Book 4 in the Proposal Series.
YUGANTIKA IYENGAR
"You cannot fight your doom. It will fucking destroy you, Pookie."
She laughed, wrecking it deep within her guts. A voice that could slice through all the weak hearts. "No one can bring doom on me."...
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Hestia
(The goddess of the hearth, family, and domestic life.)
TUSHAR
Standing by the doorway, his eyes tracing the delicate dance of lights and shadows cast by the rows of diyas lining the floor. This place had come alive with the spirit of Diwali—lanterns hung from every corner, their colourful hues reflecting off the marble floors, and the scent of sweets and incense mingled in the air, evoking memories of celebrations from years past. Yet tonight, as his grandparents performed the puja with reverence and devotion, the warmth of the festival did little to ease the cold knot twisting in his chest.
His grandfather-Pradeep's voice resonated the hallways, steady and calm, reciting ancient mantras that had been passed down through generations. His grandmother, with her gentle smile and serene presence, placed offerings before the deities. They moved in perfect harmony, a testament to the years they had spent building this life, this empire. Everything they had, everything they were, stood on the foundation of trust and loyalty.
Tushar's chest tightened. They had raised him with the same values, instilled in him the importance of honesty, of keeping one's word. And yet, here he was, hiding the truth from them. Betraying them.
He wouldn't just hurt them; he would be betraying their teachings, their years of love, and their trust. Never in 36 years had he thought a day like this would ever come. Hurting and betraying were not the same. He could have hurt them before, leaving room for their expectations.
After all, he was his father's son.
But he was also his Amma's Kedar. She trusted him to not betray them, and he was moving closer to the moment of doing the exact opposite of it. He swallowed hard, the weight of his deception pressing down on him. His lies were not mere words; they were deceits. Each untruth was a knife to the bond they shared, a bond built on years of trust. They believed in him, in his loyalty, and that was what made the deception so painful.
They could forgive his hurt but they will never forgive his lies.
As if there was a choice. The secrets he kept were not just his own. They were the shields protecting his grandparents, protecting the empire they had devoted their lives to.
It was protecting several innocents who would lose their lives otherwise.
Yet a secret in totality.
In all its harshness, it would shatter them. And everything that comes in its orbit.
Could he really justify his actions as protection? Could he bear the thought of them discovering the truth? Would they ever forgive him, or would this Diwali—the festival of light—be the beginning of a darkness he could never escape?
"Kedar," Savitri called for his attention. "Where are you lost, Kanna?"
Her eyes flitted to him in concern and layered with the knowledge she held. He knew she was waiting for him to come to her, and he would.
