Intertwined Fates -- An IPKKND FanFic

Project EKF

She traced over his handwriting with trembling fingers before flipping over the page to a typed table of contents.

I. Throwing you out of my house in the rain

II. Manhandling you when I found out who you were

III. For trying to prevent Akash and Payal's relationship at first

IV. For not thanking you properly for helping Di adopt Aarav

V. For ripping your kurta on New Year's Eve

VI. For never being able to tell you that it doesn't matter to me that your Garima's daughter

VII. For constantly going back and forth with you

VIII. For not being someone you could trust

IX. For that day in my office

I. Throwing out of my house in the rain

In my anger, in the reawakening of my grief, I only wanted to remove what I perceived to be the threat. I didn't stop to think that you were a human, too, and little more than a child. I didn't wonder how you got to me in the state you were in, nor did I worry about how you would fare after I tossed you back in the rain.

I can't take back that night I left you shelterless, but I will try to atone for it.

Underneath a picture of a dilapidated building, Arnav had written

This is Delhi Women's Shelter. It is run down and in a bad state, but the desperate women and children there have nowhere else to go.

I initially thought to make a large donation to the place and be done with it, but that's not enough.

Arnav went on to lay out a detailed plan where he would provide counselors to help deal with their traumas, offer scholarships to those who wanted to continue their educations, and link them with a volunteering organization that would provide volunteers who would help them apply for jobs and get back on their own two feet.

And to top it all off, he would donate 100 umbrellas to them.

II. Manhandling you when I found out who you were

I don't know what possessed me to think that it was alright for me to grab you, a virtual stranger at the time, by the arm and try to force you to stay by me. Naniji and Di have always taught me to respect women, but clearly I must have missed a few lessons.

So I'm arranging for a series of seminars at AR Industries starting from next month. These seminars will be discussing topics such as boundaries, consent and how to prevent harassment and bullying.

While they may be optional for employees, I will be attending every one of them.

III. For trying to prevent Akash and Payal's relationship at first

I'm ashamed to remember all the times that I actively discouraged Akash from going after Payal. It's easy to see now that they're meant for each other, but at that time, I projected my own insecurities and prejudices on them.

In doing so, I hurt Akash, Payal, and by extension, you.

I'm sorry.

And now it's time to atone for my earlier foolishness by doing my utmost to support their relationship.

Studies show that having children can be really hard on a couple. They lose sleep and quality time, which can have an adverse effect on their marriage.