Chapter 41

The car ride home was quiet, though not uncomfortably so. The faint hum of the engine blended with the sound of the city outside, and Mayank kept glancing sideways at Niharika, who seemed unusually calm. She sat with her hands neatly folded in her lap, her gaze fixed on the passing lights, but her expression was unreadable. It wasn't her silence that worried him—it was the way she spoke so normally, as if nothing had happened.

"Tomorrow, I think I'll stay home," she said suddenly, her voice soft but firm. She turned to him with a small smile, and it caught him off guard.

"You're staying home?" he repeated, unsure whether to press for more details.

"Yeah," she replied, her tone light. "I need a quiet day. Maybe I'll clean up a bit, or just relax."

Her words seemed harmless, but there was something in her tone that didn't sit right with him. Mayank glanced at her again, studying her profile—the slight tilt of her head, the way her fingers fidgeted ever so slightly with the fabric of her dress.

"Alright," he said finally, though the unease in his chest refused to fade. "Let me know if you need anything."

"I will," she said with a nod, her smile still in place.

But Mayank didn't believe her.

That night, Mayank lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind replaying the events of the day over and over. He couldn't shake the image of Niharika at the fountain, the way she had frozen at the sight of that group. Her mask had slipped for a moment, and he had seen something raw—something painful—before she had quickly patched herself up and acted like nothing was wrong.

He turned onto his side, his thoughts a tangle of concern and frustration. He hated not knowing what was going on with her, but he hated even more that she wouldn't let him in. Every time he tried to reach her, she pushed him away, and it was beginning to wear on him.

When his alarm went off at 7 the next morning, Mayank got up, determined to keep himself busy. After a quick shower, he headed downstairs, the scent of something faintly spicy and sweet wafting through the air.

He walked into the kitchen to find Niharika standing by the stove, her back to him. She was dressed in a soft blue kurta and white leggings, her hair still damp from her own shower. She looked peaceful, humming quietly to herself as she poured hot chai into two mugs.

"You're up early," Mayank said, leaning against the doorway.

She turned, startled, but her smile was quick and natural. "Could say the same for you."

"Couldn't sleep," he admitted, walking over to her. He noticed the way her hands moved with practiced ease, the gentle clinking of the spoon against the mug almost soothing. "Here, let me make it for you."

"It's fine, I've already made it," she said, holding out a mug to him. Her smile was soft, but there was a hint of something else in her eyes—a shadow he couldn't quite place.

"Thanks," he said, taking the mug from her. He watched her as they sipped their chai, searching for any sign of the turmoil he knew she was hiding.

"So, what's the plan for today?" he asked casually, hoping to ease into a conversation about yesterday.

"I'm going to step out for a bit," she said, brushing a strand of damp hair behind her ear. "I'll meet Siya and Samar."

Mayank raised an eyebrow. Normally, the mention of Samar would have bothered him, but right now, his focus was entirely on her behavior. "You're meeting them again?"

She nodded, taking another sip of her chai. "Yeah, I think it'll be good to catch up."

"Okay," he said slowly, unsure whether to press further. On one hand, he wanted her to open up, but on the other, he thought it might be better to let her have some space. "Enjoy."

"Thanks," she said, flashing him another quick smile before heading upstairs to change.

As soon as she was out of sight, Mayank set his mug down and ran a hand through his hair. The uneasy feeling in his chest had only grown stronger, and he couldn't shake the sense that something was seriously wrong.

He sat down at the dining table, pulling out his phone and hesitating for a moment before typing in "Nihipedia." He had only seen glimpses of her private account before, but he wanted to understand her better—to piece together the parts of her life she kept hidden.

As he scrolled through her account, he noticed something strange. There were barely any pictures from her undergraduate years, and the ones that were there felt distant, almost impersonal. He frowned, his curiosity piqued. Finally, he came across a tag from someone named Meera.

Without overthinking it, he sent a message to the girl:

Hey, sorry, this is random, but do you know Niharika?

Satisfied for now, he set his phone aside and waited for a reply.

~•~

Meanwhile, Niharika was on her way to meet Siya and Samar, her heart heavy with memories she couldn't escape. Tears welled in her eyes as the image of her ex-friends flashed in her mind again—their faces, their laughter, all of it haunting her. By the time she reached Siya's apartment, the tears were streaming freely down her face.

Siya opened the door and immediately pulled her into a hug. "I knew this was eating you up," she said softly, her voice filled with concern.

Niharika sobbed against her shoulder, her body trembling. "I can't... I can't face them," she whispered. "I thought I was over it, but seeing them again..."

"You need to tell Mayank," Siya said gently. "He has the right to know what's going on with you."

"No," Niharika said firmly, pulling away and wiping her tears. "He doesn't care about this marriage, Siya. I'm just unloading my problems on him. I don't want to bother him with this."

Siya frowned, exchanging a look with Samar. It was clear to both of them that Niharika wasn't in a place to help herself, and they would need to intervene.

~•~

That evening, Niharika returned home, her expression calm once again. But Mayank saw through it immediately.

"Hey," he said softly as she walked in. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," she said, forcing a small smile.

"I made pasta," he offered, hoping to lighten the mood.

She chuckled, some of her tension easing. "You know how to cook?"

"Of course," he said with a grin.

They ate together, the conversation light, but Mayank's mind was racing. Later that night, as Niharika slept, his phone buzzed with a message.

Yeah, I know her. What's up? It was from Meera.

Before he could reply, another notification popped up—a message from a new account.

Hey, it's Siya. We need to talk about Niharika. Can we meet tomorrow for lunch?

Mayank replied immediately:

Yes, absolutely. Let me know the time and place.

As he set his phone down, he glanced at a picture of Niharika on his camera roll. Her smile in the photo was soft, genuine. He sighed, his resolve hardening.

"I need to figure out what's going on with you," he murmured to himself, determination lighting his eyes.

🩷