whispers in DARK

Chapter 3: THE HEART OF THE MATTER

Keerthi felt her heart race. It was the moment of truth. “Dad, I am making the right choice. Krish means a lot to me,” Keerthi asserted, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging within her. She could feel Krish’s gaze on her, supportive yet filled with an unspoken question about how her father would respond.

Her father studied her for a long moment, his expression inscrutable. “Keerthi, I understand you’re an adult, but I hope you’re not blinded by infatuation. You have your future to think about.”

Krish opened his mouth to respond, but Keerthi quickly cut in. “Dad, I appreciate your concern, but you have to trust me. I’m not making this decision lightly.”

The tension hung thick in the air, and Krish's hand subtly sought hers under the table, grounding her. She could feel the warmth radiating from his skin, a reminder that they were in this together.

Her father sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “I just want the best for you, Keerthi. You know that.”

“I know, Dad,” she replied softly, her heart aching at the protective undertone in his voice. “But I need to make my own choices. I hope you can support me in that.”

Her mother, sensing the need to diffuse the tension, chimed in, “Why don’t we change the topic? I’d love to hear more about your photography, Krish. What inspired your recent projects?”

Krish seized the opportunity, his demeanor shifting back to the charming storyteller. “Well, I’ve always been fascinated by how ordinary moments can tell extraordinary stories. For example, I recently captured a series of candid moments at the Sunday market in VV Puram. The colors, the energy—it's mesmerizing.”

As he spoke, Keerthi watched her parents become more engaged. Krish’s passion shone through, his words weaving a picture of vibrant life in Bangalore. She felt her heart swell with pride as she watched him effortlessly connect with them.

But as the evening wrapped up and her parents retired to their room, Keerthi’s sense of accomplishment began to fade. She and Krish lingered in the kitchen, the air thick with unspoken words.

“Are you okay?” he asked, leaning against the counter, concern etched on his features.

Keerthi sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I think so. It went better than I expected, but… my dad’s reaction still bothers me.”

“I get it. He just wants to protect you,” Krish replied. “But it’s hard to balance that with our reality.”

“Yeah,” she said, looking down at the dishes they had just finished washing. “I just wish he could see how serious I am about you.”

“Maybe it’ll take time,” Krish suggested gently. “But we can’t let this deter us. We need to keep communicating and being honest about our feelings.”

Keerthi nodded, the warmth of his words enveloping her. “You’re right. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to compete with someone who doesn’t even exist yet.”

Krish stepped closer, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m not competing, Keerthi. I’m here because I want to be. Just remember, it’s about us, not them.”

She felt a shiver run down her spine at his touch, the warmth of his presence enveloping her. “I know, and I’m so grateful for you.”

“Let’s not let this bring us down,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “How about we celebrate this little victory?”

Keerthi raised an eyebrow, a smile creeping onto her face. “Celebrate how?”

“By taking a spontaneous trip to Nandi Hills tomorrow morning,” he suggested. “Just the two of us. We can enjoy the sunrise, and I’ll take some photos. It’ll be good for us.”