Chapter 73

Niharika sat on the edge of the bed, her heart aching as she replayed Mayank's words over and over again in her mind. "Was this a mistake?" The sting of those words kept her awake, a dull ache that spread through her chest. She never imagined he would say something like that. It felt like a slap, an accusation against everything they had tried to build.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about it — how in the middle of her anger, she never once wanted to sever ties. She never imagined a world where she would walk away from him. She might have doubted him, might have questioned his actions, but deep down, she always believed in their connection. She never wanted to call it quits, not really. But hearing those words from him, maybe this was a mistake, made her question everything.

She sniffled, wiping her eyes as she tried to calm herself, but the more she thought about it, the harder it became to breathe. Could it be that he was right? Did he really want out? She couldn't shake the feeling that the words he said, coming from his frustration, were closer to the truth than she wanted to admit. People say what they really feel in anger, don't they? The more she replayed the scene, the more it sounded like he was relieved. Like he had wanted this all along.

She hugged her knees to her chest, her thoughts spiraling. Maybe she was just a backup in his life. Maybe he had never really wanted her the way she wanted him. Zaina was still there, a part of his past that he had never let go of, always around. She felt like she was just a placeholder, someone to fill the gap until the real thing came along. And she hated herself for even feeling that way.

Her tears flowed freely now, a mix of sadness, frustration, and hurt. How could she have been so blind? How could she have trusted him so easily, only to be hurt like this? The tears blurred her vision, but the pain in her heart was clear. The one person she thought she could rely on had made her feel small, insignificant. A backup plan, just like she had feared all along.

Meanwhile, Mayank sat in his own room, his hands clenched into fists as his mind raced with anger and regret. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He had tried to explain himself, but she wouldn't listen. Instead, she kept assuming the worst, holding onto her doubts as if they were the truth. How could she not trust him? How could she not see that he was trying so hard to make things work?

But then, in the quiet of his room, the words he had said to her echoed in his mind. "Was this a mistake?" The anger surged again, but now it was mixed with self-loathing. Why had he said that? He had been angry, yes, but he hadn't meant it. He hadn't meant to hurt her. Now that the heat of the moment had passed, he realized the damage those words had done. How could he have been so careless?

He punched the pillow in frustration, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. He couldn't stop thinking about what he had said, but even more so, he couldn't stop thinking about what she had said. She had agreed with him. "Contract wife, roommate, nothing else." Her words stung just as much as his had. Did she truly think that? Did she really believe he didn't care for her? That this marriage had been a mistake?

Mayank sighed, his anger simmering down, replaced with a cold frustration. He was angry at her, yes, for not trusting him, for not seeing that he was trying. But he was angry at himself, too, for how he had let everything spiral. He was angry for saying what he said, for giving her a reason to doubt.

But now he wasn't even sure how to fix things. He wanted to make it right, but she had already shut him out. She had already decided that he didn't care. He had tried to bring them closer, to bring them forward, but every step he took seemed to push her further away.

And he was starting to wonder if it was even worth it. Maybe she was right. Maybe they shouldn't have gotten married in the first place. Maybe it had all been a mistake, just like he said. He had tried, but if she wasn't going to trust him, if she wasn't going to believe in him, was there any point?

~•~

Mayank woke up with a heavy feeling in his chest, the weight of last night's fight pressing down on him like a bad dream that refused to fade. But it wasn't a dream—it was real. The words they had exchanged, the anger in her eyes, the way she had looked at him as if he had betrayed her. He exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face as flashes of the argument played in his mind.

"Maybe this was a mistake."

He shut his eyes, regret creeping in again. He hadn't meant to say that. He hadn't meant any of it. But now, he didn't know how to take it back.

With a frustrated sigh, he pushed himself out of bed and headed to the shower, hoping the cold water would wash away the tension in his body. As the water ran over him, he tried to clear his mind, tried to shake off the frustration. He needed to cool off. If he kept thinking about it, he'd only get angrier.

After getting dressed, he walked out to the kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee, sipping it in silence. The house felt eerily quiet, and for the first time, he hated it. His eyes flickered toward the hallway, wondering if she was awake yet. Would she even talk to him? Or had last night changed everything?

Just then, he heard the sound of a door opening. His grip on the coffee mug tightened slightly as he looked up.

Niharika stepped out, her hair slightly damp, dressed in a fresh set of clothes. She walked into the living room, pausing when she noticed him. Their eyes met for a brief moment—just a second too long, filled with everything neither of them was saying.

Neither moved. Neither spoke.

And then, just as quickly, she looked away and walked toward the kitchen, breaking the moment.

Mayank clenched his jaw, exhaling through his nose as he watched her. The distance between them had never felt so real.

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