Katherine’s Dilemma

January 1, 2011

1:15 AM — The Oberoi, Mumbai

The city still pulsed with celebration outside. From their hotel balcony, the Arabian Sea stretched into the horizon, the last bursts of fireworks reflecting across its dark waters.

But inside the suite, Katherine Naskar was far from at peace.

Wrapped in a blanket, she sat against the headboard, staring blankly at her phone, her thumb hovering over a recent call log.

"Dad – 5 minutes ago."

Her father, Nathaniel Blackwood, had called her at an unusual hour. And now, even after their conversation ended, her thoughts churned restlessly.

She had grown up in an environment of control, wealth, and power—the Blackwood legacy. Her father never made casual calls. Every word had purpose. Every question was calculated.

And tonight's conversation? It was no different.

_"I just wanted to check in,"_ he had said.

_"Have you noticed anything noteworthy?"_

Katherine frowned, biting her lip. She knew exactly what that meant.

Her father wanted information.

Not about her well-being. Not about her marriage. Not about her life in India.

He wanted to know what Aritra was doing.

And for the first time, she realized something disturbing.

She didn't actually know.

The phone vibrated again.

A message.

Dad: _"Call me when you're alone."_

Her grip on the phone tightened. He never asked that directly. Which meant…

This wasn't just about checking in.

Her heart pounded as she stared at the screen. Should I call him back?

Nathaniel Blackwood was not a man who liked waiting. And yet, she hesitated.

Because deep down, she knew this wasn't just about business. This was about choosing sides.

She swallowed hard and, after a long pause, dialed back.

It rang once. Twice.

Then his voice came through, calm as ever. "Katherine."

She exhaled slowly. "Dad."

"Are you alone?"

She glanced at the empty bed beside her. "Yes."

"Good."

There was a brief silence before he spoke again.

"I assume you're still in Mumbai?"

"Yes," she replied carefully. "We just celebrated New Year's at Marine Drive."

"Interesting choice," Nathaniel mused. "A man of Aritra's stature, celebrating in the streets instead of some exclusive gala?"

She frowned. "You make it sound like a crime."

"Not at all. Just an observation."

Another pause. Then, his tone shifted.

"Katherine, I need to ask you something. And I need you to be honest with me."

She sat up straighter. "What is it?"

Nathaniel's voice remained calm, but there was a weight behind his words.

_"Is Aritra expanding beyond the tech industry?"_

Her stomach twisted.

_"What?"_ she asked, playing dumb.

"You heard me," Nathaniel said smoothly. "Nova Tech and OmniLink are publicly known. But I'm hearing whispers of something bigger—industrial expansions, large-scale land acquisitions, government alliances."

Katherine's fingers curled into the sheets. Of course, he knows.

Her father had an intelligence network that rivaled nations. If something was happening, he would hear about it—but not all the details.

Which meant he needed her.

She kept her voice neutral. "I don't know anything about that."

Nathaniel hummed in thought. "Are you sure?"

"Dad," she said firmly, "Aritra doesn't involve me in business decisions. I only know about his tech company. That's it."

There was a pause. Then, a slow exhale.

"That's unfortunate," Nathaniel murmured. "I had hoped you'd be more… aware."

Something about the way he said it made her heart pound harder. He's testing me.

She forced herself to remain calm. "Dad, I told you. I don't know anything."

Another silence.

Then, his voice softened. "Katherine… you know I only want to protect you, right?"

Her throat tightened. "I know."

"I trust you," he continued, "but I need to understand where Aritra stands. You don't have to spy on him—I would never ask you to. But if you notice something… something unusual, I expect you to let me know."

She closed her eyes. Here it is. The moment of decision.

Aritra had never asked her for loyalty. He never pressured her. Never interrogated her about her past or her father's operations.

But now, Nathaniel was asking for something Aritra never did—to choose a side.

Her father's world, or her husband's world.

The family that raised her, or the man she chose.

After a long silence, she finally spoke. "I have to go, Dad. It's late."

Nathaniel didn't protest. He only said, "Take care, sweetheart."

And then the call ended.

Katherine placed the phone down and ran a hand over her face.

Why am I hesitating?

If she loved Aritra, why did she feel conflicted?

If she truly stood by his side, why didn't she just refuse her father outright?

Her mind swirled with a thousand thoughts, but one question stood out above all.

Am I in love with Aritra?

She had married him because she admired him. Because she believed in him. Because he was a force of nature, someone who built the future instead of waiting for it to arrive.

But love?

Love was messy. Love was irrational.

And love was supposed to leave no doubt.

So why did she feel torn?

She pulled the blanket over herself, curling into the sheets.

If she truly loved Aritra…

Why was she hesitating?

And if she wasn't completely on his side…

Where did she stand?

As she drifted into a restless sleep, her mind whispered the answer she feared most.

She didn't know.