Chapter 32

The plane touched down in Italy, and Niharika's excitement was palpable. She had always wanted to explore the historic cities of Italy, and now, here she was, standing in the heart of it. The weather was perfect, and the cobblestone streets looked straight out of a postcard. Mayank was equally thrilled, his eyes scanning the lively streets of Pisa as they made their way to the iconic Leaning Tower.

As they approached the tower, Niharika marveled at how surreal it was to see it in person. She snapped a few pictures, her phone clicking away as she admired the architecture. The surroundings were full of tourists, and she couldn't help but feel excited by the energy of the place.

Just as she was framing a picture of the tower, Mayank's voice called out from behind her. "Niharika, come here!" he said, his voice surprised.

She turned around, a bit startled, wondering why he was calling her. She hesitated for a moment, thinking he might not want to introduce her to someone, and so she took a step back, staying a little away from him, focused on her camera.

But Mayank's gaze caught hers, and he motioned for her to come over. "Come here, I want you to meet someone," he said, his expression warm.

Niharika, though surprised, walked over. Mayank stood with a tall, confident man, who looked familiar. Niharika figured he might be one of Mayank's old friends. She smiled politely as they exchanged greetings.

"This is Josh, my friend from UC Berkeley," Mayank said, introducing them. Josh greeted Niharika, and they began to talk about Berkeley, something they both had in common. It was a nice, friendly conversation, and Niharika felt at ease.

Josh turned to Mayank. "Who's this?" he asked, casually gesturing toward Niharika.

Before Niharika could even open her mouth, Mayank surprised her by saying, "She's my wife."

Niharika froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn't expected him to say that. She had no idea he would introduce her like this, but then again, maybe it was the best way to avoid any awkwardness.

Josh's eyes widened. "Bro, you got married? When did this happen? And you didn't even tell me!" he exclaimed, clearly caught off guard.

"It's been almost two months," Mayank replied with a shrug. "We wanted to keep it private for now, so don't go telling anyone."

Josh grinned. "Of course, don't worry," he said. Then, with a knowing look, he added, "Do you want a picture with the Leaning Tower? I'll take it for you guys."

Mayank glanced at Niharika, and she smiled softly, nodding her head. "Sure, that'd be great," he replied.

Josh snapped a picture of them, and Mayank, ever the gentleman, placed his hand on Niharika's waist. Niharika smiled awkwardly at first, but then the moment passed, and they both posed naturally.

After the picture was taken, Josh waved them off with a friendly goodbye. As the two of them continued walking around, Niharika couldn't shake the slight surprise of the whole interaction. She had expected something entirely different when it came to meeting Mayank's old friends, but he had introduced her so easily. There was something comforting about it, despite the unexpectedness.

They strolled through the market afterward, enjoying the local ambiance. Niharika bought little trinkets for her parents, in-laws, and Rahil, feeling a little giddy with the thought of returning with special souvenirs for everyone. She even managed to take a few candid shots of Mayank in the process, capturing him lost in the moment as he examined some of the local goods.

By the time they reached the hotel that night, both of them were tired but content. The trip had been a whirlwind of experiences, and they knew they only had one more day before they headed back to Dubai. The next morning, they decided to make the most of their time before the flight and spend it at a nearby beach.

The beach was quiet, with only a few tourists lounging around. Mayank and Niharika sat on the sand, enjoying the sound of the waves and the cool breeze. Niharika took pictures of the breathtaking view, her phone capturing the endless expanse of water stretching to the horizon.

As they walked along the shore, Mayank's eyes suddenly caught someone from the past. A woman in a summer dress, with long, dark hair, was walking toward them. At first, he thought it might be someone else, but as she got closer, recognition struck.

It was Zaina, his ex-girlfriend. The shock was immediate, though he quickly masked it with a neutral expression. Zaina was beautiful, undeniably so. She had always been the type of person who drew attention everywhere she went, and she still had that effortless charm. Niharika, noticing the tension in Mayank's posture, looked up and saw them exchange a brief glance.

Zaina spotted them, and as if guided by instinct, she walked toward them. "Mayank?" she called, her voice a bit unsure.

Mayank stood still for a moment, trying to gather himself. "Zaina," he greeted her, a bit caught off guard. He wasn't sure how he felt seeing her now—after all, their breakup hadn't been a dramatic one. They had parted amicably, but it still felt strange to be face-to-face after all this time.

Niharika, sensing the situation, began to step back, trying to give them space. But Zaina, noticing her, turned toward Niharika with a friendly smile. "Hi," she said. "I'm Zaina, Mayank's ex."

Niharika froze for a second, unsure how to react. She quickly composed herself, offering a polite smile. "Nice to meet you," she replied, though her heart raced a little at the unexpected encounter.

Zaina glanced between them, clearly curious. "So, who's this?" she asked Mayank, her eyes twinkling with interest.

Mayank cleared his throat and, without missing a beat, replied, "This is my wife."

Zaina raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk appearing on her face. "Wife? Damn," she said, clearly surprised, but there was no malice in her tone—just an amused surprise.

Niharika glanced at Mayank, unsure of what to say or do next. She hadn't expected to meet his ex, especially not in such a casual setting. She looked at Mayank, she noticed that he wasn't uncomfortable with the situation, which made her feel a little more upset.

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