This chapter is dedicated to India's daughter Nirbhaya ( Damini) who fought bravely on Dec 16 2012

We salute you Damini! You will always be remembered as a hero.

"So, what's up everyone?" Soniya asked. Her voice still had the British accent that we used to tease sometime. It was not that we didn't like it but who misses a chance to tease your cousins! We were all gathered up in my room after dinner to catch up with all the things happening in our lives except Vyaan who was off to bed in my parent's bedroom. Little Navya had pleaded with her mother to let her stay up for some more time.

"As you can see, there is another of our generation getting shackled." Rahul bhaya joked.

"And he is an NRI like you" Dhristi dee added.

"Ahh...I heard about it from Mom" Niya replied.

"He is Ammeican" Navya pipped in.

"Its 'American' Navya" Sonal dee corrected her.

"Oh look, someone is being protective." Niya teased and nudged dee.

"What protective? I am just correcting her pronunciation." Sonal dee rolled her eyes. This is made everyone laugh.

"Show me some pics!" Niya demanded.

"Give me a sec!" I rushed to my table to bring my laptop.

I turned it on and showed her the pics.

"Ah Dashing han" Niya again teased Dee.

"Ashu, show her the specs one. You will drool over that!" Dhristi dee said.

"Dhristi! There are children here!" Sonal dee chided.

"Aww...someone is jealous" Bhabi grinned.

"Bhabi, you were supposed to be on my side." Sonal dee pouted.

I showed her the picture where Kratik jiju was wearing specs and like Dhristi dee said Niya drooled over it.

"You are all acting like he is some model." Sonal dee complained.

"Good idea dee! I must ask bhaya to join modeling." I clapped my hands in astonishment. I was faking it.

"What!! No! I-I mea-mean he loves his job." Sonal dee blabbered.

"Sonal, you are so cute!" Neha bhabi pinched.

"Chidalo jitna chidana he. Jab me chali jaungi tab miss karte rahana."(Tease me as much as you want. Once I leave, you will all keep missing me.) Sonal dee cheekily said.

I closed my laptop and stood up to place it on the table. I just stood in front of the table, biting my lips. She didn't know what she had said. She was entering a new life, a new phase. She was being bonded with new relationship and somehow leaving her past behind. And I was the part of past. She was going to move to America, without me.

Who was going to watch Shahrukh Khan's movies with ice cream late at night when I was upset? Who was going to be there to hide my mischief? Who was going to be like my second mom?

A tear slipped on to my cheek.

"Aesha?" Neha bhabi asked.

She was by my side in a second. I tried to wipe the tear away but she caught me.She took me in her arms.

"Hey, what happened sweety?"

I just shook my head.

"Ashu, baccha." Dee turned me to face her.

"Kya hua bachcha?"(What happened kid?) Sonal dee asked while rubbing my arm up and down.

This made me cry all the tears that I held back. I hugged her tightly and she hugged me back in return.

"Sha, Kaya hau?" (What happened?) Niya spoke in her broken Hindi. This would have made me tease her if I wasn't this emotional right now.

"Youwillleaveme"I spoke crying and huffing.

"Tell slowely Chuhiya" It was one and only Rahul bhaya.

"You will leave me dee." I whispered.

"Aww.."Neha bhabi cooed.

Dee pulled me back "Ashu, I am not leaving tomorrow."

'But you will!" I exclaimed.

She sighed "No matter where I go, I will always be there for you Ashu. Just give me a call, whether day or night and I will answer."

"It's not same Dee." I moved out of her arms and went to sit on the bed.

"Ashu, one day everyone has to leave." Neha bhabi joined by my side.

"But Rahul bhaya didn't" It was Navya who spoke. We forgot that she was here all the time and witnessing. Her innocent mind had spoken a solid truth.

"Yes, why does it always has to be girls?" Niya asked

"I don't know..." Neha bhabi said sadly.

"Because Daughters are made to bind people together." We looked up to see Dadu entering.

"Dadu!" Navya ran and hugged him.

"I am sorry for interrupting your kid's party." He smiled. Then he looked at me and came forward so he could sit in the chair placed in front of me. We all were watching his actions. I knew he would have sat beside me, if Neha bhabi wasn't near me. He respected his Grand daughter in law.

He took my hands in his "I didn't know my Chotu had become so crying type." He teased.

"It's just a trailer." Sonal dee muttered. I pouted.

"I know it is a really sad moment to let go of your daughter, sister, friend, mother. You cannot imagine what a parent has to go through while sending off their daughters. The feeling is something that you all will understand once you have your children. This has been a tradition for so long." I could see that Dadu was telling his own tale when he had to marry off Bui.

"Then Nanu, why do they have to send her?" Niya asked in wonder.

"Both sons and daughter have to play many dual roles but daughters are more emotionally attached to their relationships. Sons do too but a woman has an excellent power to bind two families together and maintain a happy equilibrium. They know how to share and give love. A selfless act. In simple words, they are angels." We were listening to his words very carefully. Dadu had an effect on his audience that could mesmerise them.

"But she has to suffer the most as she has to leave her whole life, her parents and start a new one." Dhristi dee complained.

Neha bhabi had grown silent. I didn't know whether it was because of her duty as a daughter in law or all these talks were reminding her of her parents and family.

"Yes, that is why she has the biggest heart. God doesn't do things without a solid plan." Dadu explained.

"Dadu, apka bimar hona bhi kya bhawan ji ki marji thi?" (Were you being ill was also god's wish?) Everyone gasped hearing little Navya's question. She didn't know but her little mouth sometimes conveyed solid and deep meaningful words.

Dadu was a little sad for a moment but then masked it up. " Yes, my dear."

"Why?" she asked again. I couldn't look at Dadu, it was too painful.

I heard him take a deep breath "Kids, I had been wanting to talk about this with you all after ceremony but as it has been brought up, its better to get over with it." I looked up at him in surprise. How was he so calm?

"I know you all know about my cancer." He continued " And I don't want you all to be upset because of me." He ordered and his eyes were particularly on me. I didn't look back in them.

"We-we care for you Nanu" Niya added.

"I know Soni, that is why I am going to fight this. But I don't know what will be the outcome so I don't want any of you to give up something because of me. If something goes wrong, then I would like to remember your happy faces as I leave." He said sadly smiling.

"Don't! Don't say like that!" I shouted and stood up.

He followed too."Chotu, please understand."

"How can you say this Nanu when you know how much we love you?" Niya joined by my side.

"Don't you all know, how much I love you kids?" His voice was wobbling. He was on the verge of crying.

I couldn't watch him cry "Dadu!"

I quickly engulfed him in a hug. Everyone joined us.

"I don't care, what happens to me but I want god to never harm my kids. Its all I want. I have lived my life and I want my children to live their's happily." Dadu cried harder. I had never imagined in my sixteen years of life that I would ever see him cry. It was heartbreaking.

At the end too, he wanted best for us, not him.

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After long time of chatting and getting scolded from elders, we finally slept around three am, early morning and all of us crashed in my room only. But of course, we still had so much to talk. Thankfully Rahul bhaya made no further comments about Arnav. I knew Neha bhabi would never tell anyone.

We were forced to wake up at seven thirty am as many more guests were going to arrive. I thought the engagement was going to be limited to family but guess my definition of family and elders were different.

"Hey everyone, Richa masi is here, come quick." Neha bhabi called us.

Richa masi was here!

We all stood up and went downstairs to greet everyone.

Richa masi had inherited her looks from her father while my maa had from her mother. She was a slim lady who was always mistaken to be younger than she actually is. She was wearing a white Anarkai kurta with gold print.

Sonal dee was the first one to touch her feet.

"Aah mera baccha, kitna bada hogaya. Bhagwan tujhe sari khusiyan de."(My baby, so grown up now. May god give you all the happiness in the world.) Masi was smiling brightly while she had tears in her eyes. Sonal dee smiled back.

"Masi!" I called sweetly and with a big smile.

I went and touched her feet. She quickly took me in her arms.

"My sweetheart! My brave girl!" She rubbed my back up and down lovingly and then pulled back only to cup my cheeks. She was now half smiling half sad. I knew that maa had told her about my little fiasco with Nani ji. "I always knew you were my strong girl. Remember beta, you will always be special for all of us."

I nodded and hugged her again. Remembering everything again was painful.

"Is-Is she coming too?" I asked.

"No" She shook her head and pulled her hands to her side.She knew who I was talking about. She turned to look at my mom "I called bhaya to ask about when they were arriving. He informed me that Maa was not coming. So badi bhabi might not be able to come."

Maa nodded."I am kind of glad that she is not coming. I know she is my mother but she has crossed all her limits. From that moment, I felt that somewhere she didn't like us for being girls or maybe she would have behaved the same with us if she didn't had sons and only daughters." I knew it was very painful for Maa and masi at the moment to have to come to such a conclusion after more that half of their lives.

"Lets not talk about such things today, shall me? Lets be happy in the present moment." Papa came and gave a comforting squeeze to maa's arm.

"Where are Ruhi dee,Sunil and Mausa ji?" I asked wondering.

"Oh, they were searching for a place to park the car." Masi went to the door and peeped outside.

"You drove all the way from Hyderabad to Mumbai?" Maa asked

"Yes." She nodded "Ah! Here they are!"

And truly everyone entered together.

We all greeted each other and then settled to take breakfast. After breakfast, everyone was talking in the living room when my phone rang. I excused myself to my room and picked up my phone without looking at the called id due to my excitement.

"Hello!" I greeted cheerfully.

"Someone is in a good mood." I could recognise the voice anywhere.

"Arnav..." I whispered.

"Yeah, you didn't check the called id?" He asked amused at my reaction.

"Ye-ss, I was excited to meet my family members." I smiled even though I knew he cannot see me.

"So everyone has arrived?" Arnav asked tensed. I wondered why.

"Almost, only Nitesh Mama and Yash Mama's family is yet to come. But Badi Mami might not come as someone has to be with Nani ji." I explained.

"So Nani is not coming, right?" He sounded a little relaxed. I guess he was tensed because of this.

"Yes, kind of good for both sides."

"I don't want her to upset you anymore. I cannot see you go through that again." His voice indicated me that he was in pain to remember that evil moment.

"I wouldn't let anyone do that to me again, Arnav. And I know that I have my real family, my true friends and you with me." I assured him.

"You will always have me with you." He promised.

He was such a sweetheart. At that moment, I wanted to confess that I had come to a point where I could name my feelings for him as love. But telling him that phone was no where the ideal setting or romantic. I was afraid for his answer and at the same moment, I wanted to see his face.

"Thank you" I whispered.

After a moment of silence, I asked to confirm "You are coming today right?"

"I told you before, I wouldn't ever miss it it." I could see him rolling his eyes.

I was so engrossed in my conversation with him that I didn't realize that someone had entered my room and was snatching my phone from my hand.

"Whose that on the phone!" Niya in her famous accent spoke teasingly

"Niya!" I tried to take the phone back but she dodged and then put the phone to her ears after checking the caller id.

"So Arnav han? Are you the reason why my sister is smiling like a fool?" Niya grinned. I blushed.

"I am not!" I shouted and tried again to take away my phone. I was so embarrassed. What was Arnav going to think of me?

"Yes she is" She sang.

I heard Arnav reply something and she laughed at that.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

"None that you need to know" She winked at me while grinning.

"So Arnav, are you my Sha's boyfriend?" She was so blunt!

I was unable to hear his reply.

"Ahan! You know I am hurt that I have to ask you this while my sis should be the one telling me." She glared at me. I pouted and looked down.

"Ah yes! She can be secretive...sometimes!"

She laughed again at her response. I didn't want to admit but I was kind of jealous to see her laughing with him. I knew Niya wouldn't do anything that would hurt me.

"Better take care of my Sha properly or else I will kick you out of this universe!" She threatened. It was sweet to see her protective side but now I was afraid to face Arnav.

They talked some more and then she gave me the phone while waiting for me to finish up so that she can get things out of me.

"Hey!" I whispered to phone.

"Hey! Your cousin is really nice."

"Yeah she is, sometimes!" I glared at her. He laughed at my reply.

"I will see you today?" It sounded like a question.

"Yeah, see you in the evening" I smiled.

I hung up the phone after saying bye and saw Niya closing the door. She turned around to face me and said "Spill the beans baby!"

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So after explaining everything to Niya and her cooing over me and Arnav. She was so excited to meet him. I didn't know how many people were going to caught me. I wanted to tell my parents first but I guess plans are now ruined.

When I heard that Nitesh mama and Yash mama's family had arrived, I was afraid to face Nitesh mama. He was always serious and strict.

I built up courage and went to meet him.

He saw right at me when I entered. I couldn't read his face. I went and touched his feet and stood up.

"Maa told me everything.I should have scolded you for disrespecting my mother." Nitesh mama said those words that I dreaded the most. It brought tears to my eyes that I tried very hard to control.

He looked at me for long and then his lips moved to say the next thing "But I know you were right and she was wrong. In a way, I am proud of you for standing for your rights and justice." He gave a small smile.

"Thank you." I whispered and a single tear escaped. He brought his hands and placed it on my head and said "bless you beta." I smiled back.

I guess unexpected things happen. Some may understand you and some may not but its what life is about.

Hey everyone! How are you all? So I have entered this story for YourStoryIndia contest so I request you all to vote chapter one of this story if you have not. Also If you can then please retweet my tweet whose link in provided on my message board. I am taking part in Tweet your story India contest. It would increase my entries in the contest. Thank you <3

If you have not checked it out then there is one of mine works called "An Insider to India" where I write travel logs and they have my own experience in them. So I would be happy if you could read and comment on it.