The Three Threads

On one knee

The sun dipped low over the misty hills of Coorg, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.

The air was thick with the scent of coffee  and damp earth.
Sam stood at the edge of a balcony, her heart racing rhythm  that filled the evening air.
She couldn't understand why she was feeling like this out of sudden.

Meanwhile

Nahar stood at the edge of a cliff, his heart racing, not just from the chill of the morning air but from the anticipation that bubbled within him.

Today was the day he would propose to Sam, the love of his life.

He could practically hear the wedding bells ringing, even though they were still a few steps away.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Aadvik asked, breaking the silence. He leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed and a teasing grin plastered on his face. "I mean, you could still back out. I hear the single life has its perks."😜😜

Nahar shot him a glare, though his lips twitched upwards. "You're a terrible friend, you know that? You're supposed to be supporting me, not scaring me."

"Oh, come on! You're about to pop the question! It's my job to keep you on your toes," Aadvik laughed😂, tilting his head back. The sound echoed through the morning mist.
"Yeah, well, my toes are already tingling," Nahar mumbled, glancing over at Sam, who stood a few feet away, chatting  with Saachi and Maaya.

They were setting up a picnic, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

"Just remember, if she says no, you can always join my single life," Aadvik snickered.

"Haha," Nahar replied, rolling his eyes.

"You're hilarious. I can't wait to tell this story at our wedding."

"Now that's the spirit!" Aadvik clapped him on the back. "Just don't drop the ring. I hear it's bad luck."

Nahar's hand instinctively went to his pocket, feeling the small velvet box nestled inside.

"I won't drop it," he assured him.

"Good. Because I am not diving into that lake to retrieve it," Aadvik said, gesturing down the steep hill.

"Can you imagine?" Nahar chuckled. "Me, knee-deep in mud, begging for my ring back."

"Just make sure you're not knee-deep in heartbreak instead," Aadvik shot back, though his eyes sparkled with humor.

Before Nahar could respond, Maaya came bounding over, her excitement palpable. "You guys! It's the perfect day for a proposal!" she exclaimed, her hair dancing in the wind .

"The sun is shining, the birds are singing-"

"Birds might be singing your praises, but I think they're mocking me," Nahar interrupted, wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans.

"Relax, Nahar! It's just a question," Saachi chimed in, her voice soothing. "You've been together for years. She loves you. You've got this."

"Easy for you to say," he muttered. "You're not the one asking."

"What's going on, boys?" Aarav asked, pouring a steaming cup of coffee. "You look like you're about to face a firing squad."

"More like a proposal," Aadvik replied, waggling his eyebrows. "Nahar here is about to make the biggest mistake of his life."

"Hey!" Nahar shot back, his nerves bubbling. "Why am I surrounded by such unsupportive friends?"
"Because it's way more fun this way!" Aadvik winked. "Now go on, get down on one knee."

With a deep breath, Nahar took a few steps closer to Sam.

The light breeze tousled her hair, and she glanced over at him, her smile bright as the sun. There was a softness in her eyes that made his heart swell.

"Sam!" he called, his voice unexpectedly shaky. "Can you come here for a second?"

"Sure!" she replied, her face lighting up as she skipped over to him. "What's up?"

Nahar's stomach fluttered. "I, uh... I wanted to ask you something." He could feel everyone's eyes on him, the weight of their anticipation pushing down on him.

"Now you're making me nervous," Sam teased, crossing her arms. "What is it? You're not breaking up with me, are you?"

"No! Definitely not!" he exclaimed, his voice rising an octave. "I just-" He hesitated, the words getting stuck in his throat.

Sam," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "Will you marry me?" As she opened her mouth to respond, the words caught in her throat. A rush of emotions-joy, fear, uncertainty-collided within her.

She had been waiting for this moment, the one where Nahar would finally voice what they both felt.
But as he knelt before her, the world around them faded into a blur.

"I just want to know if you'll marry me."
He dropped to one knee, pulling out the ring box.

A rush of adrenaline surged through him as he opened it, revealing the sparkling diamond set against the velvet lining. "Sam, will you-"

But before he could finish, her face paled, and she swayed slightly.

"Sam?" Nahar's heart dropped. "Are you okay?"

With a soft "Thud!" she collapsed on the grass, the ring box slipping from Nahar's fingers and landing with a gentle *clink* beside her.

Sam!" The echo of Nahar's voice was the last thing she heard before the darkness enveloped her completely.