After washing the clothes, I came out to put them for drying. Water from my damp skirt is dripping down to my feet and felt so good while standing in the hot mud. It's so difficult to see the bright sun that's illuminating in the clear blue sky and the wind is somewhat cool today compared to yesterday. Our land is all empty now. After harvesting the vegetables last week my dad got a good income compared to what he has invested.

These days he was dancing in cloud nine because of his smooth-talking, extremely charming and talented son in law. I don't know how this happened, now itself my headstrong dad starts to do whatever Vijay suggests and I was quite surprised by that. It's not something I don't like but it's making me afraid about so many things.

Men who used to live alone may act dominant, ruling and they will never like us to disturb them or interfere in their decisions, an example is my dad but he shows all of that occasionally. I think Vijay will also be like that; I have no doubt in that, all I worry about is how he will show that? Oh God, how I am going to stay with him? I sighed in frustration.

I have this attitude if someone tries to control me, I won't listen at all. This is the reason I fight with my dad all the time. I am an adult, I know good and bad, and I can make decisions. If I do mistakes, they can correct me but I hate if they treat me like I know nothing.

I don't know why, but I strongly believe that Vijay will also be like my dad and maybe even worse than him. Ah... This is irritating to imagine these things. Even if I try to think only about Vijay's good side, I couldn't. Instead, I think only about all the ways he will be bad.

When I was in my thoughts, I heard my dad's phone ringing in the house. I went inside and saw his phone left on the shelf. I picked up to find Vijay Kumar's name on the phone screen. I become nervous and went to look for my dad rather than answering it. For my bad luck, I couldn't find my dad anywhere in the house and thought he might have gone to see my Aunt.

Then the phone snoozed on its own and I huffed in relief. After placing it on the shelf I stepped to continue my chores but then I was stopped again by another call. It's again him. I just stared at the screen can't able to decide what I have to do.

Even after the engagement, no girl will hesitate to talk with her fiancé except me, in fact, everyone wishes to talk with their future husband day and night but till now I didn't call him or him either. I guess he doesn't like the idea of talking to me before marriage just like my dad. I don't think he doesn't like me because during our engagement he looked happy and talked with me normally. I saw him only there, after our first meeting. Compared to me he looked so bright, he was clean shaved and a matter of face he fair than me. Each time I look at him I can't help but feel so petrified about my future with him.

All my family members instantly liked him as he's too nice, everyone was so happy except me on that day but Vijay didn't talk to me anything specific and I didn't feel that delight about getting married.

Sharath only asked him whether he wants my number and gave it to him when Vijay said yes and I don't use my phone much yet I got his number hoping that he will call me but after days of waiting I lost the hope seeing no calls or at least, a message from him.

I didn't try because of my dad, he told me strictly that I shouldn't speak to him because he still not completely believed my YES for this marriage. It's true even after the engagement I didn't feel that excitement and I have only this fear, fear and fear.

There are a lot of reasons for that -there's only a week left for the marriage, I am insecure about myself, I worry about my dad and lastly Vijay, his attitude. Just his stares making me anxious, there's something in there and whatever he does I find everything so superficial. I don't know much about men but he's surely one of a rare kind and I don't know how I am going to deal with it. Because of all this, I couldn't smile properly these days.

Heaving out a sigh I decided to attend the call instead of leaving it like this. My dad still uses a basic button phone so I pressed the green button and took it to my ears.

"Hello mama (Father in law)," his smooth well-modulated masculine voice is so good to hear on the phone and my adrenaline rush couldn't let me stand straight so I leaned on the wall.

"Appa went somewhere nearby," I answered in my low tone.

"Oh," he breathed and I gulped.

After a moment of silence, he asked, "How are you?"

"I'm fine. How are you?" I asked in hesitation.

"Yeah, I am fine." He sounded unenthusiastic.

I don't want to end the conversation abruptly so I decided to continue it by asking, "What are you doing?"

"I am in my home, cleaning my stuff," he replied and I realized it's Sunday, he must be in home.

I smiled without a reason.

"What were you doing?" he asked me the next moment.

"I...was washing my clothes," I replied awkwardly.

"Oh," then slowly he told, "I thought you will call me."

That made my eyebrows to grow high. I don't know whether he's complaining here or just saying that he expected me to call him. But I honestly answered, "I thought you would call me."

I slowed down my voice since I don't want to do anything that might complicate my already confused mind.

"You thought that way?" his tone doesn't sound convincing. I got nervous thinking he's upset because I didn't call him in the first place.

"Actually, Appa is little strict and he asked me not to talk with you until marriage so I didn't call you." I blamed my dad because that's the truth.

He chuckled, "If we really want something we will find a way to get it, Aarthi," he told firmly.

Why he's talking this way. Is he angry with me or just playing? I bite my lower lip unable to answer him. But he's true I stayed so lethargic to talk with him, then I thought why he didn't find a way to call me?

Unlike me, he doesn't have anyone to control him also. I don't want to ask him this yet my stupid mouth couldn't keep silent.

"Then why you didn't call me?" I asked calmly. "Don't you find a way?"

He didn't reply to that and the throbbing of my heart echoed against my ears in those silent seconds when I am holding the phone and waiting for his reply. But I got only the silence as a reply even after a minute.

Then I decided to broke this dangerous quietness.

"Sorry about that. Each of us has a different situation so it's okay. I am going to talk with you for all my life," I tried to convince him but the last dialogue came out of the flow and I bite my tongue for uttering that. Stupid! You still don't know how to talk with a guy, I gritted.

Then he finally broke his silence, "Whenever I... took my phone to call you, I wondered... whether you want to talk to me as much as I want so I decided to wait until that," he told and I don't know what is this means. I couldn't talk anything as he just closed my mouth with his words.

That time my dad entered home and asked me, "Who's on the phone?"

I don't know why but I just gave the phone on my dad's hands and left the home to the backside. I sat there and thought about what's going on with me. I couldn't understand his stand and blankly stared at my drying clothes.

My dad came out to see me after talking to Vijay and I looked at him.

"What did you talk to him?" he asked and I frowned.

"We talked nothing big and there's nothing for you to worry about," I scowled.

"Why you're talking to me like this?" he got angry and said, "If you kept talking this way to Vijay then it won't be good for your life, Aarthi. A basic quality that a good woman should have is patience and I will never support you if you come over here carrying stupid problems after marriage," he started advising and I rolled my eyes.

"After the engagement all I see on your face is sadness. Why? Am I going to dump you in a shit well? Can't you be happy about your life? I am doing all the best things for you, you don't have to be grateful to me. But at least you should try to see all the good things that are happening in your life," he told and that hit me hard.
"You won't understand my advice now, one day you will," he said after seeing my expressionless face and left in the same anger.

Then moments later, I started crying out my uncontrollable tears thinking that I am wrong somewhere.