Threads of Destiny

3-Shattered Illusions

Devalgeer

Kali, sitting amidst the faint scent of old books and stale air in her small room, tears cascaded down her face like a relentless storm, each drop a testament to her shattered dreams. Her mind was a maze of despair, with every thought leading her back to that fateful day.

The day her mother had suffocated her aspirations, crushing her spirit with a single, soul-crushing sentence: "Kali, you're going to marry him." The proposal had come from a family of a "good reputation," her mother had said. The groom, an MBA graduate, was a "catch" - a city boy with a respectable job. But to Kali, he was a stranger, a prison sentence, a lifetime of unhappiness.

As she rocked back and forth, her tears fell onto the creased pages of her favorite book, the words blurring into a meaningless jumble. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of hopelessness, unable to escape the fate her mother had chosen for her. The weight of her mother's expectations threatened to consume her, leaving her gasping for air, for freedom, for a chance to forge her own destiny.

In this moment, Kali's world had shrunk to the size of her small room, and she was trapped, with no escape in sight.

Desperation clawed at Kali's heart as she frantically dialed Ravi's number, her fingers trembling with each ignored call. Panic set in, her breaths growing shallow and rapid as the silence from Ravi's end seemed to scream that he was abandoning her. With a sense of reckless abandon, she decided to confront him at his house, her need for comfort and reassurance overwhelming her fears. She climbed out of her window, her scooty roaring to life as she sped through the deserted streets, her heart racing with every passing moment. As she arrived at Ravi's house, hesitation threatened to paralyze her, but she pushed aside the doubts, her anxiety propelling her forward. What if his parents were home? What if Ravi rejected her? The questions swirled in her mind, but she steeled herself, her finger trembling as she pressed the doorbell, the sound echoing through the silence like a plea for help.

Meanwhile, not far away, Barun and his family arrived at their ancestral villa, a majestic haveli that stood as a testament to a bygone era. The grand entrance, adorned with intricate carvings and ornate arches, led to a sprawling courtyard surrounded by lavish suites and ornamental gardens. The villa's ancient stones seemed to whisper stories of generations past, its walls bearing witness to countless celebrations and traditions.

As the family began to settle in, Barun and Ishita slipped away, cigarettes in hand, seeking a secluded spot to indulge in their habit. Knowing Rekha's disdain for smoking, they wandered to a nearby pond, its tranquil waters reflecting the villa's ancient majesty. Sitting on a weathered bench, they puffed on their cigarettes, the smoke curling into the evening air as they gazed out at the villa's imposing facade.

---------------------------------------------------------

Kali's fingers trembled as she pressed the doorbell repeatedly, her impatience growing with each passing moment. But the silence was deafening. Realizing the bell wasn't working, she decided to take a more desperate measure - entering through the balcony. Her heart racing, she climbed up and pushed open the door, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room. A pair of women's footwear lay carelessly on the floor, a stark contrast to Ravi's usually immaculate space. Kali's mind tried to rationalize it - perhaps it belonged to a colleague, or a family friend. But as she moved toward the bedroom, her gut told her otherwise.The sight that greeted her was like a punch to the gut. Ravi, the love of her life, was in bed with another woman, their bodies entwined in a way that made Kali's skin crawl. Neither of them noticed her presence, too caught up in their own passion. Kali's confusion turned to anger, and then to shame, as she felt like an intruder in her own relationship. As Kali turned to leave, her vision blurred with tears, she suddenly heard Ravi call out her name. His voice, usually a source of comfort, now felt like shards cutting into her.