An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 80

Nandini entered the room, carrying a neatly folded set of clothes. "Navya, here are your clothes for the evening," she said gently, placing them on the bed.

"Keep them on the table, Nandini. Thank you," Navya replied, barely glancing up from her phone. Her voice was cold, distant, as though she had already decided that Nandini's presence was unwelcome.

Nandini felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her. There was something unsettling about Navya's tone, something distant yet charged with unspoken words. Nevertheless, she silently walked to the dressing table and placed the clothes there.

"Do you need anything, Navya? I hope you're okay here. If you need any—"

"It's my house as well, Nandini," Navya cut her off sharply, finally looking up, her eyes hard and unreadable. "I can take whatever I want. You don't need to worry about me. And if you're saying all this to remind me that you're the real daughter-in-law of this house and not me, then I feel sorry for you."

Nandini took a step back, startled by the sudden hostility in Navya's voice. "What? Are you out of your mind? Why would I do that?" she asked, genuinely taken aback.

Navya let out a bitter laugh. "Stop pretending, Nandini. And even if you don't, in a matter of days, everyone else will. After all, no matter how much we try to ignore it, the fact remains that Cabir is adopted. So, in reality, we have no actual rights here, do we?" She stood up abruptly, moving toward the closet, her movements stiff and restless, as if she were trying to physically shake off the resentment brewing inside her.

Nandini's heart ached as she watched her. "You know me, don't you? You know I would never do something like that. But let me tell you something, Navya. I don't know you at all right now. This is a completely different side of you—one I never imagined existed."

Navya let out a scoff, her lips curling in a mocking smile. "Nandini, just give it some time. A few days from now, you'll change too. That's how things work here. No one stays the same. People reveal their true faces with time, and I'm just preparing myself for it." With that, she disappeared into the washroom, leaving Nandini standing there, feeling a strange mix of pity, sadness, and frustration.

It was clear now. Navya's insecurity was eating her alive. No one had ever made her feel inferior, but she had convinced herself that she was. And unless she fought these demons on her own, no words of reassurance would ever be enough.

Later in the day, as Nyonika bustled around in the kitchen, she called out to Nandini. "Nandini, can you please ask Navya to get ready? We need to leave for the reception before seven."

Nandini hesitated. After the morning's confrontation, she had made up her mind to stay out of Navya's way. "Mamma, I will look after the kitchen. You should go instead," she said, lighting the gas and placing the vegetables to boil.

Nyonika narrowed her eyes, sensing something was off. "What happened, baby?"

"Nothing, Mamma," Nandini replied, forcing a smile. "I just thought if you go and help her get ready, you could spend some time with her. It might make her feel... more comfortable here."

Nyonika studied Nandini's face for a moment before nodding. But she wasn't convinced. There was more to this than Nandini was letting on.

Upstairs, Navya was fastening her necklace when Nyonika stepped into her room. "Navya, did you say something to Nandini?" she asked, watching as Navya's hands stilled for a brief moment before resuming their task.

Navya turned to face her, a wry smile on her lips. "So, she complained about me, Mom? And you're here to scold me now?"

Nyonika frowned. "What? No, she didn't say anything. But I can sense something is wrong."