Chapter 7

The first day of work at Microsoft was an exhilarating mix of excitement and nerves for Niharika. She had spent the last few days preparing, reading up on the company and her role, and mentally preparing herself for what was to come. Walking into the office, dressed in her crisp formal attire, she felt a sense of pride and anticipation. This was her first real step into her career, and no matter the whirlwind of emotions surrounding her impending marriage, she was determined to focus on the job at hand.

Niharika quickly made her way to her designated workstation after the orientation session. The office was buzzing with energy, filled with new faces and seasoned employees alike. The tasks ahead seemed daunting, but she was eager to dive in. As she settled into her desk, she couldn't help but notice the still-persistent feeling of disconnection. It was an odd thought. Here she was, in a new place, starting a new chapter, and yet, everything seemed to pull her back to thoughts of Mayank and the wedding that was looming over her like a cloud.

~•~

At the same time, Mayank was in his own world, pacing around the office after finishing up his latest project. He had been doing everything to distract himself from the overwhelming reality of the situation at home. The engagement, the wedding talks, the families. He wasn't exactly thrilled about the marriage but wasn't about to rock the boat either. It was easier to let things flow than to go against the tide. When he walked past a meeting room on his way to grab a coffee, he froze for a brief moment. There, sitting in the conference room, was none other than Niharika.

Mayank couldn't help but blink in surprise. He hadn't expected to see her here, at the very company he worked for, and certainly not on her first day. She looked poised, confident even, her attention fully on the material she was reviewing. For a moment, he wondered if she felt as out of place as he had when he first started. He lingered in the doorway, watching her silently, unsure of how to approach her. He didn't want to make things awkward. The engagement was already awkward enough. But as if on instinct, his legs moved, and he found himself stepping into the room.

"Hey," Mayank said, his voice tentative but polite. Niharika looked up, slightly startled by his sudden presence.

"Oh, Mayank," she said, surprised but not unpleasantly so. "I didn't know you worked in this section."

"Yeah," he replied, giving her a tight smile. "I've been here for a while now."

Niharika nodded, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She didn't know how to act around him anymore. Her heart beat a little faster, a mix of emotions flooding her mind. It was hard to forget the reason they were here in the first place—the engagement, the rushed wedding plans, the families forcing them together.

"How's your first day?" Mayank asked, not knowing what else to say. His tone was more casual than it had been when they first met at the wedding dinner, but there was still an underlying awkwardness between them.

"Good," Niharika replied, her voice steady. "A lot of orientation stuff, getting to know the company's processes and all. But I like it so far."

"That's great," Mayank said. His hands shifted uncomfortably, his fingers drumming lightly against the doorframe. He didn't know why, but he felt oddly disconnected from her. Maybe it was the weight of everything happening outside of the office, or maybe it was just that neither of them knew how to act around each other now.

There was a long pause between them, the silence stretching a little longer than either of them anticipated. It was clear that both were uncertain, unsure of how to bridge the gap that had suddenly formed between them.

"Well, I'll let you get back to work," Mayank said after a moment, stepping back. "I'll see you around."

"Yeah, of course," Niharika said, forcing a smile. She watched him leave the room, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. She hadn't expected much of him, but it would have been nice if he had stayed longer, if only to make things feel a little less awkward. But then again, she didn't know what she expected. They were getting married, but everything still felt so foreign.

~•~

When Niharika returned home that evening, she was met with her mother's usual warm smile. Yangeeta was bustling around in the kitchen, making her favorite curry as she hummed to herself. Niharika, however, felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she walked in. Her mother turned to her, and immediately, Niharika knew what was coming.

"Mayank's family is coming over tonight," Yangeeta said, her tone gentle but firm. "We need to finalize the wedding details."

Niharika's stomach twisted at the words. She had been hoping for a quiet evening after her busy first day at work, but it seemed like that wasn't going to happen. "Right," she murmured, a resigned tone in her voice. She wasn't looking forward to the conversation, but she knew it was inevitable.

As they sat down for dinner, the conversation shifted quickly to the wedding planning. Mayank's parents arrived shortly after, and the air in the room grew heavier with each passing moment. As everyone gathered in the living room, Niharika's father, Abhijeet, looked at Mayank's family and spoke up.

"I'm glad you could all join us this evening. We need to get the details of the wedding sorted. The sooner we have everything figured out, the better."

Mayank nodded, though he didn't seem as enthusiastic as everyone else. "Of course," he said quietly, his attention drifting between his phone and the conversation.

Niharika couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. The conversation about wedding dates, venue choices, and guest lists was draining. None of it felt real. She wasn't ready for this.

"I asked the Pandit Ji," Maya said, "They've said that 1 week from now is a perfect time. What do you all think? It's 1 week or 7 months."

"I think 7 months." Mayank said, trying to buy himself time. "It'll give us time to accept it."

Niharika looked at him. She wasn't exactly on board of having the wedding next week either. But she wasn't able to voice it out, unlike him. Meanwhile, Mayank looked around seeing everyone's reaction. It wasn't looking good.

"7 months might be too much." Maya argued, "I think we should stick to 1 week. It's soon but you all insisted on a small wedding so it wouldn't be too hard to manage and plan it."

"I agree." Abhijeet said, "One week from now is perfect."

Niharika and Mayank looked at each other in utter shock. They hadn't expected the marriage to come so soon, but here they were. Getting married in a month. And while everyone celebrated the decision, they stood there, with a small smile on their faces, trying to mask the nervousness in their eyes.

~•~

Later that evening, Rahil returned home after a class. He found Mayank sitting on the patio, taking a work call. Once Mayank was done, Rahil joined him, plopping down in the chair next to him.

"So, jijaji," Rahil began teasingly, "how's the wedding planning going?"

Mayank smirked at the younger man. "Don't call me that yet. The wedding hasn't happened."

Rahil shrugged. "Technicality. Honestly, though, I'm glad it's you. Didi needs someone who knows her, even if it's from school."

Mayank's curiosity piqued. "What do you mean by that?"

Rahil hesitated before replying, "She had a phase a few years ago when she pushed everyone away. Stopped talking, stopped sharing. I don't know what triggered it, but I've always felt like she's been holding something back since then. Maybe being with someone familiar will bring back the old Niharika."

Mayank leaned back, processing Rahil's words. What happened to her? he wondered, feeling an unexpected tug of concern.

As Rahil left to join the family inside, Mayank remained seated, looking at the darkening sky. For the first time, he found himself wanting to know more about the girl he was about to marry.

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