Ch 7 : Arrival of Mytery
1022 Words
The metallic glint caught the moonlight.
Kamlesh instantly moved in front of Diya, shielding her with his body.
The dark silhouette stepped forward from the rain.
It was Krishna.
Diya's grandfather.
The old man stood beneath the temple archway, drenched from the storm. In his trembling hand was a brass lantern whose light flickered across his hardened features.
For several agonizing seconds nobody spoke.
Diya's heart nearly stopped.
Kamlesh slowly released her hand.
"Thaatha..." she whispered.
The old man's eyes moved from Diya to Kamlesh.
Then back to Diya.
The disappointment on his face felt worse than any shouted anger.
"So it is true."
The words landed like stones.
Neither of them could answer.
"I spent my entire life protecting this family," Krishna continued quietly. "And tonight I find my granddaughter hiding in an abandoned temple with a man."
"Thaatha, please..." Diya pleaded.
"No."
His voice echoed through the ancient shrine.
"You will come home."
Diya's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"No."
Both Krishna and Diya turned toward Kamlesh.
The young man stood tall despite the fear in his eyes.
"I respect you more than anyone else in this village," Kamlesh said.
"But she isn't coming with you until you hear the truth."
The old man's expression darkened.
"You dare challenge me?"
"I dare love her."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
The storm outside seemed to pause.
For the first time in his life Kamlesh stood against an elder.
Not because of pride.
Not because of rebellion.
Because of Diya.
He stepped forward.
"I waited four years."
His voice trembled.
"I failed exams. I ruined my future. I prayed for her. I walked barefoot to holy places for her. I almost died carrying her memory."
Krishna remained silent.
Kamlesh looked toward Diya.
His eyes softened instantly.
"And if she had told me tonight she didn't love me, I would have left forever."
Diya broke down completely.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"But she loves me."
The words echoed through the temple.
Krishna slowly looked at his granddaughter.
"Is this true?"
Diya didn't hesitate.
For the first time in her life.
For the first time without fear.
For the first time without running away.
She walked directly to Kamlesh.
Then held his hand.
Firmly.
Proudly.
Openly.
"Yes."
One word.
Yet it changed everything.
"I love him."
Krishna closed his eyes.
The answer hurt more than he expected.
Because he already knew what came next.
Family opposition.
Village gossip.
Arguments.
Traditions.
Expectations.
And another secret.
A secret nobody knew.
Not even Diya.
Not even Kamlesh.
Years ago, before either of them were born, Krishna had promised Diya's marriage to another family.
A promise sealed with honor.
A promise that still existed.
When Krishna opened his eyes again, there was sadness in them.
"Then both of you deserve to know the truth."
The couple exchanged confused looks.
"What truth?" Diya asked.
Krishna turned toward the storm.
"The reason your parents will never agree to this marriage."
The lantern flame flickered violently.
And for the first time, fear appeared in Kamlesh's eyes.
Because whatever secret Krishna was about to reveal had the power to destroy everything they had just found.
Proudly.
Openly.
"Yes."
One word.
Yet it changed everything.
"I love him."
Krishna closed his eyes.
The answer hurt more than he expected.
Because he already knew what came next.
Family opposition.
Village gossip.
Arguments.
Traditions.
Expectations.
And another secret.
A secret nobody knew.
Not even Diya.
Not even Kamlesh.
Years ago, before either of them were born, Krishna had promised Diya's marriage to another family.
A promise sealed with honor.
A promise that still existed.
When Krishna opened his eyes again, there was sadness in them.
"Then both of you deserve to know the truth."
The couple exchanged confused looks.
"What truth?" Diya asked.
Krishna turned toward the storm.
"The reason your parents will never agree to this marriage."
The lantern flame flickered violently.
And for the first time, fear appeared in Kamlesh's eyes.
Because whatever secret Krishna was about to reveal had the power to destroy everything they had just found.
The rain continued to pound against the ancient temple roof like thousands of impatient fingers.
Diya's hand tightened around Kamlesh's.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither dared.
Krishna stood silently beneath the flickering lantern light, his weathered face carrying the burden of decades.
Finally, he spoke.
"Twenty-five years ago, before Diya was born, our family faced ruin."
The words echoed through the temple.
Diya frowned.
She had never heard this story before.
Kamlesh remained alert, his protective stance never changing.
Krishna slowly walked toward the stone altar.
"There was a terrible drought. Crops failed. Debts increased. Our family lands were about to be seized."
The old man stared at the dancing flame.
"I had nowhere to turn."
The rain intensified outside.
"Then one man saved us."
"Who?" Diya asked softly.
Krishna's eyes darkened.
"Raghavan."
The name meant nothing to Kamlesh.
But Diya had heard it once before.
A wealthy businessman from a neighboring district.
Krishna continued.
"He paid every debt."
"He saved our ancestral home."
"He saved our family name."
Diya felt a strange uneasiness growing inside her.
"And in return?" she asked.
Krishna closed his eyes.
"In return, I made a promise."
Silence.
A cold chill swept through the temple.
"What promise?" Kamlesh asked.
The old man's voice became barely audible.
"If I was blessed with a granddaughter..."
"...she would marry his grandson."
The world stopped.
Diya stared at her grandfather.
Her heart dropped.
No.
No.
No.
"Thaatha..." she whispered.
Krishna looked away.
"I gave my word."
The sentence felt like a death sentence.
For several seconds nobody moved.
Then Diya stepped forward.
"You promised my life before I was even born?"
Her voice trembled.
"You promised my future to a stranger?"
"Diya—"
"No!"
Tears flooded her eyes.
"How could you do that?"
Krishna looked genuinely broken.
"I did what I believed was necessary."
"You sold my happiness!"
The accusation struck hard.
to be continued..........
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