whispers in DARK

Chapater 14

After the dinner, as they drove home, Keerthi felt a mix of relief and hope. “You were incredible tonight, Krish,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I’m proud of you for standing up for what you believe in.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he replied, a smile breaking through the tension. “I couldn't have done it without you,” he replied, a smile breaking through the tension. “I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Keerthi beamed at him, her heart swelling with pride. “You were so brave. I knew you could do it! We’ll take this one step at a time, together.”

As they drove through the quiet streets, a comfortable silence enveloped them. The glow from the streetlights illuminated their path, mirroring the new sense of clarity that had emerged from their conversation. Krish glanced over at Keerthi, and for a moment, he let the worry fade from his expression. He felt lighter, as if a cloud that had been hanging over him for too long had finally dispersed.

“Do you think they’ll really come around?” he asked, breaking the silence as they approached a stoplight.

“I think they will,” Keerthi replied confidently. “It’s going to take time, but you showed them that you’re serious about your future. That’s a huge step.”

“Yeah, but it still scares me. What if they never accept me?” Krish’s voice dropped, tinged with vulnerability.

“Then we’ll figure it out together. You and I are a team, remember? I’m not going anywhere,” she reassured him, her tone warm and unwavering.

Krish glanced at her, his heart swelling with gratitude. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Keerthi.”

She smiled softly, reaching out to take his hand, intertwining their fingers as they drove. “You’ll never have to find out.”

Days turned into weeks, and Krish’s parents began to slowly warm up to the idea of Keerthi being in their son’s life. They invited them over for lunch, which felt like a significant breakthrough. Keerthi put a lot of thought into what to bring—a homemade dessert that her mother used to make, hoping it would bridge the gap between their worlds.

As they entered the Rao family home, the atmosphere was a mix of tension and optimism. Krish’s parents greeted them with smiles, but Keerthi could see the uncertainty behind their eyes. She took a deep breath, reminding herself of the strength in their bond.

The lunch was filled with small talk, and Keerthi found herself sharing stories about her family and her love for design. To her surprise, Krish’s mother began to ask more questions about her work, expressing genuine interest.

“This dessert is delicious, Keerthi,” she said, taking a bite of the cake. “What do you call it?”

“Chocolate mousse cake,” Keerthi replied, her heart racing at the compliment. “It’s a family recipe.”

“You must teach me how to make it sometime,” Krish’s mother said, a soft smile playing on her lips.

As the afternoon wore on, the conversation flowed more freely. Krish relaxed into the moment, clearly pleased to see his mother opening up. Keerthi felt a warm sense of belonging, as if she were finally being accepted into Krish’s world.

However, despite the progress, Keerthi couldn’t shake the feeling that there was still something unspoken between Krish and his parents. One evening, as they sat together at their usual café, Keerthi decided to address her concerns.

“Krish, I’ve noticed your parents seem to be trying, but it still feels like there’s an underlying tension. Are you okay?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, a familiar gesture she had come to recognize as a sign of his stress. “Yeah, I think they are trying, but there’s still this part of me that fears I won’t be good enough for them. It’s like they’re waiting for me to fail.”