As the days passed, Ria's doubt grew. She couldn't ignore Priya's warnings anymore. Every time Arun texted or called, Ria found herself scrutinizing his words, trying to decipher whether there was any hidden meaning behind them. When they met, she began to analyze his every action, searching for signs of dishonesty, of something he might be hiding.
Ria's once-easy connection with Arun began to feel strained. Her insecurities about their relationship began to overshadow the genuine affection they shared. Arun, for his part, noticed the shift in her behavior. He tried to reassure her, but no matter how hard he tried, Ria couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
It all came to a head one evening when Arun invited Ria to meet him at a friend's party. He had told her that it was a casual gathering, nothing too formal. But when Ria arrived at the venue, she was taken aback by the number of people there—high-profile professionals, entrepreneurs, and socialites. Ria had always felt slightly out of place in these kinds of circles, but tonight, she felt more so than ever.
As she made her way through the crowd, her eyes landed on a familiar face. Standing across the room, engaged in a deep conversation with Arun, was a woman Ria had never seen before. She was tall, with long, dark hair and an elegant demeanor that immediately caught Ria's attention. What disturbed her most was the way Arun was looking at the woman. There was something in his eyes, a familiarity, a connection that made Ria's stomach turn.
She approached the two of them, her heart pounding. "Arun, who is this?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.