HER SAFE PLACE

Event

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Shivangi's POV

Standing in front of the mirror, I glanced at my reflection, smoothing out the delicate silk of the black saree Rocky had bought for me. It wasn’t something I’d usually wear, but the intricate embroidery and the way it flowed felt elegant. The sleeves reached down to my wrists, covering me modestly, just as I preferred, and the neckline was not too deep. I had made sure to keep everything minimal, especially the makeup. A light touch of lipstick, a bit of eyeliner, and that was it. Simple, yet enough.

I wasn’t doing this for myself. This was for him—because he had asked me to. Rocky rarely ever asked me for anything. He just expected things to happen. But this time, it was different. The event his office had organized was something important, or at least it seemed that way from the way he’d mentioned it. I had refused at first, not because I didn’t want to go, but because I didn’t want to be put on display like some... prize.

But then, I had agreed, on my terms. We weren’t going to let the world know about us—about our marriage. That was something I had insisted on, and he had agreed without much resistance. Maybe he was relieved. Or maybe he was just indifferent. I couldn’t tell.

I glanced again at my reflection and sighed, leaving my hair open, letting it fall over my shoulders the way he liked. There was a part of me that hated how much his opinions influenced me, yet here I was, doing things just to please him, to see that subtle smile he always tried to hide.

Looking at myself now, it was strange. The Shivangi in the mirror looked calm, put together, but inside, I was a mess. Mood swings, random outbursts—it was like I had no control over myself anymore. One moment, I would be yelling at Rocky for the smallest thing, and the next, I would soften, unable to keep the anger going. It frustrated him, I could see that, but he never said much about it. He was always hard to read, always so composed.

But tonight, I had promised myself I’d be different. I would be calm, collected. Just for one night, I would pretend that everything was fine. No fights, no drama, just a woman accompanying her husband to a formal event. No one would know who we really were to each other. And maybe, that’s how it needed to be.

I reached for my earrings, slipping them on, and took a deep breath. It was time to step out of this room and face the night ahead. Whatever happened, I’d deal with it. After all, I was used to wearing masks, and tonight would be no different.

With a final glance at the mirror, I turned away, the soft fabric of the saree brushing against my skin as I moved toward the door. My heart raced a little, not from excitement but from uncertainty. The thought of being at his office event, surrounded by strangers who had no idea about our complicated relationship, made me uneasy. We weren’t going there as husband and wife. No, tonight, we’d be nothing more than... acquaintances, or so I’d told myself. But even that felt like a stretch.

I stepped out of the bedroom, the clinking of my bangles barely audible in the quiet house. Rocky was waiting in the living room, his back turned to me as he adjusted his cufflinks. He always looked so put together—like nothing could faze him. His black suit fit him perfectly, highlighting the confidence he carried everywhere. For a moment, I wondered if I would ever truly understand him.

He glanced over his shoulder when he heard my footsteps, and his eyes briefly met mine. There was something in his expression, a flicker of something softer, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. His gaze traveled from my face down to the saree, and I caught the faintest hint of approval in his eyes, though he said nothing about it.