your babies are thriving
Photo:

I smiled looking at the photo of my sweet little plants which weren't fortunately withering, thanks to Amy. My babies, I miss them. I decided to go through my messages and emails as Maa was making breakfast.

Hey
You landed??
Answer the call, little shit.
I found your secret space.
Reply or else I'll assume it's mine.
Are you dead?
RIP

Stfu ass, it's mine
And don't pollute it with your
filthy presence, stay away.

How can anyone manage to get on someone's nerves from so far away? He wasn't even in front of me yet he managed to irritate me with just his stupid texts. Nolan had a knack for pissing me off from just anywhere.

"Who made you scowl like that?" Maa appeared with two plates of different dishes and placed them in front of me.

I put my phone down and shrugged. "Just a being who shouldn't exist." I flinched when Maa swatted my arm lightly and gave a stern look. "You shouldn't talk about someone like that."

"Here," she pushed both plates in front of me. I eyed the plates and then looked at her. She didn't budge from her place and kept staring at me with a smile

"You want me to eat all this?" I asked, gesturing towards the plates. Not only were there two plates but also both plates were filled to the point that a little spilled down.

"Of course and need be, there's more in the kitchen," she smiled. Of course, I wouldn't expect any less from you, Maa. She was always fond of feeding people, so obviously she'd go a little overboard for her own daughter.

I had barely finished only the first plate and was totally full. I glanced at the other plate and it gawked at me. I couldn't eat it, so I sat there patiently waiting for Maa to come out of the kitchen. I'll apologize and run away if she nags at me.

I gulped down some water and noticed Baba had sat on his chair, at the head end of the table. He smiled looking at me, which I found rather weird. What has gotten into him? He never smiles without reason.

"Karun called, they like you."

"Huh?" I looked at him puzzled. My eyebrows knitted together. Karun means Sharma uncle, right? Baba continued further.

"He said Ved liked you and agreed as soon as they left."

Why would he tell his parents that? The wires in my brain joined and a mortifying suggestion came out. No! no! My heart was thumping too loud. Everything that has happened yesterday was leading to only one thing. I really hoped, with my everything, that I was wrong.

"Agreed to what?" My heart dreaded his answer but I still gathered the courage to ask him.

"To marry you."

My heart dropped in a pit so deep, I couldn't even hear it pounding. My head was spinning and it hurt real bad. Why would Ved marry me out of the blue? Unless, yesterday was an arranged meeting for that. My eyes moistened as realization about what was happening sinked in. I glanced at Maa who'd just come out of the kitchen. No way she'd do that to me.

"Y-you knew?" My question was nothing but a mere helpless whisper.

No answer. Head low. Sweat trickling down her forehead. She knew. Still, she let it happen? It suddenly became hard to breathe. The breakfast I ate churned inside my stomach, threatening to come out. I felt nauseous here. It was starting to make sense. Everything. From his text to his smile today.

But why? What did I do wrong?

My fists clenched under the table. Head low, afraid he might see me vulnerable. I regained my breathing, calmed myself to face him.

"Is this because of Priya?" If yes, then they still put people before family or if not, then this didn't make any sense. Why would they want to marry me off so soon and all of a sudden? The timing was way too suspicious.

He remained silent until he grabbed the spoon and began eating. "It doesn't hurt to be cautious," he said, continuing to eat.

Cautious? Of what? That I might run away? Smear the family name? Bring shame upon you?

It hurt less that they arranged me than the fact that they didn't have the smallest faith in me. I was their daughter, who lived with them forever, obeyed everything they said, I was inherently like a goddamn breathing puppet of theirs so then why are they casting me aside now? Where did I lack? Where have I gone wrong?

Did I not do enough?

Tears were trickling down one after the other continuously. I tried to bite down my whimpers to no avail. I had so many questions but I feared if I open my mouth then they'll see me break. I didn't want them to see me. Not now. They shouldn't get to see me vulnerable, they don't deserve it.

My mother placed her palm on my quivering shoulder, maybe out of concern. I jerked up and left for my room as fast as I could. As soon as I locked the door, my legs gave out and I slumped to the floor, finally letting everything out.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

It was past lunch. No one came. Maybe Maa tried and he didn't let her come. At this point, I wasn't even sure. I thought I knew them, but I don't anymore. They feel like strangers now.

One thing was clear after all this time, no one was going to come and console me. So, I composed myself and held onto my emotions strongly. I couldn't sit here forever, it was not fair. At least I need answers and I will get them. The questions which I couldn't ask before, will be asked now and I wanted answers to each and every one of them.

I went downstairs and noticed everyone including Aahan sitting in the living room. It seemed like they saw me approaching because father sent Aahan away, definitely saying he's too young for all this. Bullshit. He was old enough to be included. Twenty is not too young.

'Sorry' he mouthed before leaving past me. He must've got to know just now. He was apologetic because he couldn't do anything. After all, he didn't have the power nor did I. But a small drop of warmth soothed my heart after knowing that not everyone had betrayed me. At least.

I sat down on the front sofa facing both of them. Maa and Baba. My heart was pacing furiously and my head hurt from all the thoughts. I drew in a deep breath and looked at my father. Determined to ask him with all the courage I could gather.

"Why do you suddenly want to marry me off?" I asked, without stuttering. I was holding on good. Only if I can maintain this till the end.

Baba sighed. It looked like he didn't want this conversation. I slightly flinched when he looked at me with serious eyes.

"Ved is a good guy, such only comes by once in a lifetime-"

"That's not my question-"

"He is smart, kind, educated and well off. He'll make you happy and-" he continued like I wasn't even speaking.

"You're not answering me-"

"And this will save us from any potential shame-"

"Ahh!" I scoffed. He went on and on despite my question being different before, but he stopped now and came to the point. He must've gotten tired of coming up with excuses.

My heart was breaking piece by piece with each passing second. "You don't trust me, do you?" A part of me didn't want to believe that this was happening. I hoped for this to be a long nightmare which'll end as soon as I open my eyes but unfortunately it wasn't. This was reality. My nightmares had become reality.

A long pause before he answered. "This isn't about trust." Denying everything. The anger which was steaming before turned into ice. I felt chills.

"You think I'll run away, don't you?"

"Of Course not Karu, how could we-" this time, Maa intervened. She was desperate, she feared that if he might answer that question, it'll hurt me. Oh Maa, I already had.

"Then why are you doing this?" I yelled, my emotions spilling out through my eyes, my mouth, my breaths, my heart.

"It is as I said before. And it is best for you as well," he said. His eyes were deprived of warmth. The coldest I've ever seen. Best?

"You don't know that," I choked. The tears had dried at this point. My eyes ran out of tears and what came out were just dry huffs.

His stern voice and glaring eyes were adding more fuel to my fire. "I am your father and I know what is best for you."

"You. don't. know. me-" my anger spilled with each word as my now bloodshot eyes met his angered ones.

"If you had known me even a little bit, you would've known that I'd never do anything of that sort or-", my voice broke and I choked on my fresh stream of tears flowing down my cheeks, " just anything to disobey you."

There was a silence before my father uttered those words. "Then prove yourself and marry him."

My eyelids fell shut, unable to hold the weight of my misery and helplessness. Have I not proved myself several times? I trusted them over myself. I put them before me, always, anytime. Then why? I felt dizzy from these thoughts.

A part of me knew this day would come but never had I ever imagined so soon, even before I became independent. I had been delusional. I didn't know better. I thought I had time. Maybe they were just lies that I fed myself to keep going. To not give up. To see a brighter future. To see hope.

"What if I don't?" this time. What if I choose myself over everything, this time? I asked him defeated. I knew the answer very well. I had, ever since I disobeyed him the first as well as last time.

"You don't have a choice. Either marry him or you're no longer my daughter," he said with such coldness that I felt the chills till here and I froze in my place along with my mind and heart.