ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ [ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ]

protectiveness

It had been almost two weeks since the incident of Nikita's aunt's arrest. Nikita had been taking her medication regularly and was healing well. The mark had almost faded now, with only a little fragment, as good as negligible, left. She started feeling much happier about her body now that this mark had gone.
She also had tried to stay away from Mayukh because she knows that it was something unrealistic. She had seen girls flirt around with him and he didn't seem to mind it, why wouldn't he? He's free to do whatever. She tried to ignore it. Meanwhile Mayukh too noticed a bunch of guys approach Nikita and had tried to ignore it because he had told himself that she is alone and he is alone too. He still felt like he had a responsibility over her and didn't back down from it. He didn't know how he felt. Today, he was alone at home with her because Esha was gone with her other friends for a sleepover and Sid had gone home for the weekend. They had the house to themselves.

Nikita woke up at 8:30 while Mayukh was still fast asleep. She showered and had done her pooja and was making chai and breakfast in the hall, when, in 2 hours, Mayukh walked in after showering. Nikita couldn't help but stare, he looked elegantly handsome in his wet hair, a t-shirt and track pants as he walked towards her with his eyes on her phone. Their conversations in the last two weeks had been less as Nikita would spend more time with Esha and her studies while Mayukh spent more time with Sid and his boy gang. However, no matter how late he came, he'd always go to her room and check if she slept before going and sleeping. 

Mayukh POV:

I saw Nikita working quietly in the kitchen and came to her. She didn't become aware of my presence. What's she busy with?

"Pareshaan ho?" I asked her, grabbing her attention. She shook her head and continued working. "Phir?"
"I'm fine." She replied, not looking up.
"I'm inviting my friends over today. Is that fine?"
She nodded and came to me with chai in her hand.
"You made it?" I asked.
"No. Esha did." I was kind of hoping she made chai for me, I was a bit bummed hearing that Esha made it and not her, but I nodded and drank it. It was really tasty.
"What are you going to do today?" I asked her.
"I'll study."
"Hmm." I watched how she bites her lips whenever she's nervous. God that makes her hotter than ever. She looked very cute right now, in her pants and her top, with her bra strap showing.

I don't know why I felt like I can see her bra strap. I am her husband, right? Half - husband?

Nikita POV:

I went to my room after a conversation with him and decided to just stay there. I made him chai today but I didn't tell him that because I didn't want him to think I'm acting like a wife to him. He was very clear from day one that he only did this to save me, I didn't want to overstep my boundaries. I went to my room and started studying. Soon enough, I heard noises and knew that his friends had arrived. I tied my hair in a nice pony tail which came till my chest, and got to work.

It was more than three hours since I was in my room and I was getting bored. I called Aai to make sure everything is fine and felt relieved to see that they're all happy and going back to Indore safely. I went outside to make a cup of chai for myself. I could hear his voice and the voices of his friends but I ignored them. The kitchen was partially connected to the hall but luckily they were sitting on the end that connected to the balcony and so was out of my sight.

I made chai quietly until I heard a guy's voice in the kitchen.

"Woah... Hello?" He said. He looked very familiar.
"Hi." I smiled and was polite. I could see he needed water so I passed him the jug, "here."
"Thanks, who are you?" He asked.
"Nikita. I, um, I live here too." I said.
"Oh my God! Nikita?" He exclaimed. How was he so excited to see me?
"Yeah?" I was confused by this reaction, "Is everything okay?"
"You don't recognize me? I mean I know it's been four years but come on!" He said.
He did seem familiar but I couldn't put a pin on it. I tried to recall school times since I know I hadn't seen him in University. Then it hit me. Armaan!
"Oh! Armaan?" I said, getting a little excited.
"YES!" He said and came to give me a side hug, which I reciprocated. Armaan and I used to be very close. He used to train my brother in school and was how I got to know everyone, including Mayukh.
"What a big surprise!" He said, not leaving the hug.
"What's going on here?" I heard a voice from the hall. We broke the hug to see Mayukh looking at us. I left Armaan and stood on my side, checking over my chai again.
"Mayukh! You never told me that Nikita was here? Remember her? The one from school?" Armaan said, bringing Mayukh in the kitchen.
"Yes of course I remember. I never forgot her." He said those last words looking right at me. My eyes widened slightly but I instantly looked away and continued making chai.
"Would... would you guys like chai too?" I asked.
Armaan nodded and mentioned to make 4 more cups, for Mayukh Armaan and Rohan and Ishaan, the musketeers from school. I smiled and got to making more chai and felt Armaan settle by the counter and continue his talks.
"So which course are you doing?" He asked.
"AI, the same as you!" I said.
"Oh do you need a hand?" He asked, helping me pour the cups.
"Thank you!" I said and poured the cups and signaled Armaan to take the tray as I decided to go back in my room, but before I could leave, Armaan said, "Niki where are you going?"
I turned to see him and Mayukh both looking at me. "I.. I'm going back, you guys carry on."
"Absolutely not. Mayukh, hold this -" He gave the tray to Mayukh and came to me and grabbed my shoulders from behind and started dragging me ahead, "—You come sit with us for a bit. We've met after so long."
"Arre, that's fine, you guys—"
"No. Come sit."

I was guided into the hall where I met Rohan and Ishaan, who somehow recognized me. I sat in the hall on a chair with Mayukh putting the tray on the table.

Mayukh POV:

Armaan and Nikita got so comfortable so instantly. It felt odd. Even in school they used to talk so easily. I watched him hand over the tray to me and sit Nikita down in the hall, where she was politely talking to my other friends. I put the try and was about to sit next to her when Armaan came and sat there. I sat opposite to her and joined the conversation.

Slowly, I noticed her bra strap get visible again. She seemed lost in conversation and didn't notice that. I got up and pretended to be on a call and excused myself and got a jacket for her from my room. I then switched on the AC to a higher blast and came into the hall. I walked closer to her and came behind her and placed the jacket over her shoulders, grabbing the attention of everyone.

She looked at me with confusion and fear as I put the jacket on her. I looked at everyone and replied, "Arre she gets cold very easily and I can't sit with the AC switched off. So her turn to compromise now!"
Everyone laughed and agreed that AC was needed and soon the conversation moved on. I could see Nikita not wearing my jacket fully and just sit quietly. What happened to her?
"Btw this chai is amazing Nikita!" Rohan said and Armaan agreed, "It really is!" Ishaan added.
Chai. I didn't even take a sip. I got the cup to drink and, hold on, it felt so similar to the chai in the morning. I looked at her, who wouldn't meet my eyes again.

Why did she lie in the morning?

After a while she excused herself and went back to my room. We all had dinner and chatted for another 3/4 hours until she came out again and said bye to everyone and then they went. I went to drop them under the building and came back up to see everything cleaned and arranged. Where was she?

I went to her room and didn't find her there so I went to where I knew she'd be. The balcony. I walked in and watched her sitting reading a book. I walked close to her and noticed her see me and stiffen. Her hair was now open and was flowing gently with the wind. I walked closer to her and saw her standing up.
"Y-yea-h?" she said, stepping backwards.
"Why did you lie again?" I asked, my eyes turning dark with an emotion I couldn't understand. It wasn't anger.
"Lie? About—what-? She stammered.
"Esha made the chai in the morning?"
Her eyes widened knowing she's caught. She then looked down.
"I... I need to go." She tried to walk away but I grabbed her and pinned her to the wall.
"I want an answer half wife." Her eyes widened. I don't know what I always want to call her that.
"I made it." She said, looking down.
"And why couldn't you tell me that before." I slid my hands around her waist and came closer to her.
"I.. I forgot."
"You forgot to tell me that you made it and instead told me that Esha made it?"
She nodded.
I sighed and pulled her closer, wrapping her in my arms. Her hands stayed by her side while mine wrapped around her waist.
"Don't lie to me. I've told you many times." I pulled away and saw her breathing heavily and her face becoming red.
"One more thing," I said before walking away, she looked at me and got alert seeing me come closer again. "This.... is not for everyone to see." I said as I covered her bra strap inside her top.
"You... can't see it either then." She said.
I chuckled and caressed her face, "bhalay aadha hoon, but pati hoon tumhara, itna toh haqq hai mera."  I said and went to my room, leaving her face as red as ever.

I called Mom and then went to sleep.

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