Living together with Nainaâs mother brought Rivaan and Naina closer in ways neither of them had expected. They found themselves talking more, sharing late-night conversations about the baby, and laughing over Naina's cravings for strange combinations of food. Despite the awkwardness of sleeping in the same bed, they had fallen into a comfortable routine.
But every time Naina looked at Rivaan, an urge to kiss him bubbled inside her, an impulse she blamed on her pregnancy hormones. She brushed off these feelings, convincing herself it was just the baby affecting her emotions.
Yesterday, Rivaan had informed her that his mother wanted to meet her. He had arranged for them to meet at a coffee shop, but due to an important business meeting, he wouldnât be able to join right away, leaving Naina to face his mother alone.
As Naina arrived at the coffee shop, she scanned the room, searching for a familiar face from the family pictures Rivaan had shown her. Her eyes landed on a sophisticated woman in a classic dress, exuding wealth and authorityâRivaan's mother. But she wasnât alone. Sitting beside her was Katie, the woman Rivaanâs mother had always hoped he would marry.
Naina approached the table with a polite smile, introducing herself. She tried to remain calm, but her nerves were on edge. As soon as she sat down, Rivaanâs mother didnât hold back.
"So, youâre the gold digger," Rivaanâs mother said coldly, her tone dripping with disdain. Katie smirked beside her, as they both began to humiliate Naina, throwing veiled insults her way. They talked about how women like her were always after men like Rivaan, and how she had probably trapped him with the pregnancy.
Naina, feeling the sting of their words, didnât react. She sat there quietly, eating her pastry, refusing to engage. It wasnât worth her energy to argue with them.
Just as the tension became unbearable, Rivaan walked in. As soon as they saw him, both his mother and Katie instantly changed their tone. Their sharp insults were replaced with sweet, syrupy comments, as if nothing had happened. They greeted Naina with fake smiles, pretending to be welcoming.
Naina remained silent throughout, refusing to let them affect her. After the meeting, she and Rivaan returned home, but she chose not to mention what had happened with his mother and Katie. She didnât want to burden him with her frustrations.
Later that night, Rivaan fell asleep beside her, but Naina lay awake, her thoughts swirling. She stared at the ceiling, trying to shake off the hurtful things Rivaanâs mother had said, but they lingered in the back of her mind. After a while, her exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she drifted into sleep.
She told herself not to stress over meaningless things. They didnât matterânot in the grand scheme of things. What mattered was the baby, her mother, and the growing connection she shared with Rivaan.