Whispers of Fate

11.

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T H I R D  P E R S O N

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Early morning light spilled through the mansion's towering windows, casting a golden hush over marble floors. Some were still wrapped in dreams in the house, others rubbing sleep from their eyes, as servants moved quietly through the halls, beginning their day.

The heavy door to Atharva's study creaked open.

He stepped out, wearing the same white kurta from yesterday, creased and loose around the collar. His hair was slightly disheveled, his eyes shadowed with fatigue. He rolled his shoulders once, trying to stretch the stiffness from a night spent in an unforgiving office chair.

He had spent the entire night there, in his study, while Anisha and Maisha slept in his bedroom.

His gaze instinctively drifted in that direction.
He hoped they had slept well.

"Atharva?"

He paused mid-step. His grandmother stood in the corridor, wrapped in a soft cotton saree, her silver hair pulled back neatly in a bun. Her sharp eyes, however, were far from sleepy.

"Dadi, good morning. Did you sleep well?", he immediately asked, trying to act normal.

His grandmother nodded.

"Ohh, and I must say," he added, forcing an awkward attempt at flattery, hoping to steer the conversation away from the question he didn't want, the one he knew was coming, "you look so beautiful today."

Dadi ignored his compliment and asked, "You didn't sleep in your room?"

Atharva rubbed the back of his neck and smiled, quickly and casually.

"Oh, yeah! You know, I had some important work to catch up on since I missed the office yesterday. A couple of meetings, piles of files to review... It ran late into the night, and honestly, I don't even remember when I dozed off in the study only," Atharva said, forcing a chuckle, all the while silently praying that Dadi would believe his lie.

His grandmother offered a wry smile, understanding that her grandson was lying.

"Alright, come along. I was headed to your bedroom only. I'll check on Anisha. Also, both of you have some rituals to perform today," she said as she took two steps ahead, choosing not to press further and spare her grandson from his awkward fib.

Atharva absorbed her words, closed his eyes, and then, with a gentle grip on his grandmother's wrist, stopped her.

"Dadi, can we not do all this? You know, I don't believe in these rituals, also I have a very crucial business meeting today. I can't spare time for these rituals."

"But, Atharva...", his grandmother began.

"Please, Dadi," he implored.

Taking one of his hands gently in both of hers, she looked up at him softly. "Do you think I don't understand? I know why you are doing this. For her."

Sighing, Atharva relented, "It is what it is. Will these rituals truly matter if her heart isn't in them?"

The old woman gave his hand a warm, reassuring pat. "Alright, as you wish. But at least… can we make your wife cook something sweet? For the sake of tradition, you know?"