Chapter 37: chapter 36

Rivaan stormed out of the apartment, anger coursing through his veins. His mother’s accusations had ignited a fire within him, and for a moment, he had believed her. Naina’s defiance, the way she had stood up to his mother, had only fueled his rage. How could she lash out like that? She was supposed to be better than this.

“Are you really going to let her talk to me like that?” his mother had said, her voice dripping with disdain. Rivaan’s heart had raced as he watched Naina raise her hand, ready to strike. He had acted on instinct, pushing her away in an attempt to protect his mother. But in that moment of blind rage, he hadn’t considered the consequences.

The car ride home was filled with silence. Katie sat beside him, her smug expression a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Rivaan’s mind. His mother was still fuming, her indignation radiating off her like a heat wave.

“What were you thinking, Rivaan? That woman is using you!” she snapped, breaking the silence. “You deserve better than that.”

He said nothing, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. The image of Naina’s shocked expression, her hand poised in mid-air, replayed in his mind. The way her eyes had brimmed with tears. He had never seen her look so vulnerable before, and it disturbed him.

Once they were home, Rivaan’s anger began to dissipate, replaced by a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to confront Naina, to make sense of what had happened, but a part of him hesitated.

“What are you doing?” his mother’s voice interrupted his thoughts as he stood at the door, contemplating. “You need to forget about her and focus on your family. You have a future ahead of you with Katie.”

“Mom, I—”

“Enough!” she interrupted. “You will not waste another moment on someone who doesn’t appreciate you.”

Ignoring her, Rivaan stormed up the stairs to his bedroom, but his mind was elsewhere. Naina’s laughter echoed in his ears, a memory he couldn’t shake. When he reached his room, he paced back and forth, the weight of his decision weighing heavily on him.

Hours later, as he lay in bed, sleep eluded him. The darkness of night was suffocating, and he found himself staring at the ceiling, thinking about everything that had happened.

It's been days after the incident .

Suddenly, his phone buzzed—a message from Anamay. “Have you heard from Naina? She hasn’t been around for days.”

Panic surged through him. Days? How had he not noticed?

He grabbed his phone and typed back, “No, I haven’t. I thought she was with you.”

Anamay replied almost instantly. “No. We should go check on her.”

Without thinking, Rivaan jumped out of bed, his heart racing. Something felt off. He quickly dressed and headed to Naina’s apartment, every step filled with dread.

As he arrived, the door was ajar, and he pushed it open to find the apartment eerily quiet. The usual warmth that filled the space was replaced with a cold emptiness.

“Naina?” he called out, but there was no response.

Rivaan’s heart sank as he moved deeper into the apartment. The living room was a mess, evidence of hasty packing. And then he noticed it—the half-done decorations hanging on the walls, streamers that were meant to celebrate something joyful.

His breath caught in his throat as he approached a poster taped to the wall. “We’re having twins,” it read in bright, colorful letters.

The world around him spun. Naina was pregnant, and she had been trying to celebrate their future. Guilt crashed over him like a tidal wave, washing away the remnants of his anger. He had pushed her away when she needed him the most.

“Where are you, Naina?” he whispered, desperation creeping into his voice.

He rushed to the bedroom, hoping she might be there. But it was empty, her belongings gone. Panic set in as he realized she had left—left without a word, left after he had pushed her.

He felt his chest tighten as he recalled her forehead meeting the wall flashed before his eyes, blood trickling down her cheek. “No… no, Naina…” he murmured, his heart racing.

He had hurt her—physically and emotionally.

Rivaan took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions. He couldn’t let this happen. He had to find her. He had to make things right.

“Where would you go?” he thought aloud, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Think, Rivaan!”