28 Got Back Together #3
"Ready?" he asked softly, breaking away just enough to look into her eyes.
Niyati looked up at him, her hand resting over the lapel of his midnight-blue suit, right over the pocket where her secret sat hidden. A radiant, genuine smile lit up her face.
"Ready," she whispered.
Hand in hand, they stepped out into the hallway, leaving the quiet sanctuary behind as they walked back toward the bright, buzzing energy of the ballroom together.
The double doors of the ballroom swung open, welcoming Niyati and Ansh back into the dazzling chaos of the Freshers' Ball.
The transition from the hushed sanctuary of the quiet corridor to the vibrant energy of the venue was sharp, but as Ansh's fingers brushed reassuringly against hers before releasing her hand, Niyati felt remarkably grounded.
Her heart was still beating wildly, yet a newfound warmth filled her chest, settling the anxiety that had tormented her all evening.
They wove their way through the swirling crowd, quickly spotting Diya and Shaurya near the edge of the dance floor.
Diya was mid-conversation, holding a cold glass of punch, but the second her eyes landed on the pair walking up, she narrowed her gaze suspiciously.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked back and forth between Niyati's flushed cheeks and Ansh's composed posture.
"Where were you two?" Diya demanded, her tone laced with immediate curiosity.
"Niyu, you disappeared in the middle of a dance! I was about to file a missing person's report."
Niyati's breath caught in her throat, her mind suddenly racing to construct a plausible excuse. "Woh... I... we..." she stammered, feeling a fresh wave of heat rise along her neck as her hand instinctively hovered near the lapel of her gown.
"I needed to find the restroom," Ansh intervened smoothly, stepping forward with an unbothered, easy smile that completely masked the secret sitting inside his jacket pocket. "Niyati was just showing me the direction so I wouldn't wander off into the faculty wing."
Diya eyed him for a second longer, trying to spot any flaw in his explanation.
"I see. Okay, fine," she conceded, letting out a laugh as the DJ suddenly transitioned the music, the speakers blasting a wildly popular, high-energy Desi dance track.
Her eyes lit up instantly. "Niyuu! They finally started the Bollywood set! Come on, let's go!"
"Arrey... Diya, wait!" Niyati gasped, but before she could protest or even smooth down her dress, her best friend grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her right back into the center of the pulsating floor.
Ansh let out a quiet, velvety chuckle, stepping back to lean casually against a tall pillar near the perimeter. He folded his arms across his chest, his dark eyes fixed entirely on Niyati as she was swept into the rhythmic chaos of the crowd.
Diya was already spinning around, throwing her hands in the air with abandon, and after a brief, embarrassed laugh, Niyati let herself go, matching her friend's energetic steps.
Mid-step, Niyati glanced over Diya's shoulder toward the pillar. Her gaze met Ansh's across the dimly lit room.
Catching her eye, Ansh lifted a hand with agonizing slowness, tapped his lips, and blew a quiet, deliberate kiss straight in her direction.
Niyati's eyes widened in sheer shock. She felt her face burn instantly, shooting him an immediate, fiery glare that practically screamed are you crazy?
before quickly turning her head back toward Diya.
But beneath her stern reaction, a helpless, giddy smile betrayed her, lingering at the edge of her lips.
As the heavy bass continued to thud beneath her feet and Diya's joyful laughter echoed beside her, a sudden, heavy shift occurred deep within Niyati's chest.
She looked at Diya-her childhood confidante, the girl who had shared her secrets, her clothes, her late-night tears, and every major milestone of her life.
Diya had been her anchor through everything. Yet standing here right now, swept up in the music and the lingering heat of what had just happened in the restroom, a sharp pang of guilt pierced straight through Niyati's heart.
She was keeping a massive truth hidden from the person who trusted her most.
Niyati was irrevocably, hopelessly in love with her best friend's older brother.
She had loved him in secret, claimed him in quiet moments, lost him to a painful misunderstanding, and now-tonight-she had reclaimed him in a flurry of overwhelming passion.
Yet through every tear, every longing look, and every unspoken touch, she had kept Diya completely in the dark.
Niyati watched Diya spin around with an innocent, glowing smile, completely unaware that the girl holding her hands was harboring a secret that could alter everything between them. The music around her suddenly felt a little too loud, the lights a little too bright.
And as Niyati forced a faint smile to keep up with the dance, the heavy weight of her conscience settled over her like a dark cloud, leaving a bitter, unsettling ache amidst the sweetest night of her life.