Eternal Souls

Chapter Six: Decisions of the Heart

The Deshmukh house was alive with the sounds of Mansi's *sangeet* preparations, but Pallavi had distanced herself from the festivities. She sat quietly at the Saree Emporium, her fingers tracing the edges of the fabric she was folding. Today, her heart felt heavier than usual, weighed down by the constant reminders of her place—or lack thereof—in the Deshmukh family.

Krishna, who had been busy organizing the shelves, finally noticed the melancholy that clung to Pallavi like a shadow. She walked over, her concern evident. "*Didi*, are you not going home for the *sangeet*?" she asked cautiously.

Pallavi gave a faint smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll go after it's over, Krishna. Right now, I'd rather be here, away from all the noise," she replied, her tone calm yet distant.

Krishna looked at her, reading between the lines. "If you're staying, I'll stay too. I'm not leaving you alone, *Didi*," she said firmly.

Pallavi glanced at Krishna, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Krishna," she said softly. "You don't have to, but... it means a lot."

They continued working in silence, but Pallavi's mind was elsewhere. After some time, she looked over at Krishna and, in a quiet voice, said, "Krishna, I've been thinking. I might be leaving soon. I'm planning to go to Kolhapur."

Krishna's hands froze mid-motion, shock evident on her face. "*Didi*, what do you mean? Why would you leave? This is your home," she said, her voice filled with confusion.

Pallavi sighed, running a hand through her hair as if trying to smooth out her thoughts. "It doesn't feel like home anymore, Krishna. I've done what I could for this family, but... I don't think I belong here any longer."

Krishna frowned, her heart heavy for her *didi*. "But *Aai*, *Baba*, Nikhil... they all need you, don't they? You've been the backbone of this family ever since Mandar..." She trailed off, not wanting to bring up painful memories.

Pallavi's eyes softened, a mix of sadness and resolution in her gaze. "It wasn't always like this, Krishna. You know, when my parents passed away, it was just *Dada* and *Vahini* who raised me. They became my world, my only family. We weren't wealthy, but we had each other."

Krishna nodded, remembering how Pallavi had mentioned her older brother Sidhesh and his wife Meera, who had taken care of her after their parents' untimely death.

"Mandar had promised me," Pallavi continued, her voice cracking slightly. "He promised we'd build a life together, but the day of our wedding, he never came back. When the police declared him dead, I thought my world had ended. *Dada* and *Vahini* were ready to take me back to Kolhapur, away from the pain. But I saw *Aai* and *Baba*. They were so broken, Krishna. The shop was failing, and Nikhil was still in college. They needed me."

She paused, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I couldn't leave them like that. I took on the responsibility of the shop, even though I had no idea what I was doing. I wanted to fulfill Mandar's duties, to keep his family from falling apart. I promised *Dada* and *Vahini* that once things were better, I'd return to Kolhapur. And now, with Nikhil learning the business and Amruta starting to help, I think it's time."

Krishna's eyes softened with empathy. "But *Didi*, what about *Aai* and *Baba*? They love you like their own daughter."

Pallavi smiled weakly. "I know, and I love them too. But apart from *Aai*, *Baba*, Nikhil, and Amruta, no one really wants me here. *Kaku* despises me, and her taunts... they're getting harder to ignore. Every day, I'm reminded that I'm bad luck, that I don't belong. I can't carry that burden forever, Krishna. I need to start thinking about my own life."

Krishna swallowed hard, her heart aching for Pallavi. "I understand, *Didi*. You've done so much for everyone here, but you deserve to live for yourself too. I'll miss you, though."

Pallavi reached out, taking Krishna's hand. "Thank you, Krishna. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Krishna wiped away a tear. "What are you planning to do in Kolhapur, *Didi*?"

Pallavi hesitated for a moment before answering. "Before I married Mandar, I was in my final year of MBBS. I was studying to become a doctor, and Mandar had promised me that I could continue my education after our wedding. He wanted me to follow my dreams. But when he died, those dreams were put on hold. Now... I've contacted my old college in Kolhapur. They've agreed to let me re-enroll and finish my studies."

Krishna's eyes widened in surprise. "You were studying medicine? *Didi*, that's amazing!"

Pallavi smiled, a small glimmer of pride in her eyes. "Yes, I was passionate about it. I loved the idea of helping people, of making a difference. And now, after everything, I think it's time to go back to that. I've fulfilled my responsibilities here, and now it's time for me to focus on my own future."

Krishna's face lit up with admiration. "You deserve that, *Didi*. You deserve to follow your dreams."

Pallavi looked around the shop, the place that had been both her refuge and her burden for so long. "I've done everything I could here, but it's time to let go. It's time to move forward."

Krishna nodded, her eyes filled with respect. "Whatever you decide to do, *Didi*, I'll always support you. You've been so strong for everyone else. Now, it's time to be strong for yourself."

Pallavi squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Krishna. That means the world to me."

As the evening deepened, Pallavi knew that her life was about to take a different turn. She had stayed in Kolhapur for the Deshmukhs, for the promise she made to Mandar. But now, it was time for her to reclaim the dreams she had put aside, the life she had once envisioned for herself. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, Pallavi felt like it was hers to decide.