Udaariyaan: Entangled Hearts

Chapter 5

Hurdles of a loveless relationship

Kapoor House – Nehmat and Advait's Room

Nehmat sat stunned, reeling from Nikhil's confession.

"Mallika?" she whispered, barely able to process the name. "But... she ended our friendship on the day of my wedding. She misunderstood my relationship with Advait. I never imagined... that she would be the reason for the breakdown of my sister's marriage."

Her voice trembled as she continued, "But Nikhil, does she... feel the same way about you?"

Nikhil looked away, his silence heavier than any words.

In the Park

Advait stood stiffly, his arms crossed, visibly irritated. "So? Are you going to tell me what was so urgent that you had to drag me here?" he snapped. "If this is about us—whatever we had—then let me make it clear again. It was fake. Every bit of it. I only pretended to love you because my father asked me to."

Mallika shook her head, her voice calm but heavy. "This isn't about you, Advait."

Advait narrowed his eyes. "Then what is it about?"

"It's about your brother."

"Nikhil?" Advait asked, his brows furrowing. "What about him?"

Mallika clenched her fists and closed her eyes for a moment, summoning courage. "Nikhil and I... we've grown very close. Advait, I think I've fallen in love with your brother."

Advait looked at her in disbelief, a scoff escaping his lips. "What? What did you just say?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm in love with him."

Flashback – Mallika's Perspective

"I was desperate to escape the chaos of my life—my father's sudden death, my brother's shattered relationship, and... my broken heart. I needed a distraction. When I saw that Kapoors & Co. had a job opening, I was hesitant. I didn't want to cross paths with you again. But then I reminded myself the company was run by Nikhil."

"On my first day, I was surprised to learn that Nikhil and I shared a common passion—fashion design. That one shared interest became our bridge. We became friends. And in time, he began confiding in me, telling me about the cracks in his marriage, the pressure, the loneliness."

"One day, I found him in his cabin, utterly worn out after a fight with Naaz. He had slumped back in his chair, eyes shut, forbidding anyone from entering. But I didn't listen. I walked in anyway."

"I gently placed my fingers on his temples and said, 'Relax, Nikhil. Don't let her words break you. You will make a name for yourself—your talent will shine. You don't need validation from anyone.'"

"He slowly opened his eyes and looked at me. Then, he reached out, held my hand, and said, 'How do you understand me so well? I don't know what I'd do without you.'"

"I was stunned. For a few seconds, I just stood there, caught in his gaze. Then I pulled my hand away and left the room."

Flashback ends.

"That was the moment I knew," Mallika whispered to Advait. "Whatever feelings I once had for you... they'd shifted. I was falling for your brother."

Advait's face darkened. "So what happened next? Did you start an affair with my married brother behind everyone's back?"

Mallika didn't respond.

Kapoor House – Bedroom

Nehmat pressed, "Nikhil, does Mallika reciprocate your feelings?"