I had told her, in no uncertain terms, that I had already warned her. I would not betray my wife. Not for her. Not for anyone.
Avija's hand had been reaching for me, about to touch my face, when Viya walked in.
The look on my wife's face had been like a knife to my chest.
I had tried to explain. Tried to tell her nothing had happened, nothing would ever happen. But she had just nodded with those big, hurt eyes and said she trusted me.
But if she trusted me, why had she been avoiding me ever since?
The question circled in my mind obsessively, tormenting me during every waking moment and haunting my dreams at night.
And now it was Saturday. The day of Aryan's party. The day I would have to watch my wife attend a social event without being able to stand beside her as her husband.
Instead of spending the day with me, preparing together, maybe talking through this awful tension between us, Viya had left early in the morning. She had mumbled something about meeting her colleague Akshita to get ready together, and that she would go to the party directly from there.
She did not even want to be in the same car as me.
I hated it. Every single part of it.
I stood in front of my closet, pulling out a black suit and white shirt with mechanical movements. My hands worked on autopilot while my mind remained fixated on Viya.
Where was she right now? What was she doing? Was she thinking about me at all, or had she pushed me out of her mind completely?
I would be attending this party with Meera as my plus one. My assistant. Because I could not bring my actual wife, and the thought of showing up alone had felt pathetic even to me.
Meera had agreed readily when I asked, understanding without needing explanation that this was purely professional. She would meet me at the hotel.
I finished dressing and checked my reflection in the mirror. The man staring back at me looked cold and composed. Nothing like the chaos raging inside.
I grabbed my phone and wallet and headed downstairs. Ramesh was already waiting with the car.
The drive to the hotel felt interminable. My fingers drummed restlessly on my knee. I checked my phone repeatedly even though I knew Viya would not call or text.
When we finally arrived at the grand hotel hosting the event, I could see the party was already in full swing. Cars lined the circular driveway. Well dressed people streamed through the entrance. Music and laughter drifted out every time the doors opened.
I straightened my tie and walked inside.
The ballroom had been transformed into something spectacular. Soft lighting, elegant decorations, a live band playing in one corner. Wait staff circulated with trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. The dance floor was already filling up with couples swaying to the music.
Aryan spotted me immediately and came over with his usual grin.
"Finally! I was beginning to think you were going to bail on your own joint venture celebration."
"Would never miss it," I said, accepting the whiskey he handed me.
"Where is Meera? I thought she was coming with you."
"She is meeting me here. Should arrive any minute."
Aryan nodded, then his attention was pulled away by one of the investors. I used the opportunity to scan the room.
Looking for her. Even though I knew I should not. Even though seeing her would only make this harder.
But she was not here yet.
I forced myself to circulate, shaking hands with board members and key investors. Making small talk about the joint venture and projected growth rates. Playing the role of confident CEO even though every cell in my body was focused on the entrance, waiting.
I was in the middle of a conversation about quarterly projections when I felt it. That awareness that prickled across my skin whenever she was near.
