The GIRLFRIEND Deal

CHAPTER 25

"I hope you liked the food Mrs Goenka" he replied after bidding the guests goodbye

For a moment, he was transported back to the time when Mallika’s touch had once brought him peace. But now, that peace felt foreign. He stood still, his jaw clenched, his hands folding into fists.

Mallika’s eyes darkened with hurt, but she wasn’t one to back down. She had come to apologize again, after all.

“I know I don’t deserve forgiveness, but… I hope we can move past this some day Shivaay” She paused, searching for the right words, “—I just”

Shivaay's gaze sharp. He had no words for her apology, not today, not now.

“You don’t need to apologize anymore, Mallika,” he said, his voice colder than it had ever been. “You made your choice. And I’ve moved on. I realised if you hadn't left, we would have been unhappy ”

Mallika took a step back, his words came like a shock for her. "Truly. Thanks for lifting my guilt. I hope you have the happiest life ahead with Anika” Her words were sincere

Shivaay didn’t respond. He simply nodded curtly before turning away.

As Mallika moved off, a strange stillness fell over Shivaay.

Was there a part of him that still loved Mallika? A part that longed for the woman who had once been his world?

Shivaay turned back to watch Mallika disappearing into the crowd, her shoulders slumped, her eyes distant.

But then it hit him—he wasn’t in love with her anymore. He had held on to the idea of never stopping his love for Mallika, clinging to the notion of a love lost. He had convinced himself that he would always love her because the alternative was too painful. It was easier to hold onto a memory than to let go of the dream of what they had been.

And in that moment, Shivaay realized that the love he thought he had for Mallika wasn’t love at all. It was the shadow of a past that no longer fit the man he had become.

His heart shifted, not with sorrow, but with a quiet acceptance.

His gaze found Anika in the crowd, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the candles flickering around the hall.

He wasn’t holding onto Mallika anymore. He was holding onto the future, he felt ready to let go of the past.

Anika’s laugh reached his ears, and his heart stirred as he turned to find her. She was standing with his mom, her bright smile lighting up the room, a stark contrast to the shadow that still lingered with Mallika’s presence.

Shivaay moved toward her, the distance between them feeling shorter with each step. He didn’t need the past to be resolved. He didn’t need Mallika’s forgiveness. All he needed was right here, in front of him.

As he approached Anika, she turned toward him, her eyes meeting his with that same unspoken understanding.

“Aap thik hai?” she asked, her voice soft, but with a hint of concern.

Shivaay nodded, his gaze steady. "I am now."

"Mai to emotional huye ja rahi hu. Udhar jethani ji aur mummy ji to ro hi rahe hai vidaai se pehle" Pinky said as she was admiring the couple getting married.

Anika smiled warmly at Pinky’s words. “Aunty, it's such a beautiful ceremony. It's hard not to get emotional.”

Shivaay, feeling the weight of the moment lifting, turned toward his family. He needed a few moments to himself, to reconnect with the present and the people who mattered most. He eventually joined Om and Rudra beside the mandap.

"Kafi pavitra bandhan hai ye, Anika," Pinky said as soon as Shivaay left to join his brothers.

Anika smiled at the older woman’s comment, the words resonating with her. "Ji aunty. Mai kafi maanti hu." Her voice was sincere, her respect for the moment clear.

Anika couldn’t help but watch Shivaay as he stood beside Om and Rudra. He was quieter than usual, his expression unreadable, but there was something different about the way he stood there now. Something more grounded, more present.

Pinky, noticing the change in Shivaay’s posture, looked back at Anika. “I know Shivaay ko kitna mushkil hua hoga wapas pyaar karne me. But I truly believe you’re helping him, Anika.”

Anika’s gaze softened.
"Mai kuch nahi kar paati agar shivaay khud move on nahi karna chahte to"

The ceremony continued in the background as the pheras neared their final rounds. But for a moment, Anika stood quietly beside Pinky, allowing herself to acknowledge the subtle shift in her own heart. She was no longer just the woman playing a part; she had become someone integral to this family.

And, in a way, the truth of that realization made her heart feel lighter.

As the bride and groom completed their vows, the final blessings were shared, and everyone rose from their seats, clapping and celebrating the union before them. Anika’s eyes found Shivaay again, as if drawn by an invisible thread. For a moment, the noise of the celebration fell away, and in the middle of it all, they shared a glance.

She smiled softly at him, and he returned it, just a little.