02. Pain and Tears

"Few decisions of our life are sometimes forcedly taken by our parents on behalf of us, just to make our future right."

She was lost in her happiest and worst day all together while fidgeting over the conflict going on in her head of what to choose over which when the door opened, flung making her flinch. She didn't turn her gaze to look who it was as she knew it was her mother.

The bed dipped letting her know she sat in front of her on bed. Her mother caressed her hair making her sob again and she hugged her tightly. Her mother rubbed her back softly to calm her down and it worked after a few minutes.

She broke the hug making her straight and stared at her messed up state with red nose, swollen eyes, cheeks with few dry tears and fresh tears rolling down again down her neck. 

Avni Agarwal lovingly wiped her face as it breaks her everything inside seeing her daughter like this. She asked her to calm down and stop sobbing and she did obediently. She placed her finger down her chin and lifted her face to match her gaze with her elder daughter.

The moment her eyes met with her mother she hugged her again as tears threatened to come out again while her heart felt like crumbling down like a broken brick wall shattering down when old. Her mother pulled her up again holding her own tears back for being strong near her crying daughter. She could feel her pain, she could sense what she's going through as once she endured the same situation like this. But the only difference between her situation and Dia is that she swallowed her pain and silently agreed while here Dia was still not ready to let her guards go down and was throwing a fit.

But how long will this work when destiny is bound to get her tied in a knot?

"Stop crying Dia.. shhh. Look what you have done with yourself in just one night. I know you don't want to get married. But please trust your dad and meet up with that guy and his family for once. They are going to come today at lunch and I want my daughter to be presentable", she said in a commanding but cheerful voice only to receive a sob in response.

"Look baby, we are your parent's and I know you have tons of questions to ask going in your head. You must be even hating us and especially your dad but you know he loves you. Right?", she said softly, holding her from shoulder.

"Then why did he make me come back to India suddenly without even letting me know he fixed my marriage. Why did I get to know last night?", she questioned, looking at her with her teary eyes.

"Coz he knew you wouldn't have come back to India leaving your dreams and goals listening about marriage. But my child being your parents, it's our duty to get you in safe hands", she justified her husband's act.

"I'm not a kid mom. And I don't need anyone in my life to be safe, at least not a man as my husband. For securing my future I don't need a man to be tied down with me nor do I need my parents who barely showed up for me", she said bitterly.

"Dia… I know you don't need him or us, you are enough for yourself and I'm proud of you for that", she says and she smiles bitterly.

"But my child, it's still our duty. And at the end you will need a guy for you to live the rest of your life. You can't live your life alone after more than 10 years onward, you would feel the emptiness in your life and to fill it up you would need a partner, child and family of your own", she reasoned again.

"But mom, what about me, myself, my dreams, goals, aims, wishes? What if that all gets drained off after a few years of marriage like yours did?", she raised a question shutting her fully.

"I still remember mom how after a few years of marriage you shattered your dreams for your child, husband and family. I don't want to live for others like you did", she said with a lone tear escaping her eyes.

Avni was stunned and more like thrown back to that lane she never wants to go again. Her own wounds felt like being afresh again and feeling choked up she stood up from the bed.

"I don't want further conversation on this Dia. You go and get ready with your face fixed and it's final. Today, they will give you shagun and fix a date for your engagement", she said sternly avoiding her inner mother and spoke like Avni Agarwal wife of Aditya Agarwal.

"But.. mom, how can you make decisions in my life, without my concern? Mom please.. don't do this", she cried out getting on her feet while her mother left just like that.

Her own parent's is not understanding her goals and aims so how can her in-laws do. She thought but couldn't make a positive hope at all in her mind and fell back on her bed. 

She would have left for Australia again to her uncle Rathod who is more like a father to her but her dad took her passport and phone only. He didn't ask her about her concern for this alliance nor did she get a chance to keep her point as Mr. Aditya Agarwal gave his words already.

Aditya Agarwal knows he is hurting his daughter and can feel her pain too. But being a father he can't take any chances with his daughter's life. He may not have been a good father figure for her but has always prayed for her well being.

He wanted to congratulate and praise her success too but he knew if he did she would get a point to justify her NO and he didn't want that. Dia has always made his parent's proud and they had loved her more than his other daughter.

She was the eldest daughter of him and his pride and that's why he never came between her goals. But for now it was important for him to make his eldest daughter settle in her life and live a normal life like other's. 

The guy he chose for his daughter was the best of all and most importantly his childhood friend's son. He knows them very well and even believes she won't have any problem in her future to pursue her dreams. He tried to make her understand but she was so much shocked, shattered and stubborn at that moment that he couldn't make it up.

His heart was aching from last night seeing his daughter with tears and hearing her sobs all night but didn't have the courage to console her. He can't get weak near his daughter as the one parent always needs to be strict for keeping their child balanced with love and rules.

He had a sleepless night like her and is still empty stomach knowing his daughter had no food either. Avni tried to make him have his breakfast but he was stubborn too and refused. Avni gave a valid reason saying his health is not good and he must eat but he still refused.

On the other hand, Dia refused to have breakfast when maids tried to enter her room. She even yelled at them for the first time because she was the calmest of all. She never disrespects or loses her calm in any situation but a few emotionally attached things always drives you nuts.

Maids came to her room at 11 pm with her mom knowing she would throw tantrums. She was still in the same messed up state but for now her tears were all dry and she was sleeping. As she cried all night and even in the morning; she couldn't cry anymore. Her whole body was aching, especially her eyes and throat.

Avni picked her up and asked the maids to stand out for a few minute's. They nodded and left while she stared at her mom keenly trying to not produce more tears.

"Do you really want this so badly for your daughter? Is my pain and tears nothing infront of you all?", her broken voice came.