Nothing Is Permanent (Part I)

There once was a girl named Riya who lived a terrible life, but no one knew her secret. She had not been truly happy for the past five years.

Despite her hardships, Riya managed to make many friends. She persevered through adversity, studying hard and eventually graduating from college with top honors.

She became number one in her class, and her college friends admired her dedication and determination. However, they never asked about her past or the struggles she had endured.

Riya's ambition led her to start her own company. Several months later, her friend Mary joined her in this endeavor, and their company quickly became a success.

One day, as they were discussing their achievements:

Mary: "Riya, why don't we throw a party to celebrate our company's success, 'Today's Present'?"

Riya: "Yes, Mary, that's a great idea! It's been two years since we started, and it's time to celebrate."

Mary: "Alright, let's plan it. What should we do?"

Riya: "Let's invite all our staff and friends. It'll be a wonderful celebration."

Mary agreed to the plan, and they set about organizing a grand party held in their company.

The event was a spectacular success, and everyone rejoiced in their accomplishments. Riya took the opportunity to address her friends and colleagues:

Riya: "My dear friends and staff, this is a victory not just for Mary and me but for all of us. We've grown this company together, and I want to treat you all to a night at the hotel."

The afternoon at the company had gone wonderfully, and later that night, they all went to the hotel as Riya's treat. They had a fantastic time, and Riya's staff members and friends bonded.

Among her friends were Sofia, Mary, John, David, Harley, Rose, Mark, and Roy—Riya's cherished circle.

Sofia: "Riya is incredible. Her college days were amazing."

Harley: "Indeed, but their success today is thanks to Mary."

Rose: "Regardless, do you all remember the dance we used to do?"

John: "Of course! How could we forget?"

Riya: "Let's dance."

They started dancing near the hotel's swimming pool, and laughter filled the air. Riya was smiling brightly, enjoying the moment, until an unexpected accident occurred. She slipped and fell into the pool.

David quickly reached out to help her out of the water, and as Riya emerged from the pool, her friends noticed something shocking—a scar on her face.

Mary: "Riya, you have a scar on your face! Why didn't you tell us?"

Sofia: "We're your friends; you should have shared this with us."

Rose: "Don't worry, David is a doctor; he can make the scar disappear."

Mark: "So, this is why you never joined us on trips or camps."

Roy: "I assumed it was because of me. I'm sorry, Riya."

David: "Don't worry, Riya. We'll help you with this."

They comforted and questioned her about the scar. Riya hesitated but eventually decided to share her painful past with her friends. She remembered her painful experiences, the reason behind the scar, and the emotions that had kept her silent for so long.

Her friends listened, and even though they were shocked, they offered her their unwavering support.

Rose: "Roy, why did you tell them she didn't come on the trips because of you?"

Roy: "It was just a guess. I didn't want her to feel alone."

Mary: "Let's stay here at her house. We can talk to her in the morning."

Everyone agreed, and they spent the night at Riya's house. The next morning, they waited for her to come downstairs after applying makeup to cover the scar.

Riya: "I told you all not to get mad..."

Roy: "I got mad, too."

Mary: "But you should have trusted us enough to share."

Mark: "Please, Riya, tell us what happened."

Riya began to share her painful story...

To be continued...