10-06-2026, 04:49 PM
Chapter 33: Concealed Care
The lift ride felt endless.
Nikitha stood frozen between the two men, her body hyper-aware of every point of contact. Tharun’s hand rested firmly on one side of her waist, warm and confident. Jay’s hand mirrored it on the other side, tense and protective. The heat from both palms seeped through the thin fabric of her saree, sending conflicting waves of tension and unwanted arousal through her.
She was trapped in the middle — literally and figuratively. Her breath came shallow and quick. What if one of them realizes the other hand is there? The thought made her panic. She prayed silently for the lift to reach their floor soon.
Finally, the familiar ting rang out.
The doors opened. Both men smoothly withdrew their hands without a word, as if nothing had happened. Nikitha let out a shaky breath she didn’t realize she was holding, her heart still racing as the crowd spilled out.
She walked to her desk on unsteady legs, trying to appear normal. But the moment she sat down, her eyes instinctively searched for Jay. He had entered just seconds after them. He couldn’t have had breakfast. She knew him too well — without morning food, he would push through the day and eventually fall sick. The worry gnawed at her, even through her anger.
She didn’t want to approach him directly. That would complicate everything. Jay, on his side, looked anxious and lost, staring at his screen without focus. When Anjali came over to wish him good morning with her usual bright smile, he muttered curtly, “Leave me alone. I’m not in the mood.” Anjali looked hurt but walked away without a scene. Luckily, no one else noticed.
Nikitha glanced at the clock. 9:50 AM.
She couldn’t let him go hungry. But she also didn’t want to expose herself or show Jay that she still cared. She needed a plan.
She did all permutation and combination and quickest root she found was Tharun.
She picked up her phone and texted Tharun.
Nikitha:
I didn’t prepare food this morning. I’m hungry. Can you get me something? Order some pizza?
Tharun:
You should have said earlier. I would have stopped somewhere.
Nikitha:
I forgot. I’m sorry.
Tharun:
No issues. I’ll order one for you.
Nikitha:
Don’t order for me alone. People will find it odd. We just launched the product — tell everyone it’s a treat from you. Invite the core team. Include Jay, Arjun, Sharmi, and the other 6. Summon them at the pantry section.
Tharun:
You are such a schemer. I need to learn from you.
Nikitha:
Thanks ? I’m hungry. Can’t take it more than 10 mins. Inform them and ask them to assemble soon.
Tharun:
Is it? okay then... No way. I’m not doing it.
Nikitha:
What? Why? Why not?
Tharun:
May I know the reason why you are ordering through me? You have a mobile. You could’ve ordered and had it alone. Why include members? It means you want me to share a bite but fearing others, you’re dragging the whole team.
Nikitha:
Nonsense. Dream on. See, Sharmi and Priya will tag along with me. I’m not ready to share mine. It’s girly things. Complicated.
Tharun:
Im not convinced.. You are a perfect liar.
I will find the truth soon.
Nikitha’s heart skipped a beat.
Nikitha:
Are you going to do this or not? I could not resist being hungry.
Tharun:
Okay okay, I can. But with one condition.
Nikitha:
What?
Tharun:
Call me husband. Send a message like “Dear husband, I’m hungry.” Even if it’s “mistaken husband,”
I will instantly announce them to go to the pantry. I want to feel loved my accidental darling!?
Nikitha rose her head and looked at Tharun through the glass door of his cabin. He raised his eyebrow like a challenge.
Nikitha:
You are a schemer now. We are level.
Tharun:
We are level.
I bet you can’t resist the hunger. Quick. Just text me and give me the words. Its okay if not husband, i'm okay with 'Mistaken husband', i cant understand ?
Nikitha hesitated for a second, then she smiled a bit.. and typed.
Nikitha:
Dear unwanted husband… I’m hungry. Get food for everyone.
Tharun smiled from his cabin. He instantly called the pantry section and asked them to arrange 15 pizzas.
Nikitha:
I will delete these conversations. I will remember how you tricked me into this. You bloody manipulator.
Tharun:
I love this fun ? Also Im glad i'm promoted from no one to unwanted husband.. I'm happy with that sweet tag
Nikitha: ??
[Conversation ends]
A few minutes later, Tharun stood up from his cabin and announced loudly, “Guys, our core team — 15 of us — assemble near the pantry area. It’s a gift from me, a breakfast treat for all.”
Priya raised her voice, “Sir, we expected a lunch. You are limiting to breakfast. We already had something.”
Tharun laughed. “Just pizza for now. Full lunch soon. Let’s plan.”
Jay, who had just realized none of them had proper breakfast, recalled Nikitha’s angry state that morning. He too wanted to call her to the pantry, but the crowd and Tharun’s presence had stopped him earlier. He stayed silent.
Ten minutes later, everyone assembled at the pantry for the team lunch.
Tharun had kept the seat next to him empty, clearly for Nikitha. However, she deliberately sat with Sharmi instead.
Tharun looked at her from across the table, subtly raising an eyebrow in a silent, public question — Why not sit with me?
Nikitha deliberately maintained her distance, refusing to give him even the smallest opportunity to take advantage of the situation in front of everyone. She kept her expression neutral and professional.
“Sir, can you pass that sauce?” she asked calmly, as if nothing unusual was happening.
Jay watched her quietly from a few seats away as she asked, “Sir, can you pass that sauce?”
A thought crossed his mind: Unlike others, we didn’t have breakfast this morning. What if she’s hungry but feels too inconvenienced or awkward to ask for more?
He genuinely cared for her. He didn’t want her to sit through the day on an empty stomach. At the same time, he didn’t want to publicly display his concern — especially not after their fight. He feared that if he himself asked for extra pizzas in front of everyone, even under the guise of it being for all, Nikitha might dismiss it as fake concern or showing off.
He quickly scanned the table and spotted Arjun. Without saying a word, he typed a message to him.
Jay: Ask Tharun for one extra pizza. Say some people might need more. I feel odd asking publicly.
Arjun, though slightly puzzled, followed through. “Tharun sir, the pizza is really tasty.
Some of us might want more — can we add one extra for each?”
Nikitha had been thinking the exact same thing. She feared Tharun might feel bad, especially since she had chosen to sit away from him. He’s trying so hard… She silently thanked Arjun in her heart for speaking up.
What no one else knew was that Tharun had already ordered additional pizzas well in advance. He had quietly anticipated Nikitha’s needs, understanding that she consciously wanted to avoid drawing any special attention to herself. He had been about to casually say, “I’m feeling hungry too — let’s add a few more,” when Arjun beat him to it. Tharun gave a small, satisfied smirk inside and simply nodded in agreement.
In that brief moment, all three of them were showing care in their own hidden, unspoken ways. Nikitha and Jay’s concern for each other remained carefully concealed — expressed only through small, indirect actions. At the same time, Tharun’s quiet thoughtfulness and growing affection only added another complicated layer to the situation.
The lift ride felt endless.
Nikitha stood frozen between the two men, her body hyper-aware of every point of contact. Tharun’s hand rested firmly on one side of her waist, warm and confident. Jay’s hand mirrored it on the other side, tense and protective. The heat from both palms seeped through the thin fabric of her saree, sending conflicting waves of tension and unwanted arousal through her.
She was trapped in the middle — literally and figuratively. Her breath came shallow and quick. What if one of them realizes the other hand is there? The thought made her panic. She prayed silently for the lift to reach their floor soon.
Finally, the familiar ting rang out.
The doors opened. Both men smoothly withdrew their hands without a word, as if nothing had happened. Nikitha let out a shaky breath she didn’t realize she was holding, her heart still racing as the crowd spilled out.
She walked to her desk on unsteady legs, trying to appear normal. But the moment she sat down, her eyes instinctively searched for Jay. He had entered just seconds after them. He couldn’t have had breakfast. She knew him too well — without morning food, he would push through the day and eventually fall sick. The worry gnawed at her, even through her anger.
She didn’t want to approach him directly. That would complicate everything. Jay, on his side, looked anxious and lost, staring at his screen without focus. When Anjali came over to wish him good morning with her usual bright smile, he muttered curtly, “Leave me alone. I’m not in the mood.” Anjali looked hurt but walked away without a scene. Luckily, no one else noticed.
Nikitha glanced at the clock. 9:50 AM.
She couldn’t let him go hungry. But she also didn’t want to expose herself or show Jay that she still cared. She needed a plan.
She did all permutation and combination and quickest root she found was Tharun.
She picked up her phone and texted Tharun.
Nikitha:
I didn’t prepare food this morning. I’m hungry. Can you get me something? Order some pizza?
Tharun:
You should have said earlier. I would have stopped somewhere.
Nikitha:
I forgot. I’m sorry.
Tharun:
No issues. I’ll order one for you.
Nikitha:
Don’t order for me alone. People will find it odd. We just launched the product — tell everyone it’s a treat from you. Invite the core team. Include Jay, Arjun, Sharmi, and the other 6. Summon them at the pantry section.
Tharun:
You are such a schemer. I need to learn from you.
Nikitha:
Thanks ? I’m hungry. Can’t take it more than 10 mins. Inform them and ask them to assemble soon.
Tharun:
Is it? okay then... No way. I’m not doing it.
Nikitha:
What? Why? Why not?
Tharun:
May I know the reason why you are ordering through me? You have a mobile. You could’ve ordered and had it alone. Why include members? It means you want me to share a bite but fearing others, you’re dragging the whole team.
Nikitha:
Nonsense. Dream on. See, Sharmi and Priya will tag along with me. I’m not ready to share mine. It’s girly things. Complicated.
Tharun:
Im not convinced.. You are a perfect liar.
I will find the truth soon.
Nikitha’s heart skipped a beat.
Nikitha:
Are you going to do this or not? I could not resist being hungry.
Tharun:
Okay okay, I can. But with one condition.
Nikitha:
What?
Tharun:
Call me husband. Send a message like “Dear husband, I’m hungry.” Even if it’s “mistaken husband,”
I will instantly announce them to go to the pantry. I want to feel loved my accidental darling!?
Nikitha rose her head and looked at Tharun through the glass door of his cabin. He raised his eyebrow like a challenge.
Nikitha:
You are a schemer now. We are level.
Tharun:
We are level.
I bet you can’t resist the hunger. Quick. Just text me and give me the words. Its okay if not husband, i'm okay with 'Mistaken husband', i cant understand ?
Nikitha hesitated for a second, then she smiled a bit.. and typed.
Nikitha:
Dear unwanted husband… I’m hungry. Get food for everyone.
Tharun smiled from his cabin. He instantly called the pantry section and asked them to arrange 15 pizzas.
Nikitha:
I will delete these conversations. I will remember how you tricked me into this. You bloody manipulator.
Tharun:
I love this fun ? Also Im glad i'm promoted from no one to unwanted husband.. I'm happy with that sweet tag
Nikitha: ??
[Conversation ends]
A few minutes later, Tharun stood up from his cabin and announced loudly, “Guys, our core team — 15 of us — assemble near the pantry area. It’s a gift from me, a breakfast treat for all.”
Priya raised her voice, “Sir, we expected a lunch. You are limiting to breakfast. We already had something.”
Tharun laughed. “Just pizza for now. Full lunch soon. Let’s plan.”
Jay, who had just realized none of them had proper breakfast, recalled Nikitha’s angry state that morning. He too wanted to call her to the pantry, but the crowd and Tharun’s presence had stopped him earlier. He stayed silent.
Ten minutes later, everyone assembled at the pantry for the team lunch.
Tharun had kept the seat next to him empty, clearly for Nikitha. However, she deliberately sat with Sharmi instead.
Tharun looked at her from across the table, subtly raising an eyebrow in a silent, public question — Why not sit with me?
Nikitha deliberately maintained her distance, refusing to give him even the smallest opportunity to take advantage of the situation in front of everyone. She kept her expression neutral and professional.
“Sir, can you pass that sauce?” she asked calmly, as if nothing unusual was happening.
Jay watched her quietly from a few seats away as she asked, “Sir, can you pass that sauce?”
A thought crossed his mind: Unlike others, we didn’t have breakfast this morning. What if she’s hungry but feels too inconvenienced or awkward to ask for more?
He genuinely cared for her. He didn’t want her to sit through the day on an empty stomach. At the same time, he didn’t want to publicly display his concern — especially not after their fight. He feared that if he himself asked for extra pizzas in front of everyone, even under the guise of it being for all, Nikitha might dismiss it as fake concern or showing off.
He quickly scanned the table and spotted Arjun. Without saying a word, he typed a message to him.
Jay: Ask Tharun for one extra pizza. Say some people might need more. I feel odd asking publicly.
Arjun, though slightly puzzled, followed through. “Tharun sir, the pizza is really tasty.
Some of us might want more — can we add one extra for each?”
Nikitha had been thinking the exact same thing. She feared Tharun might feel bad, especially since she had chosen to sit away from him. He’s trying so hard… She silently thanked Arjun in her heart for speaking up.
What no one else knew was that Tharun had already ordered additional pizzas well in advance. He had quietly anticipated Nikitha’s needs, understanding that she consciously wanted to avoid drawing any special attention to herself. He had been about to casually say, “I’m feeling hungry too — let’s add a few more,” when Arjun beat him to it. Tharun gave a small, satisfied smirk inside and simply nodded in agreement.
In that brief moment, all three of them were showing care in their own hidden, unspoken ways. Nikitha and Jay’s concern for each other remained carefully concealed — expressed only through small, indirect actions. At the same time, Tharun’s quiet thoughtfulness and growing affection only added another complicated layer to the situation.
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