Chapter 4: Lonavala Revelations

After that, everything went back to normal. The office buzzed with the usual chai gossip and hurried footsteps in the corridor.

The company organised a team-building trip to Lonavala for a three-day vacation. My excitement built up as everyone chattered about which snacks to pack and which playlist to blast on the bus. Everyone fought over the window seat, passing around packets of Haldiram’s and playing Antakshari till our throats were sore.

A few hours later, the bus arrived at the resort, and the beautiful scenery washed away everyone’s fatigue. The air was fresh, the hills green, and the lake shimmered under the sunlight. A few of us even ran to the edge, giggling and clicking selfies.

Everyone took photos and checked in, having a blast. People compared room keys, argued over who got the window bed, and posted stories on Instagram with #Workation.

By dinner, the admin team gathered everyone for a barbecue party. Fairy lights were strung up, and the smoky aroma of grilled corn and paneer filled the air. Some danced, some sat in circles with plates piled high.

During the barbecue, Arjun stayed by my side, busying himself for me. He carefully picked out the least burnt tikka, handed me a Frooti, and even waved away mosquitoes.

The department’s intern, Ritu, chattered beside Arjun, acting especially close to him. Her laughter was shrill, her smile almost too wide, and she kept nudging Arjun with her elbow.

But Arjun barely paid her any attention. He kept glancing at me, giving me reassuring smiles. Still, I couldn’t help noticing Ritu’s persistent efforts.

Maybe she got bored, because after a while, Ritu wandered off. I watched her go, feeling a strange mix of relief and irritation.

“Alright, madam, Ritu is just a kid—I see her as a little sister. Are you really jealous?”

After Ritu left, Arjun whispered to me. His tone was playful, but his eyes searched my face for any trace of upset.

He was good at reading my moods. He’d noticed I went quiet when Ritu approached and understood why. Sometimes, I felt like he knew me better than I knew myself.

“No. But keep your distance from her in the future, okay?” I said, only half-joking. I tried to sound casual, but my possessiveness peeked through.

I was confident in Arjun’s feelings for me. Even though I knew Ritu liked him, I didn’t overthink it. I trusted him, or so I thought.

“Yes, ma’am.” He did a mock salute, grinning.

After the barbecue, everyone went back to the hotel to rest. The buzz of laughter faded, replaced by the hum of air conditioners and muffled conversations.

All the rooms were standard doubles—two people per room. My roommate, Priya, had already dozed off with her headphones in, leaving me to my own thoughts.

The hotel was by the lake, and the scenery was beautiful. I leaned on the balcony for a while, watching the moonlight dance on the water, trying to calm my restless mind.

After showering, I called Arjun, wanting to go for a walk on the lawn together. The phone rang and rang, then disconnected. Strange.

But the call didn’t go through.

I knew his room number, so I went to knock. My heart fluttered, partly from anticipation, partly from something I couldn’t name.

But Kabir opened the door.

“Is Arjun here?”

“He went out.”

“Where to?”

“Not sure.”

Kabir looked like he’d just showered, still drying his hair with a towel. His T-shirt clung to his skin, water droplets glistening under the corridor light. He looked so different from the usual formal avatar at work.

Not wanting to disturb him, I nodded and quickly left. My cheeks burned as I walked away, my mind spinning.

Arjun’s phone still couldn’t be reached. I checked WhatsApp—last seen ages ago.

I was a little puzzled. Where could he have gone in the middle of the night? Was he upset about something?

But soon, I got my answer.

On my way back, I ran into a hotel staff member who mentioned there was a show by the pool in the backyard. He waved in the direction of the music and laughter.

I was about to join the fun, but then, behind a pillar, I saw Arjun holding a woman and kissing her passionately.

It was Ritu.

My steps froze, as if my feet were made of lead. The sounds around me faded away, replaced by a deafening silence.

“Arjun, do you like me?”

“Of course.”

“More than Neha?”

“She can’t compare to you. Kissing her is like kissing a block of wood—I don’t feel any desire at all.”

Hearing Arjun’s words, Ritu giggled.

“You ignored me in front of her just now, I was so mad.”

“Aren’t I making it up to you now?”

The two of them laughed and flirted, their intimacy obvious. They seemed oblivious to the world, lost in their own little bubble.

Ritu snuggled into Arjun’s chest, teasing him.

“What if she finds out?”

“Don’t worry. She won’t.”

“So confident?”

“She’s so naive and easy to fool.”

“You’re such a bad man.”

“If I weren’t, would you still like me?”

After that, Arjun kissed Ritu again, completely ignoring the world around them. Their laughter echoed, a slap to my face.

I’d always thought Arjun was the best person to me in the world. I’d told my friends, my mother, everyone—'He’s different. He’s the one.'

The perfect boyfriend—a solid ten out of ten.

Someone who would never betray me.

But it turned out, it was all fake. Just a pretty story for the world to see.

Everything was just a carefully constructed illusion. My heart crumbled, the pain sharp and cold.

Tears blurred my vision. My fists clenched with anger. I wanted to scream, to throw something, to shake him until he confessed everything.

But just as I was about to rush over and create a scene, I suddenly changed my mind. I pressed my dupatta to my mouth to stop a sob, remembering how Amma always said, “Trust is everything, beta.” I took a deep breath, wiped my eyes, and forced myself to step back into the shadows. Why should I let them see my pain?