3. Scarred Friendships

Sneaking in your home was the job which should be given a pay.

Hauling myself with a stiffness, I slump down on the bed, taking heavy breaths which I just lost. I would not sneak out next time. I would go by telling everyone. No more sneaking, because climbing back was a laborious job which wasn't meant for me.

You'll do it again.

I patted my subconscious mentally. Ah, she knew me too well to know that I would sneak out again and again. I couldn't manage to tell my parents about it. The moment they discover my relationship, I would be found deep buried under the ground.

"Sanchi beta, get up." I heard a knocking on the door followed with mom's voice. Clasping my hand over my mouth, I gulped the breaths to not let her know I was awake. I was a late sleeper and hardly get awake early.

When it was done, I removed the hand from my mouth. "I'm awake." If I hadn't answered, she would've come in and that was when the show of a daily soap would have begun. Also, the marathon of questions thrown my way with a look of suspicion on her face. When I heard her retreating steps, I got up quickly, did the daily routine of brushing my teeth, bathing and then wearing the clothes.

I chose a plain shirt with denim and thrown over a short green coat over it. Getting sick in this month wasn't something I was looking for.

But all this process always take a long time.

I was a girl. I needed my beauty time.

Collecting my purse from the wardrobe, I vacated my room and walked downstairs to see that everyone was already seated on the dining table and having their breakfast. My home was a replica of any other rich house. Magnificent stairs, shimmering marble, chandelier, big rooms and maids going here and there. I had no problem with the things but sometimes everything felt so . . . hollow.

Rakshit eyes hoisted up and a startled look subdued his face. Like I said, I wasn't an early riser but that was before I got in the fashion studio.

"How are you awake so early?" From his voice, everyone eyes snapped at my direction.

I rolled my eyes and took my seat next to dad. "Because my inner wishes were begging to make you all happy with my presence." I placed my purse on the table.

He opened his mouth to say something but contested against it and the next moment he was quiet. "Don't want to cause a trouble." At least, he was grown up on that topic.

We had overcome our time where we used to fight over small things, him being protective over me - that's a lie - anyway, we didn't get into much talking anymore. He was busy with his own family and I was busy with my own life and problems where were more like tangled hair. They were never ending. One problem solved, next arises in a moment. My life was full of them.

I turned the plate to eat something, but luck was never in my favor when I heard my grandma with her same old dialogue.

Didn't she ever get bored with it?

Because I was so fucking much bored. I didn't like her presence around me.

"So noisy all day. I don't know what children do nowadays." Things which were far more appealing than you. The noise was of Adi - playing with his plane - and making flying noises. For him, it was cool, so we didn't say anything.

This was the age of him being free and happy, after that school, marks, crush, rumors and so on would mark his life. A happy soul splintered under the burden of the world, with no hope of every rising above again.

My phone beeped from my sound, and my grandma gaze went to it with an annoyed look. She hated phones on the dining table, saying today generation had been spoiled by all these nonsense technologies. If only she knew about them. Ignoring it, I opened it up and saw it was the message from Mehak. I hadn't met her after coming back from the studio, she was excited to know what had happened in there. I didn't pick the call of any of my friends yesterday, to shock with the news of Dhruv being married and I had to work with him.

Someone poked on my side to grab my attention. Tilting my head, I saw Adi was gawking at me whilst gripping his finger.

"Bhua, we need to go to the hospital." He rustled.

"Why?"

He showed his finger to me. "Blood is coming." I scrutinized my eyes at it and saw a pinch of blood was visible on his finger.

We didn't go to the hospital for such a small injury, but he was a child. I bit back my smile and faced him with a serious expression. "Oh, we'll go. Such a big injury you got. Paining?"

He shook his head. "But there is blood. Momma says when there is blood we should go to the hospital."

What craps Megna had been teaching him.

I ruffled his hair with my free hand. "We'll in some time. Let me finish my breakfast."

He nodded and ran away. My attention came back to my breakfast which I was about to eat when my grandma's voice intervened.

Looks like I couldn't get a decent breakfast.

"Sanchi, do you plan to get married or not? In my time, girl got married at 18 only, but nowadays, girls attitude."

Rolling my eyes, I faced her. "My marriage. My wish, grandma." And you had no right to interfere in my life when you didn't even know one single thing about me.

She snorted and faced dad. "I was talking with Mrs. Kaur yesterday. You know her daughter is getting married. And asked about Sanchi, before I could reply she said we might be having trouble. We already - " Before she could complete it, I stood up harshly from my seat.

This was the daily portion of my home. It looked more like a set of some Indian drama serial. She would taunt me, but we couldn't say anything, being her the elder. But she needed to understand the meaning of personal matters and life.

Grabbing my purse from the table, I faced mom who was looking worried like every day, but never said anything in return. Defending your daughter wasn't a crime. Then my gaze shifted to dad who was wearing an annoyed look of the same thing. But I needed them to say something, not remain quiet and agree with her.

"I had my breakfast. Good day to everyone else." I whirled around but no one said anything. I knew they were looking at the plate which was empty, like my life.

Empty plate. Full stomach with the talks.

I heard my grandma from behind me. "Girls these days. Don't know anything about family's respect."

I mumbled slowly, "Shut up." Because you were making it so hard for me to continue my day with a smile.

I wish I could say it to them.