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chapter eleven

"Where were you?" Aai asked as soon as I stepped inside the house.

"I went out with Maahi for a bit since we were getting bored" I answered.

Maahi had texted me the reason she had given Aai to cover up for me. Apparently, Maahi had taken this opportunity to shop at a nearby mall and asked me to tell the same so I wouldn't end up getting in trouble.

"Exactly. Why did you go out with her? Have I not told you to stay away from her?" she asked furiously.

"What is the problem with her? She's such a sweet person at least get to know her, Aai" I said even though I was aware my words would go to deaf ears.

"Meera, you don't need to tell me what I should do and what I shouldn't. Just do as you're asked to. Don't try to back answer me or raise questions unnecessarily. I am your mother and I know what is the best for you" she said with a finality in her voice.

I rolled my eyes at her whilst she glared at me.

"Karuna, has Meera come yet?" Baba called out from the living room.

"Yes" she replied as she motioned me to go in.

I shrugged and went in. Baba was seated on the sofa reading a newspaper. He folded the newspaper and kept it aside as he saw me walk towards my room.

"Meera, come here beta" he said.

I nodded and sat on the sofa besides him. He glanced at Aai and she joined us by sitting on the single chair sofa.

"Why did you not tell Aai before leaving with that girl?" he asked adjusting his spectacles.

I sighed "I am not a kid anymore, Baba. I am twenty-five and I can make decisions for myself. And that girl? She has a name and she's going to be your daughter in law as well"

He laughed like I had something hilarious.

"Meera, you're still gullible. Once a girl gets married, she only has one family and that is her husband's family. Even when you get married, you should leave us and your sister behind. What we do or Nandini does should not bother you. You should only be concerned about your family and its betterment. You shouldn't keep relations with anyone who are shunned by the society.

Your Maushi is shunned by the society. So, who your Maushi gets her son married to is not our concern. Do you get me?" he asked.

Even though his words felt like a stab to my heart, I nodded.

Sensing my emotions, he added "Meera, if we want to live with this society, we must follow its norms. We are well respected people in our society and we belong to high caste. Marriage is a crucial stage in one's life but for people like us who belong to high caste marrying the person of same caste is important only then we will remain the part of this society"

"Is my happiness not important?" I asked "if I love someone will you ask me to sacrifice my love because you want to be a part of this hypocrite society?"

"If he belongs to the same caste, we would never oppose it but" he paused averting his gaze at Aai.

"But if you dare tell us that you love a man of a lower caste or worse of a different religion, the consequences won't be good" she warned.

My eyes welled with tears listening to their words. I gulped the lump that had formed in my throat and controlled the tears that threatened to spill.

"How can you be so harsh?" I asked, my voice quivering.

"You think this is harsh? Have you not thought about what happens to those parents you let their daughters marry a guy who doesn't belong to their caste or what happens when their daughters run away with another man without a thought of their parents?" Aai spat angrily.

"We raise you all our lives, provide you with everything while we starve ourselves to sleep, to see a smile on your faces we sacrifice all our happiness. Even before you make a wish for something, we give you what you want. Our entire lives we spend only giving you but when we ask you one thing, you stand there asking us 'does our happiness mean nothing to you?' What about our wishes and happiness? Parents never want their child to stay unhappy. Our entire lives we only seek our child's happiness and that's exactly why you need to trust us and show faith in us. We would never marry you off to the wrong guy, Meera" Baba said.

By this time, I was crying hard. He pulled me in his arms and rubbed my back.

"We only want you to be happy. Promise us, you will never do anything that will hurt our sentiments or lower my head in the society. Promise me, you will marry the guy I ask you to marry" Baba said taking me hand in his hand.

I nodded "I promise to marry whoever you ask me to" I replied as I bury my feelings for Sameer in my heart forever.

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Present

Wish I had seen the future that night. Wish I could take my words back. Wish I could the clock back maybe none of this would have happened. I would have lead a better life today.

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Love,
-Rhea.