𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 10

I threw myself into my music, trying to complete the practice sessions for my upcoming album. Music was always my escape, the one thing that kept me focused when the world around me seemed chaotic. But even in the rhythm of my songs and the melody of my guitar, I couldn't shake her from my mind-Rashmi.

My father's business was another matter. He had stepped down due to his heart condition, leaving me to manage things. I hadn't expected to take over so soon, but life had its way of pushing us into roles we weren't prepared for. Balancing music and business weren't easy, but it kept me busy, and I liked it that way.

Two days later, it was finally my sister Aarya's birthday. The dresses Rashmi had designed arrived in the evening, beautifully wrapped. Aarya's eyes lit up the moment she saw them. "These are perfect!" she exclaimed, running her hands over the fabric. "Ritvik, you have to thank her for me!"

"I will," I said with a smile, watching my sister's happiness.

The thought of Rashmi lingered, and on a whim, I decided to invite her to the party. It would be a good opportunity to thank her personally, and maybe...just maybe, it was an excuse to see her again.

"Call Rashmi and invite her to the party," I instructed my assistant, not wanting to reach out directly.

A few minutes later, my assistant returned. "Sir, she politely declined. She mentioned that she couldn't attend."

I frowned. "Call her again. Insist that she join us."

He hesitated but nodded, dialing her number again. I didn't understand why I was pushing this, but there was something about her that I couldn't let go of. I wanted to see her, to know more about her.

After a few more minutes, my assistant returned with a slight smile. "She agreed, sir. She'll be here shortly."

A strange sense of excitement stirred within me. I found myself watching the clock, waiting for her to arrive. The party had started, and the guests were mingling, but my attention was elsewhere. I kept glancing at the door, wondering when she would walk through it.

Finally, the doorbell rang, and I instinctively moved toward the entrance. As the door opened, there she was-Rashmi. But she wasn't alone.

In her arms was a little girl, no more than a year old, with bright eyes and a mischievous smile. My heart sank. I couldn't hide the shock that crossed my face. Was this her daughter?

My chest tightened, and my thoughts started racing. She's married. She has a family. How did I not know this? And why does it hurt so much?

I tried to compose myself, but it felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. Rashmi smiled politely, unaware of the storm in my head. She walked in, carrying her daughter, and greeted my mother with a warm hug.

"Thank you for inviting me, Ma'am," she said, her voice soft but confident.

My mother beamed at her. "I'm so glad you could make it, dear. You've done such a wonderful job with the dresses. Everyone loves them!"

Rashmi smiled, glancing down at her daughter. "I'm glad to hear that."

I watched from a distance, unable to take my eyes off them. The little girl was playing with her mother's hair, completely oblivious to the world around her.

The questions swirled in my head, but I knew one thing for sure-I had no right to feel this way. I barely knew her, and yet here I was, feeling crushed by the realization that she belonged to someone else.

Aarya walked up to Rashmi, her eyes shining with excitement. "Thank you so much for the dresses, Rashmi! They're perfect. I couldn't have asked for anything better."

Rashmi smiled warmly, handing over a small gift. "Happy birthday, Aarya. I'm glad you liked them."

Aarya hugged her tightly. "You're amazing! Seriously, I'm going to recommend you to everyone."

Rashmi laughed softly, brushing her daughter's hair back from her face. "Thank you. That means a lot."

As the conversation flowed, I found myself retreating into the background. I couldn't bring myself to join in. The more I watched her with her daughter, the more it hurt. This wasn't just a crush anymore. It was something deeper, something that was never meant to be.

I turned away, walking toward the balcony to get some air. The cool breeze hit my face, but it did nothing to calm the turmoil inside me. How could I have been so stupid? She had a family, and here I was, hoping for something that could never happen.

"I have to stop this," I muttered to myself, gripping the railing. "She's married. She has a child. I can't let myself feel this way."

But even as I said the words, I knew it wasn't that simple. I couldn't turn off my feelings. There was something about Rashmi that had drawn me in from the moment I met her. Her strength, her kindness, the way she carried herself-it was all so captivating. But it didn't matter. I had to let it go.

I stayed outside for a while, trying to clear my head. When I finally walked back inside, the party was in full swing. Rashmi was sitting with my mother and granny, talking and laughing softly. Her daughter was completely absorbed in her own little world.

I watched them from across the room, feeling like an outsider. I didn't belong in her world. She had a life, a family, and I had no place in it.

As the night went on, I did my best to avoid her. I didn't trust myself to talk to her without letting my emotions slip. But every time I caught a glimpse of her, the same thought ran through my mind-what if?

What if things were different? What if I had met her before all of this? What if she wasn't married?

But those thoughts were pointless. I couldn't change reality. All I could do was try to move on.

Toward the end of the evening, I saw her gathering her things, getting ready to leave. Her daughter was asleep in her arms, her tiny hand clutching her mother's dress. Rashmi looked exhausted but content.

I walked over, forcing a smile. "Thank you for coming," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

She looked up at me, surprised. "Oh, it was no trouble. Thank you for inviting me. Your family were so kind."

I nodded, not trusting myself to say more. She gave me a polite smile, adjusting her grip on her daughter.

"Well, I should be going. It's getting late, and Ovi needs her rest."

"Of course," I said, stepping aside to let her pass.

As she walked toward the door, a part of me wanted to stop her, to ask her about her life, her family, her story. But I didn't. I couldn't.

Instead, I watched as she left, disappearing into the night with her daughter in her arms. And as the door closed behind her, I felt the weight of reality settle in.

She was gone, and with her, the small flicker of hope I had been holding onto. It was over before it had even begun.

I turned away, walking back into the party, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in my chest. It didn't matter. Life would go on, and so would I.

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