The GIRLFRIEND Deal

CHAPTER 26

The sound of the Vidaai car’s engine gradually faded as it pulled out of the Oberoi mansion’s driveway. The wedding that had consumed everyone’s attention for days, weeks even, was now over. The air felt strangely still, as if the celebration had taken its final breath. The family stood in the front yard, watching the car drive away, carrying Priyanka and Rehaan toward their new life, their new home.

There was a palpable emptiness that settled into the space they had all shared. The laughter, the excitement, the music—now silenced. A heavy sigh left Shivaay’s lips as he turned away from the gate, his gaze lingering for a moment longer. He could see the mixed emotions on his family’s faces—joy for Priyanka, sorrow at her leaving. His heart clenched, and despite the happiness he felt for his sister, he couldn’t shake the feeling of something missing.

Anika stood next to him, quietly observing the scene. She didn’t need to say anything—she understood. She could feel the shift in the room, the quiet that replaced all the noise. She could see the way Shivaay’s shoulders had slumped, as if a weight had been placed on him the moment his sister’s departure had begun.

Soon enough everyone retired back to their rooms with a heavy heart.

"Aap thik hai na? I know silly sa sawaal hai par aap honestly bolsakte hai" Anika asked softly as she came out of the washroom in regular clothes, cleaned makeup and no jewellery.

Shivaay didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at Anika briefly before saying, "I’m happy for her. I really am," he finally said, his voice quiet, almost distant. "She deserves this… to start her life with someone she loves."

Anika nodded, her heart warmed by his words. "Rehaan’s a good man. Jitna maine suna priyanka se aur jitna dekha." Anika went and sat near him.

Shivaay nodded but there was a tightness around his jaw. "I know." He turned toward her, his face softening as he looked into her eyes. "But it’s still hard. I mean, I know it’s a new chapter for her, but as her brother, I am supposed to be worried."

"I can imagine," Anika replied. "It’s always hard to let go of someone you care about."

There was a brief silence before Shivaay let out a deep sigh, as though releasing some of the tension that had been building up inside of him throughout the day. "She’s lucky, though. Lucky to have found someone like Rehaan. I know he’ll make her happy." His voice held sincerity, but beneath it, there was something else. A mix of pride, concern, and perhaps even a hint of jealousy.

"Another thing happened actually." Shivaay felt like he has to tell Anika about his closure. She deserves to know.

"Bataiye bataiye"

"I forgave Mallika. I realised my love for her was gone long back. I was holding on to the memory of our relationship and was cursing her for choosing her happiness. Shayad hum khush nahi hote agar saath hote. Not that I am justifying her actions but I understand that she wanted love and I was just an asshole. I feel liberated today. I have moved on Anika"

Anika, taken aback by his words, met his gaze with an understanding that wasn’t just comforting—it was something more, something she wasn’t quite ready to process. "Wowww" she said, her voice soft but firm. "You have figured out all these in one night which you couldn't do in these years."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than usual. There was something different in the way he looked at her, something unspoken.

The room they were in now felt empty, quieter than it had ever been. "Thank you," he said suddenly, his voice soft but laden with gratitude. "Thank you for everything. For being there for me. For handling all the drama, the whole ‘pretend relationship’ thing… You made it easier than I ever thought possible. You helped me. Mujhe lagta nahi tha mai apne emotions aise discuss Kisike saath bhi kar paunga but I am."

Anika, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice, looked at him, her heart skipping a beat. She had grown used to his usual guarded demeanor, but this version of Shivaay—vulnerable, thankful—was something entirely different. "It was nothing, Shivaay. You didn’t have to thank me. You are paying me right?" She tried to make the environment funnier

He shook his head, a small, rueful smile playing at his lips. "Yes I am paying and No, Anika. It wasn’t nothing. You didn’t just help me out of agreement—you were there when I needed someone the most. You’ve become someone I can rely on, someone who gets it. And I… I just wanted you to know that."

The weight of his words seemed to settle in the room. For a brief moment, they sat there in silence, the space between them charged with something neither of them had fully acknowledged before.

Shivaay’s eyes dropped to her lips, a subtle shift in his expression. The air between them grew heavier, charged with a tension neither of them could ignore. He moved a little closer, the space between them growing smaller, the silence now louder than anything.