Threads of Destiny

Fate conspired-1

Barun was angry and frustrated with himself. He couldn’t understand what it was about Kali that had taken such a hold of him, why she lingered in his mind so relentlessly. Last night, Ishita had come to him, as she often did, and they had fallen into their familiar rhythm. Kissing, touching—ready to take things further. But even as she lay beneath him, the fierce, short-statured, light-brown lioness haunted his thoughts. He tried to shake it off, to lose himself in Ishita, the alluring temptress who moved with practised ease.

Ishita was lost in her world of pleasure, oblivious to the war in Barun's mind. She had noticed his distant behaviour lately, but for now, she only wanted one thing—to consume him completely, to push them both to the edge of exhaustion. In his anger and frustration, Barun pounded into her with rough intensity, matching the fire she craved. For a few fleeting moments, the raw physicality drove Kali from his mind, and he felt a strange, desperate relief.

Afterwards, they lay there, bodies slick and breathless. Ishita soon drifted into a deep, satisfied sleep, but Barun’s mind was restless. Once again, Kali’s image invaded his thoughts. What had happened to her? he wondered. Had her boyfriend cheated on her? And what was so special about that man, anyway, to have won her heart in the first place? Lost in these questions, he finally succumbed to sleep, hoping tomorrow would bring clarity and that he would somehow find his way back to himself.

---

The next morning, over breakfast, Barun’s thoughts were still preoccupied. Suddenly, he broke the silence. "When are we going back?" he asked, startling everyone. His father, Giriraj, looked at him with a mischievous smile. "Missing your business already?" he teased. Rekha, his mother, tried to keep a neutral tone but couldn’t hide her amusement. "We’ll leave the day after tomorrow," she said. Then, in a more serious voice, she added, "But I have one condition. I want to visit some village temples before we go."

Barun agreed without hesitation. Any excuse to leave the village behind was welcome.

---

Barun stood by the front door, his eyes scanning the driveway as he waited for everyone to gather. His mother, Rekha, called out impatiently from the hallway, urging them to hurry up. "Come quickly! We’ll be late!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the house. Finally, with bags packed and last-minute checks done, they all settled into the car. Barun slid into the driver’s seat, turned the key, and the engine roared to life.

The journey had barely begun when a short distance down the road; they noticed a white car pulled over on the shoulder. Standing beside it was Kali and her family. Kali, dressed in a vibrant green salwar suit, stood out against the pale car. Her dupatta draped carelessly over one shoulder, fluttering slightly in the breeze. She was distressed, glancing around frantically while clutching her phone. She spoke loudly, her voice carrying fragments of urgency, though her words were lost to the hum of passing traffic.

Today, Kali's hair was loose, cascading down her back in soft waves, adding to the sense of chaos around her. Barun slowed the car, eyes narrowing with concern. Something was wrong.

She hadn’t seen Barun at first and approached the car, asking for a lift. When he rolled down the window, her expression froze. She quickly glanced around, as if cursing her fate for this chance encounter. Before she could take back her request, Barun’s mother, Rekha, got out and offered help.

There was no turning back now. As they approached the stranded car, Rekha leaned out of the window and called, "What happened?" Kali’s face was tense as she explained, “Our car’s battery is dead. We just got it serviced the day before yesterday, but now it won’t start.” Kali's parents greeted everyone warmly, explaining that they were headed to the Shivaji Temple. Rekha immediately offered to help, mentioning that they were going to the same temple.

Just then, a motorcycle approached, carrying two men. Kali waved them down, her frustration boiling over. “How could you be so careless?” she snapped. “You assured us yesterday that everything was fine, and now the battery is dead! We’re not paying a single rupee more.” Her mother, Beena, gently nudged her arm. “It’s okay, dear. Let’s not delay any longer; we’ll be late for the temple.”

Once the arrangements were sorted, Kali settled into the middle row of Barun’s car with his parents, while her parents took seats in the back. The car was soon filled with chatter about everyday life. Barun’s father shared stories about their early move to Delhi. “I left the village when I was young, so I don’t know many people here anymore,” he admitted. “But now I’ve reconnected with some old friends.” Giriraj, Barun's father, and Kali’s father quickly found common ground, reminiscing about their childhood days. They laughed and swapped stories, a wave of nostalgia washing over them.

During the conversation, Kali’s father casually mentioned, “My daughter is getting married to a city boy soon.” Kali, sitting beside Barun’s parents, protested, “I haven’t agreed to anything yet!” Her father only chuckled, clearly amused by her reaction.

Barun, hands firmly gripping the steering wheel, listened in silence. His mind was swirling. Kali, getting married? The thought gnawed at him. He remembered how, just a few days ago, she had been devastated by a breakup. How could she be thinking of marriage now? he wondered, a deep unease settling over him.

When they finally reached the temple, they began to climb up the temple steps. Kali carried a pooja thali, her eyes distant, her thoughts far away. Why did Ravi do this to me? she kept asking herself. Was I not good enough? The weight of unanswered questions hung heavy in her heart as they made their way to the temple’s entrance.

The stone steps of the temple were steep and worn, each one demanding careful attention. Kali’s mind, however, was miles away, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts about Ravi. Her grip on the pooja thali tightened as she replayed the memories, the hurt echoing in her heart. Suddenly, her foot slipped on a loose stone. The world seemed to tilt around her, and she let out an involuntary cry—"Ravi!"—her voice a mix of fear and surprise.

Time slowed as she teetered on the edge of balance. Barun, walking just ahead, instinctively turned, his hand reaching out to catch her. His eyes widened with concern, but before he could react, Ishita, who had been following closely behind, saw the opportunity. In a swift, calculated move, she slid in front of Barun, pretending to lose her footing. Her hand shot out, grasping his arm, effectively stopping her fall while drawing Barun’s attention toward her.

Barun’s reflexes kicked in, and he caught Ishita, steadying her as she clung to his arm. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, Ishita’s intentions were clear—she was determined to insert herself into his thoughts, to push Kali out of his mind. She held on a moment longer than necessary, her grip firm, her expression unreadable.

Kali, still off balance, saw the scene unfold in front of her—the way Barun held Ishita, their closeness, the unspoken connection. The sight hit her harder than the fall she was trying to prevent. Her eyes clouded with a mixture of shock and pain, and she lost her footing completely. With a soft cry, she fell to the ground, the pooja thali slipping from her grasp and scattering flowers across the stone steps.

The silence that followed was deafening, filled with the unspoken words and tangled emotions that hung heavy in the air. Barun’s gaze snapped back to Kali, concern etched on his face, but it was too late—the moment had already passed, leaving behind a fracture that words couldn’t easily mend.