RAYA BALH Fan Fiction OS : Love Story

Love Story

The party at the Westin Hotel was filled with businessmen and important guests. Ram and Ashwin were also on the guest list. They stood at the far end of the hall, sipping whiskey on the rocks and talking about how dull the event was. Ashwin reminded Ram of someone who always looked uninterested whenever he was invited to a ball.

Ram caught himself thinking that coming to this party was a mistake. He had far more exciting things to do in his life than waste time at such a boring event.

Ashwin, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself. Maybe he’d had too much whiskey, or maybe he genuinely liked the dull atmosphere, but his mood had improved since earlier.

“You know, Ram, all these guys in tuxedos remind me of... look at them!” Ashwin pointed at a businessman who was smiling stupidly at someone. “What a disgusting sight.” Ram took a gulp of his whiskey, trying to stay composed.

“The drinks are good here though,” he said with a satisfied grin. “Why don’t you drink more? There’s nothing to do here anyway. Let your mind relax. Who knows, maybe we’ll meet some hot businesswoman tonight.”

“Shut up, Ashwin,” Ram replied, shaking his head. “Seems like alcohol’s taken over your common sense. You’re talking like a fool. I thought you were a decent father.”

“Come on, Ram,” Ashwin rolled his eyes. “We work hard, we deserve a break. You should try it, too. And just so you know, I’m a decent father. But that doesn’t mean I won’t look for a woman who would treat my kids like her own.”

Ram sighed, but before he could reply, Ashwin nudged him sharply.

“Look over there!” Ashwin pointed excitedly.

“I don’t see anything,” Ram muttered, too tired to look around. But Ashwin wouldn’t let him off the hook.

“You’re blind, Ram! How can you not see her?” Ashwin grabbed Ram’s neck and forced him to look in the direction he was pointing.

Ram didn’t expect Ashwin to treat him so roughly, but when he looked in that direction, his eyes immediately landed on a woman. She was wearing a stunning pink knee-length dress that hugged her figure perfectly. She was surrounded by men who seemed to be captivated by her as if they forgot everything around them.

“Look at her,” Ashwin said in awe. “She’s beautiful and elegant. I’d give up my bachelor life just to talk to her.” There was no sign of drunkenness in Ashwin’s voice now, just admiration. “I have to find out who she is. She could be the perfect woman for me, a perfect mother for my kids.”

Ram couldn’t take his eyes off her. She had long, flowing hair and her beauty was undeniable. “She’s exactly my type,” Ram thought.

The two friends stood frozen in the corner of the hall, mesmerized by the woman in the pink dress. She was laughing and talking with a famous businessman as if they were old friends. He took her hand and kissed it gently.

Then, a curly-haired woman walked up to her and whispered something in her ear. Soon after, both women left the hall. Ram recognized the curly-haired woman as Neha and a suspicion formed in his mind. He wasn’t entirely sure, but he began to wonder if the woman in the pink dress was someone he knew. He decided to keep his thoughts to himself for now, not wanting to share his doubts with Ashwin.

He didn’t know why, but hearing Ashwin praise the woman made Ram uneasy. He needed to know for sure if it was her.

It wasn’t difficult to find her again. Among the crowd of men, Ram could see the way their eyes glinted as if they were undressing her with their thoughts. Ram’s blood started to boil, though he didn’t know why.

Priya was standing on the balcony, gazing at the stars, humming a soft tune. She was relieved when her phone rang, giving her an excuse to escape the chaos inside. The attention from the businessmen was suffocating. Yes, she was representing her brother at the party, but she wasn’t interested in answering their trivial questions. She promised herself to thank her brother later when he returned from his business trip.

She didn’t notice anyone approaching her until she heard a deep voice call her name.

“Ram?” she said, surprised, turning to face him. His serious expression made her heart race.

It was her. He had been right all along. His sixth sense hadn’t betrayed him.

“What were you thinking, Priya, by leading those men on?” Ram’s voice was cold and accusing from the doorway. “It was disgusting to watch.”

Priya stood up straight, confusion and anger bubbling inside her. “What are you talking about? When did I lead anyone on?” she snapped, her voice rising.

“Don’t play innocent,” Ram crossed his arms, his tone harsh. “I saw everything. They were all flocking around you like moths to a flame, and it looked like you were enjoying it. Making those respectable men look foolish.”

Priya’s jaw tightened with anger. She had never imagined her friend would speak to her like this. He had humiliated her, calling her a flirt in front of everyone. She couldn’t recognize the man in front of her anymore.

“So this is how you see me?” Priya’s voice cracked with hurt. “I suppose you’ve always thought of me like this, from the very first time we met. Yes, of course, it’s shameful for you to be friends with someone like me.” She took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears. “Well, if that’s how you feel, then I’m releasing you from this ‘burden.’ We’re not friends anymore. And honestly, judging by the way you’ve spoken to me, we never were.”

She turned to walk away, her heart heavy with pain, but his next words stopped her.

“You’re a great actress, Priya, but I’m not falling for your lies.”

Priya’s head snapped back to him, her eyes burning with anger. “You’re unbelievable,” she hissed, and in that moment, she slapped him across the face. 

Ram stumbled back, his cheek burning from the force of the slap. His eyes widened in shock, and as he looked at her, he saw the tears streaming down her face. She was looking at him with pure hatred, but there was something else in her eyes—a deep pain that made his heartache.

“I don’t want to know you anymore,” she shouted, her voice breaking. She stormed past him, not looking back.

Ram stood there, staring after her, his hand still pressed to his cheek where she had slapped him. He didn’t understand what had just happened. Why had she reacted like that? And why did it hurt so much to see her go?

Priya’s tears blurred her vision as she walked away, desperate to escape the pain in her heart. She didn’t know where she was going, but she couldn’t stay at the party. Ram’s words had cut deep, and she didn’t understand why he had said those things to her. Had she ever really been his friend? She wasn’t sure anymore.

Lost in her thoughts, Priya barely noticed an animal crossing the road in front of her. It was a miracle she didn’t hit it. She had been driving recklessly, her emotions out of control, and it scared her.

She stopped in the middle of the highway, her heart too heavy to drive safely. She couldn’t think straight. The pain of Ram’s words had left her unable to focus. She took out her phone and called Neha, telling her she was just going for a drive to get away from the party. Neha seemed to believe her, but Priya knew she was lying.

Priya hated herself for lying to her family, but she couldn’t let them worry about her.

It was a beautiful, starry night, and Priya pulled over to the side of the road, needing space to think. She found a quiet spot, parked her car, and lay on the cool grass, gazing up at the stars. The chill in the air didn’t bother her as she tried to calm her racing thoughts. 

But no matter how beautiful the night was, it couldn’t distract her from the argument she had with Ram. She was sure their friendship was over. His harsh words had shattered something inside her. And even though part of her wanted to forget everything, the conversation kept replaying in her mind, causing her heart to ache.

It wasn’t long before Priya fell into a restless sleep, still consumed by the emotions swirling inside her.

To be continued...