15. A night of unspoken tension

Although we didn't reach the comments target, we did hit the votes goal. As a thank-you to those who supported Chapter 14 with votes and comments, I'm posting two chapters today! I hope you all enjoy these chapters! Don't forget to vote ⭐ and share your thoughts! 😊

Author's POV

After taking her to the bedroom, they both helped her settle into bed. Her eyes sparkled with a joy that seemed almost childlike. "Ah, just look at the two of you," she murmured, her face glowing with warmth. Ishika managed a soft, awkward smile in response, while Sahil merely nodded, his face a mask of indifference.

Then he excused himself to fetch her medicines. Once Sahil had handed them to her, Grandma reached out and gently patted his hand. "Thank you, beta," she whispered, her voice filled with unspoken affection.

Once Sahil had settled beside Ishika, Grandma looked at them, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and curiosity. "How are you both doing?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Ishika glanced at Sahil, searching for some unspoken understanding, but he only gave a noncommittal shrug and replied, "We're fine, Grandma."

Ishika echoed his words, "Yes, everything's fine," but there was an ache in her heart that made her voice falter just slightly.

After taking her pills, Grandma touched Sahil's arm and said, "Why don't you get some rest, dear? I want to have a little chat with Ishika." He nodded, offered a simple "Good night," and left them alone, closing the door softly behind him.

As soon as he was gone, Grandma turned to Ishika, a look of fondness and concern on her face. "So, my dear," she began gently, "How are things between you and your spouse? Is Sahil taking good care of you? If he ever bothers you, you just let me know. I'll give him a piece of my mind," she chuckled, a playful glint in her eye.

Ishika's heart twisted at her words, and before she knew it, she was overwhelmed with emotion, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Grandma, clinging to her as though she might find strength in the embrace. "Everything is fine, Grandma," she whispered, her voice quivering. "Please don't worry about me. The doctor said you need to stay stress-free, so you have to take care of yourself."

She pulled back, willing herself to maintain her composure. She took Grandma's frail hands in hers, feeling the delicate bones beneath her thin skin. "You're looking weak, Grandma. Are you taking your medicine on time? And eating well? You know you have to keep your strength up."

A soft, affectionate smile spread across Grandma's face. "Oh, my sweet child," she murmured, caressing Ishika's cheek. "You always worry about others before yourself. You always put everyone else first." She gave a small chuckle, a mix of pride and sadness in her eyes. "I'm so blessed to have you as my granddaughter-in-law. Sahil has no idea how lucky he is to have a wife like you. I know... I know you'll always take good care of him."

Her words were like tiny knives, piercing Ishika's heart. How could she tell her? How could she possibly reveal the truth-that soon, she would leave Sahil, shattering the very dream Grandma cherished? She felt an unbearable guilt rise within her, so heavy she could barely breathe. She fought to keep her expression neutral, to mask the turmoil raging inside, but the ache was too much.

Ishika forced a weak smile, nodding slightly as Grandma looked at her with that same satisfied smile, so blissfully unaware of the storm about to break.

After bidding Grandma goodnight, Ishika walked toward Sahil's old room, where he used to stay before he became CEO.As she stepped inside, she noticed Sahil, utterly engrossed in his phone, his face illuminated by the screen's glow and his expression unreadable. Without a word, she slipped into the bathroom to freshen up, taking her time to change into a soft nightgown. The routine was familiar, yet tonight, an uncomfortable awareness crept over her as she walked back into the room.

When she came back, she felt strange. It had been two months since she'd last shared a room with Sahil, especially since she'd asked for a divorce. Sleeping next to him now just didn't feel right. She glanced around the room, spotted the sofa, and decided she'd sleep there instead. Grabbing a pillow from the bed, she headed for the couch.

Noticing her movements, Sahil lowered his phone and asked, "Where are you going?"

She glanced back, her tone cool. "I'm sleeping on the couch. You can have the bed."

He looked at her with a blank expression and said, "What do you mean?"

Ishika met his gaze, a calm defiance in her eyes. "I mean that it would be... inappropriate to sleep together. Now, when we're getting divorced." The words hung in the air, deliberate and final.

His expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he set his phone down. "We're not divorced yet, Ishika. Why are you acting like this? People will start to notice and it won't be good for you."

His words stung, a thinly veiled threat lurking beneath them, but she wasn't about to let him rattle her. With a faint smirk, she replied, "People don't need to notice anything. We've been living apart for months now, Sahil. Why does it matter where I sleep tonight? Besides," she added, gesturing around the room, "the door's locked. No one will know a thing. We just have to get through the night." With that, she lay down on the couch, closing her eyes to end the conversation. Sahil watched her, anger simmering in his eyes.

Finally, he turned off the lights, leaving the room in silence, though the tension between them remained strong.

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End of the chapter.

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