Niyati [Destiny]: A Mahabharata Time-Travel Story

Chapter 1

"Come on, bhai," Keerthi huffed.

"No, Keerthi," her brother, Abhay said sharply. "Mom and dad are busy. They don't have time for your little whims."

"Oh, right, busy with their favorite child, celebrating his birthday. Busy forgetting they have a daughter whose birthday it is as well!"

"Keerthi!" he snapped. "Don't talk about thing you don't understand."

"Whatever. Just- just- ugh! I'm sick of all of you! Pretending-"

Abhay had hung up on her. Tossing her phone to the side, she curled up under her covers, tears silently sliding down her cheeks. Her twentieth birthday should've been perfect. She had planned everything. She would tell her parents about her successful fashion career, and they would finally let her come to the famous birthday parties they hosted – finally let her be a part of the family.

But no. Instead, her brother had picked up the phone. Her perfect twin brother. The only one her parents wanted. Keerthi's old fashioned father was an important political figure and buisnessman. Their company, Anand Inc., was one of the best, and her parents had needed was a heir. Then her brother was born, giving her parents everything they had wanted.

And then there was her. The spare. Her father didn't believe that women should go out into the world. He hadn't thought that she could be successful. But she was a published author, and now a fashion designer. Still, she doubted her parents had even noticed.

Her phone rang again, but Keerthi ignored it. It was probably her brother, to antagonize her again. Turning away, she pulled the covers over her head. Still, the phone continued to blare at an annoyingly loud level. Finally, exasperated, she tossed off the covers and grabbed the phone.

She was about to switch it off, but then she saw the caller. For the first time that day, her face broke out into a wide smile. Picking up the call, she was bombarded by the voices of her best friends, Chetana and Aaryan Agarwal.

As usual, Chetana was on full talkative mode. "Keets, come outside!"

"What?"

Aaryan groaned in the background. "Chetana, at least say hello to her."

Keerthi grinned. "Hello to you, too."

"Nevermind that," Chetana said impatiently. "Come outside."

"You keep saying that," Keerthi replied. "Where outside?"

There was a moment of silence. "Keets, it's Aaryan."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, that male voice is definitely Chetana's," she said sarcastically.

Aaryan laughed. "We're outside your house. Open the door."

"I need five," she said.

She hung up the call and went to change. She'd been busy brooding and hadn't bothered to change out of here pajamas.

She wore a dark green lehenga, combed her dark hair, flicked off the lights, ran downstairs and out the front door.

Sure enough, Chetana and Aaryan were waiting for her. Aaryan was sitting on his motorcycle with Chetana behind him.

"Get your motorcycle," Aaryan called.

Keerthi spun around to bring it. She strapped on her helmet and they took off with Aaryan on the lead. She followed him, and the siblings took her to a crowded place downtown. They parked over on the side some distance away.

"Close your eyes," Chetana ordered.

Obediently, Keerthi shut her eyes and Chetana led her forward blindly, weaving through the crowd.

"Open them now," Aaryan said.

Opening them, she gasped.

Aaryan smiled. "Happy birthday!" her friends chorused.

Tearfully, she threw her arms around them. This was the ice cream place she had gone to with her family when she was younger. It was one of the only happy memories she had with them.

"I take it you're happy?" Chetana smirked.

"You think?" Keerthi exclaimed.

Who needed family when she had friends like this?

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A/n: Chapter 1 is finally out! Please vote and comment. I appreciate any advice you have about my writing. Thank you!