MY LIFE IS NO FAIRY TALE.

✓ RIYA

"This is my home, stepmother!”

My stepmother snickered. "Indeed."

“I've never chosen anywhere else as home than here, stepmother! I've lost both parents for heaven's sake! Please, stepmother. I promise to be at my best…” My voice cracked, and I swallowed. “Please…”

Ama shut her book close and stared at me with mirth for a moment, "Damn girl, I thought you were a smart little one. This place, this house,”

She closed in the entire house with her hands; like calling me to snap out of my illusion, “Here has never been your home, darling!”

Then, she chuckled, and said after returning to her book. “And, at least use some less goddamn approach. You should know begging would do you no good.”

“She thinks I'm buying it.” My stepmother scoffed.

“Have you forgotten father's last words?!” My father's last words found their way to my head and hot tears filled my eyes to the brim. ‘Riya is an irreplaceable gem, and I hope you wouldn't have a reason to detach her from this family,’

“Father asked you to keep me here, yet, you want to push me out of my home and sell me off to some disgusting old bum!” I shouted, my body shaking from the amount of anger that was beginning to circulate through my body.

A soft hiss escaped my stepmother’s lips, “Like the heck I care.”

“What?!” Like a snap to my brain, a realization hit me hard, “Wait… What?! Did you kill my father?!”

The pieces seemed to come together, and the world felt as though it was then twirling underneath my feet. Did she really kill my father?!

A fleeting look of fear and remorse flashed across my stepmother’s face, and before I could say another word, a resounding slap graced my left cheek.

The pain was rather incomparable to the agony that was clenching my heart at that period of time, as my hands flew to the cheek, and my eyes widened with shock.

“I should have thrown you out years ago! You monster!”

“Oh blimey! I just want to read in graveyard peace, Mom! When in the goddess name is the knight coming to save his Cinderella, huh?!” Ama shouted, tossing her book to the floor.

At that instant, the doorbell chimed, reducing the tension building in the dimly lit room as everyone became dead silent.

My stepmother was the first to break the silence, for she jumped to her feet and picked up the book Ama had thrown to the floor, “He’s here! Your caller is here, Riya!”

After looking me over in one gaze, she shook her head, and turned to her daughter, “Ama, act like a lady! The guests should never wrinkle a wrong impression of you!”

My stepmother hastily scrubbed off the earlier tea stain on the table with her sleeve, before realizing her mistake. “Damn! Get me some wet wipes, you idiot!”

After a futile attempt to clean her sleeve, she threw the wipes at my face and rushed to attend to the guests.

My life was being played like a game before my eyes, and there was nothing I could do, other than to try all the best I could to resist, and right there I wondered if I would ever have a meaningful existence.

“Sir. Brandon!” My stepmother said, almost shouting with excitement, and stepped aside, “Finally! You're here! I almost grew gray hairs from waiting so long for you!

Brandon grunted, and entered the house, his body covered with a strong smell of tobacco. He was accompanied by two bouncers, one husky, and the other, a contrast.

“Where is the girl?!” He said with so much haste hued on his voice as he took a seat on the accent couch. He checked his wrist watch, and tapped the screen. “I'm rather short on time. I should be saying goodbye in a few minutes.”

“But, you have just arrived here! There's no need to rush! Where are you headed to?” My stepmother questioned him, but he only grunted and smoked on his tobacco.

“I could stay quite longer, but it depends on how much I like the kid.”

“This is a trade. You pay me well, I give you the best.” My stepmother sneered.

“Bet on me. I will keep my word.”

My stepmother called me back into the living room after I had raced back to my room to check the dress suitable for the absurd occasion as instructed by my stepmother.

On my arrival, I met my stepmother sniffling, and obviously feigning tears. “Oh, poor child!”

As soon as Brandon set his eyes on me, while I ascended the stairs, he applauded, and smiled brightly. “Yes! This is one way of doing this! Just what I want!”

Repulsion filled me and I almost puked, while I balled my hand into tight fists, hoping I was doing a good job at keeping my raging emotions in check, as my stepmother pushed me to stand before the old man.

When will my life ever become a fairy tale?!

“You’re rather my cup of tea. Tell me, have we met before now? Your pretty face seems quite too familiar.” Brandon finally managed to say, after lusting on every edge of my body, while my skin prickled under his unsettling gaze.

“I’m certain we haven’t met before. And with the goddess’s help, I assure you that this will be our last encounter since I have no intention of going anywhere with you.”

My voice was a wide contrast to the tempest of storm in my heart as I spoke; yet I needed to speak softly and fight. Just not to offend, but so he knows that I wasn't interested.

Silence had cost me lots, and I was tired of paying the price.

“Forgive this child, Mr. Brandon,” My stepmother twitched in her seat, and edged in, with a forced smile. “She can be quite rude, but trust me, she will make a good wife!”

She chuckled awkwardly, and snapped her head towards me, her eyes shooting thousands of bullets at me. “Apologize now, dear! You should never behave in that manner to your elders!”

“I’ll not apologize, stepmother. And, I refuse to get married without my consent, hands down not to this man!”

I was ready for anything that was to come— anything whatsoever!

“Riya!”

“Leave me alone! I refuse to be a pawn in your chess game!”