Chapter 1
The pregnancy test kit trembled in Heena’s shaky hands. She closed her eyes tightly, took a deep, shuddering breath, and prayed silently. But when she opened them again, the two bold pink lines were still there, staring back at her mercilessly.
Two lines. For most women, this would be the happiest moment of their lives. For twenty-seven-year-old Heena , it was her worst nightmare come true.
“N-no... this can’t be happening,” she whispered, her voice breaking. Her head spun as the room seemed to tilt around her. “I need to take another test. This... this isn’t real.”
A Few Months Earlier...
“We are officially on a date! It’s our first day as a couple!” Riya squealed, jumping with excitement.
Heena stood frozen in place, her heart dropping to her stomach. “What...?” she managed to say, her voice barely audible.
“Kabir and I are dating!” Riya announced, her cheeks flushed with joy.
Another friend nearby gasped. “Really? Oh my god, congratulations, Riya and Kabir!”
Heena forced a tight smile, but inside, something shattered. Kabir, Riya, and Heena — the three of them had been inseparable since middle school. Kabir and Heena had been childhood best friends first, and Riya had joined their tight-knit group later. Over the years, their bond had grown so strong that it felt unbreakable.
Heena had always believed their perfect trio would remain just like this forever. She had buried her feelings for Kabir deep inside her heart for years, never daring to cross the line from friendship to romance, afraid it would ruin everything.
’I never knew we were allowed to be more than just friends...’she thought bitterly. If only she had known earlier, she might have confessed. All those silent years of loving him felt wasted now.
Seeing Kabir and Riya together hurt more than she could describe. She felt betrayed, even though she knew it wasn’t their fault. Unrequited love rarely had a happy ending.
Still, Heena wasn’t the type to do something reckless like have a meaningless one-night stand to forget her pain.
At least, not until Riya started oversharing.
The Confession
One lazy afternoon, Riya began talking without any filter. “Heena, Kabir’s technique... oh my god, it’s just incredible!”
“Technique?” Heena asked, her heart skipping a beat.
“He is *so* good,” Riya continued shamelessly, spilling every intimate detail about her night with Kabir. “If I had known he was that amazing, I would have slept with him much earlier!”
Heena’s chest tightened painfully. “Oh? Really?” she replied, trying her best to sound normal while her friends laughed and teased.
Riya’s words kept echoing in Heena’s mind long after the conversation ended. When will it be my turn? When will I ever experience something like that?
As a school teacher, Heena had always held herself to the highest ethical and moral standards. That was why, at twenty-seven, she had consciously chosen to remain a virgin.
Riya had once teased her, “I wonder if there’s a sweet guy out there who’ll finally turn our innocent Heena into a shameless woman.”
She had no idea how deeply those words had affected Heena.
Ever since that day, Heena couldn’t stop thinking about Kabir. Alone in her quiet room, her mind would replay Riya’s descriptions. One evening, while drowning in heartbreak and frustration, she remembered the business card Riya had given her months ago — a membership to an exclusive, high-end members-only bar.
Driven by jealousy, anger, and years of suppressed desire, Heena made a reckless decision.
‘Why should I be left behind? I deserve to feel something too.’
That night, she decided to end the virginity she had guarded so carefully for twenty-seven years.
Present Day...
Heena stood frozen in her bedroom, staring at the pregnancy test kit in her trembling hands. The two pink lines were still there — loud, clear, and unforgiving.
‘What do I do now? Who do I even turn to?’
Before she could collect her thoughts, the door burst open and Riya walked in without knocking. “Heena! Hey, what are you doing?”
Panicking, Heena quickly hid the test behind her back. “Hey! Knock before you come in!”
Riya raised an eyebrow. “Since when do we knock in each other’s houses?” She took a step closer, eyes narrowing. “Seriously, what’s going on? You look weird. What are you hiding?”
“Th-this? Nothing! I’m just... exercising!” Heena lied, letting out a nervous laugh. “Yeah, I need to build up my stamina. Haha...”
Riya stared at her skeptically. “Exercising? With that?”
Before Heena could react, Riya lunged forward and grabbed her wrist. The test slipped from Heena’s fingers.
“A pregnancy test?” Riya’s eyes widened in shock. “And two lines?! Oh my god, Heena!”
Heena’s face turned bright red. “Riya, listen... it’s not what you think—”
“Did you have a secret boyfriend this whole time?” Riya asked, looking hurt. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
“No! It’s not like that at all!” Heena protested, shaking her head desperately.
“Then who’s the father? Is he a good guy? Do I know him?” Riya fired questions one after another.
Heena looked down at the floor, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I... I don’t really know.”
“What?!” Riya squealed, completely stunned. “You don’t know who the father is? Heena, what the hell happened?!”
“I know who he is... but at the same time, I don’t,” Heena tried to explain, her mind tangled with shame. “I went to that exclusive bar you gave me the membership for... that night.”
Riya’s jaw dropped. “You had a one-night stand?! Why would you do that?!”
“You’re the one who gave me the membership!” Heena shot back defensively. “And you should have reminded me to be careful! I... I wasn’t thinking straight.”
Riya groaned, grabbing her head in disbelief. “I still can’t believe this. My innocent Heena is pregnant... This is all my fault for even mentioning that bar.” She took a deep breath and softened her tone. “Okay, forget it. We’re going to a clinic today. What time do you get off from school?”
“Around five,” Heena replied quietly.
“Good. I’ll pick you up straight from your office. Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out together,” Riya said, pulling Heena into a tight hug.
Heena closed her eyes, feeling a small weight lift from her chest. “Thank you, Riya...”
