I walked into my old classmates’ reunion wearing a simple green saree, carrying a small handbag, and arriving completely alone. The ballroom glittered with chandeliers, expensive decorations, and familiar faces. Then I spotted my former husband, Vikram Sethi, standing beside his pregnant wife, Shreya. He approached with a mocking smile and asked, “Kavya, you came alone? After all these years, haven’t you found someone to take care of you?” A few people laughed. I simply smiled and told him I was perfectly happy with my life.

Vikram looked at my simple saree and introduced himself as the successful owner of Sethi Learning Systems. When someone asked what I did, he answered for me, calling my business a tiny consulting office in Pune. I calmly corrected him: my company was called Pragati Learning Partners. He laughed and walked away. I hadn’t come to impress anyone. My former roommate, Tanvi, had personally invited me with a handwritten note saying that some people deserved to be seen again. I didn’t understand why until the evening’s special announcement began…