MEETING THE DARKNESS

18

The weight of her decision hung heavy on Dia as she settled into her apartment in the USA, thousands of miles away from her family in India. The most difficult part of this whole ordeal wasn't the business arrangement with Viktor or even facing OCTI—it was lying to her family. Aryan and their mother had been her rocks, always trusting her, and now, she had to break their hearts with a story that was only half-true.

With a deep breath, she picked up her phone and dialed her family's number, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach as she waited for her mother to pick up.

"Hello, beta!" her mother's voice came through, bright and warm. "How are you?"

"I'm good, Mom. Just busy with a few things," Dia replied, trying to sound casual despite the nerves coursing through her. "I wanted to talk to you and Aryan about something important."

"Of course! Just give me a second to get your brother," her mother said, her excitement evident in her tone. Moments later, Dia could hear Aryan's voice in the background.

"Dia? What's going on?" Aryan asked, sounding slightly concerned.

Dia took a breath, preparing herself for the lie she had to tell. "So, I have some news about Viktor."

"Viktor? Our biggest client?" Aryan's voice was tinged with shock.

"Yes! Well, it's more than that now. Viktor and I... we've been seeing each other for the past three years. We fell in love in India," Dia stated, forcing a smile even though her heart sank.

There was a brief silence on the line before her mother squealed in delight. "Oh, Dia! That's wonderful! I always thought you two had something special!"

Aryan's shock lingered. "Three years? And you didn't tell me?"

"I know, Aryan. I just... didn't want to complicate things back then. But now, we want to get married," Dia added, trying to keep her voice steady.

Her mother gasped, her joy palpable. "Married? Oh, my goodness! I'm so happy for you, Dia! This is amazing!"

"Yeah, that's great, sis," Aryan said slowly, clearly processing the news. "But how do you know this is the right decision? I mean, marriage is a big step."

"I know, I know! But it feels right," Dia rushed to explain. "Viktor is great, and he makes me happy. I really want this."

Aryan sighed, the protective instincts of an older brother surfacing. "I just want to make sure you're not rushing into something. You know I care about you, right?"

"I know, Aryan. And I promise, everything is fine. He treats me well," Dia replied, feeling guilty but resolute. "We're ready for this."

Her mother chimed in, already planning wedding details. "We need to start preparing! You must invite all your relatives from India! It's going to be a beautiful wedding!"

As they continued talking, Dia felt a mixture of relief and guilt. They were so excited, so happy for her. But the weight of her lie sat heavily in her chest, and she knew she had to keep up the façade.

After their call, Dia stepped out onto her apartment balcony, where she found her friends—Kai, Sahasra, and Vivian—waiting for her. They had gathered around, eager to hear how it had gone.

"How did it go?" Kai asked, leaning against the railing with a curious expression.

Dia shook her head, running her fingers through her hair. "They're thrilled. Mom's planning everything already."

Sahasra raised an eyebrow. "And what did you tell them about Viktor?"

Dia took a deep breath. "I told them we fell in love in India three years ago, that we've been together since then, and now we want to get married."