Through fire & silence - IPKKND FF

Chapter 34: Shifting Fates

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." - Maya Angelou

May 18 2012

The family had dispersed after the long day, retreating to their rooms with the warm satisfaction of a well conducted puja.

Payal reached for the small box and slid it into the back of the drawer without opening it. She would never wear the bangles Shyam had given.

Akash stepped into the bedroom to find her seated near the dresser, carefully removing the last of her jewelry.

"You must be tired," he said closing the door behind him. "You sat through the whole puja without moving once."

Payal glanced up and offered a gentle smile. "I'm fine. It felt... peaceful. That trust deed for the baby..."

He nodded and walked over picking up the envelope that had been left on the table earlier. "Bhai thinks of everything, that's just how he is. Always three steps ahead. Always protecting everyone."

"He is, even when he doesn't say it out loud."

Akash hesitated, turning the envelope over in his hands before speaking again. "Do you ever wonder... why they got married? Bhai and Khushiji?"

Payal didn't answer immediately. "All the time," she said softly. "Khushi used to talk about her wedding since we were little. About every single ritual - mehendi, haldi, sangeet... She used to dream about it the way some people dream about winning the lottery."

Akash nodded slowly. "Bhai never believed in marriage. Not really. Not after... everything that happened in the past. He never talks about it but I think it broke something in him."

They sat in silence for a moment, "Do you think it's love?" she asked finally.

Akash exhaled. "I don't know. Maybe it started in anger but... have you seen the way they watch each other when they think no one's looking? Sometimes I wonder if their silence... is punishment. Not for us. For themselves."

Akash's gaze flicked to her. "Have you ever wanted to ask?"

Payal nodded slowly. "I asked her once during Holi. I thought maybe she'd tell me." Her voice tightened. "She said she would... when the time was right."

"Bhai never said anything to me either. Not even a word."

Payal spoke again her voice softer. "Di looked... happy today."

"Yeah."

There was a pause before she asked cautiously, "I always wondered - how did Di meet Shyamji?"

"They met in a mandir and their connection was instant, Di used to say it was destiny." Looking down briefly he reflected, "quickly he became one of us. He had this way of making you feel like he was exactly who you needed him to be."

He paused thoughtful. "It was early 2008. AR was just about 2 years old then and just started turning it into something. He was juggling a hundred things, working nonstop along with papa. Di said she wanted a quiet wedding not wanting to burden him. It was a simple ceremony and Jijaji offered to handle the paperwork. Said it was the least he could do."

A quiet battle raged in her thoughts - should she say something? A hint? Anything? The memory of Khushi's pinched expression during Holi, the weight she seemed to carry in silence and the glow on Anjali's face during the puja held her back. Still... something had to be said.

Payal chose her words with care. "Akash... have you ever wondered why Shyamji travels so much?"

Akash looked slightly taken aback. "Jijaji?"