"Bhai, you're missing out," a cheerful voice called.
Tanisha appeared from another entrance to the garden, Kritika beside her. Both women were dressed for an evening out—designer dresses, perfect makeup, expensive jewelry.
Nimisha suddenly felt very underdressed in her simple cotton clothes, sitting in the grass like a child.
"What's going on?" Tanisha asked, her gaze taking in the scene with undisguised curiosity.
"Nimisha's having a picnic," Samarth said, his tone making it sound like she was doing something vaguely scandalous.
"How fun!" Tanisha said, though her expression suggested it was anything but. "Very... bohemian."
"We were just heading to dinner," Kritika added, her smile warm. "You should come, Nimisha. Both of you," she glanced at Samarth. "It's that new place in Bandra. They have amazing Continental food."
"I've already eaten," Nimisha said, gesturing to her street food.
Kritika's smile faltered slightly. "Oh. Well, maybe next time."
"Rey, you'll come though, won't you?" She turned to Samarth, her hand touching his arm with casual familiarity. "You've been working so hard. You need a break."
Nimisha watched the interaction, that familiar twist of resentment coiling in her stomach. The easy touching, the intimate nickname, the way Kritika looked at him like he hung the moon.
And the way he didn't pull away from her touch.
"I have work to finish," Samarth said, but his tone was gentler with Kritika than it ever was with Nimisha.
"You always have work," Kritika protested. "Come on. Just for an hour."
"Kritika—"
"Please? For me?"
The manipulation was subtle but there. And it worked.
"Fine. One hour."
Kritika beamed. "Perfect! Tanisha, let's take my car."
As they started to leave, Samarth glanced back at Nimisha. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and she saw something flicker in his gaze—guilt, maybe, or irritation that she was sitting there watching him choose Kritika over her.
Again.
She looked away first, reaching for another puri.
"Bhabhi—" Shaurya's voice made her look up. He'd appeared from somewhere, probably drawn by the commotion. "Want some company?"
"I'm fine, Shaurya. Go enjoy your evening."
He hesitated, clearly torn between staying and following his family. Finally, he squeezed her shoulder briefly and left.
Leaving her alone with Bruno and her street food.
She picked up a puri, held it out toward where Samarth had been standing. "Would you like one?" she asked the empty air, her voice mocking her own stupidity.
Then she rolled her eyes at herself and popped it in her mouth. "See, Boo? Not poisoned. Just delicious."
Bruno snorted.
The sound was so perfectly timed, so utterly judgmental, that Nimisha started laughing. Real laughter that shook her shoulders and brought tears to her eyes.
