Threads of Fate

Bidai and Aftermath

The courtyard was filled with a somber yet emotional atmosphere as the time for the Bidai arrived. The wedding rituals had concluded, and now it was time for Aditi to leave her family and start a new life with Arjun. Rajesh stood at the center, his usually composed demeanor replaced with tears that glistened in his eyes. His little girl, the one he had watched grow into a responsible and loving woman, was now ready to embark on a new journey.

“Aditi, my little one,” Rajesh said, his voice thick with emotion as he placed his hands on her head, blessing her. “May you have all the happiness in the world. Always stay strong and take care of each other.”

Aditi’s eyes filled with tears as she hugged her father, the reality of leaving her home sinking in. She then turned to her siblings, Khushi and Karan, who were standing by, trying their best to hold back their emotions.

“Karan, Khushi… don’t make this harder,” Aditi said softly, her voice quivering as she hugged them both. “I’m not going far, and you can visit me anytime.”

Karan hugged her tightly, his usual playful demeanor absent. “It’s not the same, Didi. But I know you’ll be happy with Arjun Bhaiya. Just promise to visit often.”

Khushi, too, was struggling to keep her composure. “Didi, I’ll miss you so much,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face as she clung to her sister.

Aditi smiled through her tears, gently wiping Khushi’s cheeks. “I’ll miss you too, Khushi. But this isn’t goodbye; it’s just the beginning of a new chapter for both of us.”

As the car was prepared for Aditi’s departure, Anjali approached them, her warm smile offering a sense of comfort. “Khushi, Karan, Payal, you must join us for the post-wedding rasms at the Raizada house. It wouldn’t be the same without you all.”

Karan nodded, still holding onto Aditi’s hand. “We’ll come in a little bit, Di. We just need to see off the guests first.”

Aditi finally took her seat in the car, Arjun by her side, and as the car slowly pulled away, the Gupta family waved with heavy hearts. The car disappeared from view, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Later that evening, Karan was waiting by the entrance, glancing at his watch. “Khushi, Payal, we should head to the Raizada house now.”

Khushi walked over, her phone in hand, a concerned look on her face. “Karan, I’m so sorry, but I won’t be able to come. There’s an emergency at the hospital, and they need me to come in immediately.”

Karan’s face fell, but he quickly nodded, understanding the situation. “It’s okay, Khushi. Work comes first. Just be careful, okay?”

Payal, on the other hand, couldn’t hide the glint of excitement in her eyes. With Khushi out of the picture, she would finally have a chance to talk to Arnav without interruptions. “Karan Bhaiya, we can still go, right? Khushi will join us later.”

Karan agreed, and they soon made their way to the Raizada mansion. The house was still buzzing with post-wedding celebrations, and Anjali welcomed them with open arms.

“Karan, where’s Khushi?” Anjali asked, looking around for her.

Karan sighed, “She had to go to the hospital due to an emergency. She really wanted to be here but couldn’t avoid it.”

Anjali’s face softened with understanding. “That’s unfortunate, but we’ll catch up with her later.”

Arnav, who had been listening quietly, felt a pang of disappointment. He had been looking forward to seeing Khushi, and now she wasn’t here. Masking his feelings, he excused himself, saying, “I need to make an important call. Excuse me.”

He walked away, heading toward the privacy of his room. He had barely closed the door behind him when he heard a knock. Turning around, he found Payal standing there, a coy smile on her face.

“Arnav, I wanted to talk to you,” she began, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. She moved closer, her intentions clear as she tried to engage him in conversation.

Arnav’s annoyance flared. He had already made it clear that he wasn’t interested, yet here she was, trying to get close to him again. “Payal, I’ve told you before, I’m not interested. Please leave.”

Payal, undeterred, reached out to touch his arm, but Arnav stepped back, his patience wearing thin. “Payal, I’m serious. Stay away from me.”

When Payal continued to ignore his warnings, Arnav’s frustration reached its peak. “I said, stay away from me!” he yelled, his voice loud enough to echo through the hallway.

Startled, Payal froze, fear and embarrassment flashing across her face. Just then, Anjali, having heard the commotion, rushed to the room. “Arnav, what’s going on?”

Arnav, still fuming, turned to his sister. “I don’t like it when someone comes to my room unannounced. I’ve made it clear before, and I won’t tolerate it.”

Anjali, sensing the tension, quickly assessed the situation. “Payal, I think it’s best if you give Arnav some space. Come with me.”

Embarrassed and defeated, Payal nodded and quietly followed Anjali out of the room. As the door closed behind them, Arnav let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. His thoughts, however, drifted back to Khushi, and he couldn’t help but wonder how she was doing, wishing she had been there instead.

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