Chapter 68

Niharika sat on the kitchen island, her laptop open as she typed away, her thoughts drifting in and out of focus. The soft hum of the house provided a background to her work, but she was only half-present in the moment. The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of Mayank's friends.

She heard the familiar voices—Rohan and Arjun—but then, just as she suspected, Zaina's voice joined in. A flicker of surprise and discomfort washed over her, though she quickly pushed it down. Of course Zaina would be here. They're all friends, and it's fine.

She couldn't help but compare herself to Zaina. As the laughter from the living room floated into the kitchen, Niharika caught a glimpse of herself in the window. Her hair was messy, barely tied into a bun, and her casual t-shirt and sweatpants made her feel like she didn't belong in the same space as someone like Zaina, who always seemed to have it all together.

Stop it, Niharika thought to herself. It doesn't matter. This is Mayank's group. Zaina's here because she's his friend.

Trying to focus on her work, Niharika heard Rohan calling out to her from the other room. "Hey, Niharika! Come join us, it'll be fun!"

For a moment, she hesitated. Her eyes naturally drifted towards Mayank and Zaina, who were talking and laughing together. They look so comfortable, Niharika thought, a twinge of unease creeping in. She quickly brushed the thought aside, trying to shake off the insecurity.

But then she smiled at Rohan. "No, it's okay. I have work to do. You guys enjoy."

Rohan paused for a second, and his gaze flicked between her and the group in the living room. He looked like he wanted to say more but then noticed something. Mayank's attention shifted from the conversation he was having with Zaina to Rohan. It was a small, subtle glance, but unmistakable.

Mayank shook his head slightly, his gesture clear as he silently communicated to Rohan: Let it go.

Niharika, still sitting on the kitchen island, saw the exchange. Her heart sank, and the discomfort she had been pushing aside flared up. Is that it? Does he not want me around when Zaina's here? Her thoughts spiraled, and she found herself questioning everything. Is it because of their history? Does he still want to be around her more than me?

The sadness from the thought hit her harder than she expected. She quickly stood up, unable to stay in the kitchen a moment longer. Without saying another word, she walked toward the bedroom, her emotions a mix of confusion and hurt.

She closed the door behind her and sat down on the bed, trying to process everything. Maybe I'm overthinking this, she thought, but a small part of her couldn't shake the feeling that Mayank preferred Zaina's company over hers.

The sound of chatter and clinking glasses filled the air as Mayank and Rohan made their way to a corner of the room, away from the lively conversation taking place around the dinner table. The evening was progressing smoothly, but Mayank's mind kept wandering back to one thing—Niharika.

"Rohan, have you seen Niharika?" Mayank asked, his voice low, scanning the room as if expecting to spot her in one of the corners.

Rohan paused for a second before responding, glancing around himself. "She went inside, said she had work to finish."

Mayank's brow furrowed. "Work?"

Rohan shrugged, noticing the concern on Mayank's face. "She said she's fine, man. Don't overthink it."

Mayank sighed, taking a sip of his drink, his thoughts racing. "I don't know, man. I just feel like she's uncomfortable when Zaina's around. That's why I told you to let it go when you kept asking her—I know she's uncomfortable."

Rohan raised an eyebrow. "You don't think she's just being... well, herself? She seems cool about it."

Mayank shook his head. "I know my wife. She's not the type to speak up about it, but I can see it in her eyes. Every time she's in the same room as Zaina, she compares herself to her. I don't want her to feel like she has to do that, especially when Zaina and I are just friends. It's not healthy."

Rohan chuckled lightly, clearly amused by Mayank's tone. "Damn, who would've thought Mayank Datta would become this way?" He leaned against the wall, grinning. "It's like you've grown a whole new perspective."

Mayank glanced at the wedding ring on his finger, a soft smile creeping onto his face. "Yeah, something's definitely changed," he murmured, his gaze lingering on the ring. "But it's not just about me anymore. It's about us, you know?"

Rohan's smile faded slightly, and he nodded, understanding the depth of Mayank's thoughts. "But Zaina and you are still so friendly. Why, though? I mean, she's your ex."

Mayank sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We broke up because of distance, not because we hated each other. There's no bad blood between us. It's... it's just easier to be friends when there's no emotional baggage. It's weird to just ignore her completely, you know?"

Rohan seemed to consider this for a moment, then shrugged. "Fair enough. But I'm just saying, she seemed a little off when it came to you and Niharika."

Mayank's jaw tightened slightly, but he quickly masked it with a calm expression. "She says she's moved on. So why should it matter to her who I'm with now? We're married, Rohan. Niharika and I—nothing is changing that. I'm not letting anything come between us."

Rohan took a moment before he responded, his tone shifting to something more serious. "I get it, man. Just make sure you're both on the same page. That's all that matters."

Mayank nodded, grateful for his friend's understanding. "Thanks, Rohan. I will."

The two of them shared a brief smile before joining the rest of the group again. As Mayank's eyes flickered across the room, his gaze briefly landed on Niharika's empty seat, and his heart tightened. He knew she wasn't comfortable—well, he hoped—but he just hoped she would find peace with everything, soon.

As they returned to the conversation, Mayank found himself lost in thought, trying to navigate the fine line between keeping the peace with Zaina and making sure Niharika always felt like his priority.

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