Chapter 4: Destiny’s Burden

Am I really Kunal’s destined partner?

The thought gnawed at me. Could fate be so cruel—tying me to someone I’d never even considered? If I don’t go to him, will he really be in danger?

The fear was real, a cold ache in my chest. What if Kunal was suffering, alone in his big, empty bungalow?

After leaving the bar, I was still torn. The city’s lights blurred as I stumbled outside. The monsoon breeze was thick with humidity and raat ki rani. My mind spun with doubts.

After much hesitation, I called Meera, my best friend—the one who always steadied me. She answered, voice thick with sleep and worry, Aman muttering in the background.

"Destined partner? Of course, Aman and I are destined partners." I could hear her rolling her eyes. "Itna drama, Priya. Yes, it’s true. When we met for coffee at CCD, the first handshake made him grow horns and a tail—scared a bunch of people, almost landed us at the police station."

I snorted, despite myself. Only Meera could make something supernatural sound like college gossip.

"Later, after we got together, I found out that’s what happens when an asura meets his destined partner. Why do you ask? Did you meet an asura who recognised you as his destined mate?"

I dodged, changing the subject. "Then if... just hypothetically, if an asura enters adulthood after meeting his destined partner, but someone else helps him, does it matter?"

Meera paused, whispering to Aman. His voice came through, low and steady: "If an asura meets his destined partner before adulthood, for life it’s only that person. If he can’t win their love, adulthood is delayed, and when it comes, he’ll suffer more than normal... As for getting someone else to help, it’s impossible. Asuras can’t betray their destined partner. They might even choose death."

Meera’s gasp echoed mine. "Priya, yeh toh serious hai," she whispered. "Is it Kunal?"

I forced a smile and hung up. I couldn’t face her questions—not now, when my own heart was such a mess.

Everyone knew I didn’t like Kunal. It was a running joke. Even my parents teased me. "He’s such a nice boy, why not give him a chance?" Amma would say, only half-joking.

But now someone tells me I’m his destined partner. It felt like a cruel cosmic prank. I’d spent years running away, and now fate had run faster.

And if I don’t love him, he’ll die.

The words echoed, heavy and relentless. My anger at Arjun, my confusion, my guilt—all of it blended into a painful knot in my chest.

I leaned against a lamppost, blinking back tears. "What am I supposed to do, yaar?" I whispered. The universe, as usual, didn’t answer.

But in the end, I booked a cab and rushed to Kunal’s house. The decision was made before I knew it. Whatever happened, I couldn’t let Kunal suffer because of me. "Bas, ho gaya," I told myself, climbing into the waiting Ola.

Kunal lived in a bungalow in a posh Navi Mumbai colony, on the other side of the city—very far away. The drive felt endless, the city lights streaking past. The driver chatted about cricket; I barely listened. My mind replayed every memory of Kunal, searching for anything that could explain how we’d ended up here.

I started to wonder—what was he feeling when he crossed the city to see me before? Had he felt this same restlessness, this same fear of being too late?

After nearly two hours, I finally arrived. The cab stopped at the wrought-iron gates, gleaming under the streetlights. I saw Kunal’s shadow on the balcony, pacing like a caged animal.

Surprisingly, the Kapoors’ bungalow was brightly lit, the house help all awake. Their worried faces greeted me. One pressed my hand, murmuring, "Didi, sab theek ho jayega." Their relief was almost comical, but it made my heart ache. "Aap hi hain na, didi? Please, help kar dijiye."

"Didi, please go see the young master. He’s entered adulthood, but things are very bad. He locked himself in his room and won’t let anyone in..."

Their voices trembled. I barely nodded, racing up the marble stairs. My phone buzzed again, but this time, I didn’t hesitate. Tonight, I would choose.