Chapter 2

The last time I kissed Raghav…

Natasha saw it.

And even though I knew what we were doing wasn’t right,

I couldn't help but feel that old tug inside my chest.

The kind of ache that comes from remembering.

From wanting something you once had… without conditions, without guilt.

From missing the time when Raghav wasn’t someone else’s husband.

When he was just mine.

Flashback

"Raghav!" I giggled and kissed him out of nowhere, wrapping my arms around his neck while he held my hips.

"Kiyara, not in public! Baby, we’re in college!" he whispered, laughing, but he didn’t stop me.

I kissed him anyway. Right there. In the little cafe just outside the campus.

Then came the voice.

"Woah, you two are wild cats."

Natasha.

She had appeared out of nowhere, like she always did.

I climbed off Raghav’s lap awkwardly.

Raghav smirked. "She’ll eat me one day," he teased, nudging me playfully.

I rolled my eyes but looked straight into Natasha’s.

"I’m kissing my boyfriend, not someone else’s."

Back then, she smiled.

Like it didn’t bother her.

Flashback ends.

And now?

Now I can’t even hug him.

Can’t touch him.

Can’t kiss him.

No matter how much I still love him.

No matter how much I still want to.

I knew I had to say it.

I had to talk about what happened last night.

The kiss. The closeness. The feelings.

We had to stop.

Because I can’t be that woman.

I can’t be a mistress.

A mistress to a married man.

That’s not who I am.

Or who I ever wanted to be.

But still, when I left for his office, I took some fruit with me.

Because last night, when we were texting, he mentioned he skipped dinner.

Some habits just don’t go away.

Like caring.

I walked into his office.

There he was, behind his desk, buried in files.

The moment he saw me, he looked up.

"Kiyara?"

I didn’t even sit.

"I think we need to stop," I said, my voice barely holding itself together.

He got up. Walked around his desk.

And just like that, pulled me onto his lap.

"Raghav… stop," I whispered.

"Why?" he asked, holding me tighter.

"Because it’s wrong."

"How is it wrong?"

"You’re married."

"So?" he said. His voice didn’t waver. "I love you. Only you. And I promise, I’ll divorce her soon."

I didn’t say anything.

But my eyes…

they betrayed me.

They watered.

Because somewhere deep inside,

I wanted to believe him.

Even if I shouldn’t.

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely holding back the storm inside me. "Why didn’t you marry me instead? Was it because I’m not as rich and elite as Natasha?"

His expression shifted immediately. He looked hurt. Not angry. Just... shattered.

"Kiyara," he said, stepping closer, "how can you even think like that?"

"I don’t know," I murmured. My throat tightened. "It’s just... that’s how it feels sometimes."

He let out a slow breath, like he’d been carrying this weight for years.

"I told you, didn’t I? About the circumstances? I never even wanted to be in this business world, Kiyara. That wasn’t my dream. I wanted to sing. To be on stage. Like you. Like everyone else who ever felt alive in music."

I nodded slowly, eyes still fixed on the floor.

He reached out and gently tilted my chin up.

"Kiyara?"

"Hmm?"

His voice softened.

"Do you still love me?"

"I... I... I don’t know," I stammered. But my chest was already giving me away.

He leaned closer. So close I could feel his breath against my cheek.

"Tell me, baby," he whispered, his fingers brushing along my jaw as he cupped my face. "Please... just once."

And I broke.

"I do," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I never stopped."

"You already left me for 1 year kiyara... The only means of contact with you was calls, texts and video calls" he cupped my cheek. "You won't leave me now right?" He asked his face worried.

I shook my head..

"You came to meet me many times" I said blushing..

He smiled. Not that charming rockstar smile he gave to the cameras, but the soft one. The one only I knew. The one that used to light up my whole world.

Without a word, he took the small tiffin box of cut fruits from the table, opened it, and gently pressed a piece to my lips.

"Eat," he said quietly.

I wanted to resist. Just for a moment. Just to hold on to my anger a little longer.

But I didn’t.

I took the fruit, chewed it slowly, my eyes never leaving his.

And then, shyly, I picked a slice and pressed it to his lips too.

He took it. Smiling wider now. That familiar glint in his eyes returned, the one that used to drive me crazy back in college.

And just like that... we started talking.

Nothing big. Just little things. His day. My new pottery class. A song he heard and thought I’d love. Laughter slipped in between sentences like it belonged there.

For a little while, it felt like we’d gone back in time. Before mistakes. Before marriages. Before scars.

Just two people.

Still in love.

Trying to pretend the world didn’t exist outside that office door.

But deep down, I knew this moment wouldn’t last forever.

Still… it was ours.

And that had to be enough.

For now.

*****

(Third person point of view)

Natasha stood outside Raghav's office, the lunchbox clutched tightly in her trembling hands.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, a mixture of nervousness and quiet hope filling her chest. She had never done this before-never surprised him at work, never gone out of her way to bring him food. But today, something in her had whispered,

Try. Just once.

Maybe, just maybe, he would see her.

The guard stopped natasha from going inside without the appointed.

But she didn't listen and told him that raghav called her as she's his wife..

And went their anyway.

With a deep breath, she knocked lightly before pushing the door open.

And then... her world shattered.

There, in the dimly lit office, Kiyara sat on Raghav's lap.

Natasha's breath caught in her throat as she took in the scene before her.

Kiyara's delicate fingers held a piece of fruit, pressing it against Raghav's lips, which he eagerly took in, his hand gripping her waist possessively.

His tie was loosened, his face filled with adoration-an expression Natasha had never once seen directed at her.

Her fingers tightened around the lunchbox, the metal digging into her palm, grounding her against the storm raging inside her chest.

Neither of them had noticed her.

She could hear the sound of Kiyara's soft laughter, the way Raghav whispered something into her ear that made her blush. That should have been her. But it never was. It never would be.

Something inside Natasha broke.

For years, she had endured his indifference.

Why? Just because of her.

Kiyara.

For years, she had convinced herself that one day, he might turn around and see her instead of his past.

To whom he should have buried the day he got married.

But today, she realized the painful truth-she had been waiting for a man who had never even looked back.

A single tear slid down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away.

Natasha stood frozen at the door, the lunchbox slipping from her grasp, hitting the floor with a soft metallic clang.

But the sound was nothing compared to the deafening noise in her head-the sound of her heart breaking, the rush of betrayal flooding her veins, and the quiet, cruel laughter of fate mocking her.

She should have walked away. Any self-respecting woman would have.

But she didn't.

How can she?

He might not see it now. He might be blinded by Kiyara's presence, her body, her touch-but it didn't matter.

Because Natasha had spent too long being the quiet, patient wife. The woman who waited. The woman who hoped.

And that kiyara was out of the picture..for 1 year.

Natasha wants to make Raghav realise that Kiyara is nothing more than a dirty secret.

A secret that should be buried long ago.

She inhaled deeply, calming the storm within her. With a practiced smile, she stepped forward, pushing the door open fully this time.

The sound startled them.

Kiyara gasped, her body stiffening, while Raghav's eyes flicked toward Natasha, the warmth in them fading instantly.

It was like watching a curtain fall-his love, his affection, all of it was reserved for kiyara.

Never for Natasha.

But Natasha didn't let the pain show. She bent down, picking up the fallen lunchbox, and smiled at her husband as if she hadn't just caught his girlfriend on his lap.

"I brought you lunch, Raghav." Her voice was steady. Almost sweet.

Kiyara recovered first, reaching out of his lap quickly composing herself. Raghav, however, didn't bother. He simply leaned back in his chair, his gaze cold, calculating.

"I didn't ask for it," he said flatly.

Natasha chuckled softly, stepping inside and placing the lunchbox on his desk, right beside Kiyara's brought lunchbox for him.

Her fingers lingered on the wood, her nails tracing invisible patterns as she looked between them.

"I know," she replied smoothly. "But I'm your wife. It's my duty, isn't it?"

Raghav's jaw clenched, and for the first time, Natasha saw something flicker in his eyes. Annoyance? Or was it curiosity?

Kiyara's lips parted, as if she was about to say something, but Natasha didn't give her the chance. She turned to her, tilting her head slightly, her smile never faltering.

"You should eat too, Kiyara," she said, her voice laced with an unsettling kindness. "I wouldn't want you to get weak. After all... Raghav needs you strong, doesn't he?"

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Kiyara's face.

Good.

Kiyara should feel this..

That she's being with the man who's already married ..

A mistress.

Natasha turned on her heel, striding toward the door, but before leaving, she paused. Without looking back, she spoke in a soft, deadly voice-

"Enjoy your meal, love."

And then she walked out, her heart pounding with something she hadn't felt in years.

She looked at her ring..a beautiful diamond one.

Reminding her of their marriage..

How fake their marriage is...

And all she could feel was

Pain...

***