7. Destiny

Navya's Pov:

I was furious. The entire drive to the party was a mess of unspoken words and simmering anger. Aditya had the nerve to ask my father to convince me to come after breaking his promise to attend Roohi's engagement.

I couldn't refuse my father, but every part of me wanted to slam the door on Aditya's face.

As we entered the party, I could barely look at him. My frustration only grew when he immediately gravitated toward his friends, leaving me to stand there like some decorative piece. I swallowed my pride, trying to keep the peace.

"Let's go eat," I said, my voice betraying the exhaustion from a day of waiting on an empty stomach.

"I'll be there in a minute," he replied, not even bothering to look at me. "Just go sit."

I watched him blend into the crowd, laughing with his friends as if I didn't exist. I sat down, waiting, my stomach twisting in knots, but he never showed up. I felt like a fool, sitting there alone while he enjoyed himself.

I couldn't take it anymore. I needed a break, so I headed to the washroom to freshen up.

As I was doing my touch-up, I called Aditya, and my heart sank when I heard his phone ringing from one of the stalls.

My stomach twisted as I realized what might be happening. I knocked on the door, trying to keep my voice steady. "Aditya, I know you're in there. Come out."

No response. My anger rose, my hands trembling as I knocked harder. "Open the damn door! If you don't want me to create a scene, come out now!"

Finally, the door creaked open, and there he was-standing with another woman. I looked at him once, my heart shattering, but I didn't say a word. I just turned, picked up my purse and phone, and walked out. I could hear him rushing after me, calling my name.

"Navya, wait!" he pleaded, grabbing my hand.

"Navya, wait!" he called after me, his voice desperate, but I kept walking.

He caught up and grabbed my arm, but I jerked it away, my voice sharp. "Don't touch me."

"You're getting it all wrong," he said, trying to sound calm, but I could hear the fear in his voice. "Let's not create a scene here. We can talk about it later."

"Shut up. Just shut up!" I snapped, the words spilling out as I struggled to keep my voice from breaking. "Don't even dare to touch me. You think I'm making a scene? I'm the one making a scene?" My voice rose as the anger and betrayal bubbled up, uncontrollable.

Oh, of course i am creating scene, it's not what I'm thinking right, You were just teaching her about reproduction, right?" My voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Navya you are getting it wrong." I laughed sarcastically at the audacity this man has.

"I'm always wrong, Aditya. But you-you're not a bastard. I think you are."

His eyes darkened, and for a split second, I thought he might hit me. But before he could, someone grabbed his wrist, stopping him mid-motion.

I was too far gone to care who it was. I just needed to get out of there. I pushed past them and stumbled outside, my vision swimming.

The world around me spun, I tried to keep moving, to get as far away as possible, but my body had other plans. I started to fall, the ground rushing up to meet me.

But then, strong arms caught me, steadying me from back before I could hit the ground. I turned back to look who he was I clung to the fabric of a tuxedo, my grip tightening as if it was the only thing keeping me upright. Slowly, I looked up, my breath catching in my throat.

It was Reeyansh. Of all people, it had to be him.

"Reeyansh?" I whispered, disbelief lacing my voice as i tried to move back , his grip on my waist was firm.

"Don't move," he ordered, his tone firm but soft.

Before I could say anything he carried me in his arms, I don't know what is worse seeing my boyfriend cheating me or meeting my ex whom I never thought I would meet again and that to in situation like this.

Reeyansh's Pov :

As I stepped out of the washroom at the party, my mind was occupied with the usual business matters, barely noticing the small commotion gathering a few feet away. I was about to ignore it, dismiss it as the usual party drama, when a voice caught my attention. That voice. It felt like a jolt, something so familiar yet unexpected that it stopped me in my tracks. Could it be her?

I turned, trying to catch a glimpse of the person speaking, but all I saw was a woman's back. Before I could even think about who it might be, I saw a man raise his hand as if to strike her.

Reflexes kicked in, and I surged forward, grabbing his wrist before he could lay a finger on her.

"Are you out of your mind?" I snarled, pushing him back.

It was only then that I turned to look at the woman, and my heart dropped. Navya.

Tears welled in her eyes, making them glisten under the dim lights, but it didn't look like she even noticed me. She was too consumed by her pain.

Rage flared in me, stronger than I'd felt in years. Without thinking, I turned back and punched the man hard, sending him stumbling back. I kept going, fueled by anger and the sight of Navya's tears, until he was on the floor, barely conscious.

But when I turned around, she was gone.

Panic surged through me, and I rushed outside, scanning the area until I saw her standing by the roadside. She looked so fragile, like she might crumble at any second. Her legs wobbled beneath her as she tried to steady herself, but she was clearly struggling. I ran to her, catching her just as she was about to fall.

She turned to look at me, her grip on my shirt tightening like it was the only thing keeping her from collapsing. The shock in her eyes was palpable when she realized it was me.

"Reeyansh?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, as she tired to move back but my grip on her waist was firm.

"Don't move," I ordered, my voice firm but laced with concern. She was in no condition to stand, let alone argue with me.

Ignoring her weak protests, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to my car. As I placed her gently in the passenger seat, I noticed she had no purse, no phone-nothing with her.

How could she be so careless?

As I got into the driver's seat, she spoke up, her voice weak, "I don't need your help..."

I glanced at her, seeing how fragile she looked. "Really? It doesn't look like it," I replied, my voice softer than I intended.

Her stubbornness was still there, but it was clear she was exhausted, both emotionally and physically.

"Get me something to eat," she muttered, almost like a child. She sounded so tired, so defeated.

Without a word, I drove to the nearest store and picked up some sugar-free chocolate bars and the medicine she used to take back in London, hoping her prescription hadn't changed.

When I handed her a chocolate bar, she tore into it like she hadn't eaten in days. Watching her eat, it was like a small piece of the Navya I knew was back, the one who was always a foodie, always excited about the little things.

She finished three bars in quick succession and was reaching for a fourth when I gently stopped her. "Hey, slow down," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "Are these the same meds you still take?"

She glanced at the packet, then back at me with a mixture of surprise and something else I couldn't quite place. "You remembered..." she murmured, more to herself than to me, before taking the pill.

"Of course, I remembered," I thought, though I didn't say it out loud. Instead, I asked, "Do you want anything else to eat?"

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "I want to have tea."

I was about to argue, knowing it wasn't the best idea, but she cut me off before I could. "I know it's not healthy, but please... don't argue now."

Looking at her, I couldn't bring myself to say no.

"Fine," I agreed, starting the car again. I knew just the place-she used to tell me back in London how much she missed the roadside tea stalls here.

We pulled up to one of her favorites, and I helped her out of the car. She sat down on the bench, immediately calling out, "Bhaiya, do cup adrak wali chai. Aur ek chai mein ek spoon sugar dalna."

I sat beside her, watching as she ordered . "Ek chai kiske liye?" I asked, curious despite myself.

She glanced at me. "Tum nahi loge?"

I just nodded and sat beside her, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. But one thing kept nagging at me-the ring on her finger. It shouldn't bother me as much as it did, but I couldn't help it.

As we waited for the tea, I noticed her anger was simmering just below the surface. I knew Navya well-first, she'd cry, then she'd get angry. And that anger was just starting to show.

When the tea arrived, I saw a small smile tug at her lips, and for some reason, that tiny smile made me feel a strange sense of peace. I hadn't seen her smile in years, and seeing it now, however small, felt like a balm to my own aching heart.

"Stop looking at me," she suddenly said, her tone laced with a bit of her old sass. "You look like a creep."

I couldn't help but smirk. "Watching your girlfriend doesn't make you a creep."

She looked at me, her expression softening just a little, but she didn't have the energy to argue. We both knew that. Instead, she just sipped her tea quietly.

But I couldn't stay quiet anymore. "How can you not carry your medicine or eat anything when you know how difficult it becomes for you? How can you be so careless, Navya?" I couldn't hide the frustration in my voice, even if I tried.

"And standing on the road in the middle of the night, in this condition... What were you thinking?"

She didn't respond immediately, just stared into her tea. "I don't know... it feels like karma is hitting me." She looked up at me, her eyes reflecting a depth of pain I hadn't seen before.

"Can you pay for this?" she asked softly, almost as if she was ashamed. "And... can you drop me at my place? I have no money with me."

Seeing her so vulnerable, so unlike the Navya I knew, hurt more than I could express. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and paid for the tea. As we got back into the car, she typed her address into the GPS and sat quietly for the entire ride.

I couldn't believe that after all these years, she was here beside me again. But the circumstances were all wrong. She wasn't the same Navya I knew, and I wasn't sure how to reach her. But one thing was certain-I couldn't let her slip away again without answers.

When we reached her place, she got out of the car, but before she could leave, I stopped her, holding her hand gently. "Navya..."

She looked back at me, her eyes tired but still holding that spark of defiance. I handed her the chocolate bars I'd bought earlier. "Take these."

She took them, and for the first time that night, she smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thank you... for today," she said softly. "And... I'm sorry."

Without another word, she turned and walked away, not looking back even once. I sat there in the car, watching her until she disappeared into her home. My mind was a storm of thoughts-what had gone wrong between us? Why had she left without a word? And now that fate had brought her back into my life, I knew I couldn't let these questions go unanswered.

As I drove back to my penthouse, the empty space beside me felt heavier than ever. I didn't want to face my family, not yet. All I could think about was Navya, and the need to find out what had really happened between us. Whatever it took, I had to know.

As I stepped out of the washroom, the sound of chatter filled the air. My phone buzzed with a message from Badi Mami, reminding me to visit the Birla house tomorrow. I had a business party tonight, and I thought it would be best to go the next day.

Navya's Pov:

How could Aditya cheat on me? I never thought I'd be this naive, but here I am, betrayed. And just when I thought things couldn't get worse, I ran into Reyaansh-of all people, him-after so many years. Seeing him again was something I never imagined, not even in my wildest dreams. Yet, there he was, rescuing me from a situation that I never should have been in.

But reality hits hard, and I know him too well. He won't sit quietly. He'll dig and pry until he finds out everything. But this time, I don't care. I'm not the old Navya who used to get manipulated by anyone. I will keep my promise to her that I wouldn't tell him anything. But at the same time, I know I won't stop him either and it is not like he will listen to me even if i try to stop him. Reyaansh has always been stubborn, especially when he wants something.

Everyone warned me about Aditya-what a bastard he was-but I was too foolish to listen. My anger is bubbling just beneath the surface. I refuse to waste any more tears over a guy who treated me like garbage.

He's been blowing up my phone with calls and messages , what a asshole he is he is blackmailing with my job ofcourse it is important to me but not more than my self respect, I blocked his number. I'm done with him, done with the lies and deceit.

As I drifted off to sleep last night, I kept telling myself that I cannot waste my energy on someone like Aditya. He's not worth it, and neither are the tears I've already shed.

Next Day

As I sat up in bed, trying to shake off the remnants of a restless night, Papa knocked on the door before entering.

"Good morning, beta," he said, his voice full of affection. "How was the party last night?"

I forced a smile, "It was... nice," I replied, not wanting to burden him with the truth. I couldn't tell him about Aditya for now, he genuinely liked him.

He nodded, satisfied with my answer. "That's good to hear.

"Yeah," I said, avoiding eye contact.

Papa looked at me for a moment, his eyes filled with concern. He could always tell when something was off, but he didn't press me. "You're usually up and ready by now. Don't you have to go to the hospital today?"

I quickly thought of an excuse. "I took the day off, Papa. I'm just really tired. I thought I'd stay home and rest."

He looked at me thoughtfully before nodding. "Okay, beta. It's alright to take a break once in a while. You work so hard; you deserve to rest. Just make sure you eat something and take care of yourself i am heading to office."

His words made me feel guilty for lying, but I wasn't ready to share what had happened. Not yet. "I will, Papa," I said, my voice softening. "Thank you."

He smiled and reached out to pat my head affectionately. "You're my daughter, Navya. I know how strong you are, but it's okay to lean on others when you need to. Remember, I'm always here for you."

Tears pricked the back of my eyes, and I quickly blinked them away. "I know, Papa. And I'm so grateful for you."

He opened his arms, and I leaned in for a hug, feeling the warmth of his embrace. After everything that had happened, this was the comfort I needed the most. "I love you, Papa," I whispered.

Papa has always been there for me, especially after Mom passed away. He's been my rock, my everything. Roohi, Aadya, and Ishaani's mother loved me and took care of me after my mother passed away, but they can't always be there for me. It was Papa who raised me, who did everything for me, and I just love him so much for that .

"I love you too, beta," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity. "Now, go freshen up, and we'll have breakfast together."

I nodded, pulling back from the hug. "I'll be down in a few minutes."

As Papa left the room, I took a deep breath. No matter what, I knew I wasn't alone. Papa had always been there for me, and as long as I had him, I could face whatever came my way.