Nae Rishte 2

Shadows of Resilience

Arnav's Point of View...

As I ascended the stairs to my home office, a tumultuous storm brewed within me, echoing the conflict I grappled with downstairs. The weight of my dilemma pressed upon me, a palpable tension between duty and desire enveloping the air.

 the door behind me, I sought refuge in the familiar embrace of my office. Yet, even here, my struggle reverberated, a silent echo of the difficult choice I confronted.

Slumping into my chair, I pondered the gravity of my predicament. My pledge to Khushi lay heavy on my conscience, a sacred vow etched deep within my heart. And yet, confronted by the allure of professional advancement, I found myself torn asunder, pulled between competing obligations.

The moral quandary gnawed at my thoughts. How could I reconcile my commitment to Khushi with the tantalizing promise of success? How could I balance the yearnings of my soul against the dictates of my conscience?

I think back to the conversation in the dining room...When Khushi told me she couldn't go to India, I felt a sense of duty to help her."What's wrong?" I asked, worried about what she was going to say next. She explained that her doctor was too busy for her to go on the trip. Lavanya looked at me, hoping I could fix things. "Can't we just change our plans and go next week?" she asked, looking hopeful.

But I knew that wouldn't work. "I have to fix some things and stop in Dubai before we go to India. We can't wait until next week because the fashion week in India is coming soon, and we need to make some clothes," I said, feeling stressed about the situation.

Khushi understood, which made me feel a bit better. "That's okay. I know your work is important, and I don't want to get in the way," she said, trying to reassure me.

Lavanya offered to stay with Khushi, but she said no. "It's okay. You should go and spend time with Arnav before you go to India. I'll be fine here, and there's nothing to worry about. I've already cancelled my trip, and it's too late to cancel yours," she said, trying to make things easier for me.

Khushi's understanding and kindness made me feel grateful. Thinking about our talk, I realized how important it was to keep my promises to her, even if it was hard. I felt a sense of peace wash over me, like the calm before a storm. I knew that whatever happened, Khushi and I would face it together, with love and support.

And so, sitting in my office, I asked for help from above, knowing that true success meant staying true to myself and the people I cared about, no matter what.

I walk downstairs where Khushi's is. I needed to have a conversation with her that was way overdue.

I knock on her door and wait for her to answer... which she does a minute later"Arnavji is something wrong?" Khushi asks me with concern laced in her voice.

"No... I mean yes... Actually, can I come inside? I think this is going to be a bit long." I genuinely ask her through my nervousness.

"Sure." Khushi nods understandingly and leads me into the room.

Khushi sits on the edge of the bed while I wheel the office chair to sit directly opposite to her. 

The depth of my emotions varied, I was tangled between the woman who had been my first love as well as the woman who was carrying my unborn child and my wife.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to Khushi, my gaze soft and laden with complexity only we shared. "Khushi, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."

Khushi looked up, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of curiosity and the unspoken understanding that had developed throughout our unique relationship. "What is it, Arnavji?" she asked, her voice gentle and reassuring.