Chapter 28

The evening began like any other. Niharika came home after work, a slight bounce in her step. She set her bag down and walked into the living room where Mayank was sitting with his laptop, engrossed in something work-related.

"I'm heading out with Siya and Samar tonight," she said casually, looking through her phone for updates from the group chat. "Would you and your friends want to join us?"

Mayank didn't look up immediately, his fingers still tapping at the keyboard. "No, I think I'll pass."

She shrugged lightly. "Okay. I'll let them know."

Niharika headed to her room to get ready, leaving Mayank alone. But as he sat there finishing his emails, he found himself unable to focus. Thoughts of her out with Samar—laughing, talking, dancing—nagged at him. Samar's comment from the other day, how close he and Niharika seemed... it left an uncomfortable feeling that Mayank couldn't shake.

Without giving it much thought, he stood up and headed to his room. A quick shower later, he walked back into the living room, towel drying his hair.

"Niharika," he called, his voice echoing down the hallway.

"Yes?"

"We will come," he said simply.

~•~

By the time the evening rolled around, Mayank was dressed in a crisp white shirt and jeans, the simplicity of the outfit suiting him perfectly. He adjusted his sleeves while waiting near the couch, checking the time on his watch.

Just then, the door to Niharika's room creaked open, and she stepped out. Mayank's breath hitched slightly at the sight of her. She wore a black dress that ended just above her knees, modest yet undeniably stunning. The strapped shoulders highlighted her collarbones, and the subtle makeup and soft glow of her skin made her look effortlessly elegant. Her hair, neatly braided, added a touch of casual charm.

Mayank found himself staring, unable to look away.

"You look..." he began, searching for the right words.

She paused mid-step, her brows raising slightly in question. "Is it too much?" she asked hesitantly.

"No," he said, his voice firm. "Not at all. But..." He walked closer, stopping just in front of her. Without asking, he gently reached for her braid.

"What are you doing?" she asked, slightly startled.

Mayank didn't reply immediately. His fingers worked delicately, undoing the braid and letting her hair cascade down her back. The faint scent of her shampoo lingered between them as he stepped back, taking in the way her now-open hair framed her face and fell naturally over her shoulders.

"It looks better open," he said, his voice low. "Especially with this dress."

Niharika's cheeks warmed under his gaze. She managed a small smile, whispering, "Thanks."

Mayank smiled faintly in return. "Let's go," he said, grabbing his phone. But before following her, he unknowingly took the hair tie which was in his hand and slipped it onto his wrist.

~•~

The club was lively, with Bollywood songs filling the air. The group met outside—Siya, Samar, and a few others—and exchanged greetings before heading in.

As soon as Samar saw Niharika, he grinned and hugged her tightly. "Nihi, damn, you look hot tonight," he said, stepping back and giving her a mock bow.

Niharika laughed, brushing off his compliment. "Shut up, Samar."

Mayank stood nearby, his jaw tightening slightly. He watched the exchange silently, unsure if Samar was out of line or if this was just their dynamic. Either way, he couldn't deny it: Samar wasn't wrong. She did look hot.

Inside, the energy was infectious. The group moved to the dance floor as Bollywood hits played one after another. Mayank, usually reserved, found himself letting loose a little as everyone joined in, laughing and dancing together.

A new song started, and Niharika gasped, grabbing Samar's arm. "Oh my God, our song!" she exclaimed.

Samar laughed. "I can't believe they're playing it!"

The two immediately launched into the hook step of the song, moving in perfect sync. Their excitement was palpable, drawing the attention of the group and even a few strangers nearby.

Mayank watched, feeling a twinge of jealousy. He stayed rooted in place, sipping his drink as he tried not to overthink it. But the way they moved together—the ease, the familiarity—gnawed at him.

After a while, as the energy drained, the group settled themselves nearby around a table—all except Niharika.

"Tired?" Siya asked, appearing beside him.

"Not really. But thought to take a break." He said, not taking his eyes off Niharika and Samar.

"They've known each other for years," Siya said, following his eyes but not suspecting anything.

"I figured," Mayank replied, not taking his eyes off Niharika.

As they spoke, Samar left the floor to join them. She didn't. Mayank was going to ask about it—he looked at Siya, but she understood. "Once Niharika starts dancing, there's no stopping her," Siya added with a laugh.

Mayank chuckled softly. "She's dancing with random people now."

Siya waved it off. "That's just how she is. She'll keep going until she's exhausted."

Mayank smiled faintly, but the possessive part of him didn't love the idea of his wife dancing with strangers.

He set his drink down and walked toward her. As he approached, the DJ's voice boomed over the speakers.

"This one's for all the couples in the house!"

Mayank hesitated, but Niharika turned toward him, their eyes locking. Before the moment could get awkward, he extended his hand.

"Come on," he said.

She looked surprised but placed her hand in his. He twirled her gracefully, pulling her close. His hand rested on her waist as they began to move to the rhythm of the love song playing. It wasn't a slow dance, but it was intimate enough to make his heart race.

Niharika felt the sparks too, her breath hitching slightly at his closeness. She kept her gaze on his shoulder, too flustered to meet his eyes.

"Didn't know you could dance," she said softly.

"There's a lot you don't know about me," he replied, his voice just as soft.

They moved together effortlessly, the world around them fading into the background. For those few minutes, it felt like it was just the two of them, lost in their own little bubble.

The night ended with everyone exhausted but happy. On the drive home, Niharika dozed off in the passenger seat, her head leaning against the window.

When they reached home, Mayank hurried to open the door, noticing how deeply she was asleep. Without a second thought, he scooped her up bridal style and carried her inside.

She stirred slightly but didn't wake, her head resting against his chest. He placed her gently on her bed, removing her heels and covering her with a blanket.

Standing by her bedside, he watched her for a moment. The quiet rise and fall of her breath, the peaceful expression on her face—it made his heart ache in a way he couldn't quite explain.

Back in his room, Mayank sat on his bed, scrolling through pictures from the night. His phone buzzed with a message from Arjun.

"Power couple!"

Attached were three pictures: one of Mayank and Niharika dancing, another of them laughing with their arms around each other, and a final one of Niharika smiling up at him while his hand rested on her waist.

Mayank sat there, the soft glow of his bedside lamp casting shadows across the room. His thumb hovered over the pictures, lingering on the one where Niharika was looking up at him. Her smile was unguarded, bright, and genuine. He felt a strange warmth spread through his chest, a mix of pride and something else he couldn't quite name.

He set his phone down on the nightstand and leaned back against the headboard, his thoughts racing. The image of Niharika dancing earlier, carefree and radiant, replayed in his mind. Her energy, her joy—it was magnetic.

But then there was Samar. Mayank's jaw tightened slightly at the memory of Samar's casual ease with her, the way they'd moved together as if in perfect harmony. It wasn't jealousy, not entirely—it was something deeper, a nagging discomfort he couldn't shake.

"She's my wife," he murmured to himself, the words tasting both strange and reassuring.

His gaze shifted back to his phone, and he picked it up again, opening the pictures once more. This time, he saved them to his gallery, almost instinctively. He smiled faintly before turning off the lamp and lying down.

As he stared at the ceiling, sleep eluding him, one thought kept circling in his mind:

I need to understand her better. Who she is, what makes her happy, and why she smiles so easily around others—but not as often around me.

With that resolve, his eyes finally drifted shut, carrying with him the image of Niharika's smile and the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, they were starting to close the distance between them.

🩷