TWISTS OF FATE

CHAPTER - 8

Mr. Bhatia ran a hand through his hair, visibly trying to calm himself. "This isn't just about finding Rohan. It's about respect, trust, and dignity-on both sides. How do we face the guests now? How do I explain this to Ishika?"

Savita placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "We understand your concerns, Rajvansh ji. Please trust us-we'll do everything in our power to bring Rohan back before anyone notices something is wrong."

Rivya, however, wasn't as composed. Her voice cracked as she said, "And if you don't find him? What then? Do you realize what this will do to our daughter?"

The words hung heavy in the air. Kavita, who had joined the group moments earlier, spoke up, her voice pleading. "Please don't think the worst. Rohan would never willingly put Ishika or your family through this. There must be a reason for his absence. Give us a little more time to make things right."

Kavish sighed deeply, exchanging a glance with his wife. "You have one hour," he said firmly. "After that, if Rohan is still missing, we'll have no choice but to make an announcement. We won't allow our family's honor to be questioned."

Savita nodded solemnly. "Thank you for your understanding. We'll not waste a moment."

As the family retreated to their side of the venue, Savita turned to Raj and Kavita. "We have to think fast. Kavita, call Rohan's close friends. Someone must know where he is. Raj, keep coordinating with the staff to search every corner of this venue. Rhea and I will check his room again for any clues."

The three split up, their steps quick and purposeful.

Savita and Rhea sifted through Rohan's room, looking for any sign of where he might have gone. Rhea checked his drawers, flipping through papers and items with growing frustration. "This doesn't make sense, Nani," she said, her voice trembling.

Savita sat on the edge of the bed, her brows furrowed in thought. "People don't disappear without reason, beta. Rohan is hiding something. We just need to figure out what."

As Rhea searched through his wardrobe, a folded piece of paper slipped out from between his shirts. She picked it up, her heartbeat quickening as she unfolded it.

"Nani," she whispered, her voice shaking. "You need to see this."

Savita walked over and took the paper from her. It was a handwritten note in Rohan's familiar scrawl.

As she read the letter the words hit Savita like a blow. She closed her eyes, gripping the paper tightly. "Oh, Rohan," she murmured. "What have you done?"

Rhea stared at her grandmother, tears streaming down her face. "What do we do now, Nani? How do we fix this?"

As the tension in the room thickened, Kavita, Raj, Avantika, Praveen, Sarthak and Kanika entered, accompanied by Kavish, Rivya and Ishan. The moment they stepped inside, Kavish's eyes immediately scanned the room, searching for Rohan.

"Where is Rohan?" Sarthak asked, his voice tinged with concern. "Did you find him?"

Savita, her face pale, silently handed him the letter. With a shaky breath, Sarthak unfolded it, his eyes scanning the words quickly before he began to read aloud, his voice heavy with disbelief.

"I'm so sorry, Ishika. I know this is a lot to take in, but I have to be honest with you and I never wanted to hurt you. The truth is, I've been married to someone else for a year now-the person I truly love. I've tried so hard to find the right moment to tell you, to tell my family, but every time I thought about it, I froze. I didn't have the courage. I didn't want to disappoint anyone, especially my mother. She has so many hopes and dreams for this day, didn't know how to break her heart."

The room fell deathly silent as Sarthak finished reading. The shock on everyone's faces was palpable. No one knew what to say. Rhea, her face a mixture of pain and confusion, stared at her grandmother.

"But... he's been married for a year?" she asked, her voice cracking. "How could he do this to us, to Ishika?"

Kavita's eyes were wide with disbelief, her hand trembling as she reached for Raj's. "What does this mean, Raj? What should we do now?"

Raj clenched his jaw, trying to process the revelation. "We need to find him," he said, his voice low and controlled. "...This has to be dealt with immediately."

Avantika and Praveen exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions reflecting the gravity of the situation. Kanika, standing next to Sarthak, remained quiet, her face ashen.

"What now?" Praveen muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "How do we even begin to handle this?"

Savita's eyes clouded with worry as she clutched the letter in her trembling hands. The weight of the situation bore down on her, and her mind raced for answers. But every path seemed uncertain, every thought leading to another dead end. She took a deep breath and turned to Avantika and Praveen, her expression resolute despite the turmoil within her.

"I've made a decision," she began, her voice steady but heavy. "Instead of Rohan, Abhinav will marry Ishika. It's the only way to protect her dignity and the reputation of both families. We cannot let this day fall apart."

Avantika, who had been sitting silently, looked up at her mother-in-law with wide, searching eyes. For a moment, she said nothing, her gaze flickering to her husband, Praveen, before returning to Savita. Then, she straightened, her voice firm and unwavering.

"I understand, Maa," Avantika said quietly. "I know Ishika well. She's a kind, understanding girl. If anyone can make this work, it's Abhinav. He's responsible, and deep down, I believe he'll do what's right."

Praveen, still grappling with the sudden turn of events, nodded slowly, though his expression remained uncertain. "It's not an easy decision, but I trust your judgment, Maa. If Avantika supports this, I'll stand by it too."

Savita sighed with relief, her eyes softening. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "This isn't just about saving today-it's about securing a future for Ishika that isn't overshadowed by shame and betrayal. We need to act swiftly and delicately."

Savita then turned to Kavish, her eyes steady but filled with concern. "Kavish beta, I need to know-are you and Rivya okay with this? It's not what any of us planned, but under these circumstances, it feels like the best way forward."

Kavish exchanged a hesitant glance with Rivya, who had been silent until now, her face pale but composed. He took a deep breath, his voice heavy with the weight of the decision. "Savita ji, this isn't easy for any of us. But if Abhinav is willing and you believe this is the right thing to do... we'll support it. Ishika's happiness is all that matters to us."

Before Savita could respond, Ishan, who had been standing by the doorway listening intently, suddenly stepped forward. His brows were furrowed in disbelief. "But Ishika doesn't know anything about this!" he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of shock and anger. "How can we even think of going through this without telling her?-she deserves answers."

Savita turned to Ishan, her expression softening but her tone was firm. "Ishan beta," she said gently, "I understand your concern. But think about what she's going through. Right now, she needs stability, not more uncertainty. We'll tell her everything-after the marriage. Once things have calmed down."

Ishan's face tightened with frustration. "After the marriage?" he repeated incredulously. "How is that fair to her? Don't you think she has a right to know who she's marrying?"

Savita stepped closer to him, her voice quiet but resolute. "I know it's not ideal. But We'll tell her the truth," she said finally, "but not today. Today, she needs to feel supported, not abandoned. Once the marriage is done, we'll explain everything. She's strong-she'll understand that this was done with her best interests at heart."

Ishan stared at Savita, a storm of emotions brewing in his eyes. He wanted to argue, to push back against the decision, but the weight of her unwavering determination silenced him. He took a step back, exhaling sharply, his fists clenched at his sides.

"Fine," he said at last, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I hope you're right. I hope she'll understand."

Savita placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her expression softening. "Trust me, beta. Sometimes, the hardest decisions are the ones made with love. We're doing this for her, for her future."

Ishan didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the floor as silence stretched between them. The others began to leave, their footsteps echoing softly in the tense stillness. For a moment, Ishan remained behind, his chest heavy with unease and conflict.

Finally, he let out a quiet sigh and turned to follow, his steps slow and deliberate. The weight of the secret pressed down on him, lingering in the air like an unspoken burden, a storm waiting to break.