Prerish: A Collection of Tales ✔️

Fated To Be Yours

She stood on the terrace, bathed in the moon's soft glow, lost in the labyrinth of her own thoughts. Her mind drifted, circling the last two years, dissecting every sharp turn and gentle curve. Since childhood, she'd conjured a vivid image of her Prince, a knight riding a white horse, a man responsible, loving, caring, protective, and above all, respectful—a man who would make her dreams soar.

Anurag. As she grew, his charm drew her in. Their daily meetings, a byproduct of their fathers' friendship, perhaps fanned the initial sparks into something more. She, a hopeless romantic, a fool living in a fairy tale, allowed the attraction to blossom into love. But the moment they confessed their feelings, a storm erupted: separation, pain, longing. Yet, nothing had wounded her as deeply as her father's loss, or the relentless, venomous taunts of Mohini Basu and Nivedhita. Their words, sharp as shards of glass, cut into her, labelling her unfit, disparaging her class and status to her face and her family's. Still, she'd endured it all with a patient smile, convinced that her love for Anurag meant they were soulmates.

But were they? If they were truly soulmates, why weren't they together?

Then, like a force of nature, Mr. Bajaj stormed into her life, turning her world upside down. He demanded marriage, and she, in a desperate bid to protect her love, accepted without question, oblivious to his true motives. Five months into this unexpected union, it had been a relentless tug-of-war, a battlefield of words, many of them sharp and cruel from her side. Yet, through it all, Mr. Bajaj had stood by her, supported her, and respected her wishes. He'd entrusted her with the profound gift of motherhood to his daughter, trusted her implicitly, and shown her family a respect that mirrored his own. And what had she given him in return? Disrespect, misunderstanding, a closed heart.

A painful realisation settled in her chest. Why hadn't she given him a chance? Given this marriage a chance? She was no less prejudiced than Mohini Basu herself.

What if? The thought gnawed at her. What if their circumstances had been different? What if their marriage had been arranged, with her family's blessing from the start? What if she had met him before Anurag? Would she have treated him this way? No. She would have given him a chance, respected the union, and worked within the boundaries of that bond. But hadn't she, in her way, chosen this? She had married him of her own volition.

And Anurag. His desperate, manipulative attempts to win her back had shaken her faith in what she felt for him. The love she once held for him now felt like a tiny, flickering ray of light, almost swallowed by the vast expanse of respect and concern she felt for her husband—a respect that shone like the sun, emitting powerful, life-giving rays. She was utterly conflicted, adrift in a sea of uncertainty. And then there was her family, still stubbornly obsessed with the idea of Anurag as their son-in-law. At the beginning of her marriage, she had tolerated it. Now, she was tired, deeply tired, and uncertain. She had seen how Mr. Bajaj truly respected and cared for her family as his own, a stark contrast to the selective acceptance she'd received from Anurag's family.

She was fed up. Fed up with the confusion, the lingering shadows of the past, the expectations. A fierce resolve hardened within her. She was going to give this marriage a chance. Give him a chance. Give them a chance. No matter what it took.

A sudden pressure around her waist pulled her sharply from her thoughts. She looked down, her heart aching as she saw Kuki, her daughter, looking up at her, tears glistening in her wide, innocent eyes. The sight broke her heart, just a little.

"What happened, my baby?" Prerana asked, her voice tight with immediate fear, as Kuki clutched her, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Baby, look at me, please. Darling, stop crying. Your Mamma can't see you crying or hurt. Please, tell me what happened?" Prerana pleaded, dreading the answer, her heart pounding. Kuki looked up, her small face a picture of pure sadness.