Third Person's POV

Vikrant sighs as he hangs up the call.

He feels slightly guilty about manipulating his friend's situation this way, but he has no other choice, either.

After all, he can't let his wife be another man's date, especially after his mother showed him the picture of the gown that Nandini will be wearing at the ball.

She'll look exquisite in it. He smiles, closing his eyes as he imagines Nandini wearing that gown.

But the very next moment, he stands up from his chair and paces in his office, frowning due to the feelings that have been rising within him for the last few days.

After successfully destroying Myra and Raghav the way he wanted, he thought guilt behind what happened with Nandini as his revenge's by-product was the reason behind his wanting to give his marriage with her one chance.

But lately, he has been feeling that's not the reason.

He thinks about it every morning when he pretends to sleep till late just so Nandini would shower before him, and he could see her walking out with her freshly showered hair and no makeup face.

Some wet strands clinging to her nape as she continues drying them with a towel with a slight smile on her face.

Just that one smile is what she needs to look more beautiful than she already is. The innocence and purity on her face contribute to her beauty, which is something that no makeup can ever compare with.

He sneakily watches her every morning as she goes about her routine, hastily closing her eyes whenever she stills.

He knows she does that because she feels his eyes on him, but he quickly closes his eyes every time her casual movements cease before she can even turn and confirm her doubt.

Then there is her simplicity, her enjoying small moments in life, speaking out every time for what she believes is right, never holding a grudge or even thinking bad about anyone else.

He has never met anyone as simple and transparent as her in his life.

With such horrible parents causing her to have an awful childhood, getting molested, having her brother taken away from her, and being blamed by her parents for his death—she had ample chances to let all those things turn her into a bad person.

He huffs, shaking his head and feeling petty as he realizes how much less it took for him to turn into a horrible person. Horrible enough to ruin someone else's life for his revenge.

But Nandini isn't like that.

He remembers what she had told him when he asked her why she had never thought about taking revenge against the people who wronged her.

"I simply focus on myself and think about how to be better every day, hoping to leave my past behind and truly be happy one day."

Her words echo in his mind, and he smiles at how mature her thinking is.

Isn't that what everyone wants? To be truly happy in life?

But not all are courageous enough not to let anything affect them and pursue their true happiness. They all get tangled in their anger and wants and eventually lose focus on getting joy in their life. That might be the reason why most people remain unhappy and unfulfilled their entire lives.

"Wow! Getting philosophical, Vikrant." He takes a deep breath, wondering about the insights he has been getting recently.

All because of my wife. He realizes, blowing out a breath and sitting on the couch at the center of his office.

He isn't surprised as his lips curve into a smile when Nandini's face flashes before him every time he thinks about his wife.

First, he was doubtful about being able to trust Nandini as he trusted Myra only to get the betrayal in return from her.

But now, he has no doubt left because he has realized Nandini is nothing like Myra.

He knows he can fully trust Nandini, and she'll never betray him. She isn't the kind of person who would even think about betraying someone, let alone do it.

So, now, the question in his mind is whether Nandini will ever be able to trust him.

After what he did and how he behaved with her after their marriage, she is right to be wary of him and ask him why he wants to give this marriage a chance.

"That question again. Why do I want to give this a chance? Why do I go out of my way and pretend to sleep just to watch her in the morning? Why do my lips curve into a smile whenever I see her? Why have I started eating lunch at the cafeteria just to hear her talk and laugh with her colleagues at lunchtime? Why?" I ask myself, pressing my forehead as if willing my mind to give me an answer.

But it isn't his mind that has the answers. Because this time, his heart quips.

You have fallen for your wife, Vikrant.

He feels a jolt within him due to that realization.

*****

"But you had said you would go with me to the ball, Samrat. How can you suddenly change your mind?" Nandini asks Samrat, eyeing him accusingly.

"I'm really sorry, Nandini. I, too, wanted to go with you, but my parents want me to go with this girl that they want me married to." Samrat looks at Nandini apologetically.

"Can't you tell her you are going to the party with me?" Nandini presses. "Perhaps you can take her out and then explain your prior commitment to her?"

Samrat sighs, shaking his head. "I was thinking about taking her to dinner to explain the situation. But when I told my mother about it, she instantly refused. I tried to persuade her, but you know how parents are."

Nandini gives him a sad smile, feeling a prick in her heart. "Hmm, that's okay. Your parents are thinking about getting you settled with a good girl so you can have a happy life with her. You are lucky to have such loving parents," she tells him, subtly blinking away the tears that gathered in her eyes as she remembered her parents' behavior toward her.

"Her name is Aastha,'' Samrat tells her, showing her the photo on his phone.

"She is pretty. You two will look good together."

"Let's see how it goes. I have met her only once and found her to be pleasant. But I want to know more about her before saying yes to the marriage. She also feels the same way. After all, we don't want to be hasty in making such an important decision of our lives."

Samrat's words cause another pang in Nandini's heart as she gets reminded of her hasty marriage, which will soon be over.

In fact, she was not given any choice in that matter.

Her parents decided to get her married to get rid of her. Vikrant decided to marry her for his revenge.

It's almost laughable that she was not given any choice on such an important decision.

She takes a deep breath, trying to lessen the painful clench of her heart.

"Are you fine?" Samrat asks.

"Of course, I am fine," Nandini replies, pretending to smile. "I was just thinking I won't be able to go to the party now because I don't have a date."

Right then, Vikrant walks out of his office, gritting his teeth as he sees Samrat leaning over his Nandini's desk.

"Seriously, Samrat! Don't you have any work to do? You are here all the time, chatting and laughing with my w—" He stops himself in time.

Samrat ignores what Vikrant said, beaming instead as he finds the perfect solution for his problem. "Vikrant, do you have a date for the ball yet?"

"What are you doing, Samrat?" Nandini asks, subtly shaking her head at him, but Vikrant catches on to that.

Did Aunty already talk with Samrat as I intended her to? Vikrant thinks, smirking inwardly.

"No. Not yet. Why do you ask?" He pretends to appear clueless.

"Umm, as I told you a few days back, my parents are thinking about my marriage. And they want me to take the girl they have chosen for me to the ball. So, Nandini doesn't have a date now as I can't go with her," Samrat replies to Vikrant.

"Stop it, Samrat. I told you I won't be going to the party," Nandini says, glaring at Samrat.

But Samrat presses on, ignoring the I'll kill you look that Nandini was giving him.

"I was wondering if you would be Nandini's date for the ball," he says.

Nandini suppresses a groan as she looks at Vikrant's smirking face.

"Hmm, that would be convenient for me because I don't have a date yet. But I'm not sure if Nandini would like to come with me," he says, knowing that just Samrat asking him to be her date won't be enough. It's also important to convince Nandini.

Samrat will need to do that. I for sure can't convince her. Vikrant thinks, looking at Nandini's angry face.

"Please, Nandini. Please go to the ball with Vikrant. After all, it's mandatory for all employees to attend the party, and I'll feel bad if you won't be there only because I canceled on you. Please?" Samrat asks Nandini.

"But, Samrat. I can't—" Nandini begins to say, but Samrat interrupts her.

"I won't be able to enjoy the party if you don't attend the ball. And if I don't enjoy it, it might lead to Aastha thinking that I'm boring, which might lead her to say no to our proposal.

"So, see, your attending the ball is really important if you want me to get settled with the nice girl that my parents have selected for me." Samrat looks pleadingly at Nandini, and she lets out a deep sigh, frustrated by the turn of events.

"Alright. I'll attend the ball," she says, looking at Samrat's beaming face as he thanks her for heeding his request.

She then gazes at Vikrant. Is he the reason behind this happening? She wonders, narrowing her eyes at him.