Bound by Fate: A Journey of Hearts

CHAPTER 8

Ishaan had been restless ever since he sent the text, waiting for a response that would offer some closure or, perhaps, open a door to something more. For months, the memory of the woman who had saved his life haunted him. He had searched for her endlessly, his gratitude mixed with an inexplicable pull towards her. But now, as he glanced at his phone, still no reply.

He had come to Varanasi for his cousin Ritwik’s wedding. Though not overly excited about it, he respected the family obligation. He had heard Ritwik was marrying a bright, independent woman named Ananya, someone everyone spoke highly of. But for Ishaan, the excitement of the wedding paled in comparison to his quiet hope that the woman he had texted would respond. Maybe, somehow, he'd find her again.

As he walked through the corridor, heading toward the banquet hall where the families were gathered, he suddenly heard raised voices. The tone was unmistakable—a heated argument, sharp with anger and pain. He paused, recognizing Ritwik’s voice, though the woman’s voice was unfamiliar. The tension in the air drew him closer, and as he neared the source, Ishaan’s heart sank.

Peering through the slightly ajar door, he saw Ritwik with a woman, her face contorted with fury and hurt. The accusations flying between them were sharp and biting, and it didn’t take long for Ishaan to piece together the situation. Ritwik had betrayed her, and worse, he was trying to justify it.

Then, in a moment of pure disbelief, Ishaan watched as Ritwik pushed her. The woman stumbled back, and before he could even think, his body moved on instinct. Rushing forward, he caught her just in time, preventing her from falling to the ground.

Her body tensed in his arms, and as she steadied herself and turned to look up at him, their eyes locked. Ishaan’s breath caught in his throat. **It’s her.** The realization hit him like a wave. This was the woman who had saved his life. The one he had been searching for. The one he had just texted. And now, in a cruel twist of fate, he realized she was Ritwik’s fiancée.

Ananya’s wide eyes searched his face, but for her, he was just a stranger—Ritwik’s cousin, someone she hadn’t spoken to before.

Ritwik, still reeling from the shock of Ishaan’s sudden appearance, sneered. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice laced with irritation.

Ishaan straightened, his hands still gently holding Ananya’s arms as he made sure she was steady. His gaze shifted to Ritwik, cold and hard. “I came to stop you from making an even bigger mistake,” he said firmly, his voice calm but sharp with restrained anger. “You’ve already done enough damage.”

Ritwik scoffed, crossing his arms. “You don’t know anything, Ishaan. This is between me and Ananya. She’s my fiancée, not yours.”

Ishaan’s jaw clenched. “And this is how you treat her? By cheating on her and then pushing her when she confronts you? You’re a disgrace, Ritwik.”

The room felt charged with tension, the silence thick after Ishaan’s words. Ritwik’s face twisted with rage, and he stepped forward. “You have no idea what’s going on. She’s been cold, distant. What was I supposed to do? I need a real partner, someone who—”

“Don’t even try to justify this,” Ishaan interrupted, his voice hard. “Your actions are your own. Don’t blame her for your lack of self-control.”

Ananya, still shaken, watched the exchange with a mixture of disbelief and awe. Here was this stranger—Ritwik’s own cousin—standing up for her, defending her when her own fiancé was hurling accusations. Her heart pounded in her chest from the intensity of the confrontation, the betrayal she had just faced, and the unexpected support from a man she barely knew.

Ritwik’s face flushed with anger. “Stay out of this, Ishaan. This is none of your business.”

Ishaan took a step forward, positioning himself between Ritwik and Ananya, his protective instinct surging. “It became my business the moment you hurt her. She deserves better than this, Ritwik.”

The tension in the air was palpable, both men staring each other down, neither willing to back down. Ritwik's face twisted with frustration, his ego bruised. "You think you're better than me, Ishaan? Always the hero, always stepping in to save the day?"

Ishaan met his gaze steadily. "This isn’t about me, Ritwik. This is about your inability to be the man she deserves."

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Ritwik was speechless, his face burning with humiliation. Ananya, standing behind Ishaan, felt a surge of clarity. She didn’t need to stay in this toxic relationship, didn’t need to bind her future to a man who didn’t respect her.

Gathering her strength, Ananya stepped forward, her voice strong and unwavering. “I’m done, Ritwik. This marriage is over.”

Ritwik’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

Ananya held her ground, her voice resolute. “I deserve better than this. Better than you.”

Ritwik’s face twisted in anger. “You’ll regret this, Ananya! No one will want you after this.”

But she didn’t flinch. Ishaan stood silently beside her, offering silent support, his presence grounding her. She turned to leave, knowing that this chapter of her life had ended. And as she walked away, she couldn’t help but feel the faint stirrings of something new beginning—perhaps with the man who had unknowingly become a part of her life months ago.