Naina sat on her sofa, staring blankly at the wall. She is overwhelmed with the weight of what she needed to do next.
She placed her hand on her stomach, still in disbelief that she was pregnant. The question that had been eating away at her surfaced once again: *Should I tell him?*
Naina wrestled with her thoughts for what felt like hours, torn between the fear of rejection and the responsibility of telling Rivaan the truth. Eventually, after much inner debate, she made her decision. *Iâll tell him tomorrow morning. First thing.*
Feeling drained from the emotional turmoil, she forced herself off the couch and into the kitchen. Her stomach grumbled, and she realized she hadnât eaten since early that morning. She needed food, but her appetite was dulled by anxiety. Still, she grabbed something light to eat, needing strength for what lay ahead.
---
The next morning, Naina arrived at the office, her heart racing with anticipation. She had rehearsed the conversation over and over again in her head. Sheâd tell Rivaan about the pregnancy calmly and rationally. No matter his reaction, she was prepared.
But as the hours passed, she noticed something strange: Rivaan still hadnât shown up. Confused, she turned to Lola, who was typing away at her desk.
âLola, have you seen Rivaan? He hasnât come in yet.â
Lola glanced up, surprised. âOh, didnât you get his email? Heâs on a business trip. Left last night. Heâll be gone for two weeks.â
Nainaâs heart sank. âTwo weeks?â she asked, trying to mask the disappointment in her voice.
Lola nodded, giving her a sympathetic look. âYeah, heâs out of town. You mustâve missed the memo since you were on leave.â
Naina quickly checked her inbox, and sure enough, there was the email from Rivaan, informing her of his absence. She sighed, realizing she would have to wait for him to return. For now, she would focus on staying healthy and preparing herself for the inevitable conversation.
---
Two long weeks passed, each day dragging slower than the last. Naina had convinced herself that she was ready for the conversation with Rivaan. The morning he returned, she had planned everything perfectly. She would approach him after lunch, once he was settled.
But when Rivaan finally arrived back at the office, Nainaâs heart skipped a beatânot because of him, but because of the woman by his side.
The woman, elegant and confident, was someone Naina didnât recognize. Her heart sank further when she saw how comfortable the two of them seemed together.
âWho is that?â Naina whispered to Lola, who seemed to know exactly what she was asking.
âOh, thatâs Miss Katie,â Lola said with a smirk. âSheâs Rivaanâs childhood friend. Their mothers are best friends. There were rumors about Mrs. Raghuvanshi wanting Rivaan to marry her, but Rivaan wasnât interested.â
Hearing that, Nainaâs heart sank even further. The news gnawed at her. She wasnât sure why it bothered her so muchâmaybe it was the pregnancy hormones, or maybe it was something deeper. Either way, she knew she couldnât ignore the sting of jealousy.
Despite her resolve to speak to Rivaan, Naina now felt conflicted. *Would he even care about the baby now?* she wondered. *He has someone like Katie by his side.*
Still, she had to tell him. After all, he deserved to know.
---
After lunch, Naina gathered her courage and walked to Rivaanâs office. She knocked on the door, and after a brief moment, she heard him say, âCome in.â
When she entered, her stomach twisted at the sight before her. Katie was in the office with him, standing far too close to Rivaan. They were whispering, and the sight of them together, sharing such a close moment, made her want to turn and walk right back out.
âWhat do you want?â Katie snapped, clearly irritated by Nainaâs presence. âWeâre busy here.â
Naina hesitated, her gaze shifting between Rivaan and Katie. âI⦠I need to talk to Rivaan. Itâs important.â
âWhy?â Katie demanded, stepping closer to Rivaan.
Naina swallowed, refusing to answer Katieâs aggressive questioning. Her eyes focused on Rivaan, silently pleading for him to say something. But he didnât. Instead, he remained silent, watching the interaction with an almost detached expression.
âNaina, I donât have time for this,â Rivaan said sharply. âIf itâs not urgent, leave. We have work to do.â
The harshness in his voice struck her like a physical blow. Without another word, Naina turned and left the office, her heart pounding with anger and frustration. *How could he be so dismissive?*
But something inside her couldnât let it go. He had a right to know about the baby. She had to tell him.
With renewed determination, Naina marched back to his office. But as she approached the door, she froze. It was slightly ajar, and through the small crack, she saw Rivaan and Katie standing impossibly closeâso close, in fact, that they were on the verge of kissing.
Naina felt her breath catch in her throat. The sight of them together was too much. She turned on her heel and walked away, her chest tightening with each step.
---
As she reached her apartment later that night, Naina collapsed onto the couch, her emotions a tangled mess. She didnât know what she was feelingâbetrayal, sadness, angerâit all seemed to mix together. And in the heat of the moment, one thought dominated her mind: *I wonât tell him. I donât need him.*
She could raise this baby on her own. She didnât need Rivaan, especially not after seeing him with Katie. Whatever they had shared was clearly a mistake, a one-time lapse in judgment. Sheâd handle this herself.
The decision felt rash, but in that moment, it was the only thing that made sense to her.