Chapter 6

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The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow in the living room. Suhasini and Dev were sitting on the sofa, chatting about Dev's sister who had recently moved abroad. Their conversation was light, filled with fond memories and shared laughter.

**Suhasini:** "Your sister called last night. She’s settling in well, but she misses us all terribly."

Dev smiled, a rare moment of genuine warmth breaking through his usual stern demeanor.

**Dev:** "I miss her too. It’s been too long since we were all together."

Suddenly, Suhasini's expression turned serious. She glanced at Navya, who was tidying up the room.

**Suhasini:** "Navya, dear, could you come here for a moment?"

Navya walked over, her heart racing with apprehension. Suhasini reached beside her and took out a beautifully crafted wooden box, intricately designed with delicate carvings.

**Navya:** "What’s in the box, Ma?"

Suhasini opened the box carefully, revealing a pair of exquisite gold bangles adorned with precious stones. The bangles gleamed in the light, a testament to their age and significance.

**Suhasini:** "These bangles are the Dixit family’s pride. My mother-in-law gave them to me on my wedding day, and now, it’s my turn to pass them on."

Navya’s eyes widened in surprise and emotion. She looked at Suhasini, her heart filled with gratitude and love.

**Suhasini:** "I should have given these to you sooner, Navya. But I wanted to be sure. Over the years, you’ve shown such dedication, love, and care for this family. You’ve taken care of everyone without expecting anything in return. I see now that you truly belong to this family, and it’s time you receive these as a sign of my trust and affection."

Tears welled up in Navya’s eyes as she reached out to take the bangles, her hands trembling slightly.

**Navya:** "Ma, I... I have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you so much. I don’t know how to express my gratitude."

Suhasini smiled warmly, placing the bangles in Navya’s hands.

**Suhasini:** "Just continue being the wonderful person you are, Navya. That’s all I ask."

Dev, who had been watching the exchange silently, felt a surge of anger and resentment. He clenched his fists, but he remained silent, not wanting to spoil his mother’s moment.

As the day wore on, Suhasini began preparing to leave. Ayaan, who had been glued to his grandmother’s side all day, looked crestfallen.

**Ayaan:** "Dadi, do you really have to go? Can’t you stay longer?"

Suhasini hugged him tightly, her heart aching at his sad expression.

**Suhasini:** "I wish I could stay, my dear. But I promise I’ll come back soon. And next time, I’ll bring your favorite sweets."

Ayaan’s eyes brightened slightly at the promise, but he still clung to her, not wanting to let go.

**Ayaan:** "Promise, Dadi?"

**Suhasini:** "Promise."

Navya stood by, her heart heavy but grateful for the bond between Ayaan and his grandmother. She walked Suhasini to the door, feeling a mix of emotions.

**Navya:** "Thank you for everything, Ma. Please take care."

Suhasini smiled, patting Navya’s cheek gently.

**Suhasini:** "Take care of yourself too, Navya. And remember, you’re never alone. We’re always here for you."

With one last hug, Suhasini left, leaving behind a house that felt both emptier and fuller in her absence. Navya watched as Ayaan waved goodbye, his little face pressed against the window.

She gently touched the bangles on her wrists, feeling the weight of their significance.

Suddenly,  Dev stormed in, his face contorted with anger. Navya stood , alarmed by the intensity in his eyes.

Dev: "Navya, take those off. Now."

Navya looked at him, confused and scared. She instinctively clutched the bangles tighter.

Navya: "Dev, these were given to me by Ma. They are a symbol of her trust and love."

Dev's eyes flashed with fury as he stepped closer, grabbing her wrist roughly. Navya winced in pain but didn't resist, hoping to calm him down.

Dev: "These bangles don't belong to you. They belong to Hina. Not you."

Without waiting for her response, Dev began to forcefully remove the bangles from her wrist. The sharp edges dug into Navya's skin, causing a cut to appear, blood oozing out. Navya cried out in pain, but Dev's anger blinded him to her suffering.

Navya: "Dev, please! You're hurting me!"

Dev ignored her, his focus solely on removing the bangles. After what felt like an eternity, he finally yanked them off, throwing them onto the floor with a clang. He stepped back, breathing heavily, his eyes still burning with rage.

Dev: "Don't ever wear those again. You don't deserve them."

Navya clutched her wrist, tears streaming down her face. The physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional torment she felt. She looked up at Dev, her eyes filled with a mix of hurt and sorrow.

Navya: "Why do you hate me so much, Dev? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

Dev didn't answer. He just stood there, his chest heaving, before turning on his heel and storming out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Navya sat there, her body shaking with sobs. She picked up the bangles from the floor, clutching them to her chest as she cried. The room seemed to close in around her, the weight of her pain and despair almost suffocating.

In the midst of her tears, she heard a small voice at the door. Ayaan stood there, his eyes wide with fear and confusion.

Ayaan: "Mumma, are you okay?"

Navya quickly wiped her tears, trying to compose herself for her son. She held out her arms, and Ayaan ran to her, wrapping his small arms around her.

Navya: "I'm okay, sweetheart. Mumma is okay."

Ayaan looked up at her, his innocent eyes filled with concern.

Ayaan: "Did Pappa hurt you?"

Navya forced a smile, kissing Ayaan's forehead.Ayaan snuggled closer, his presence providing a small comfort in the midst of her turmoil. Navya held him tightly, drawing strength from his love.

Ayaan: "I love you, Mumma."

Navya's heart ached with the depth of her love for her son. She kissed his head, whispering softly.

Navya: "I love you too, Ayaan. More than anything in this world."



### Dev's POV: The Old Cafeteria

The familiar aroma of coffee and pastries greeted Dev as he stepped into the old cafeteria, a place where he and Heena had spent countless evenings lost in conversation. The memories flooded back, each corner of the café holding a piece of their past.

**Dev's Mind:** *I wish you could have come back to me, Heena. Everything feels suffocating without you. Navya... she's like a curse, a constant reminder of what I've lost. I can't bear to be in the same house with her.*

Lost in thoughts of Heena, Dev sat at their favorite table, staring blankly at the empty chair across from him. He recalled their laughter, the way her eyes sparkled when she smiled, and the deep connection they once shared.

A server approached, breaking Dev out of his reverie. "Sir, can I get you anything?"

Dev glared at the server, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "Just leave me alone."

The server hesitated before retreating, sensing Dev's agitation. Dev sighed heavily, feeling trapped in a cycle of longing and resentment.

---

### Navya's POV: Back Home

Meanwhile, back at home, Navya watched as Dev entered the house with a distant look in his eyes. She took a tentative step towards him, wanting to break the silence that had grown between them.

**Navya:** "Dev, is everything alright?"

Dev turned to her sharply, his eyes cold and hard. "Do I look like I'm alright, Navya?"

**Navya's Mind:** *He's so angry... I don't know how to reach him anymore.*

Navya gathered her courage, refusing to back down. "I understand you're upset, Dev. But ignoring me won't solve anything."

Dev scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, do you have all the answers now, Navya? How convenient."

Before she could respond, Dev brushed past her, heading towards his room with purpose. Navya stood there, hurt and frustrated, tears welling up in her eyes.

---

### Dev's POV: In His Room

Later that night, Dev stood by the window in his room, gazing out at the moonlit sky. Tomorrow is the reunion day, a chance to return to the place where he and Heena first met, where their love had blossomed.

**Dev's Mind:** *Tomorrow... I'm going back to the place where we first met, where everything was perfect between us. Maybe being there will bring back those feelings, remind me of who I used to be.*

Deep down, Dev knew that revisiting the past wouldn't erase the present. He wrestled with conflicting emotions, torn between the memories of his past love and the reality of his current situation with Navya and Ayaan.

He heard a soft knock on his door and turned to see Navya standing there, hesitating.

**Navya:** "Dev, I know you're upset. Can we talk?"

Dev turned to her, his expression guarded. "What do you want now, Navya?"

**Navya:** "I just want to understand, Dev. We should  be able to talk about everything. Why can't we do that ?"

Dev scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping him.

"Because everything changed the day you came into my life, Navya. You think I wanted this? You think I wanted any of this?"

Navya felt the sting of his words, but she refused to let it break her.

"I didn't choose this either, Dev. But we have to find a way to move forward, for Ayaan's sake."

**Dev:** " Not again,Don't bring Ayaan into this. This is between you and me and i don't consider him as my son."

Navya nodded, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. "Fine, Dev. But remember, shutting me out won't make your pain go away."

---

As Dev prepares to attend the reunion, the tension and longing within him grow stronger, while Navya continues to navigate her own feelings amidst the strained atmosphere at home.

The upcoming reunion holds the promise of nostalgia and perhaps a chance for Dev to confront his feelings and choices


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