The days that followed their conversation felt like a fragile peace had settled between them. Ravi and Aira took things slower, navigating their connection with a new sense of understanding. But just as they had begun to feel more secure in their bond, the world outside their quiet bubble started to throw them curveballs.
It came on a rainy afternoon. Aira sat in her favorite café, scrolling through her phone when a message popped up on the screen—one from her mother. Her fingers froze as she read the first line.
Aira, your father wants to have a serious talk with you when you come home.
Her heart sank. It wasn't the first time her parents had pushed her to make life decisions—decisions about her future, her career, and who she was meant to be. But there was something in the tone of this message that felt heavier than usual.
With a sigh, she closed her phone, trying to shake the dread that had crept into her chest. The truth was, Aira had always felt torn between her family's expectations and her own dreams. And with Ravi in the picture, she could already feel the pull between the life she had known and the one she was starting to imagine for herself.
As she arrived home that evening, the atmosphere was heavy with unspoken tension. Her mother was in the living room, pacing. Her father, seated in his usual chair, looked up as she entered, his expression serious.
"Aira," he began, his voice calm but firm, "we need to talk."
Aira swallowed hard, her mind racing. She knew this conversation was coming, but she wasn't ready for it. "About what?" she asked, trying to sound casual, even though her heart was beating faster with every word.
"We've been discussing your future," her father said, his eyes steady. "You're of age now, and it's time to make some decisions. Your mother and I have been talking about a potential match for you. A marriage arrangement."
Aira's stomach twisted at his words. "A marriage arrangement?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. It was a tradition in her family, one she had always known about, but never truly considered. The thought of it sent a chill through her.
Her mother stepped forward, her tone gentle but insistent. "It's someone who has been in our lives for a long time. Someone you've met before."
Aira's mind raced, but there was only one name that came to mind. "Who?" she asked, already dreading the answer.
"It's Vikram," her father said. "He's a good match for you. From a respected family, with similar values. He's interested in you, and we believe it's the right step forward."
Aira's heart sank. Vikram was a family friend, someone who had always been in the background of her life. He was kind, well-mannered, but there was no spark, no real connection. She had never thought of him in the way her parents wanted her to.
"But…" Aira began, trying to find the right words. "What about my own future? What about what I want?"
Her father's expression hardened slightly. "This isn't about what you want, Aira. This is about what's best for our family, for you. You're not a child anymore. You need to think about the bigger picture."
Aira felt the walls closing in. Her chest tightened, and she fought to keep her emotions in check. She had always known that her parents wanted her to marry well, to secure her place in society, but now that it was being put in front of her, it felt suffocating.
"I'm not ready for this," she said quietly, almost to herself. "I don't know if I can do this."
Her mother's gaze softened, but there was a firmness to her voice. "You don't have to decide now, but you must understand, Aira. There are expectations. You're not the only one in this family. You have a responsibility."
The weight of those words hit her like a ton of bricks. Aira felt trapped, as if her entire future had been mapped out for her without her consent.
---
Later that night, Aira sat in her room, staring out the window at the rain falling in sheets. Her thoughts were clouded with the conversation she had just had. She thought of Ravi, of how everything between them had felt so simple, so right. And now, she was faced with a decision that could change everything.
Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from Ravi.
"Hey, are you okay? I've been thinking about you."
Aira couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. But that smile quickly faded as she typed her reply.
"I'm not sure anymore. My parents have been talking about a marriage arrangement. They want me to marry someone they've chosen for me."
There was a pause before Ravi's reply came in, his words both gentle and concerned.
"I'm so sorry, Aira. I know how much this must be weighing on you."
She bit her lip, staring at the message. The weight of it all was suffocating, and she wasn't sure if she could carry it on her own.
"I don't know what to do," she typed back, her hands trembling. "I feel like my whole life is being decided for me, and I don't know how to break free from it."
Ravi's response came quickly. "You don't have to do anything you're not ready for. You don't have to settle for something that doesn't feel right."
Aira closed her eyes, his words offering a small glimmer of hope. She knew that with Ravi, she had found someone who truly understood her, who saw her for who she was. But was it enough? Was love enough to overcome the expectations that had been placed on her?
The crossroads had come.
And Aira knew she would have to choose her path, whether it led to the future her parents had envisioned or the one she could only imagine with Ravi.