5

Akriti woke up early that morning, her heart already heavy. The sound of her mother’s bangles echoed from the kitchen, and her father’s soft humming came from the veranda. Everything seemed normal — yet something in the air told her life was about to change.

When she stepped out, her father looked at her with a strange expression — half pride, half distance. “Akriti,” he said gently, “we need to talk.”

She sat beside him. The morning tea between them had already gone cold.

Her mother joined, wiping her hands with her saree. “Your father got a proposal,” she said. “A good one. The family is from Jaipur. The boy works in a government office. Decent salary, polite nature. You’ll live comfortably.”

Akriti froze. Her fingers trembled slightly around her cup.

“Proposal?” she repeated softly.

Her father nodded. “We’ve been thinking. You’ve always done everything for this family. It’s time you have a secure future. Aarav is a nice boy, I’m sure, but… he’s still struggling. Love can’t fill an empty stomach, beta.”

Her eyes filled. “Papa, you always said happiness matters more than money…”

He sighed. “Yes, but happiness doesn’t last long when there’s struggle every day. You deserve stability.”

Her mother tried to smile. “The boy’s name is Rohan. His parents are simple people. They liked your picture.”

Akriti’s throat closed up. “Did you already send my picture?” she whispered.

Her mother avoided her eyes.

Her father said quietly, “We didn’t want to hide it from you. They’ll visit next week.”

Tears slipped down Akriti’s cheek before she could stop them.

“Papa… I love someone,” she said, voice trembling.

“We know,” he replied softly. “But love isn’t always enough.”

Silence filled the room. The only sound was the clock ticking — slow, heavy, cruel.

Her younger brother came running in, holding his school bag. “Didi! You promised to help me tie my tie!” he said cheerfully.

Akriti smiled faintly and wiped her eyes before turning to him. “Of course, come here.”

Her father watched her in silence — maybe realizing she was still the same loving daughter, even while her heart broke piece by piece.

Later that evening, Akriti went to the terrace, her favorite place. The sky was pink and fading into orange. Aarav’s messages were on her phone — “Call me when you’re free. I miss you.”

Her fingers hovered over the screen. She wanted to tell him everything.

That her family had already chosen someone else. That her world was crashing.

But she couldn’t.

Instead, she typed: “Busy today. Talk later.”

Then she turned off her phone.

Downstairs, her parents were discussing the guest arrangements. Her brother was laughing while watching cartoons. Life around her was moving as if nothing had happened — only her heart had stopped.

That night, she lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

She thought of Aarav — his laughter, the way he used to wait for her after college, the small notes he wrote for her, the dream they had of building a small café together.

All those dreams felt like fragile paper boats now — ready to sink in a storm she couldn’t stop.

Her mother came quietly into the room and sat beside her. “I know you’re hurting,” she said softly, stroking her hair. “But one day, you’ll understand. Parents only want what’s best.”

Akriti didn’t answer. She just closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.

But inside, she whispered, “Sometimes, what’s best isn’t what’s right.”

Outside, thunder rolled in the sky, as if even the heavens were crying for her.

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