10-06-2026, 11:16 PM
Chapter 36: The Morning After
The morning light felt colder than usual.
Nikitha woke up with a heavy chest. Guilt had settled over her like a thick blanket. She replayed last night’s words in her head again and again. Was I too harsh? Did I go too far?
But beneath the guilt lay something sharper — a deep, lingering pain. Jay’s words from the night before kept echoing:
“I don’t know how to calm you down… how to pacify you…”
That single sentence had broken something inside her. After everything they had been through together, after years of living as husband and wife, he still didn’t know how to love her properly. She felt invisible. Like she was just… there. Convenient. Useful. But never truly seen.
She glanced at Jay, who was slowly stirring. Without a word, she slipped out of bed and went to the kitchen. Like every other morning, she prepared breakfast — simple upma and coffee. She ironed his shirt with practiced care, folding it neatly on the chair.
For a fleeting moment, she wondered what his world would look like without her. He didn’t know how to cook properly. He rarely ironed his own clothes. She had been doing these small things for years without complaint. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she wiped them away quickly. As long as I’m here, I’ll do it, she thought bitterly. For everything he has done for me… and for everything he hasn’t.
Jay hadn’t slept much. He lay awake the entire night, replaying every word Nikitha had thrown at him.
“I want to be loved.”
The sentence kept ringing in his ears like a painful alarm. Why was she bringing up Anjali again and again? If she had been hurting for so long, why hadn’t she said anything earlier? Had he really taken her for granted this badly? Or was she collecting reasons just to justify moving toward Tharun?
The smell of breakfast wafted from the kitchen. She was still cooking for him. Still taking care of him. That realization made his chest tighten even more.
She endured so much… and I never saw it.
They ate breakfast in near-total silence. The clinking of spoons felt deafening. Neither wanted to be the first to speak.
Finally, after finishing his plate, Jay gathered courage. He picked up his car keys but stopped at the door when Nikitha moved to follow.
“Wait,” he said softly. “Ten minutes. We should talk. I’m ready to listen. Tell me… what should I do? What does ‘feeling loved’ actually mean to you?”
His eyes searched hers — honest, pleading, desperate for one last chance.
Nikitha paused, looking at him. For a brief second, something softened in her expression.
Before she could reply, the doorbell rang loudly from upstairs.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
Both their eyes widened in shock. They knew exactly who it was.
Nikitha’s face hardened. She took a deep breath.
“I said everything last night. Just recall it,” she said quietly. “But I fear I’ve moved far from fixing this.”
Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked toward the external stairs leading to the upper entrance.
Jay stood frozen in the living room. He could hear everything clearly.
Tharun’s cheerful voice floated down:
“Wifey! Good morning. Ready for our first official date? We’re going to the office a little late today. I’ve already picked a destination to buy a dress for you. for the special Date”
The door clicked shut.
Jay stood there, completely still, as if someone had knocked the wind out of him. The words kept ringing in his head on loop:
“I said everything… last night, last week, if you really care, recall it, it has answer in it, i feel tiered telling hinting again and again, love is not something comes as dictate.. … anyway I fear I’ve moved far from fixing…”
He slowly sank back into the chair at the dining table, staring blankly at the wall. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the edge of the table.
By 11:30 AM, Nikitha and Tharun reached the office together.
As they walked in side by side, Sharmi, who was standing near the entrance with a coffee cup, raised an eyebrow.
“Wow… already hanging out with the new permanent manager?” she teased, voice playful at first. “What’s going on? Client pitching this early?”
Nikitha maintained a calm, professional smile.
“Yes. Important client meeting,” she replied smoothly.
Sharmi’s tone shifted from playful to slightly serious. “Oh…”
Before anything more could be said, Jay stepped out of his cabin holding a tablet. His voice carried across the floor with surprising steadiness.
“Team, a new proposal has been sent to everyone. Please check your mails. We’re exploring one more game concept based on the success of the last launch.”
Sharmi’s eyes lit up. She clapped her hands dramatically.
“Wow! Look at our new promoted seniors shining! Jay sir is already sending proposals for a new game, and Tharun sir along with our own Nikki are going out for important client meets. Our floor is shining bright!”
A few others joined in with light applause and cheers.
Nikitha felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She kept her head slightly lowered, knowing the real reason behind her outside visit with Tharun, to buy her a elegant dress for date. Tharun, on the other hand, stayed composed and walked straight into his cabin without reacting.
Inside, guilt gnawed at her.
After all, I was his wife… and here I am, roaming with another man, creating client meet drama in front of everyone.
One part of her scolded herself harshly: Stop cheating yourself, Nikitha. You’ve done enough for Jay. If he couldn’t reciprocate, if he couldn’t honor what you needed, the issue is not yours. You need to move on. Try with Tharun… or someone else. Going back to Jay won’t give you anything.
But her heart didn’t listen to that voice.
Her eyes instinctively searched for Jay.
He was already back at his desk, eyes glued to his screen, completely focused on the new proposal. Calm. Professional. Unbothered.
She expected disappointment. Pain. Anger. Maybe even a glare.
But there was none.
The entire day, she kept stealing glances at him. Strangely, the more she saw him working with quiet determination, the more unsettled she felt.
If he is really accepting this and moving on… it’s fine. You should too.
This can’t continue, her inner voice kept repeating.
Yet every time she tried to focus on her own tasks, her gaze drifted back toward Jay’s cabin.
The silence in the house felt suffocating.
The morning light felt colder than usual.
Nikitha woke up with a heavy chest. Guilt had settled over her like a thick blanket. She replayed last night’s words in her head again and again. Was I too harsh? Did I go too far?
But beneath the guilt lay something sharper — a deep, lingering pain. Jay’s words from the night before kept echoing:
“I don’t know how to calm you down… how to pacify you…”
That single sentence had broken something inside her. After everything they had been through together, after years of living as husband and wife, he still didn’t know how to love her properly. She felt invisible. Like she was just… there. Convenient. Useful. But never truly seen.
She glanced at Jay, who was slowly stirring. Without a word, she slipped out of bed and went to the kitchen. Like every other morning, she prepared breakfast — simple upma and coffee. She ironed his shirt with practiced care, folding it neatly on the chair.
For a fleeting moment, she wondered what his world would look like without her. He didn’t know how to cook properly. He rarely ironed his own clothes. She had been doing these small things for years without complaint. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she wiped them away quickly. As long as I’m here, I’ll do it, she thought bitterly. For everything he has done for me… and for everything he hasn’t.
Jay hadn’t slept much. He lay awake the entire night, replaying every word Nikitha had thrown at him.
“I want to be loved.”
The sentence kept ringing in his ears like a painful alarm. Why was she bringing up Anjali again and again? If she had been hurting for so long, why hadn’t she said anything earlier? Had he really taken her for granted this badly? Or was she collecting reasons just to justify moving toward Tharun?
The smell of breakfast wafted from the kitchen. She was still cooking for him. Still taking care of him. That realization made his chest tighten even more.
She endured so much… and I never saw it.
They ate breakfast in near-total silence. The clinking of spoons felt deafening. Neither wanted to be the first to speak.
Finally, after finishing his plate, Jay gathered courage. He picked up his car keys but stopped at the door when Nikitha moved to follow.
“Wait,” he said softly. “Ten minutes. We should talk. I’m ready to listen. Tell me… what should I do? What does ‘feeling loved’ actually mean to you?”
His eyes searched hers — honest, pleading, desperate for one last chance.
Nikitha paused, looking at him. For a brief second, something softened in her expression.
Before she could reply, the doorbell rang loudly from upstairs.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
Both their eyes widened in shock. They knew exactly who it was.
Nikitha’s face hardened. She took a deep breath.
“I said everything last night. Just recall it,” she said quietly. “But I fear I’ve moved far from fixing this.”
Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked toward the external stairs leading to the upper entrance.
Jay stood frozen in the living room. He could hear everything clearly.
Tharun’s cheerful voice floated down:
“Wifey! Good morning. Ready for our first official date? We’re going to the office a little late today. I’ve already picked a destination to buy a dress for you. for the special Date”
The door clicked shut.
Jay stood there, completely still, as if someone had knocked the wind out of him. The words kept ringing in his head on loop:
“I said everything… last night, last week, if you really care, recall it, it has answer in it, i feel tiered telling hinting again and again, love is not something comes as dictate.. … anyway I fear I’ve moved far from fixing…”
He slowly sank back into the chair at the dining table, staring blankly at the wall. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the edge of the table.
By 11:30 AM, Nikitha and Tharun reached the office together.
As they walked in side by side, Sharmi, who was standing near the entrance with a coffee cup, raised an eyebrow.
“Wow… already hanging out with the new permanent manager?” she teased, voice playful at first. “What’s going on? Client pitching this early?”
Nikitha maintained a calm, professional smile.
“Yes. Important client meeting,” she replied smoothly.
Sharmi’s tone shifted from playful to slightly serious. “Oh…”
Before anything more could be said, Jay stepped out of his cabin holding a tablet. His voice carried across the floor with surprising steadiness.
“Team, a new proposal has been sent to everyone. Please check your mails. We’re exploring one more game concept based on the success of the last launch.”
Sharmi’s eyes lit up. She clapped her hands dramatically.
“Wow! Look at our new promoted seniors shining! Jay sir is already sending proposals for a new game, and Tharun sir along with our own Nikki are going out for important client meets. Our floor is shining bright!”
A few others joined in with light applause and cheers.
Nikitha felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She kept her head slightly lowered, knowing the real reason behind her outside visit with Tharun, to buy her a elegant dress for date. Tharun, on the other hand, stayed composed and walked straight into his cabin without reacting.
Inside, guilt gnawed at her.
After all, I was his wife… and here I am, roaming with another man, creating client meet drama in front of everyone.
One part of her scolded herself harshly: Stop cheating yourself, Nikitha. You’ve done enough for Jay. If he couldn’t reciprocate, if he couldn’t honor what you needed, the issue is not yours. You need to move on. Try with Tharun… or someone else. Going back to Jay won’t give you anything.
But her heart didn’t listen to that voice.
Her eyes instinctively searched for Jay.
He was already back at his desk, eyes glued to his screen, completely focused on the new proposal. Calm. Professional. Unbothered.
She expected disappointment. Pain. Anger. Maybe even a glare.
But there was none.
The entire day, she kept stealing glances at him. Strangely, the more she saw him working with quiet determination, the more unsettled she felt.
If he is really accepting this and moving on… it’s fine. You should too.
This can’t continue, her inner voice kept repeating.
Yet every time she tried to focus on her own tasks, her gaze drifted back toward Jay’s cabin.
The silence in the house felt suffocating.
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