MY AVERAGE LIFE

Part 71

Shiavni Pov:

Shivani stood frozen in the doorway, her heart pounding with a strange cocktail of shock and hurt. She had just witnessed Shrey kissing Sharath, her Sharath. The sight of it stung, and for a moment, she wanted to give in to the heartache and the anger. But then, she looked at Sharath's face—his wide, panic-stricken eyes, his trembling hands reaching for her, his voice cracking as he begged her to believe him.

And she did. She trusted him. She knew him better than anyone. The Sharath she knew would never betray her.

Taking a deep breath, Shivani composed herself, lifting her chin and straightening her posture. Her gaze shifted to Shreya, who was watching them with a smug smile, clearly reveling in the chaos she thought she'd created.

"Shreya," Shivani's voice was steady, calm, but there was an unmistakable sharpness to it. "You need to get out of here."

Shreya's expression faltered, but she quickly regained her composure, flashing an innocent look. "Shivani, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It was just... a moment that got out of hand."

Shivani let out a low chuckle, shaking her head. "A moment that got out of hand?" she repeated, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Really? Because it seems to me like you've been trying to create this 'moment' for a long time. News flash, Shreya—it didn't work."

Shreya blinked, her confidence wavering. "I... I don't know what you mean.""Oh, don't play dumb with me," Shivani said, crossing her arms as she stepped into the room. "You've been trying to come between us. But here's the thing, Shreya. I'm not insecure, and Sharath and I—we trust each other."

Shreya's eyes darted between Shivani and Sharath, her face paling as her plan unraveled before her.

Sharath, still reeling from the intensity of the moment, finally found his voice, his eyes filled with admiration as he watched Shivani confront Shreya. "Shivani..." he started, his voice filled with relief and gratitude.

But Shivani raised a hand to stop him, her gaze still fixed on Shreya. "I'm not done yet," she said, her voice icy. Then she looked back at Shreya, the slightest smile playing on her lips. "You thought that a single kiss would be enough to shake my trust in him? You thought I'd just storm out of here, brokenhearted, because of some petty stunt?"

Shreya looked flustered, trying to regain her footing. "Well... I thought you'd at least reconsider things. I mean, don't you think you deserve someone who wouldn't... 'let things get out of hand' like this?"

"Oh, Shreya," Shivani's tone was sweet but laced with steel. "The only thing I'd reconsider is ever giving you another chance to be in the same room as us. I know exactly who Sharath is. I know his heart, his loyalty, and mainly I know him. And I know what desperation looks like too."

Sharath could barely contain his smile as he watched Shivani. Despite the tension in the room, he felt a surge of warmth and pride that she could see through Shreya's scheme.

Shreya's facade finally cracked, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anger. "Well... you're a fool, Shivani! Don't you see?  He'll eventually get bored of you."

Shivani laughed, genuinely amused. "Bored? Really? You're grasping at straws, Shreya. If I didn't feel so sorry for you, I'd almost be impressed with your persistence." She stepped closer to Shreya, her tone turning serious. "But you need to understand something. Nothing you do will change how Sharath and I feel about each other. So, do yourself a favor and walk out of this office with whatever dignity you have left."

Shreya's lips trembled as she tried to muster up one last retort. "You... you'll regret this. One day, you'll see my worth sharath."

Sharath finally stepped forward, his hand reaching out to Shivani's, squeezing it gently. "Enough, Shreya."

For a moment, Shreya looked as though she might argue further, but Shivani's fierce, unwavering gaze left her no room to speak. With a defeated huff, she turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

As the door closed, Shivani let out a long breath, the tension finally easing from her shoulders. She turned to Sharath, a small, playful smile on her face. "I'm going to need a long lunch break after that."

Sharath chuckled, his eyes shining with admiration. "You handled that perfectly, Shivani. I... I don't think I could've done it without you."

She squeezed his hand, her expression softening. "Of course you could have. But why would I let you go through that alone?"

He pulled her close, pressing his forehead to hers. "I'm so lucky to have you. Seeing you stand up for us like that... it means everything to me."

"Hey," she said softly, brushing a hand over his cheek. "I trust you, Sharath. No one's going to come between us. I won't let them."

In that moment, all the doubts, the fear, and the tension from the last few minutes melted away, leaving nothing but the unshakeable bond they shared. Shivani wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close, feeling the strength of his embrace, knowing that nothing—and no one—could ever come between them.