What Lies Beneath

Chapter 22

Shock, confusion and disbelief crashed like a meteor on Misha's face.

She just stared at Niharika blankly, unsure if what she heard wasn't delusional. But when it got registered, her heart skipped a beat.

The eldest with the same expressions looked at Ishaan who sat on his bed, staring in their direction as well. The intimacy in their glares was becoming tense but it wasn't anger hovering over them, rather, worriedness.

All of a sudden, Niharika's happy and cool behavior was taken away by the expressions that showed pure concern and fear.

Fear of what might these two are showing everyone, is not true. The reality is exactly what she feared the most since the start. And the reaction Ishaan was passing, might be an indication it's true.

There was no remorse, no guilt and no attachment on his face, as if he didn't care and it wasn't very inconspicuous.

"Bhabhi... did you put my clothes... in his cupboard?"

A low voice was heard, bringing Niharika's attention back to the girl who still seemed impacted by the information. She nodded. "Last week, mom asked for clothes that needed to go for laundry so I had come to your room as well to collect the sheets, but then I saw that you still..." she gazed at Ishaan, "hadn't arranged your clothes in the cupboard of the room. So I did it instead."

Silence fell upon all three of them for their own reasons.

A second later, the eldest continued. "Why?- has something happened? Why are you both staring at me like that... and, by the way, what are they doing outside again, Misha?"

She paused, waiting for a response but none of them answered. Misha just sat there like she was frozen, remembering the night she was forced to stay in the dark for the whole time, facing her fear and enduring that torture alone for the crime she had never committed.

Albeit Ishaan has always blamed her for the reason behind their unwanted marriage but this... was it really her fault?

She was unable to process the information, she was unable to process the whole marriage suddenly.

Watching them, Ishaan just blinked away tiredly. He wanted to go back to his work but now, even he isn't able to do that. Maybe, the information has affected him as well, yet his face was blank, unreadable with no expression. He just kept his eyes from Niharika's contact because he could feel them still on him, waiting for a genuine answer from him.

Again, she was met with silence as no one dared to open their mouth. Thinking no one would answer, she asked again.

"Is everything alright between you two?"

Before the couple could open their mouths to answer, someone knocked on the door of their room.

The voice didn't wait for their response and began hastily. "Misha, are you free for a moment, I want your review in some reports right now. Can you come with me to my office, it won't take long."

It was Shubh, who seemed in a rush as he was panting halfway from climbing the stairs hurriedly. Everyone in the room looked at him with their complicated expressions, making Shubh stop for a moment and notice the deafening silence that was hovering all of them.

"Are you guys okay?"

Hearing him, Niharika shook Misha's hand slightly, bringing her back from her daze and indicating her to answer.

Misha blinked her eyes before looking properly at Shubh. "Oh, yeah bhaiya... I am coming." She said while placing her files beside her from her lap and stood up, leaving with Shubh to his office downstairs without muttering a word.