Chapter 4: The Weight of a Promise

The day after the engagement, Shiv woke up early, as he always did, to the sounds of the village coming to life. The roosters crowed, the scent of fresh earth filled the air, and the buzz of morning chatter from the local markets reached his ears. His life had always been intertwined with the rhythm of Siddapura, but today felt different. The house was quiet, but the pressure of what lay ahead weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Arundhati, as per tradition, was staying at her own home for the night, and Shiv had the space to reflect on everything. He knew the marriage ceremony would take place soon, and his duty to his grandfather and his village would begin to unfold in ways he couldn’t fully understand.

“How did this happen?” he whispered to himself, sitting on the balcony of his room. His thoughts drifted back to his college days when his life had been simpler, and love had been something he had shared with Ananya, a girl he thought he would marry. But that was a different time, a time before his father’s untimely death and the conflicts that followed. Before his own decision to step into his father's shoes and take over as the village head.

“Duty,” he muttered. It was all about duty. Shiv had always been taught that duty came first, that family and the village were what mattered most. His love for Ananya had been overshadowed by the responsibility of the position he now held. But what of his own happiness? Was this life, this marriage to Arundhati, something he could come to accept?

Shiv stood up and walked toward the small wooden table in the corner of his room, where a letter from his grandfather lay. It was the final letter he had written before his passing. His grandfather had written about the importance of tradition, the bond of families, and how Shiv was the chosen one to bring Siddapura into the future. The village needed someone strong, someone committed. But Shiv couldn’t help but feel the weight of the legacy pressing down on him.

The door creaked open, and Shiv’s mother entered, her face a picture of calm despite the flurry of activity that had taken place the day before.

“Shiv, are you ready for today?” she asked, her voice gentle but filled with expectation.

He nodded, though the uncertainty in his heart remained. “Yes, amma. I’m ready.”

“It’s not easy, I know,” she continued, sitting beside him. “But you must understand, our family has been entrusted with this village for generations. The head of this village is not just a leader; they are the backbone of this community. Your father’s death was untimely, but you must carry forward his legacy.”

Shiv didn’t reply immediately. He knew she was right. He had been trained his entire life to take on this responsibility. But there was still a part of him that longed for something different, something more personal than the weight of his grandfather’s legacy and the duty to his people.

“But what of my own life, amma?” he finally asked. “What of love? Can I not find it for myself?”

His mother’s eyes softened. She took his hand in hers, and for a moment, Shiv saw the same love and understanding in her eyes that he had seen in his father’s when he had been a child.

“Shiv, love will come with time. You will see. Arundhati is a good woman. She is strong, capable, and she will make you proud. She will care for you and our family. Just give her a chance. You have a life ahead of you. Together, you will build a future. And with that, you will find peace.”

Shiv wanted to believe her, but there was a nagging feeling that he couldn’t shake off. He had given up so much of himself already, and he wasn’t sure how much more he could let go.

Later that afternoon, Shiv went to meet Arundhati’s family. The ceremony was to be finalized, and the plans for the marriage were being made. Shiv had not yet had a chance to speak much with Arundhati, other than the brief exchanges at the engagement. But today, they would meet alone, with his family and hers present, to finalize everything.

Arundhati greeted him with a polite smile, her eyes glistening with the softness of a woman who had been raised to uphold family traditions. Yet there was a quiet sorrow in her eyes as well, an unspoken truth that neither of them could ignore. She was as much a part of this marriage as he was, and they both knew that they were bound by circumstances more than by any personal desire.

“Shiv,” she said softly, as they sat down together in the small room. “I know this is not easy. I can see it in your eyes. You’re a man torn between your duties and your desires. I won’t pretend to understand, but I promise you this — I will be the wife you need me to be. And I will be a mother to our children.”

Shiv was taken aback by her words. She spoke with such sincerity, such depth of understanding, that he couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for them. Maybe, over time, he could learn to see her not just as a duty, but as a partner.

But even as he thought this, he knew the road ahead would be long and difficult. He could never forget Ananya, the woman he had once loved. But Arundhati was now his wife, and he would have to find a way to embrace that truth — for the sake of the village, for the sake of his family, and perhaps, for the sake of his own heart.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***