Equations Of Love

13

"I have died every day waiting for you"

DIYANSHI'S POV

The days passed by in a blur of office work. I found myself deeply engrossed in my new job, trying to make a good impression and get into the rhythm of things. Surprisingly, I hadn't seen Prateek since that awkward first day.

Saturday arrived, my day off, but Ayushman had asked me to come to his office for a special event. After he left in the morning, I completed some remaining office work and then got ready. I chose a pink dress, simple yet elegant, and did my makeup carefully. Satisfied with my appearance, I headed towards Ayushman's office.

Upon arrival, I approached the receptionist. She looked up from her desk and gave me a polite but indifferent smile. "Good morning. How can I help you?"

"I'm here to see Ayushman Sharma," I replied.

"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Sharma?" she asked, her tone turning slightly more formal.

Hesitantly, I said, "No, but I'm his wife."

A weird sensation settled over me as I spoke those words. It had been a while since I had to assert my identity like that. The receptionist, however, didn't seem convinced.

"I'm sorry, but numerous women come here claiming to be his wife. Are we supposed to let all of them through?" she mocked a slight sneer in her voice.

My patience began to wear thin. "I understand you're just doing your job, but I really am his wife. Can you please check with him?"

"Look, I can't just let you go in without proper verification. You could be anyone," she insisted, her tone growing more dismissive.

We were at an impasse, and I was starting to get frustrated when I noticed Rihan passing by. He saw me and immediately recognized me.

"Diyanshi!" he called out, walking over. "Hey, good to see you here."

The receptionist looked a bit alarmed at his familiarity with me. "Do you know her, sir?"

"Yes, she's Ayushman's wife," Rohan confirmed, giving the receptionist a pointed look.

"Oh, I apologize for the confusion," the receptionist said, looking genuinely contrite. "I'm just following protocol."

"It's okay," I said, calming down. "You're just doing your job."

Rohan turned to me with a friendly smile. "How have you been, Diya? It's nice to see you again. What brings you here today?"

"I've been good and how is your wife?" I replied, returning his smile. "Ayushman mentioned there's an event today, and he thought it would be a good experience for me to join in."

"Ah, she's perfect," Rohan said, nodding. "Oh! The events cool."

As we walked through the office, Rohan kept the conversation light and friendly. "How's the new job treating you? Ayushman had mentioned about it."

"It's been good so far," I said. "A bit overwhelming, but everyone has been really supportive."

"Glad to hear that. If you ever need anything, feel free to reach out," he offered.

"Thanks, Rihan. I appreciate it," I replied, feeling grateful for his kindness.

We reached Ayushman's cabin, and Rihan gestured for me to go ahead. "Here we are. I'm sure Ayushman will be happy to see you."

I took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping inside. My heart froze as I took in the scene before me.

Ayushman looked up in surprise as I entered, but his expression quickly turned to one of concern. "Diya, wait—" he started, but I was already backing out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest.

Radhika stood beside him, her face a mix of shock and something that resembled pity. The sight of them together, so close, brought back a flood of painful memories. It was as if all the progress I had made, all the strength I had mustered, was shattered in an instant.

"Diya, it's not what it looks like," Ayushman called after me, but I couldn't bear to hear anymore. The ache in my chest was too much to handle. Without another word, I turned and fled, Rihan's concerned voice trailing behind me.

Tears blurred my vision as I navigated the corridors of the office. The receptionist looked up, her eyes wide with confusion and concern, but I couldn't stop. I needed to get out, to escape the suffocating sense of betrayal that threatened to consume me.

I burst through the doors and into the fresh air, gulping it down like it was my lifeline. The world outside felt too bright, too sharp, and all I wanted was to disappear, to retreat into a place where the pain couldn't reach me.

My phone buzzed in my purse, but I ignored it. I couldn't face Ayushman or anyone else right now. I needed time to process what I had seen, to understand why it hurt so much to see him with Radhika.

With my heart still racing and my mind a whirlwind of emotions, I hailed a cab and gave the driver my address. As we drove away, I couldn't help but wonder if the pain of betrayal ever truly faded, or if it was something that would haunt me forever.

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