Threads of Fate

The Decision

The night had fallen quiet in the Gupta household, the soft hum of the ceiling fan the only sound that filled the air. Khushi was lying on her bed, lost in her thoughts, when there was a gentle knock on her door. She sat up, a bit startled, and called out, “Come in.”

The door creaked open to reveal Rajesh, his face lined with concern. He stepped inside, his demeanor unusually serious. Khushi immediately noticed the worry in his eyes and sat up straighter. “Papa, is everything alright? You look worried.”

Rajesh closed the door behind him and approached the bed, taking a seat on the edge. He sighed softly, looking at his daughter with a mixture of love and apprehension. “Khushi, I need to talk to you about something important.”

Khushi felt a flutter of anxiety in her chest. She hadn’t seen her father this serious in a long time. “What is it, Papa?”

Rajesh hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “Tonight, the Raizadas made a proposal… They’ve asked for your hand in marriage for Arnav.”

Khushi’s eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching in her throat. Of all the things she had been expecting, this wasn’t it. The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implication.

Rajesh watched his daughter’s reaction carefully, his heart aching for her. He knew this wasn’t an easy decision. “Khushi, I want you to take your time and think this through. This is a big decision, and I don’t want you to feel pressured. We respect whatever choice you make.”

Khushi nodded slowly, her mind already spinning with thoughts. “I… I didn’t expect this, Papa. I need some time to think.”

Rajesh reached out and gently squeezed her hand, offering her a reassuring smile. “Take all the time you need, beta. We’ll support you no matter what.”

With that, he gave her hand one last comforting squeeze before standing up to leave. “Goodnight, Khushi. Try to get some rest.”

“Goodnight, Papa,” Khushi murmured, watching as her father left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Alone again, Khushi let out a shaky breath, her thoughts racing. She hadn’t anticipated this turn of events, and the weight of the decision pressed heavily on her. She lay back down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling as her mind replayed the events of the past few days.

Her thoughts drifted to Arnav, to the moments they had shared—their banter, their arguments, the way he seemed to always be around her, pushing her buttons. She thought of the way he had looked at her during the engagement ceremony, how his presence seemed to fill the room even when he wasn’t saying anything.

There was no denying that Arnav was an important figure in her life, but could she see him as her husband? That was the question she had to answer. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she couldn’t make a decision without talking to him first.

The night wore on, and Khushi tossed and turned in bed, unable to find peace. Her mind kept circling back to Arnav, to the way he had held her gaze, to the way he had made her heart race. But what did that mean? Was it enough?

Finally, as the first light of dawn began to filter through her curtains, Khushi made up her mind. She would talk to Arnav. She needed to know what he thought, what he felt, before she could make her decision.

---

The next morning, Khushi was deep in thought as she sat at her vanity, absentmindedly brushing her hair. Her mind was still swirling with questions when Aditi walked into the room, her expression curious and concerned.

“Khushi, you look like you didn’t sleep at all last night,” Aditi said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. “What’s going on?”

Khushi sighed, putting down the brush and turning to face her sister. “I didn’t sleep much. I’ve been thinking about… everything.”

Aditi nodded, understanding immediately. “I figured it might be about the proposal. It’s a big decision, Khushi. But I want you to know that Arnav isn’t a bad guy. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. And we both know how much Badi Maa and the rest of the Raizada family love you.”

Khushi looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her dupatta. “I know, Aditi di. But it’s all so overwhelming. I didn’t expect this… and I don’t know what to think.”

Aditi leaned forward, placing a comforting hand on Khushi’s shoulder. “Khushi, this is your life. You have every right to take your time and make sure it’s the right decision for you. But I also think you should consider Arnav seriously. He’s not the easiest person to understand, but I believe he cares about you more than he lets on.”

Khushi bit her lip, her thoughts still conflicted. “I know, di. But before I make any decisions, I want to talk to Arnav. I need to hear what he has to say.”

Aditi smiled gently, nodding in agreement. “That’s a good idea, Khushi. Talking to him will help you figure out what you want. Just remember, whatever you decide, we’re all here for you.”

Khushi returned her sister’s smile, feeling a little more at ease. “Thank you, Aditi di. I’m going to talk to him today.”

---

At the Raizada house, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. The entire family was busy preparing for the cocktail party that evening—a combined bachelor and bachelorette party for Arjun and Aditi. The decorations were being finalized, the menu was being double-checked, and the excitement in the air was palpable.

But beneath the surface, there was another undercurrent of tension. Everyone was waiting for Khushi’s reply, wondering what her decision would be. The siblings had gathered in the living room, each of them speculating on what the outcome might be.

“I bet she’ll say no,” Anjali teased, a mischievous grin on her face. “Arnav isn’t exactly the nicest person to her.”

Siya giggled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “True. She might just decide she doesn’t want to deal with his grumpy attitude for the rest of her life.”

Arnav, who had been listening in silence, felt his stomach twist with nerves. He wasn’t used to feeling this way—so uncertain, so out of control. His siblings’ teasing, though playful, only heightened his anxiety. What if Khushi did say no? What if he had misread everything?

Just as he was about to respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his heart skipping a beat when he saw that it was a text from Khushi.

**Khushi**: *Can we talk at the party tonight? Alone?*

Arnav stared at the message, his nerves skyrocketing. What did she want to talk about? Was this a good sign or a bad one? The uncertainty gnawed at him, making it hard to focus on anything else.

His siblings, noticing the change in his expression, leaned in with curiosity. “Who’s that from?” Siya asked, trying to peek at his phone.

Arnav quickly put the phone away, standing up from his seat. “It’s nothing,” he muttered, his voice a little too tense to be convincing.

Anjali raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Arnav, you’re acting weird. What’s going on?”

Arnav shook his head, trying to keep his composure. “Nothing. I just have something to take care of. I’ll be back later.”

With that, he left the room, leaving his siblings exchanging puzzled glances. They had never seen Arnav so rattled before, and it only made them more curious about what was going on.

As Arnav made his way to his room, his mind was racing. Tonight’s party was supposed to be a celebration, but now it felt like the entire evening hinged on one conversation—one that could change everything.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Whatever Khushi wanted to say, he had to be ready for it. He had to be honest with her, and with himself, about what he wanted.

And as the clock ticked down to the party, the anticipation in the Raizada house only grew, with everyone waiting to see how the night would unfold.

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