Threads of Destiny

Unraveling feelings

After dropping Ishita off at her home, Barun glanced in the rearview mirror at Kali, who sat quietly in the back seat. Turning around slightly, he suggested, “Why don’t you come up to the passenger seat? It’ll be more comfortable.”

Kali shook her head, her expression unreadable. “No, I’m okay here in my seat,” she replied firmly, her voice calm yet resolute. She began to guide him on the route to Bua’s house, her instructions clear and purposeful. Despite her composed demeanour, Barun couldn’t hide the disappointment that settled in his chest at her refusal. He paused, letting the silence stretch between them, then stated, his tone firm, “I’m not starting the car until you sit in the passenger seat.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion. Kali, sensing the weight of the moment, sighed deeply. Realizing further resistance would be pointless, she reluctantly climbed into the front seat. As she settled next to him, her heart beat a little faster, though she kept her gaze averted, staring out the window as the engine hummed softly to life.

The road stretched ahead, and for a while, neither of them spoke. Kali lost herself in the blur of passing scenery, her mind swirling with thoughts and emotions. Memories of Harsh, with his manipulative charm and broken promises, surfaced. “Harsh is such a scoundrel,” she thought bitterly, the sting of that day's incident was still fresh.

Breaking the heavy silence, Barun finally asked, his voice blunt and direct, “Are you going to marry him?”

The question caught her off guard, but her reply was immediate. “No,” she said firmly, her tone steady but edged with frustration.

Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she turned to him. “What about that girl? Is she your girlfriend?” There was a boldness in her question, perhaps fueled by the spiked drink she’d had earlier. With a hint of mischief, she added, “She’s pretty, you know.”

Barun held her gaze, his voice calm but distant. “We’re not in a committed relationship,” he replied, the words carefully chosen but lacking warmth.

Kali wasn’t ready to let the conversation end there. “What kind of relationship are you in, then?” she pressed, her curiosity piqued.

He hesitated, the silence stretching between them. Finally, he admitted, “It’s... casual.”

Kali frowned, the term unfamiliar. Coming from a small village where relationships were simple, she struggled to understand. After a moment of contemplation, she remarked, “We were also in a casual relationship; we held hands and hugged.” Her words, laced with innocence, carried the weight of memories when such gestures were monumental and brimming with meaning.

Barun chuckled softly, the corner of his mouth lifting in amusement. “Well, we did more than just holding hands,” he muttered.

Kali’s eyes narrowed. “Are you going to marry her?” she asked, her voice challenging.

“No,” he replied quickly, almost dismissively.

“Why not?” she pressed, refusing to let the matter drop.

He shifted uncomfortably, clearly reluctant to delve deeper. After a long pause, he finally muttered, “We just... slept together. It doesn’t mean anything to either of us.”

His words hung heavy in the air. Kali stared out the window, the weight of his confession settling over her. At that moment, she made her judgment. To her, Barun was now nothing more than a self-centred, arrogant man. “What does that girl even see in him?” she wondered, her thoughts, bitter and sharp.

The silence stretched on, thick with unspoken emotions. After a while, Barun broke it again. “When are you going back?” he asked, his voice tinged with irritation at her being quiet.

He glanced at her, but Kali had already dozed off, her head resting against the window. Strands of hair fell across her face, disturbing her sleep. Without thinking, Barun reached over and gently tucked the strands behind her ear, his touch surprisingly tender.

He drove slowly, almost as if he wanted to prolong the journey, to delay the inevitable end. Eventually, they arrived at Bua’s house. Barun stopped the car and lightly shook Kali awake. She stirred, rubbing her eyes, just as the front door opened. Before Bua Ji could step out, Barun slipped away into the night, leaving Kali standing alone on the doorstep, lost in her thoughts.

---

Kali sat on the edge of her bed, her thoughts scattered. Her mind raced back to the confrontation just moments ago. It had all started when her Bua, Shushma, asked about Harsh. Kali had tried to explain everything, but before she could go into detail, her father, Ramakant, walked in. Without a word, he slapped her, the shock stinging more than the pain. She had never seen her father so shattered, his eyes filled with a mix of anguish and betrayal.

Before she could ask why, he thrust a photograph in front of her. It showed her in the passenger seat of a car, Barun leaning close, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The image, innocent in context, now looked damning. Before Kali could find her voice to explain, Ramakant turned and retreated to his room, shutting the door behind him with finality.

---

In a luxurious penthouse, Barun lounged on a king-size bed, his eyes fixed on a wall-sized TV playing a football match. Yet his mind was elsewhere. A sly smile played on his lips as he replayed the events of that day. He recalled every detail of the moment with Kali in the car.

When Kali went to deep sleep, then, there was Harsh. Barun had spotted him already, driving in the same direction, as he was driving slowly so that he could catch them. It was no accident that Harsh saw them at that precise moment. Barun had orchestrated it all. He wanted Harsh to witness that scene, to draw conclusions. He had his reasons—many of them. The first was obvious: Harsh was a shameless man, no better than Ravi. But there were other motives, darker ones that even Barun hadn’t fully sorted out yet.

---

Later, Barun picked up his phone and dialled his secretary. His instructions were clear: invest in the orange fruit business, particularly sourcing dishes from Devalgeer. At the end of the call, he mentioned another investment—Kali’s small business.

The secretary paused, stunned. He had already gathered information about Kali and her modest venture. “It’s just a small business,” he thought. “Why is my boss so invested in it?” He wanted to ask but knew better. Barun’s mood was unpredictable, and questioning him now would be unwise.

As Barun hung up, that sly smile returned. The game had only just begun.