08-06-2026, 08:08 PM
Chapter 20: Misunderstood Intentions
That night, the bedroom was quiet except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan. Jay and Nikitha lay in bed, the sheets tangled around them. Jay noticed Nikitha staring at the ceiling, lost in thought, her expression distant.
He turned toward her. “What happened?” he asked softly. “You’ve been quiet since we got home.”
Nikitha hesitated for a moment, then turned to face him.
“Tharun made an avatar based on me,” she said. “The angel character… it’s not just the color. The posture, the grace, the way it moves — it’s all inspired by me. At first, I thought it was emotional manipulation. I wasn’t ready for that. I was okay with light flirting, maybe even a temporary fling for thrill… but knowing he’s going to marry someone else, why would he try to emotionally bind me? That scared me. That’s why I came to you during the demo… but you scolded me and pushed my hand away.”
She paused, her voice softening. “Later he showed me the full file.
There were references from other people too — an electrician, his friends.
Did I think too much? Or was I right to be cautious?”
Jay stared at her for a long moment. He remembered how she had stood beside him, her fingers lightly catching his shirt, seeking comfort. But all he had felt in that moment was irritation and fear of being seen.
“Yes,” he said, his tone irritated. “You thought too much. You already decided to try him, right? To distract him and maybe even have sex with him. What is this new emotional thing you’re blabbering about now?”
Nikitha turned away from him, hurt flashing across her face.
“Can’t you understand me?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly. “If Tharun had no girlfriend, the way he used me for that avatar… I would have left you and stayed with him. The focus, the attention, the effort — he gave me something I truly wanted to experience in my life.
She paused for a moment and said, realising this could be passing as a blame on Jay. She said.. I don’t blame you. I know I was a mess in your life. I didnt expect it from you.. i know we may not have a proper marriage life.
When Tharun gave those, giving me hope with emotional binding.. and if he got married to someone else.. ufff… I don’t want to be a joke to myself.”
Jay fell silent. For the first time, he truly realized what she was saying. She wasn’t just playing along for strategy. She was genuinely drawn to the kind of attention Tharun was giving her — the kind he himself had never provided. He wasn’t sure if she truly liked him or was simply disappointed that she couldn’t have a real marriage with someone who made her feel special.
He asked do you really thought of marriage with him, i thought you were just playing for distraction?
She said no, honestly, no.. I just want to play with him, but today, what he did was not i was prepared for.. that is when my inner feelings came out, i too expected a life like that. Today i saw Tharun gave a glimpse of it.
but i feel, i misunderstood him, he didnt not do it to bind me? instead it could be his genuine moment, should i give him better chances and see ..?
Jay was fully confused.
He asked quietly, “What do you want now?”
Nikitha sighed. “I feel like I misunderstood him. I may need to apologize or sort it out. I’m also worried… what if I can’t distract him properly? If he digs deeper into us, we could get exposed. I need to play along at least for the next six months, right?”
Jay simply nodded. “Then apologize.”
But strangely, a dark part of him enjoyed this. He didn’t want her getting involved with Tharun. The jealousy burned hotter than he expected. Yet he hid it behind a mask of indifference. He acted like he was pushing her toward it. as if it doesnt mean any matter for him.
He stretched across her, grabbed her phone from the bedside table, and opened the WhatsApp window with Tharun. With a mocking smile, he typed:
Nikitha:
I'm sorry darling ❤️
He held the phone up, showing her the screen. “Should I send it like this?”
Nikitha’s eyes widened in panic. “Jay, no!”
She lunged for the phone. In the chaotic scramble, her finger accidentally hit send.
The message went through.
Blue ticks appeared almost instantly.
Both of them froze, staring at the screen in shock.
A reply came within seconds.
Tharun:
Darling? ? What’s with the sudden sweetness? Everything okay?
That night, the bedroom was quiet except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan. Jay and Nikitha lay in bed, the sheets tangled around them. Jay noticed Nikitha staring at the ceiling, lost in thought, her expression distant.
He turned toward her. “What happened?” he asked softly. “You’ve been quiet since we got home.”
Nikitha hesitated for a moment, then turned to face him.
“Tharun made an avatar based on me,” she said. “The angel character… it’s not just the color. The posture, the grace, the way it moves — it’s all inspired by me. At first, I thought it was emotional manipulation. I wasn’t ready for that. I was okay with light flirting, maybe even a temporary fling for thrill… but knowing he’s going to marry someone else, why would he try to emotionally bind me? That scared me. That’s why I came to you during the demo… but you scolded me and pushed my hand away.”
She paused, her voice softening. “Later he showed me the full file.
There were references from other people too — an electrician, his friends.
Did I think too much? Or was I right to be cautious?”
Jay stared at her for a long moment. He remembered how she had stood beside him, her fingers lightly catching his shirt, seeking comfort. But all he had felt in that moment was irritation and fear of being seen.
“Yes,” he said, his tone irritated. “You thought too much. You already decided to try him, right? To distract him and maybe even have sex with him. What is this new emotional thing you’re blabbering about now?”
Nikitha turned away from him, hurt flashing across her face.
“Can’t you understand me?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly. “If Tharun had no girlfriend, the way he used me for that avatar… I would have left you and stayed with him. The focus, the attention, the effort — he gave me something I truly wanted to experience in my life.
She paused for a moment and said, realising this could be passing as a blame on Jay. She said.. I don’t blame you. I know I was a mess in your life. I didnt expect it from you.. i know we may not have a proper marriage life.
When Tharun gave those, giving me hope with emotional binding.. and if he got married to someone else.. ufff… I don’t want to be a joke to myself.”
Jay fell silent. For the first time, he truly realized what she was saying. She wasn’t just playing along for strategy. She was genuinely drawn to the kind of attention Tharun was giving her — the kind he himself had never provided. He wasn’t sure if she truly liked him or was simply disappointed that she couldn’t have a real marriage with someone who made her feel special.
He asked do you really thought of marriage with him, i thought you were just playing for distraction?
She said no, honestly, no.. I just want to play with him, but today, what he did was not i was prepared for.. that is when my inner feelings came out, i too expected a life like that. Today i saw Tharun gave a glimpse of it.
but i feel, i misunderstood him, he didnt not do it to bind me? instead it could be his genuine moment, should i give him better chances and see ..?
Jay was fully confused.
He asked quietly, “What do you want now?”
Nikitha sighed. “I feel like I misunderstood him. I may need to apologize or sort it out. I’m also worried… what if I can’t distract him properly? If he digs deeper into us, we could get exposed. I need to play along at least for the next six months, right?”
Jay simply nodded. “Then apologize.”
But strangely, a dark part of him enjoyed this. He didn’t want her getting involved with Tharun. The jealousy burned hotter than he expected. Yet he hid it behind a mask of indifference. He acted like he was pushing her toward it. as if it doesnt mean any matter for him.
He stretched across her, grabbed her phone from the bedside table, and opened the WhatsApp window with Tharun. With a mocking smile, he typed:
Nikitha:
I'm sorry darling ❤️
He held the phone up, showing her the screen. “Should I send it like this?”
Nikitha’s eyes widened in panic. “Jay, no!”
She lunged for the phone. In the chaotic scramble, her finger accidentally hit send.
The message went through.
Blue ticks appeared almost instantly.
Both of them froze, staring at the screen in shock.
A reply came within seconds.
Tharun:
Darling? ? What’s with the sudden sweetness? Everything okay?
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