Bound by Fate: A Journey of Hearts

CHAPTER 9

Ananya walked briskly down the hallway, her heart pounding with a mix of fury and devastation. The adrenaline that had carried her through the confrontation with Ritwik was starting to wane, and in its place, a deep ache began to settle in her chest. She didn’t look back, not at Ritwik’s burning gaze, nor at Ishaan, who had been the unexpected ally in this nightmare.

Her steps quickened as she approached her hotel room, the weight of everything that had just transpired pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket. She reached the door with trembling hands, fumbling for the key card, her breath catching in her throat. The second the door unlocked, she slipped inside and slammed it shut behind her, twisting the lock with shaking fingers.

The room, with its neat bed, soft lighting, and untouched luggage, felt eerily still. It was a stark contrast to the storm raging inside her. For a moment, Ananya stood frozen in the middle of the room, her back pressed against the door, as if keeping the world at bay. The silence echoed in her ears, amplifying the swirl of emotions churning within her. The reality of what had just happened started to hit her in waves.

Ananya sat on the floor, her back against the closed door, staring blankly ahead. The room felt cold, but it wasn’t the temperature that bothered her. It was the numbness creeping over her, a hollow sensation that settled in her chest. She had been holding it together for so long—through the heated argument, the break-up, and even the moment when Ishaan had caught her—but now, in the quiet of her hotel room, it all began to sink in.

The tears came slowly, silently at first, as her mind replayed the events of the night. Ritwik’s betrayal was like a punch she hadn’t seen coming, and his cruel, dismissive words cut deeper than she could have ever imagined. It wasn’t just the physical act of cheating—it was the way he had twisted it around, as though she were somehow responsible for his actions.

Her trust had been broken. That was what stung the most. She had her moments of doubt, of course—what bride doesn’t, especially in an arranged marriage? There had been times when she felt uncertain, unsure if she was on the right path, but she had always trusted Ritwik. She had convinced herself that despite their differences, he was someone she could build a life with. And now, in an instant, that trust had shattered.

His disgusting words echoed in her mind. **“Maybe if you’d been more attentive, this wouldn’t have happened.”** As if it were her fault. As if she had pushed him into the arms of another woman. The thought made her stomach churn. Had she been too focused on her work? Too wrapped up in her own thoughts and feelings to see this coming?

Ananya wiped at her tears angrily, frustration bubbling up inside her. How had she missed the signs? Or had there even been signs? She doubted everything now. Every conversation, every moment they’d shared, every hesitation she had felt before agreeing to the marriage. Was it all leading up to this? Had her own doubts and uncertainty played a part in pushing Ritwik away?

She wanted to believe she hadn’t been at fault, that nothing she had done could justify what he had done, but the questions gnawed at her. Was she so consumed by her own apprehensions that she had overlooked the cracks in their relationship? Or had Ritwik always been this way, hiding his true nature behind a facade of charm and affection?

Ananya felt the tears come harder now, not just for the betrayal, but for the deep uncertainty that had taken root inside her. She didn’t know what to believe anymore—not about Ritwik, and not even about herself. Had she been so wrong about everything? How could she have trusted someone who had so easily discarded their relationship, their future?

As she sat there, her back pressed against the door, Ananya didn’t try to find answers. The pain was still too fresh, the emotions too raw. All she could do was sit with the doubt, the hurt, and the anger, letting it wash over her in waves.

She hugged her knees to her chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. Everything she had thought was certain—her engagement, her future with Ritwik—was now in ruins. But it wasn’t the loss of the wedding or the plans that crushed her; it was the loss of trust, of certainty in herself and her choices.

For now, there were no answers, only questions. But one thing was clear—she wasn’t going back. She wasn’t going to let Ritwik twist this into her fault. He had made his choices, and she would make hers. Even if the path ahead was uncertain, even if she doubted herself and everything she had believed, she knew she deserved better than this.