Threads of Tradition: Tales Of Indian Arranged Marriages

5.

The rain fell in torrents that evening, each droplet striking the pavement like a reminder of the tumult brewing in Kavya's heart. She had spent the afternoon seeking solace in her favourite café, scribbling her thoughts in a worn journal, desperately trying to untangle the web of her emotions. It was a ritual that had always brought her peace, but today, the weight of her troubles felt too heavy to bear.

As the clock ticked toward evening, Kavya reluctantly decided to head home, the storm outside mirroring her inner turmoil. She climbed into her car, her mind racing with thoughts of Arjun, their arguments, and the fracture lines that had formed in their once seemingly perfect marriage. Taking a deep breath, she turned the key in the ignition, her thoughts still swirling as she navigated through the slick roads.

With each passing mile, the rain intensified, blurring her vision and making the roads treacherous. Kavya's heart raced—not from fear of the weather, but from the weight of her unresolved feelings. Her mind was flooded with doubts and fears, images of Arjun’s harsh words playing on repeat. It was in this vulnerable state that she felt a pang of defiance, a need to break free from the cage of her emotions.

But fate had other plans. Just as she rounded a curve, her heart sank as she spotted the glint of headlights approaching too quickly in the opposite lane. In a split second, everything changed. The sound of screeching tyres filled the air, a deafening crash resonating through the night as metal crumpled and glass shattered. Kavya's world spun violently, her body tossed like a rag doll against the confines of her car.

When darkness enveloped her, it felt both merciful and suffocating.

It was the shrill sound of sirens that roused her from the depths of unconsciousness, piercing through the fog that had clouded her mind. As the chaos unfolded around her, a haze of pain engulfed her senses. She felt disoriented, each throb in her head sending sharp reminders of the accident coursing through her. Her body felt heavy and unresponsive, yet she fought against the waves of unconsciousness threatening to pull her back under.

In the distance, the frantic voices of paramedics broke through the haze, punctuated by the sound of medical equipment. They worked swiftly, voices filled with urgency and concern as they loaded her onto a stretcher, each bump sending jolts of agony through her body.

“Stay with us, ma’am. You’re going to be okay,” one of the paramedics reassured her, but her vision blurred, and she struggled to remain present. All she could think of was the regret—regret for the harsh words exchanged with Arjun, regret for the moments lost in the bitterness of their relationship.

As they wheeled her into the hospital, the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting an unsettling glow on everything around her. Panic gripped her heart as she fought to stay conscious, her thoughts spiralling into the dark abyss of uncertainty. Would she see Arjun again? Would he even care?

Meanwhile, across town, Arjun had just finished a meeting when his phone buzzed violently on the table. The familiar sound of his mother’s number lit up the screen, but the frantic urgency in her voice sent shivers down his spine. “Arjun, you need to come to the hospital. It’s Kavya. She’s been in an accident.”

The words struck him like a bolt of lightning, fear slicing through him. Time slowed as he struggled to process the information, his heart racing wildly in his chest. Without a second thought, he dashed out of the meeting, his mind racing with images of her laughter, her warmth, and the love he had taken for granted.

He drove recklessly through the rain-soaked streets, anxiety knotting in his stomach with every passing second. As he reached the hospital, he could barely contain the panic bubbling within him. He burst through the doors, drenched and breathless, seeking out the nearest nurse. “Where’s my wife? Kavya Awasthi. She was just brought in!”

“Calm down, sir. She’s in the trauma unit. They’re doing everything they can,” the nurse said, her voice soothing yet tinged with concern. “Please wait here.”

Arjun could hardly breathe as he paced the waiting room, his thoughts racing in tandem with his heart. Memories of their wedding day flashed before his eyes—the joy, the laughter, the promises they had made. How could he have been so blind? He realized with a jolt that he had never truly understood the fragility of their relationship until this moment.

Minutes felt like hours as he waited, the sterile smell of antiseptic and the hushed whispers of other families only heightened his anxiety. He replayed their last argument in his head, each cruel word echoing like a haunting refrain. If anything happened to her, how would he ever forgive himself?

Finally, a doctor emerged, his expression serious yet compassionate. “Mr. Khanna, I’m Dr. Suresh. Your wife is stable, but she has sustained significant injuries. We need to keep her under observation for a while. You can see her shortly, but we need to monitor her closely.”

Relief washed over Arjun, but it was fleeting, quickly replaced by a tidal wave of guilt and dread. He nodded, his throat dry as he thanked the doctor and made his way to Kavya’s room. As he stepped inside, his breath caught in his throat.

Kavya lay on the hospital bed, her body fragile and bruised, tubes snaking from her arms and machines beeping softly in the background. She looked so small, so vulnerable, and it tore at his heart to see her like this. He had always thought of her as his rock, and now she lay there, fighting for her life while he had dismissed her pain.

He approached her bedside, his heart heavy with emotion as he reached out to take her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. “Kavya,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I’m here. I’m so sorry. Please wake up. I need you to wake up.”

Tears welled in his eyes as he watched her, willing her to respond, to hear the sincerity in his voice. At that moment, he realized how deeply he loved her and how much he had taken for granted. The walls he had built around his heart began to crumble, revealing the vulnerability he had hidden for so long.

As he sat by her side, he vowed to himself that he would change. He would learn to cherish her, to support her dreams, and to be the partner she deserved. It was time to confront the demons that had plagued their relationship and prove that love could indeed flourish even in the aftermath of pain.

Time passed slowly, but Arjun remained resolute, knowing that he would do everything in his power to be there for Kavya, to fight for their love, and to mend the veils of regret that had overshadowed their lives.