Intensely Twisted Fate

Chapter : 9

Laranya's POV

He carefully adjusted my head so I could lean on his shoulder, his actions speaking louder than any words ever could. It felt as if he were silently saying, *You don’t have to carry it all alone anymore; I’m here for you.* I sighed in relief, the warmth of his presence calming me. Then, breaking the comforting silence, he spoke in a soft yet hesitant tone, "Lara, I’m about to drop the biggest truth of my life tonight. Before I do, I need you to promise me something." 

I tilted my head slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of his expression. He seemed unusually tense. "What is it?" I asked. 

He turned his gaze to the stars and continued, "Promise me, no matter what I tell you, you won’t think any differently of me. That nothing will change between us, and you’ll still look at me the same way you do now." 

I frowned, unsure of why he felt the need to say such things, but my trust in him was unwavering. Without a second thought, I replied, "I promise, Shravan." 

He nodded, exhaling deeply as if gathering courage. "You see, Lara," he began, "my parents… well, they aren’t my real parents. I mean, they didn’t give birth to me. I was adopted. I’m… actually an orphan." 

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. I turned to look at him, my heart sinking at his words, but his expression surprised me. He wasn’t sad or bitter. He was smiling faintly, his eyes fixed on the night sky as though the stars themselves were reassuring him. 

"Shravan… you’re…" I started to say something, but I couldn’t find the right words. 

"Yes," he interrupted, still calm, "I’m an orphan. But it’s not something that bothers me anymore. I’ve come to terms with it. My parents—Dipti and Yash—they may not have given me life, but they gave me a home, a family, and love. That’s more than I could’ve ever asked for." 

I remained silent, unsure of how to respond, but he continued as though he had anticipated my reaction. 

"You know, Lara, life has a way of throwing curveballs at you, but it’s up to you how you handle them. Every phase of life teaches us something. Some people give up when things get tough—they lose hope, or worse, let the darkness consume them. But I’ve learned that if you choose to see things in a positive light, everything starts feeling a little less heavy. You find strength where you didn’t think it existed." 

His words sank into me, resonating deeply. He was right. Life was never easy, but perspective could change everything. 

"I know you might not fully understand what I’m saying right now," he added, turning to face me. "But one day, you will. When that day comes, you’ll see things differently, I promise. If, by chance, I find you struggling with the same thoughts after three weeks, I’ll explain everything to you again in a way you’ll understand better." 

He smiled faintly, his sincerity shining through. 

*If you look at life positively, everything feels easier.* 

His words echoed in my mind. I couldn’t help but apply them to my own life. "If I think of Aparna and Sumit leaving as a blessing because it cleared the way for something better… if I believe my mom would be proud of Preeti and me because we’ve grown into the people she wanted us to be… if I start enjoying my work instead of seeing it as a burden, maybe things won’t seem so bad," I said, almost thinking aloud. 

Shravan looked at me, clearly impressed. "Exactly," he said. "You’re starting to get it. Life doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it for ourselves." 

His reassurance sparked something in me—hope. 

"Smart girl," he teased with a grin. "Now, come on. It’s late, and we both have work tomorrow."