{"id":258475,"date":"2026-07-13T16:18:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T13:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/destined-paths-kalpana-b\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T16:18:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T13:18:18","slug":"destined-paths-kalpana-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/destined-paths-kalpana-b\/","title":{"rendered":"Destined Paths – Kalpana B"},"content":{"rendered":"
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he asked, his concern clear. \u201cYou looked pale in the morning.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m fine, Rahul,\u201d I said, trying to push down the flutter of emotions in my chest. \u201cGood night, and take care.\u201d Before he could say anything else, I ended the call. Maybe I was overreacting, but the truth was hard to ignore\u2014he had left just a day after our wedding. His work had taken priority over me. Didn\u2019t that say everything? Would he have done the same if it were his ex-girlfriend?<\/p>\n

Left her alone among practically strangers? Would he not have at least asked her to accompany him? Taken her along? Would he have even considered leaving her like this? There was no end to these questions, and no real answers that could satisfy me. The more I thought about it, the more restless I became.<\/p>\n

I needed to stop overanalyzing everything. The next day, I went with the broker to finalize the apartment deal. Luck was on my side\u2014one of the places was in a ready-to-move state. Without hesitation, I paid the advance and asked the broker to prepare the agreement. Now, I had two major things to do: 1.<\/p>\n

Transfer my painting supplies from my uncle\u2019s house to my new place. 2. Resign from my job. I didn\u2019t need that job anymore. I had decided\u2014I would give my 100% to painting. This way, I could start earning on my own terms, build my savings faster, and secure my independence. I contacted a movers and packers company to transport all my belongings from my uncle\u2019s house to my new studio apartment. The next three days passed in a blur\u2014organizing my supplies, unpacking, and making the space livable.<\/p>\n

I bought the essentials: a stove, some utensils, groceries, and minimal furniture.<\/p>\n

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The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. ISBN-13: 9781234567890 ISBN-10: 1477123456 Cover design by: Art Painter Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309 Printed in the United States of America OceanofPDF.com KOMAL This is the fifth\u2014or maybe the sixth\u2014time I\u2019m meeting a stranger for an arranged marriage meeting.<\/p>\n

Honestly, I\u2019ve lost count already. My mind is already racing with strategies to make this boy say no. It\u2019s not that I\u2019m cruel or enjoy playing games, but the whole process feels so\u2026 unnatural. How do people even do this? Sit across from someone they\u2019ve never met, exchange pleasantries, and then decide if they want to spend the rest of their lives together.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s absurd. And yet, here I am, trapped in this cycle. You might ask, why don\u2019t you just say no? Why go through this charade? The truth is, I don\u2019t have the power to say no. Not really. I\u2019m an orphan. My parents passed away when I was 13, just as I was starting 8th grade. I had chosen the commerce stream after 10th, but my heart was set on fine arts.<\/p>\n

I dreamed of painting, of creating something beautiful, of losing myself in colors and canvases. But when my parents died, my dreams died with them. My uncle and his sons took over everything\u2014my life, my decisions, my future. They didn\u2019t allow me to pursue fine arts, saying it was impractical, and a waste of time. All the savings my parents left behind were taken by my uncle, who said it was for my marriage.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not like they\u2019re outright cruel or abusive\u2014no dramatic Bollywood-style villainy here. But the restrictions are suffocating. I\u2019m 26, and they\u2019re in a hurry to get me married. \u201cIt\u2019s for your own good,\u201d they say. \u201cYou need stability, security.\u201d But what about my dreams? My independence? My voice? Every time I sit across from one of these strangers, I feel like a puppet, going through the motions. I smile politely, answer their questions, and try to gauge if they\u2019re the kind of person who\u2019d understand me\u2014or at least let me breathe.<\/p>\n

But deep down, I know it\u2019s futile. I\u2019m not here to find love or companionship. I\u2019m here because it\u2019s expected of me. Because I have no other choice. So, I\u2019ve started planning. If I can\u2019t say no outright, I\u2019ll make them say it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.<\/em><\/p>\n

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