17-06-2026, 04:47 PM
Chapter 51: Unwanted Guest
Nikitha and Tharun stepped out of the cabin together. The tension from their conversation still lingered in the air between them. Before they could say anything more, Sharmi appeared from around the corner, walking briskly toward them with a worried expression.
“Nikitha,” Sharmi said, glancing briefly at Tharun before focusing on her. “Have you heard anything from Jay? He hasn’t come for two consecutive days, and he didn’t even apply for leave. With Anjali suspended, her workload is falling on us. I’ve been asked to coordinate, but I don’t know where to begin — most of those modules were handled directly by Jay. You live right above him… do you know what’s happening? Can I come with you to check on him? I need to discuss a few urgent things.”
Nikitha’s stomach dropped
For years, no one from the office had ever come to their villa. The risk was enormous. First Tharun this morning, and now Sharmi wanting to visit for “work reasons”? Denying her outright would look suspicious and could spark even more gossip.
She forced a calm smile. “He’s down with viral fever. I’ll speak with him and try to connect you on a call. I’m worried his wife might misunderstand if another woman comes home suddenly.”
Sharmi thought for a second, then nodded reluctantly. “Okay… but please let him know it’s urgent. The circular about the new project deadline is approaching fast. Without Jay or any guidance from him it's a mess..”
Nikitha gave her a meaningful look and said i will inform him, we are heading for a client meet, i will call you tonight!. Okay? She left along with Tharun leaving Sharmi alone.
As Nikitha and Tharun walked out of the glass door at entrance, Sharmi stood at a distance, watching them quietly. She let out a deep breath, a mix of worry and reluctant acceptance on her face.
Nikitha read the message while walking beside Tharun toward the parking lot. The words stung. She slipped the phone back into her bag without replying, her chest tightening.
Tharun drove them to a large, upscale shopping mall on the outskirts of the city. The evening crowd was moderate, and the bright lights gave the place a lively yet comfortable energy.
Instead of heading straight to any restaurant or quiet corner, Tharun surprised her. With a playful grin, he gently took her hand and pulled her toward the Fun Zone on the upper floor - an arcade area filled with colorful lights, laughter, and game machines.
Nikitha looked at him with a puzzle?
No Coffee? I thought we would sit calmly and speak more.
Tharun smiled, you are already stuffed too much in your head. Let's relax for a moment. I want you to forget all the heaviness and bring a lightness to you.
Nikki still looked at him unbelievably and not ready for when her mind was at storm..
“Come on,” he said, refusing to let her hesitate. “We’ve had enough serious talks for one day. Let’s make some memories.”
Nikitha was initially reluctant, but Tharun’s enthusiasm was infectious. He dragged her to the balloon shooting game - a colorful stall where players aimed soft darts at rows of balloons to win prizes.
Tharun paid for a round and handed her the dart gun with a cheeky smile. “Show me what you’ve got, senior engineer.”
At first, Nikitha laughed and missed most shots, feeling self-conscious. But Tharun stood behind her, gently correcting her stance, his chest lightly brushing her back as he guided her aim.
“Relax your shoulders… aim a little higher,” he murmured near her ear.
On her third try, she burst three balloons in a row. The stall owner cheered and handed her a medium-sized fluffy teddy bear as a prize. Nikitha’s face lit up with genuine delight — a rare, carefree smile that reached her eyes.
Tharun watched her, mesmerized. “See? That’s the smile I wanted to see today.”
They played a few more games — ring toss, basketball hoops, and a silly dance machine. Tharun won a small keychain with a tiny piano charm and immediately gave it to her.
“For the storyteller who secretly loves music,” he said softly.
For nearly an hour, they laughed like normal people on a date. No heavy talks about marriage, no guilt about Jay, no office pressure. Just lights, laughter, and small victories. Nikitha forgot, for a precious while, the complications waiting for her at home.
As they walked out of the Fun Zone, Tharun held her hand again, his thumb gently brushing her knuckles.
“New memories don’t have to be serious,” he said quietly. “Sometimes they can just be… fun. With someone who makes you smile.”
Nikitha looked at the teddy bear and the piano keychain in her other hand. A strange warmth spread in her chest.
She had completely forgot the storm.
The new moments etched well in her memory.
After 10 mins,
Tharun dropped her off a street before her villa, as promised. Before she stepped out, he gave her hand one last gentle squeeze.
“Take care of yourself, Nikki. And… Thank you for today.”
She smiled faintly, then hesitated. “Let the teddy bear stay with you,” she murmured, glancing at the plush toy still perched on the dashboard. “I cannot take it home.”
Tharun leaned back, a soft chuckle escaping him. “Let him be with me,” he replied calmly, his eyes twinkling with quiet affection. “:)
They shared a lingering look—warm, unspoken, and bittersweet. A small smile curved both their lips before Tharun finally let go of her hand. The car rolled away slowly down the street, its taillights fading into the golden dusk.
Nikitha stood there for a moment, watching it disappear around the bend. Her mind felt unbearably heavy, a storm of conflicting emotions swirling inside her chest. The day had been a whirlwind—laughter, connection, guilt, and something dangerously close to hope. She took a deep breath and began walking the remaining distance to the house.
As she approached the villa, her steps slowed. A familiar car was parked just outside, one she knew too well. Her pulse quickened. The main door was slightly ajar, a thin slice of warm light spilling out onto the porch.
Heart hammering, she rushed inside.
The sight that greeted her stopped her cold.
A woman stood in the kitchen area, moving with quiet familiarity. She was carrying a steaming cup of hot chaya and a small plate of lightly buttered bread toward the bed where Jay sat propped up weakly against the pillows. The setting sun’s rays poured through the open doorway and windows, bathing everything in a fiery orange glow. The woman appeared almost like a silhouette—graceful, backlit, her features blurred by the dramatic light.
Nikitha’s heart stuttered and then stopped for a painful second.
Years of marriage, and no other woman had ever entered this house. Not like this. Not in their space. Not caring for her husband.
Even though she and Jay had been at odds for so long… even though she had spent the day with Tharun, letting herself imagine what it might be like to be wanted again… a fierce wave of jealousy and possessiveness crashed over her. It hit her like a physical blow, sharp and undeniable. In that moment, all her new memories, all the careful distance she had built with Tharun, shattered. The sight of another woman near Jay reminded her, brutally, of how she still loved him.
Rage - hot, irrational, and protective - flooded her veins. She marched forward, fists clenched at her sides.
As Nikitha stepped closer, the sunlight shifted, and the reality hit her fully.
She froze mid-step after seeing the reality, the women, the storm of emotions freezing in her throat. The jealousy didn’t vanish instantly, but it twisted now into something more complicated—confusion, relief, and a lingering ache she couldn’t quite name. It was Sharmi.
Nikitha and Tharun stepped out of the cabin together. The tension from their conversation still lingered in the air between them. Before they could say anything more, Sharmi appeared from around the corner, walking briskly toward them with a worried expression.
“Nikitha,” Sharmi said, glancing briefly at Tharun before focusing on her. “Have you heard anything from Jay? He hasn’t come for two consecutive days, and he didn’t even apply for leave. With Anjali suspended, her workload is falling on us. I’ve been asked to coordinate, but I don’t know where to begin — most of those modules were handled directly by Jay. You live right above him… do you know what’s happening? Can I come with you to check on him? I need to discuss a few urgent things.”
Nikitha’s stomach dropped
For years, no one from the office had ever come to their villa. The risk was enormous. First Tharun this morning, and now Sharmi wanting to visit for “work reasons”? Denying her outright would look suspicious and could spark even more gossip.
She forced a calm smile. “He’s down with viral fever. I’ll speak with him and try to connect you on a call. I’m worried his wife might misunderstand if another woman comes home suddenly.”
Sharmi thought for a second, then nodded reluctantly. “Okay… but please let him know it’s urgent. The circular about the new project deadline is approaching fast. Without Jay or any guidance from him it's a mess..”
Nikitha gave her a meaningful look and said i will inform him, we are heading for a client meet, i will call you tonight!. Okay? She left along with Tharun leaving Sharmi alone.
As Nikitha and Tharun walked out of the glass door at entrance, Sharmi stood at a distance, watching them quietly. She let out a deep breath, a mix of worry and reluctant acceptance on her face.
- Lucky her… husband not around, she found a companion,* Sharmi thought to herself with a small smirk. Still, concern won over. She quickly typed a message and sent it to Nikitha.
Nikitha read the message while walking beside Tharun toward the parking lot. The words stung. She slipped the phone back into her bag without replying, her chest tightening.
Tharun drove them to a large, upscale shopping mall on the outskirts of the city. The evening crowd was moderate, and the bright lights gave the place a lively yet comfortable energy.
Instead of heading straight to any restaurant or quiet corner, Tharun surprised her. With a playful grin, he gently took her hand and pulled her toward the Fun Zone on the upper floor - an arcade area filled with colorful lights, laughter, and game machines.
Nikitha looked at him with a puzzle?
No Coffee? I thought we would sit calmly and speak more.
Tharun smiled, you are already stuffed too much in your head. Let's relax for a moment. I want you to forget all the heaviness and bring a lightness to you.
Nikki still looked at him unbelievably and not ready for when her mind was at storm..
“Come on,” he said, refusing to let her hesitate. “We’ve had enough serious talks for one day. Let’s make some memories.”
Nikitha was initially reluctant, but Tharun’s enthusiasm was infectious. He dragged her to the balloon shooting game - a colorful stall where players aimed soft darts at rows of balloons to win prizes.
Tharun paid for a round and handed her the dart gun with a cheeky smile. “Show me what you’ve got, senior engineer.”
At first, Nikitha laughed and missed most shots, feeling self-conscious. But Tharun stood behind her, gently correcting her stance, his chest lightly brushing her back as he guided her aim.
“Relax your shoulders… aim a little higher,” he murmured near her ear.
On her third try, she burst three balloons in a row. The stall owner cheered and handed her a medium-sized fluffy teddy bear as a prize. Nikitha’s face lit up with genuine delight — a rare, carefree smile that reached her eyes.
Tharun watched her, mesmerized. “See? That’s the smile I wanted to see today.”
They played a few more games — ring toss, basketball hoops, and a silly dance machine. Tharun won a small keychain with a tiny piano charm and immediately gave it to her.
“For the storyteller who secretly loves music,” he said softly.
For nearly an hour, they laughed like normal people on a date. No heavy talks about marriage, no guilt about Jay, no office pressure. Just lights, laughter, and small victories. Nikitha forgot, for a precious while, the complications waiting for her at home.
As they walked out of the Fun Zone, Tharun held her hand again, his thumb gently brushing her knuckles.
“New memories don’t have to be serious,” he said quietly. “Sometimes they can just be… fun. With someone who makes you smile.”
Nikitha looked at the teddy bear and the piano keychain in her other hand. A strange warmth spread in her chest.
She had completely forgot the storm.
The new moments etched well in her memory.
After 10 mins,
Tharun dropped her off a street before her villa, as promised. Before she stepped out, he gave her hand one last gentle squeeze.
“Take care of yourself, Nikki. And… Thank you for today.”
She smiled faintly, then hesitated. “Let the teddy bear stay with you,” she murmured, glancing at the plush toy still perched on the dashboard. “I cannot take it home.”
Tharun leaned back, a soft chuckle escaping him. “Let him be with me,” he replied calmly, his eyes twinkling with quiet affection. “:)
They shared a lingering look—warm, unspoken, and bittersweet. A small smile curved both their lips before Tharun finally let go of her hand. The car rolled away slowly down the street, its taillights fading into the golden dusk.
Nikitha stood there for a moment, watching it disappear around the bend. Her mind felt unbearably heavy, a storm of conflicting emotions swirling inside her chest. The day had been a whirlwind—laughter, connection, guilt, and something dangerously close to hope. She took a deep breath and began walking the remaining distance to the house.
As she approached the villa, her steps slowed. A familiar car was parked just outside, one she knew too well. Her pulse quickened. The main door was slightly ajar, a thin slice of warm light spilling out onto the porch.
Heart hammering, she rushed inside.
The sight that greeted her stopped her cold.
A woman stood in the kitchen area, moving with quiet familiarity. She was carrying a steaming cup of hot chaya and a small plate of lightly buttered bread toward the bed where Jay sat propped up weakly against the pillows. The setting sun’s rays poured through the open doorway and windows, bathing everything in a fiery orange glow. The woman appeared almost like a silhouette—graceful, backlit, her features blurred by the dramatic light.
Nikitha’s heart stuttered and then stopped for a painful second.
Years of marriage, and no other woman had ever entered this house. Not like this. Not in their space. Not caring for her husband.
Even though she and Jay had been at odds for so long… even though she had spent the day with Tharun, letting herself imagine what it might be like to be wanted again… a fierce wave of jealousy and possessiveness crashed over her. It hit her like a physical blow, sharp and undeniable. In that moment, all her new memories, all the careful distance she had built with Tharun, shattered. The sight of another woman near Jay reminded her, brutally, of how she still loved him.
Rage - hot, irrational, and protective - flooded her veins. She marched forward, fists clenched at her sides.
As Nikitha stepped closer, the sunlight shifted, and the reality hit her fully.
She froze mid-step after seeing the reality, the women, the storm of emotions freezing in her throat. The jealousy didn’t vanish instantly, but it twisted now into something more complicated—confusion, relief, and a lingering ache she couldn’t quite name. It was Sharmi.
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