a pen in her hand and a checklist in front of her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low but tinged with concern.

Niharika looked up, surprised. "Oh, I'm just helping with the guest list," she said, gesturing to the papers. "The event manager doesn't know everyone, so I thought I'd handle it."

The manager, looking visibly tired, thanked Niharika and excused himself for the night. As he left, Niharika stood up, stretching slightly.

"You should get some rest too," Mayank said, his tone softer now.

"I will," she replied, smiling faintly. "But I need to review a few more things first."

She started walking toward the garden, her checklist in hand, and Mayank followed her. The cool night air was refreshing as they strolled through the dimly lit garden.

"You're really good at this," Mayank said, watching her jot down notes. "Organizing everything, I mean."

Niharika chuckled. "It's not a big deal. I just like things to be in order."

He smiled, admiring her dedication. "You should still sleep, though. You've been on your feet all day."

She looked at him, her expression softening. "I will. You should sleep too."

"I will," he said, matching her tone. "But only if you do."

They exchanged a small smile before heading back toward the hotel. Walking side by side, they moved in comfortable silence, their footsteps echoing softly against the tiled path. When they reached their rooms, Niharika glanced at him one last time.

"Goodnight, Mayank," she said quietly.

"Goodnight, Niharika," he replied, his voice equally gentle.

As they parted ways, Mayank couldn't help but think about how seamlessly she fit into her world, her quiet strength and resilience shining through in the smallest of moments.

🩷