Naina had spent the past week focusing solely on her pregnancy. She was determined to keep her emotions in check and pretend everything was normal, both at work and in her personal life. The baby was her priority now. Every day, she completed her tasks at the office with precision, avoiding unnecessary interactions, especially with Rivaan.
But after a week, her body started to betray her. The nausea, fatigue, and dizziness worsened, forcing her to take a sick leave. The doctor had prescribed her strict bed rest, and Naina knew she couldnât push herself any further. As much as she hated being away from work, she needed to take care of herself and the baby.
---
Meanwhile, Rivaan felt a growing sense of unease. Ever since that argument in his office, something had changed in Naina. She was acting *too* normal, as if she were purposely hiding something. She was distant yet efficient at work, never giving him a reason to confront her but always leaving him with the feeling that something wasnât right.
When he heard Naina had taken a sick leave, his suspicions deepened. Over the last couple of weeks, he had noticed subtle changes in herâtiredness in her eyes, her avoidance of him, and how she was always going home early. But he couldnât quite figure out what was wrong.
At the Office
Rivaan was immersed in a meeting when a knock at his door interrupted him. His assistant peeked in hesitantly. "Sir, the accounts department wanted to inform you about a medical insurance claim that was processed today."
He raised an eyebrow. "What claim?"
"Itâs for Ms. Naina kumari," the assistant replied, handing him a file. "Her medical expenses were submitted under the companyâs employee insurance plan. The claim includes a few tests and consultations from the hospital."
Rivaan flipped through the file, his gaze narrowing as he scanned the details. Although the records didnât explicitly mention her condition, the dates matched the week she had been absent. The hospital name and her medical expenses left him uneasy.
"Why wasnât I informed earlier?" he asked curtly.
"The accounts team assumed it wasnât urgent, sir," the assistant explained, sensing his rising tension.
Rivaan dismissed her with a nod, placing the file on his desk. He stared at it for a long moment, his instincts telling him something bigger was going on. What arenât you telling me, Naina?
---
The Family Gathering
The ancestral Singh mansion was alight with festivities as family and friends gathered for an evening of celebration. Rivaan, however, was anything but festive. He kept to the edges of the party, sipping water and pretending to be interested in the conversations around him.
As he stood near the bar, his attention was drawn to a group of guests talking animatedly in hushed tones. They were speaking about someone he knew all too well.
â...I saw her at City Care Hospital last week,â one woman said. âShe was coming out of the gynecology department.â
âAre you sure it was her?â another asked, her tone dripping with curiosity.
âPositive. And get thisâthere are rumors sheâs pregnant.â
The words hit Rivaan like a punch to the gut. He tightened his grip on the glass in his hand, his ears straining to catch every word.
âPregnant? Whoâs the father?â another voice chimed in.
âThey say it could be Anamayâs. Havenât you noticed how close theyâve been?â
âAnamay? Really?â someone laughed. âBut isnât she unmarried? If itâs true, itâs quite scandalous.â
Rivaanâs grandmother, who had been standing nearby, overheard the conversation and approached the group with her commanding presence. âWhatâs this about Naina? Pregnant? Is she married, and I donât know about it?â
The group fell silent, their gossip temporarily halted by the elderâs stern tone.
Rivaan quickly stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. âSheâs not married, Dadi. Itâs just a rumor.â
Anamay, who had been within earshot, joined them, shaking his head in support. âDadi, people talk. Itâs not our place to speculate about her personal matters.â
Rivaan turned on his heel and left the room, his thoughts racing as he tried to make sense of what he had just heard.
-----
The Realization
The words Naina is pregnant wouldnât stop echoing in Rivaanâs mind as he drove away from the party. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white as his thoughts spiraled.
He replayed the gossip in his mindâthe hospital visit, the gynecology department, and the rumors about her pregnancy. And then his thoughts shifted to the one night they had shared, the night that had changed everything.
Could it be...?
His chest tightened as the realization began to sink in. If Naina was pregnant, there was only one possibility. The baby is mine.
The thought filled him with a mix of emotions he couldnât fully comprehendâshock, guilt, and something else, something he couldnât name. He felt an urgent need to see her, to confront her and demand answers.
Why didnât she tell me? Why is she going through this alone?
Without realizing it, he found himself driving toward her apartment. His mind raced with questions and emotions he couldnât suppress. He needed to know the truth, and he needed to hear it from her.
His car pulled up outside her apartment building. His heart raced as he stared up at her window. He didnât have a planâdidnât know what he would say or how he would face herâbut he couldnât wait any longer.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car, his determination overpowering the fear gnawing at his chest.
It was time to confront Naina.