Chapter 77

Flashback

Mayank had driven straight to Siya and Samar's house after leaving Niharika's parents' place. He knew that if she had been upset enough to leave their home, she would have talked to her closest friends. And he was right.

The moment he stepped inside, Siya gave him a knowing look. "You're here about Nihu, aren't you?"

"Where else would I be?" Mayank muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Did she come here?"

Siya and Samar exchanged a glance before Siya nodded. "Yeah, she did. And she told us everything."

Mayank frowned. "Everything?"

Siya sighed. "She thinks you and Zaina still have feelings for each other."

Mayank's jaw tensed. "What?"

"She told us about the whole office incident," Samar added. "The foot brushing, the way you hugged Zaina, and how involved you looked in your conversation with her. It piled up in her head, and she just... she got convinced that something is still there."

Mayank stared at them in disbelief, as her friends narrated everything in detail, before groaning, pressing his hand to his forehead. "This girl..."

"She's insecure, Mayank," Siya said softly. "And I won't lie, it hurt to see her this affected. She's never been one to open up about feelings, but when she was here, she just—" Siya paused. "She let it all out."

Mayank exhaled sharply. "I never even realized she felt this way."

"You wouldn't," Samar said with a small smile. "She doesn't let people see what's in her heart. But thanks to you, she finally did. For the first time in years."

Mayank looked up at that, his expression softening.

"You're changing her," Samar added. "And it's a good thing."

Mayank's lips quirked up into a smile. "Then I should go get my wife back."

Present

Niharika struggled in Mayank's grasp, trying to push him away, but his grip remained firm.

"You're not running anymore, Nihu," he said, his voice steady yet intense.

"Mayank, let me go," she muttered, looking away.

Instead of listening, Mayank swiftly lifted her into his arms, carrying her bridal style.

"Mayank!" she gasped, her hands pressing against his chest.

But he ignored her protests, walking over to the couch and gently setting her down. Then, he crouched in front of her, his gaze locked onto hers.

"Sit," he said, his voice softer now. "And talk to me, darling."

Niharika turned her face away, her throat burning with unshed tears. "I want to go," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Mayank sighed, shaking his head. "We're not leaving until we talk," he said firmly. "Two days was enough. I'm not keeping more distance between us."

"There's nothing to say," she muttered, clenching her hands into fists in her lap.

He let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Lies, darling. There's so much to say. You just don't want to say it."

Her fingers dug into the fabric of her kurta, her heart pounding.

Mayank exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair. "You misunderstood everything, Niharika," he said, his voice softer now, like he was trying to rein in his frustration. "The foot brushing thing? I was going to brush your foot. But you bent down at the exact moment, so I moved away. And before I could bring it back, you saw what you saw and fixed it in your head as something else entirely."

Her breath hitched, but she refused to look at him.

"And the hug?" he continued. "She was leaving when you walked in. You saw one second of it and made up a whole story in your mind. You didn't ask me, Niharika. You assumed."

Her fingers trembled slightly.

"Our friends are common," he went on, his voice quieter now. "We were just recalling this stupid bet I won. That's why I didn't reply instantly. And no, I wasn't telling Rohan to keep you away from my group. I want you around all the time. But I know you compare yourself to Zaina whenever you're near her, and I didn't want that for you. I didn't want you overthinking or doubting yourself because of something that doesn't even exist. That's why I told Rohan not to get you involved that day."

Niharika bit her lip, her eyes stinging.

"The Rolex?" He scoffed. "I told her to give it back. She forgot, and she even apologized for coming to our house."

She blinked rapidly, her entire body stiff.

Tears welled up in her eyes as realization dawned, crashing over her like a wave. Had she really—?

"Then why did you call this a mistake?" she asked, her voice breaking. "Do you... do you want to leave, Mayank?" Her breath shuddered as she forced herself to ask, "Do you want Zaina? Because if you do, I won't force you. You can—"

Before she could finish, Mayank reached forward and cupped her face, his grip gentle but firm. "Enough." His voice was raw, almost pained. "I was angry, Niharika. I regretted saying that the very night I said it." He exhaled shakily. "I was going to talk to you the next morning, but you left."

She swallowed hard. "I thought you were ignoring me..."

Mayank let out a frustrated chuckle, shaking his head. "These bloody misunderstandings." He brushed a stray tear off her cheek, his thumb lingering for a moment. "I know I wasn't on board with this marriage at first. But things changed, we changed, and now... now you're the most precious thing in my life."

Her lips parted, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"I don't want to leave," he said, his voice quieter now, filled with something deep and unshakable. "And if my friendship with Zaina is a problem, tell me how to fix it. Tell me what I need to do, because I haven't been in this place before. I don't know how to do this perfectly, but I want to learn."

Her chest ached, her emotions a tangled mess inside her. "It's fine," she whispered, but he shook his head.

"No, it's not." He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes. "I know trusting people isn't easy for you. I know you've been hurt before. But I'm not them, Niharika. I want to be someone you trust, someone you believe in. So tell me how. Tell me what I need to do."

Tears slipped down her cheeks before she could stop them. "I'm sorry, Mayank," she whispered. "I'll trust you."

His face softened, and before she could say anything else, he pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry too, Niharika," he murmured into her hair. "I should've made sure you knew before any of this spiraled. And I should never have said those ghastly words."

She clutched his shirt tightly, burying her face into his chest, breathing in his warmth, his comfort.

After a long moment, he pulled back slightly, brushing his fingers against her cheek with a teasing smirk. "By the way, wife—next time we fight, you're only allowed 48 hours of time away from me."

She let out a small, breathy laugh.

Mayank continued, eyes twinkling. "So this whole 'I'm leaving' note? I'm going to burn it."

She rolled her eyes as she chuckled through tears, but there was no anger left, just relief, just warmth. "You're impossible."

"And you're mine," he countered, grinning.

For the first time in days, she let herself believe it.

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