Old Flames, New Rivalries

𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐚’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The ride home was anything but comfortable. I tried my best to focus on the passing streets, the gentle hum of the car, and anything else but him. Yet, I could feel Raj's gaze on me, intense and unwavering. Every time the car stopped at a traffic light, his eyes would linger on me. I didn’t dare to look his way, but my heart betrayed me, thundering in a rhythm I couldn’t control.

A tug of war raged inside me—anger and distrust battling with something I didn’t want to acknowledge. Why did he always have this effect on me? I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay composed.

As soon as the car pulled into the driveway, I didn’t wait for him to say anything. I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and practically bolted out of the car, heading straight into the house.

The moment I stepped inside, I froze. Two women were seated in the living room, laughing and chatting with my mom and stepdad. They were stunning—one with sleek, raven-black hair and sharp features, the other softer-looking, with warm brown eyes and a dazzling smile.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I made my way toward them. But before I could say anything, the raven-haired girl’s eyes lit up, and she suddenly screamed, “Raj!”

She darted past me, running toward the entrance. I turned around just in time to see her throw herself into Raj’s arms, wrapping him in a tight hug. “Oh, Raj, I really missed you!” she gushed, looking up at him with a baby pout.

“I’m angry with you,” she added, poking his chest. “Why didn’t you come to pick Kiara and me up at the airport?”

Her words clicked something in my mind. This was the same person who had called him earlier today. My chest tightened as I glanced at Raj, curious about his reaction. His expression was far from pleased. He glared at her, his jaw tight, and swiftly freed himself from her hold.

“Behave yourself, Miss Sharma,” he said coldly, his tone so sharp it sent a chill through me. I blinked, puzzled. Who was she, and why was Raj acting so… strange?

Before I could piece anything together, Raj walked past her and approached my stepdad. The other girl, the softer one, stood up and smiled warmly. “Long time, brother,” she said, walking up to him and hugging him.

Raj returned the hug, though his demeanor softened only slightly. “How have you been, Kiara?” he asked.

Kiara sighed dramatically. “Fine, but why are you being so cold toward Sanya?”

Raj’s eyes hardened again at the mention of the first girl. “You should be the one explaining why you brought her here,” he snapped, his voice low and pointed. “Especially after knowing everything.”

Kiara grinned mischievously, hooking her arm with Sanya’s. “Oh, come on, Raj. I’m just trying to mend broken hearts.”

She didn’t wait for his response, tugging Sanya along with her as they both disappeared into another room, their laughter echoing down the hall. I stood there, completely ignored, feeling like an outsider in my own home.

My stepdad broke the silence, calling me over. “That was Kiara,” he explained, nodding toward the room the girls had gone into. “She’s my daughter from my first marriage. And the one who hugged Raj just now? That’s Sanya, Kiara’s best friend. She was once engaged to Raj.”

Engaged? My stomach dropped at the word.

My stepdad continued, oblivious to my reaction. “Sanya went missing out of nowhere, leaving Raj with just a note saying she wanted to focus on her career. This, after she practically forced him into the engagement in the first place. God knows what goes on in that girl’s head.”

He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Kiara can be a bit complicated to handle. Don’t mind them not giving you much attention. She’s probably just tired and needs some time to settle in.”

Mom joined me, taking my hand. “You’ll get along with them soon enough,” she said kindly. “For now, go freshen up and rest. Dinner will be ready soon.”

I nodded numbly, heading upstairs. My mind raced with everything I’d just heard. Engaged? Why hadn’t anyone told me this before? And why was Raj so cold toward Sanya?

As I reached my room and opened the door, I felt someone behind me. Turning around, I saw Raj following me in. Before I could ask what he was doing, he pinned me against the wall.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. His eyes burned into mine, intense and unreadable, as if he was fighting an internal battle of his own.