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Life has taught me many lessons. You don't have to go out of the premises of the house when you're born into a dominant family. Here! Girls' lives are miserable. It doesn't matter to the elders of the family what your dreams are, they want you to be submissive, obedient. They want you to see wrong deeds happening without raising your voice, without objecting to it. I know something is wrong. I've seen my father doing wrong things. He didn't raise his hand on me, but he had raised his hand on my mother. He doesn't know I've seen him doing it, but I've seen him from my hiding place. My mother loathed him, still she's staying here because of fear and her marriage's duties. I know, Our fathers aren't merely engaged in the business of transportation. There's more. I've seen them loading bags in the back of one SUV. I tried to peep in hoping to find it to be old clothes for donation. But it wasn't. Whatever yellow, black substance was filled in it. Its smell made me retch. My mother found me. She was so furious at me. She asked me to make words to her not to share it with anyone and I'm still carrying that promise.
I stare at the small table on the side of my single bed. There are two pictures: one with my parents and brother and the second with my sisters. Though, they're my friends. We're not related by blood. My room is comfortable though it's not the big one like my parents have. There's everything I need, a cupboard, a small bookcase, a desk with a chair and an attached bathroom. I want a window too, but only dry moss color's walls with cream color on the ceiling.
Sim is going to marry at the end of this week. I'm not against arranged marriage but I'm also not in favour. I don't wanna marry a man, whom I don't know. They just dropped it on her. I don't think one week is enough to understand him for her before the wedding. But Sim seems happy and it looks genuine. So I'm not worried about her. I can only hope her husband will treat her like a lady. Otherwise, it would make her life hell. Life is changing every day after the last day of college. I don't wanna put a full stop to my studies yet. Our mothers tried their best, we didn't get married at the age of eighteen, but the fear was always there. Sim got betrothed instantly after the last day of college. I can expect it from the records of our families. one of us or two will be betrothed during Sim's wedding. The apocalypse seems imminent. I don't want a loveless life. I don't wanna marry a person who I don't know. Simple!
The pounding on the door startles me, "Rani!" My father's voice comes from the other side of the door. It's only my father who doesn't use my name written in the government' record. Rani means Queen.
" Daddy! I'm awake." I say slowly, but I give it enough voice to make it hear him.
I hear his footsteps this time decreasing. I yank the cover away and walk out of the room over the window bare feet. The sun isn't visible in the sky yet. But I can see the orange outline. This is an important day for Sim.
Exhaling the breath from my lungs, I walk across the floor and open the door of my dark brown cupboard. Daddy installed it last year on my birthday. I rake my eyes on my clothes.
It's extremely confusing what to wear when you have a lot of options, but I love this confusion. Only this one!
I have chosen white fitting denim jeans and a white cotton top with puffy short sleeves. We aren't allowed in the beauty parlour. I need to shave my arms before bathing. I love my sisters. Sas and Saavi are really good human beings, with no ego, humble, down to earth, they love me from the core of their heart. I don't have the fairest skin. People expect girls to have the fairest skin. I have ivory skin, I don't care. I love myself. Sim is a bit egoistic, okay I'm wrong, it's not a bit. I know she is jealous of me. I don't know the reasons yet. She never shares it but I know she does. I can just tell from her expressions that she gives when I'm around. She doesn't like me.
I didn't see a flick of sadness in her eyes that she'll stay far away from us. Her future's in-laws house, It's only two or three hours away by road from here. Our house! I didn't pay attention to who is going to be her husband, but her smile says she likes him. That's all that matters, Happiness! Ain't it?
I showered, taking my full time. I tuck my hair in a neat bun, no strands are standing out. I pull two strands out brushing against my cheeks. I grab my luggage. Momi and I packed it last night.
Genuinely speaking, I don't wanna attend this function. I know Sim doesn't like me, I can see it every time, when a stranger for some unknown reason without any selfishness, that stranger shows me his good side. She has a problem with it. Unfortunately, we're in such a community, where people judge you with your rank in society, with your pelf and some narrow-minded will judge you, how good looking you're. Which is a shameful thing. Such people with this mentality are a stigma on humanity. Can't we see the good side? Money could be earned, status could be changed. It's not permanent. Why don't we Value permanent things, like good people from the core of their heart?
I shake off my thoughts and walk out of the room with my luggage, " Good morning, Momi!" I kiss her cheek and sit next to my brother. Momi bends down and kisses my head. She's the best mother in the world, " Good morning dad, Haughty brother. " I smile. Momi serves me my breakfast and I stare at it with a little frown. It's my sleeping time, not eating. " Morning, Rani, " My dad chuckles. Raj glares at me and then frowns, " Just brother is enough, " He rolls the Paratha and gets on his feet, " I'm waiting outside, little sister. " " Huh!" I snorted. "I'm three years older than you," I hear him in his merry tone. I'm twenty-one, the youngest among them. My parents laugh. I love my family. My parents love
The window is rolled down from my side. I need fresh air to breathe. My eyes are closed. But I couldn't sleep. Whenever I fell asleep, something made me wake up, blowing horns, pollution, Money and Raj didn't stop talking for a second. It was quite irritating. But they are driving on the highway. They need something for their entertainment. I can't be selfish. I darted my eyes out of the window. I read the welcome board in Amritsar. At least, Her fiance doesn't live in a village. There is no reason that I'm interested in attending this wedding. Momi told me last night about it. I was strongly believing that there would be tears in her eyes hearing her sudden wedding, but it shocked me to find her blushing, she likes him. She wants this wedding. Our parents don't allow us. Doubtlessly, after the age of fourteen, our parents began to tell us that love marriage isn't a
I sat down. I'm struggling to keep myself awake. I couldn't sleep during the ride, " Look at me, " Momi softly says. I crack my eyes open and look at her. She tugs my hair behind my ears and then gathers them in the hold of her hand. She makes a tight bun of my hair, " Momi, I'm not a kid." I pout my lips. " Of course, you're. All you want to do is just sleep." She smiles and taps on my nose with her index finger. I smile at her. The chair next to me screeched. I blink as I glance at him. I blink to make him disappear. But nothing. He sits next to me. I can imagine Sim's face now. I'm not looking at her side. It's not my fault if someone is interested in sitting next to me. It may be his aim to get the true side of her. We don't deal with boys every day, it's our brothers and fathers. Boys fear being nea
The cold, humid room is filled with dead silence. I'm not one of them who sits back and barks orders. I love to do it personally. The room is filled with his terrified breathing. Crimson blood is dripping from my hands. He is writhing under the touch of a sharp blade. My mouth twitches when I see the terror in his eyes. His eyes widen in horror, shaking his head madly, his screams are muffled under the black cloth around his mouth. It could be a horrendous, horrible sight for most people, but I get peace in it. To cut my enemies to bleed and then most fearful death. I push myself back and look at my work. So peaceful! But he doesn't look in peace. Bloody Russian! I'll cut them into pieces and give them the most painful death if they dare to put a step in my territory. " Are you going to kill him, brother? " Devon asks in a joyful voice. He leans against the wall. I glance at him o
I open my eyes, confused, I glance around in puzzlement. Everything is white and green in the room, white marbles, brown furniture, green curtains against the large windows, I blink. My eyes rest on my sneakers. I remove it and it drops with a thud on the floor. Slowly I sigh. I put my feet on the cold floor. It's feeling good on the warm days of April. I walk over to the window and stare out. A vast manicured garden is laying before my sight. I smile. I don't wanna come to attend this wedding. But here I am. I'll talk to Momi and Daddy. I'll get a railway ticket. Sim isn't happy to see me here. I don't wanna spoil her special days. I should go. I exhale and turn from the window. I walk across the bed and unzip my luggage. I plucked a coral skirt and white top from it. I saunter toward the washroom. &n
I take deep breaths to calm myself. I know I'm going to end up in an unwanted life one day like Simrat. He likes me, he wants my option for unknown reasons. Why does it matter to him? He can't force me into anything. He would be the last man I want to be with. The reason is, she! Her parents have chosen him for her, as her future husband. If I would be in Simrat's shoes, I would have said to him, no! Or I would have denied this wedding. I don't know, is what he said true or not? It does not matter, I've no space for him in my life. I left them alone in his office. I hope they'll sort out this matter. " Shelly, " I stop when I hear my name. My gaze was on the floor on the whole path. I glance up. Achraj's father is glancing down at me. Something dark is shining in his eyes. He's standing proud with a
There is silence in the room. When we are three together and it's not sleeping time, the room would have reverberated with our talk. It's not about arranged marriage. I don't wanna be part of these people's life. The ladies of this family are good but I can't say the same thing for the men. Sas and Saavi are holding my hands. We are staring at the ceiling. I couldn't tell them what happened in his office? They understand but don't ask me. They know I'll tell them when I feel better. The knock on the door breaks the silence. We push ourselves in sitting positions, " Come in, " Saavi says. " What does he want now? " Sas gets on her feet and rolls her eyes. " Dinner is ready ma'am. They are waiting for you at the dining table." Kala says, opening the door. He does not step in. &nb
A shiver runs down my spine. I don't wanna trap in here, forever. I don't wanna marry him. I don't stop pacing to and fro in the room. I'm feeling terrified. My parents are giving me to a stranger. I do not know anything about them. My own thoughts are terrifying me. What would they do to me if by mistake I would get married to him? I'm not a strong person. I'm a girl who has never stepped out of the walls my parents built for me. Now suddenly, they are setting me free in a different cage, bigger than that, the scariest one. I glance at the ring in aggravation. I pull it out and put it on the nightstand. I need to talk to someone before my mind blasts in frustration. It's night. I'm not going to knock at my parents' door at this time of night. Saavi makes rash decisions. But Sas if I want her to just listen to me. She will. Hurriedly, I changed into white shorts and white