Nandini's POV
Okay, let me just say this out loud:
I'm not usually the jealous type.
I mean, I believe in peace, boundaries, and trusting your partner.
But sometimes...
Your husband walks into a room looking like a perfume ad in a suit, and some random perfect-faced, perfume-scented girl says,
"Siddharth, remember me?"
And all your calm flies out the window.
Here's what happened:
It had been exactly one month since we got married.
We'd settled into this weird, soft, awkward rhythm of coexisting.
He started drinking coffee the way I make it.
I stopped saying "sorry" every time I sneezed in front of him.
We even shared an ice cream once. (SHARED. A. SPOON.)
Basically: progress.
Then came the company event.
Mira amma practically begged me to go with him because "people should know the boss has a beautiful wife."
Beautiful?? Me?? 😳
I wore a simple silk saree and my mom's gold earrings. I even applied eyeliner without stabbing my eye.
I was nervous but excited.
Until she showed up.
Siddharth's POV
The event was boring.
Corporate handshakes, forced smiles, fake praise.
But then Nandini walked in beside me—shy, in green, clutching her purse like it was a weapon.
And suddenly, everything wasn't so boring anymore.
Then Rhea showed up.
Yes, that Rhea.
College friend. Ex-almost-something.
Of course, she smiled at me like we were starring in a K-drama and said,1
"It's been ages, Sid. Still smell the same."
(She actually sniffed. Why, Rhea?!)
I nodded and moved on. But when I turned around...
Nandini was missing.
Nandini's POV
I wasn't crying.
Okay, maybe just a little.
I found the washroom, locked myself in a stall, and gave myself a TED Talk
"You're a queen. He chose you. Stop acting like a tragic heroine."
But my brain screamed: She hugged him. She called him Sid. She had perfect hair. She sniffed him like a bakery item.
By the time I came out, he was waiting outside, arms crossed.
"You disappeared," he said.
"You seemed... occupied."
He narrowed his eyes. "Are you jealous?"
"No."
He stepped closer. "Really?"
"No," I whispered, stepping back.
"Nandini."
"...Maybe a little," I squeaked.
He sighed and looked at me—like I was the biggest mystery and the softest thing all at once.
"You think I'd even look at anyone else when you're standing right there glowing like Diwali?"
I blinked. "I was glowing?"
"Yes," he said, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. "And for the record... I never liked Rhea that way."
"...Really?"
"Not my type."
I looked up. "So what is?"
He smirked. "Small. Shy. Says 'sorry' when she sneezes. Looks like she'll run away but fights like a lioness when jealous."
My heart?
Boom. Gone. Exploded.
Later That Night – At Home
We didn't talk much.
But while brushing my hair, he suddenly said,
"One month already."
"Mmhm."
"Do I... make you happy?"
I turned slowly. "You make me confused. And flustered. And smile when I don't want to."
He nodded. "Same."
I smiled.
Jealousy forgotten.
For now.