Fated To Love You

Chapter 9

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Raghav’s life had returned to its usual rhythm, though he felt a subtle shift within himself. Since his brief interactions with Kavya, he found himself more aware, more present, even as he remained the quiet, reserved man his family knew. He still spent his mornings preparing meticulously for work, still avoided unnecessary conversations, and still envied his younger brother, Aryan, for his effortless charm and close bond with Kavya.

Aryan, the golden child in everyone’s eyes, was the embodiment of freedom. He had chosen his path as a photographer, a decision that had once surprised their parents but now seemed only natural. Aryan’s work had garnered fame and recognition, making him a household name in the world of photography. His carefree nature and undeniable talent had earned him respect, and even though he wasn’t involved in the family business, his success made their parents proud.

Raghav, on the other hand, had taken on the mantle of CEO without question. He was the responsible one, the one who would carry forward their father’s legacy. Yet, despite his achievements, he always felt like he was standing in Aryan’s shadow. It wasn’t that anyone explicitly said so—his parents were proud of him, his employees respected him—but Raghav couldn’t shake the feeling that Aryan was everything he wished he could be: confident, popular, and effortlessly close to the one woman Raghav could never seem to approach.

*****

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains as Raghav adjusted his tie in front of the mirror. He was more meticulous than usual today, fussing over every detail of his appearance. The faint scent of Aryan’s cologne—borrowed from his brother’s room—lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of the person Raghav wished he could be, if only a little.

As he descended the stairs, he could hear voices from the kitchen—his mother’s gentle laughter, Aryan’s deep, relaxed tone, and the unmistakable sound of Kavya’s laughter mingling with theirs. His heart skipped a beat at the sound, and he hesitated for just a moment before continuing his descent.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw them—Aryan and Kavya sitting at the kitchen table, deep in conversation. Kavya was wearing a simple yet elegant dress, her hair cascading in loose waves over her shoulders. She looked radiant, her eyes sparkling with amusement as Aryan recounted some story that had them both laughing.

Raghav watched them from the doorway, his heart swelling with a mix of emotions. He wanted to join them, to be part of their world, but as usual, the fear of intruding, of not belonging, held him back. Instead, he lingered in the shadows, taking in the scene with a longing that he couldn’t quite put into words.

Just as Raghav was about to retreat into the dining room, Kavya glanced up and caught sight of him. Her smile widened, and she waved him over. “Good morning, Raghav! Come join us.”

Raghav’s breath caught in his throat. There was no easy escape now. He forced a smile and stepped forward, trying to suppress the nervous flutter in his stomach. “Good morning,” he said, his voice quieter than he intended.

Aryan grinned at him, patting the empty chair beside him. “Come on, bro, sit down. We were just talking about this upcoming exhibition Kavya’s attending.”

Kavya nodded, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. “Yes, it’s a big event, and Aryan’s photos are going to be one of the main highlights. You should come, Raghav. It would be nice to have you there.”

Raghav’s eyes flickered between Aryan and Kavya, his mind racing. An exhibition? It wasn’t his usual scene, but the idea of seeing Kavya again, of maybe getting another chance to talk to her, was tempting. “I’ll, um, I’ll see if I can make it,” he replied, his tone cautious.

“Great!” Kavya said, her smile never wavering. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. And you might even enjoy it more than you think.”

Raghav nodded, unsure of what else to say. His attention was drawn to the way Kavya interacted with Aryan—so effortlessly, so naturally. He envied the ease with which his brother could make her laugh, the way she looked at Aryan with genuine fondness. And yet, despite his jealousy, Raghav couldn’t help but admire their friendship. It was clear that they cared deeply for each other, and that was something Raghav could never begrudge.

After breakfast, Aryan and Kavya prepared to leave together. Raghav watched as they moved around the house, Aryan grabbing his camera bag and Kavya checking her phone for messages. They were in sync, as if they had done this a thousand times before, and Raghav couldn’t help but feel like an outsider looking in.

But just as they were about to head out the door, Kavya turned to him with a warm smile. “I’ll see you at the office later, Raghav. Don’t forget about the exhibition.”

“I won’t,” Raghav promised, his heart lifting at her words. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make him feel included, even if just for a moment.

As he watched them leave, Raghav felt a flicker of hope. He knew it would take time, that he had a long way to go before he could truly be a part of their world, but he was willing to try. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was moving in the right direction—one small step at a time.

At the office

Later that day, as Raghav sat in his office, going over reports and emails, his mind kept drifting back to the morning’s events. He replayed the brief conversation with Kavya over and over, analyzing every word, every smile, trying to find some deeper meaning in it. It wasn’t much, but it was something—a small victory in his otherwise uneventful life.

The hours passed in a blur of work and meetings, but the thought of the exhibition lingered in the back of his mind. He had never been one for social events, preferring the solitude of his office to the noise and chaos of a crowd, but this time was different. This time, Kavya would be there, and that was reason enough for him to consider stepping out of his comfort zone.

As the day drew to a close, Raghav found himself staring out of his office window, watching the city skyline as the sun dipped below the horizon. His phone buzzed on his desk, and he glanced at it, half-expecting a message from Kavya. But it was just another work email, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

With a sigh, Raghav leaned back in his chair, his thoughts drifting to Aryan and Kavya again. They were probably still together, working on the exhibition, laughing and joking like they always did. Raghav envied their bond, but he also knew that it was something special—something that couldn’t be forced or manufactured.

And yet, there was a part of him that longed to be a part of it, to break free from the walls he had built around himself and step into the light. It wouldn’t be easy, and it wouldn’t happen overnight, but for the first time in years, Raghav felt like it was possible.

He just had to take the first step.

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