Somethings are Meant to Be

Chapter-1

~Third Person Point of View~

Afra was deep into her online presentation about the project she was working on for years, her face glowing with excitement on the screen. She had carefully set up her model of the solar time machine, and now, in the virtual meeting room, different professors from the top universities. Her computer's webcam framed her face, and her presentation slides were ready to go.

Her parents, who were supposed to be in the other room, had promised to be quiet and let her focus. However, as Afra clicked to start her presentation, she could hear faint murmurs in the background. She hoped it would stay that way, but it wasn't long before the whispers grew louder and more intense.

"WHY CAN'T YOU EVER LISTEN TO ME?" her mom's voice erupted from the other side of the house, slicing through the quiet hum of the meeting.

Afra's face turned pale as her dad's voice joined in. "I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP, BUT YOU NEVER APPRECIATE IT!"

Afra's heart sank. She could see the concerned yet annoyed faces of the professors in the small video windows on her screen, but she couldn't focus on them. Her parents' argument was now unmistakable and escalating, their voices carrying clearly through the microphone despite Afra's attempts to mute it.

"Okay," Afra said, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to maintain her composure. "It looks like there's a bit of background noise. I'm going to have to—"

Before she could finish, her mom's voice rang out even louder, clearly agitated. "I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE MAKING EVERYTHING SO DIFFICULT!"

Afra's dad snapped back; his frustration evident. "WELL, MAYBE IF YOU'D LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE, THINGS WOULDN'T BE SO CHAOTIC!"

"Um," Afra said, her voice barely audible over the noise. "I'm really sorry, but I think I have to end my presentation early. I'll... I'll try to reschedule," Afra said, her voice cracking. "Thank you for your patience." She slammed the laptop.

In her room, Afra sat on her bed, trying to calm the storm inside her. The frustration and disappointment were overwhelming, and she felt completely isolated. The online meeting had promised a chance to shine, but instead, it had become a backdrop to a conflict she had no control over. She wondered why people get married if they were not compatible. Why they stayed together when all they do is fight all the time.

Afra's project was driven by her desire to bring peace to her family. She was exhausted by the constant bickering between her parents, which had created an atmosphere of unhappiness for all of them. The relentless arguments had taken a toll, leaving no one content. Determined to find a solution, she had tried numerous methods to stop the fighting, but nothing seemed to work.

In the end, Afra conceived a plan that was radical and far-reaching. It was a plan so bold that in some versions of reality, she might not even exist. Yet, she was willing to make that sacrifice if it meant that her parents could finally find the happiness and harmony they so desperately needed.