HUMDARD- A Journey From Chaos To Calm

Chapter 25

Her heart raced as she turned slowly to face the man she never expected to see again. The confident and composed demeanor she had maintained throughout the evening suddenly wavered.

Parth stood there, his expression a mirror of her own shock. His eyes, wide with surprise, quickly narrowed as they flicked between Saana and Sidharth. The shock in his gaze was unmistakable, but there was something else-an unmistakable trace of jealousy that he couldn't hide.

For a split second, the world around Saana blurred. The lively chatter, the music, the clinking of glasses-all of it faded as she locked eyes with Parth. The past she had tried so hard to forget seemed to flood back in an instant. She struggled to keep her composure, to hide the storm of emotions raging inside her.

"Saana, this is Parth Kaul, one of our key business associates,"

Sidharth said, his tone warm and welcoming, completely unaware of the tension that crackled in the air between them.

Parth extended his hand, but there was a slight hesitation in his movements. His eyes, though polite, held a depth of emotion that Saana couldn't decipher. She forced herself to take his hand, her fingers trembling slightly as they made contact. The handshake was brief, but it felt like an eternity, each second stretching out with the weight of their shared history.

"It's...a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Dutta,"

Parth finally said, his voice strained, as though he was trying to keep his emotions in check.

Saana managed a small, tight smile.

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Kaul,"

she replied, her voice barely steady. She could feel her pulse in her throat, a physical reminder of the tumultuous past she had worked so hard to leave behind.

Sidharth, still oblivious to the undercurrents between them, continued to chat with Parth about business, but Saana found it increasingly difficult to focus. Her mind was racing, trying to process the unexpected turn of events. She could feel Parth's gaze on her, as if he was searching for answers in her expression.

She had to escape, to find some distance from this sudden confrontation with her past. But just as she was about to excuse herself, Parth spoke again, his voice softer this time, almost hesitant.

"It's been a long time, Saana,"

he said, his tone holding a mix of emotions-surprise, regret, and something else she couldn't quite place.

Saana's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name on his lips. The familiarity of it made her feel vulnerable, exposed in a way she hadn't felt in years. She forced herself to meet his gaze, even as the memories threatened to overwhelm her.

"Yes, it has,"

she replied, her voice quieter than she intended.

"A lot has changed."

Parth nodded slowly, his expression inscrutable.

"Indeed, it has."

There was a heavy silence between them, one that Sidharth seemed to sense for the first time. He looked between Saana and Parth, a slight frown of confusion crossing his face.

"Is everything alright?"

Sidharth asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Saana quickly forced a smile, shaking her head as she tried to brush off the tension.

"Yes, everything's fine. I was just... surprised, that's all."

Sidharth seemed to accept her explanation, though he still looked puzzled.