28-06-2026, 10:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 28-06-2026, 10:45 PM by heygiwriter. Edited 1 time in total. Edited 1 time in total.)
Chapter 73: Jay and Nikitha the best Pair.
The hall was alive with laughter and nervous energy as Sharmi stepped forward once more.
“Next game — Blind Trust,” she announced, her voice carrying a playful challenge. “This one is simple on the surface… but it reveals who truly knows their teammate.”
She explained the rules.
One partner is blindfolded. The other must guide them through a small obstacle course using only their voice. Chairs, cones, ropes, and soft cushions were arranged in a winding path. The twist? Everyone else from the opposing team would shout, laugh, and give fake directions to confuse the blindfolded person. Only the real partner’s voice should be trusted.
Sharmi bends a new rule to avoid Tharun. She said Leader and Companion will be default pair, other 4 Pairs has to be decided within your self. She made this deliberate to avoid Tharun.
Blind Trust
The noise was deafening.
“Left! No, right!”
“Straight ahead!”
“Watch out, there’s a wall!”
Sharmi watched closely as pairs took their turns. Most struggled. Voices blended into a messy roar. Trust broke easily.
Then came Nikki and Jay’s turn.
Jay was blindfolded. Nikki stood a few feet away, her voice steady despite the chaos. “Jay, two steps forward… now stop. Slight left… yes, like that.”
Dozens of voices tried to mimic her — girls from other teams deliberately copying her tone, pitch, and even her way of speaking. “Jay, forward!” “No, left, Jay!”
But Jay didn’t waver.
He moved with calm certainty, head tilted slightly as if filtering every sound until only hers remained. Step after step, he followed her guidance perfectly, navigating the entire course without a single mistake.
Nikki’s heart pounded as she watched him. How does he still know my voice so clearly? Even in all this noise…
When they finished, the timer stopped. Only Nikki and Jay had completed the course successfully. Every other pair had failed — some dramatically, crashing into obstacles amid laughter and groans.
Sharmi didn’t waste the momentum. She stepped forward with a bright smile. “Coders Team wins this round! All other teams are eliminated. However… we need one more team for the finals. The second-highest scoring team — Visual team — gets another chance. Their leader and companion will represent them.”
The crowd cheered. The energy was electric.
The Fifth and Final Game: Build the Tallest Tower
Each team received newspapers, tape, plastic cups, and wooden sticks. Ten minutes to build the tallest freestanding tower.
Other pairs argued immediately.
“Use more tape here!”
“No, that’s unstable!”
“Why aren’t you listening?”
But Nikki and Jay?
They fell into their old rhythm as naturally as breathing.
“Holding this,” Nikki said softly, passing him a rolled newspaper.
Jay took it without needing further explanation. He already knew what she wanted. She planned the base structure while he reinforced it, their hands moving in quiet synchronization. No raised voices. No debate. Just effortless understanding.
People began to notice.
One of the Arts team members wiped sweat from his forehead and laughed. “You guys have done this before, right? Some secret engineering project?”
Another colleague smirked. “No… they’ve just been married for years, look at them!”
A few knowing chuckles spread. Nikki’s cheeks flushed. Jay kept his expression neutral, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
The tower they built stood tallest — elegant, stable, and significantly higher than the rest. When the timer rang, the result was undeniable.
Sharmi felt a quiet joy bloom in her chest. This is working. They don’t need to declare anything. Their hearts already know.
At the final announcement, Jay and Nikki stood together on the small stage.
This was the first speech of them at public, the first proper communication together..
Jay spoke first, his tone warm but careful. He lied to protect their secrets. .. “We don’t share… anything beyond a great professional bond. We worked together as coders for a long time. That partnership simply clicked here today.”
Nikki nodded, smiling politely at the crowd. “Exactly. Teamwork at its best.”
They shook hands for the audience — firm, professional. But their fingers lingered a second longer than necessary, a private moment hidden in plain sight. The Coders Team was declared the overall winner. Jay and Nikitha had the highest individual scores. Prizes would be distributed the next day.
As evening descended, the company arranged a team dinner. Laughter, clinking plates, and stories filled the banquet hall. The games had done their magic — people from different departments mingled freely.
When it was time to leave, Jay walked toward the parking lot. A strange movement caught his eye — a figure in a mask slipping across the dimly lit corridor. Jay paused, staring. The person vanished behind a pillar. He shook his head. Probably just someone fooling around after the games.
He waited near the car. Tharun and Nikitha approached together, talking in low voices. Their conversation felt… intimate. Tharun said something that made Nikki laugh softly. He gave her a playful wink as she got into the car.
Jay watched silently, then offered a small, knowing smile. No words.
The drive home was quiet. Unlike the heavy, painful silence of their last journey together, this one carried a different weight — raw, undeniable awareness. They both knew the truth now. They still loved each other deeply. But fear held their tongues.
Jay thought, I shouldn’t push. If she feels it, she’ll come to me. Love has to happen naturally.
Nikitha stared out the window, her mind in turmoil. Did I overthink everything? Am I missing him more than I realized? Just yesterday she had decided to move on quickly. Today, she was back at the same crossroads.
The night was heavy, yet strangely calm. Exhaustion pulled them into sleep faster than expected.
Morning light filtered through the curtains.
Nikitha woke first, realizing she was tucked inside Jay’s arm, his warmth surrounding her.
She didn’t move. Jay stirred moments later. Their eyes met. Neither pulled away.
Should I leave? she wondered. Did I make the wrong choice?
Jay looked at her, the same question in his gaze. Maybe I should just act… without overthinking.
They both opened their mouths to speak—
Ping.
A message notification chimed on both their phones at the same time.
HR Department
Urgent Enquiry – 9:30 AM
Mandatory meeting regarding behavior cross-check of Tharun and Nikitha. Immediate attendance required.
They stared at the screen, shock replacing the fragile intimacy of the moment.
Whatever peace they had found was about to be tested once again.
The hall was alive with laughter and nervous energy as Sharmi stepped forward once more.
“Next game — Blind Trust,” she announced, her voice carrying a playful challenge. “This one is simple on the surface… but it reveals who truly knows their teammate.”
She explained the rules.
One partner is blindfolded. The other must guide them through a small obstacle course using only their voice. Chairs, cones, ropes, and soft cushions were arranged in a winding path. The twist? Everyone else from the opposing team would shout, laugh, and give fake directions to confuse the blindfolded person. Only the real partner’s voice should be trusted.
Sharmi bends a new rule to avoid Tharun. She said Leader and Companion will be default pair, other 4 Pairs has to be decided within your self. She made this deliberate to avoid Tharun.
Blind Trust
The noise was deafening.
“Left! No, right!”
“Straight ahead!”
“Watch out, there’s a wall!”
Sharmi watched closely as pairs took their turns. Most struggled. Voices blended into a messy roar. Trust broke easily.
Then came Nikki and Jay’s turn.
Jay was blindfolded. Nikki stood a few feet away, her voice steady despite the chaos. “Jay, two steps forward… now stop. Slight left… yes, like that.”
Dozens of voices tried to mimic her — girls from other teams deliberately copying her tone, pitch, and even her way of speaking. “Jay, forward!” “No, left, Jay!”
But Jay didn’t waver.
He moved with calm certainty, head tilted slightly as if filtering every sound until only hers remained. Step after step, he followed her guidance perfectly, navigating the entire course without a single mistake.
Nikki’s heart pounded as she watched him. How does he still know my voice so clearly? Even in all this noise…
When they finished, the timer stopped. Only Nikki and Jay had completed the course successfully. Every other pair had failed — some dramatically, crashing into obstacles amid laughter and groans.
Sharmi didn’t waste the momentum. She stepped forward with a bright smile. “Coders Team wins this round! All other teams are eliminated. However… we need one more team for the finals. The second-highest scoring team — Visual team — gets another chance. Their leader and companion will represent them.”
The crowd cheered. The energy was electric.
The Fifth and Final Game: Build the Tallest Tower
Each team received newspapers, tape, plastic cups, and wooden sticks. Ten minutes to build the tallest freestanding tower.
Other pairs argued immediately.
“Use more tape here!”
“No, that’s unstable!”
“Why aren’t you listening?”
But Nikki and Jay?
They fell into their old rhythm as naturally as breathing.
“Holding this,” Nikki said softly, passing him a rolled newspaper.
Jay took it without needing further explanation. He already knew what she wanted. She planned the base structure while he reinforced it, their hands moving in quiet synchronization. No raised voices. No debate. Just effortless understanding.
People began to notice.
One of the Arts team members wiped sweat from his forehead and laughed. “You guys have done this before, right? Some secret engineering project?”
Another colleague smirked. “No… they’ve just been married for years, look at them!”
A few knowing chuckles spread. Nikki’s cheeks flushed. Jay kept his expression neutral, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
The tower they built stood tallest — elegant, stable, and significantly higher than the rest. When the timer rang, the result was undeniable.
Sharmi felt a quiet joy bloom in her chest. This is working. They don’t need to declare anything. Their hearts already know.
At the final announcement, Jay and Nikki stood together on the small stage.
This was the first speech of them at public, the first proper communication together..
Jay spoke first, his tone warm but careful. He lied to protect their secrets. .. “We don’t share… anything beyond a great professional bond. We worked together as coders for a long time. That partnership simply clicked here today.”
Nikki nodded, smiling politely at the crowd. “Exactly. Teamwork at its best.”
They shook hands for the audience — firm, professional. But their fingers lingered a second longer than necessary, a private moment hidden in plain sight. The Coders Team was declared the overall winner. Jay and Nikitha had the highest individual scores. Prizes would be distributed the next day.
As evening descended, the company arranged a team dinner. Laughter, clinking plates, and stories filled the banquet hall. The games had done their magic — people from different departments mingled freely.
When it was time to leave, Jay walked toward the parking lot. A strange movement caught his eye — a figure in a mask slipping across the dimly lit corridor. Jay paused, staring. The person vanished behind a pillar. He shook his head. Probably just someone fooling around after the games.
He waited near the car. Tharun and Nikitha approached together, talking in low voices. Their conversation felt… intimate. Tharun said something that made Nikki laugh softly. He gave her a playful wink as she got into the car.
Jay watched silently, then offered a small, knowing smile. No words.
The drive home was quiet. Unlike the heavy, painful silence of their last journey together, this one carried a different weight — raw, undeniable awareness. They both knew the truth now. They still loved each other deeply. But fear held their tongues.
Jay thought, I shouldn’t push. If she feels it, she’ll come to me. Love has to happen naturally.
Nikitha stared out the window, her mind in turmoil. Did I overthink everything? Am I missing him more than I realized? Just yesterday she had decided to move on quickly. Today, she was back at the same crossroads.
The night was heavy, yet strangely calm. Exhaustion pulled them into sleep faster than expected.
Morning light filtered through the curtains.
Nikitha woke first, realizing she was tucked inside Jay’s arm, his warmth surrounding her.
She didn’t move. Jay stirred moments later. Their eyes met. Neither pulled away.
Should I leave? she wondered. Did I make the wrong choice?
Jay looked at her, the same question in his gaze. Maybe I should just act… without overthinking.
They both opened their mouths to speak—
Ping.
A message notification chimed on both their phones at the same time.
HR Department
Urgent Enquiry – 9:30 AM
Mandatory meeting regarding behavior cross-check of Tharun and Nikitha. Immediate attendance required.
They stared at the screen, shock replacing the fragile intimacy of the moment.
Whatever peace they had found was about to be tested once again.
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