Chapter 14
705 Words
A few days after Arohi’s big career news, Ishaan came home with a triumphant grin.
"I got a promotion."
Arohi’s eyes widened. "Ishaan, that’s amazing!" She beamed at him, genuinely happy.
"But…" he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I have to leave for Texas. I’ll be handling a big project there for three weeks."
Her smile faltered for just a second before she forced it back. "That’s… great. I mean, it sucks that you have to go, but it’s a huge step in your career."
Ishaan noticed the way her voice softened at the end, and a strange ache settled in his chest. He hadn’t expected to feel this torn about leaving either.
The day of his departure arrived sooner than they expected. Arohi drove him to the airport, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel as they neared the drop-off zone.
"I guess this is it," she said, forcing a small smile as they stood near the departure gates.
Ishaan nodded, looking at her, memorizing her face like he wouldn’t see her in years instead of weeks.
Before he could say anything, she pulled a small box from her bag. "This is for you."
He opened it to find a sleek silver bracelet inside. His fingers traced over the design, feeling something tighten in his chest.
"For your promotion," she said quickly, looking away. "And… you know, to remind you of home."
Ishaan slipped it onto his wrist, his lips twitching upward. "I love it."
Arohi let out a relieved breath. "Good."
He hesitated for a second before playfully nudging her. "Don’t get too used to the quiet, okay?"
She chuckled. "Not a chance."
But as she drove home to an empty house, the silence was all-consuming.
The first few days in Texas were busy for Ishaan, but no matter how exhausted he was, he and Arohi talked on the phone every night.
"You sound tired," she said one evening. "Are they overworking you already?"
He chuckled. "You sound like a concerned wife."
"I am your wife," she shot back, making him smirk.
"Right," he teased. "Sometimes I forget."
She huffed. "Then I take back my concern. Overwork yourself all you want."
His laughter rang through the phone, making Arohi smile on the other end.
But despite the late-night conversations, something felt… off. Ishaan missed her. More than he thought he would. He missed Teddy curling up next to him, missed their quiet dinners, missed the way she would roll her eyes at his teasing but still smile afterward.
And then, Jay entered the picture.
Jay had always found Arohi cute. He knew she was married, so he never let himself think too much about it. But that didn’t stop him from being happier whenever she was around.
So when he ran into her near her workplace, he took the chance.
"Hey, I was just around the corner… thought we could have lunch together?" he asked casually.
Arohi hesitated for a second before nodding. "Sure, why not?"
It was an innocent lunch—friendly conversation, laughter, nothing out of the ordinary. Jay even snapped a quick selfie of them and posted it on his social media.
Unfortunately, Ishaan saw it.
Sitting in his hotel room, scrolling through his phone, his eyes landed on the picture—Jay grinning beside Arohi at some café. Ishaan’s stomach twisted in a way he didn’t like.
He knew there was nothing going on. He knew it was just a harmless lunch.
But that didn’t stop the ugly feeling in his chest.
That night, when they talked on the phone, Arohi mentioned it casually.
"Oh, by the way, I had lunch with Jay today. We bumped into each other near my office."
Ishaan clenched his jaw. "Jay?"
"Yeah, Nina’s friend," she clarified. "You know him."
Oh, he knew him alright. The guy who looked too happy whenever Arohi was around.
"That’s… nice," Ishaan forced out, gripping his phone tighter.
Arohi continued talking, completely unaware of the storm brewing in Ishaan’s mind.
Meanwhile, he was cursing Jay internally. I’m missing her like hell, and this guy gets to take her out for lunch? Unbelievable.
For the first time, Ishaan felt something unfamiliar when it came to Arohi.
Jealousy.
- Writer
