AADHYA

I can't stop the tears. It rushes down and down and I can only feel it. I look at my Mom and for the first time I see her raise her voice against my father. My pregnant sister and agitated brother too are shouting in my defense. Trying to put sense into my father's brain.

He isn't listening.

He isn't listening to anyone.

I close my eyes as I feel my headache comes running to me. I look around at everybody.

"-Even if she was in a relationship I would have gladly gotten her married to her boyfriend!" Bhai yells and the sound from the contact of Dad's palm against his cheek silence the room.

"I'm not dead! I won't let you and your sister ruin the pride of this family. My family has generations of customs and cultures, and I won't let you ruin them." Dad yells. "I made you get married. You are living happily here. I got Jhanvi married and she's about to start her family. And now I'm going to let Aadhya married so that my family's honour and name aren't tainted!"

"When?" I ask. "When have I ever tainted your family's name? I have lived by all your rules and regulations throughout my life. You told me, I should do this and I have done the same, in every matter."

"Then what is the problem with your marriage?" Dad yells and for the first time, in days he looks directly in my eyes. "Is there some lowlife you have found?"

"No!" I yell back. "This is my life. I simply don't want to get married. There can be a reason without the involvement of a boy!"

"Do not raise your voice!"

"You are my father! Your blood is running through my veins! How can I not?"

"You are a girl! Your voice should not come out of these four walls." Dadi hisses. I roll my eyes and try to control my anger. She grabs my arm and turns me around. "You should go and make your own house. This is only your father's house."

I groan. "How!" I ask her. "How! How can you only say offensive things to me every freaking time? I'm a girl and I have a voice! If God didn't want me to raise my voice he wouldn't have given me the ability to speak! This is my house too. As terrible as it can be, it's my house too! You and your son are already to kick me out of here and sent me to strangers!"

I didn't realize I'm still crying until Nita Bhabhi wraps her arm around me and wipes my tears.

Dad stands in front of me. He looks sad. He is tired. The wrinkles around his eyes, the lines in his forehead, his light grey hair, he has grown more old these days. He grabs my hand.

"Rehan wants to hear the yes from you. He called and asked to speak with you. Say yes to him. Do not let me down." He says and looks at our hand.

"But shouldn't you consider if I'm happy or not?" I ask calmly now.

"You will be happy there."

"This is my home. I should be happy here."

"Diya, listen to my words," Dad says and touches my hair. I close my eyes as tears spill down. Without saying another word, he turns around to walk.

"What if she doesn't want to get married?" Bhai asks.

"Then be ready to attend my funeral." He says before getting out of the house.

I walk to my room and lock the door as soon as I enter. I fall to bed and let everything out. I couldn't stop crying. I grab a pillow and bite it to stop my screaming.

I wake up when I hear the continuous vibration in the bed. I look around and I realize I have been sleeping. I look in the mirror and I don't recognize myself.
The vibration pulls me out and I search for it in the bed. I take it and I have seventeen missed calls from Rehan.

What do I say to him?

Just hours ago I told him, we are cancelling the marriage and now we are ready to conduct the marriage, even in an hour.

The phone vibrates again and I swipe to attend the call.

"Hey, Aadhya!" He sounds relieved. "Are you okay?"

I feel my lips tremble. I cannot cry. I don't want to cry. I can't let him know about the situation I'm in.

"I'm fine." It takes me a good minute to speak. My throat and mouth feel weird.
"Sorry for disturbing you with all these calls. First I called to ask about the wedding. Then I got worried when you didn't pick up my call. I called your father then, and he said he was outside."

He finishes in one breath and a small smile spread across my lips.

It's his voice.

"It's okay."

He sighs. "You didn't tell me about the horoscope thing. Honestly, I don't trust these things but it seems like you and your family does-"

"What horoscope?" I ask. My voice is so down I have to press my phone to my ear tight.

"Your father said, you should get married before turning twenty-two otherwise you'll get married only after thirty. Is it true?"

My father and his cluster of lies. I want to laugh and tell Rehan, no. I want to tell him the truth but I can't.

"Yes." I lie.

"Are you ready for this? Are you ready to get married?" He asks. He sounds sincere and genuine. He wants to know my answer. "I get it if you don't want to. This fast I don't want to get married either but the decision rests with you. Whatever you say." He says.

I look around the room. This is the only place in this house that calms me. That keeps me safe. My own house suffocates me and in all this, he gives me hope.

"Yes," I whisper.

I hear him take a deep breath. "You are not being forced right? I mean, no offense to your family. But you understand what I am saying?"

"Yes, Rehan. I'm good." I lie again. "I'll talk to you later."

"Okay. Bye."

"Rehan!" I call him before he cuts the call.

"Yeah."

"Will you make me happy?" I don't why I ask this. Maybe because, in the last few days he's been the only one to make me laugh, to make me feel myself.

"I will." He answers without skipping a beat.

I feel butterflies in my stomach.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Aadhya."

I put my phone down. I can't believe, I have to get married to get out of the hell I'm living in. I hope Rehan keeps his promise.

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Rehan parks the car in the driveway of Aadhya's house. He looks at his family in the car. His father is beside him and in the passenger seat, his mother and siblings except for Ved.

"Don't be nervous," Raj says to his son patting his shoulder. "Come on, everybody. Out."

As everyone begins to get out of the car, Rehan realizes his brother should be here. He takes his phone and calls Ved.

His brother is still angry at him because of the fight over food and he's showing his anger by not coming to the ceremony.

"What?"

Rehan smiles. He can't help but admit, his brother has some of his characteristics.

"It's my Roka ceremony."

"I know."

"You should be here."

"Why would I be there? You have everyone you need there."

Rehan smiles. His brother is still a child. "But my brother isn't. Get up from wherever you are, take a quick bath, and come here."

"I don't-"

"You can wear my watch. It'll be inside my wardrobe."

"I'll be there in ten."

Rehan shakes his head as he gets out of the car. His Chacha and family along with his Dadi have come. His aunt, Kanika, Kavya's mother, with her husband comes in another car.

Everyone gets out of their respective vehicles and walks to the entrance of Mehra's house. Rehan walks behind everyone with Sanjay.

"I realized something."

Rehan looks at Sanjay. "What?"

"When you were studying reproduction chapter she was studying addition." Sanjay says laughing making Rehan to kick on his leg.

Rehan opens his mouth in shock and slaps Sanjay on his back.

"Do not open your mouth in there," Rehan warns.

"Truth is bitter," Liya says pushing Rehan as she walks ahead.

Sanjay laughs and Rehan glares at him. Sanjay zips his mouth hiding his smile.

Rehan takes a deep breath as he sees the Mehra's.