“I have asked you something, Anahita. ANSWER ME!” Mr. Maurya roared, making her flinch and all the courage seeped out of her. She jumped back in terror, trembling like autumn leaf and casted her eyes low. Her lips wobbled and tears surfaced in her eyes, “Dad, I'm… I am so sorry.” She gulped and looked up, daring. “I was…was stupid to not listen to you. I am really sorry, dad.” She didn’t want to cry but finding disappointment in his eyes, she burst into tears. Startling herself, she experienced more pain than she expected and she ran to her father. She hugged him tightly, chipping apologies. “I am so sorry, dad. I am really sorry, dad. Please, forgive me!”

Her father was rigid. He didn’t respond to her hug, neither did he distance her away. “Anahita…” She clenched her eyes close, sensing the underlying vulnerability in his voice and pulled back to see him. Her heart squeezed in pain to see her father’s blank eyes. “Were you running away?”

Yes! It was a simple, one worded answer but she couldn’t say it when tears layered in her father’s eyes. Something in her abused her, for being in deep shit and she didn’t match his gaze. She lowered her head, answering him with her silence and stared at his feet. Mortified, she nodded timidly. Pin drop silence haunted everyone standing there, none spoke a word; not even gasps sounded in the air.

“What did you say?” Mrs. Maurya whispered, aghast and rushed to Anahita. She roughly grabbed her arm, turning her around and demanded, “What did you just say, Anahita?” Anahita blinked in horror. Her lips trembled and before she could defend herself, Mrs. Maurya slapped her so hard that she fell on the ground with the impact. She quickly palmed her face; her cheek hurt like bee’s stung.

“Why didn’t you die the day I gave you birth?” Anahita coiled back as her mother proceeded to slap her again but was held back by her aunt. “Vehini, what are you doing? She is a grown up.”

“Then what should I do, Ruma?” Her mother cried, hugging her aunt and knelt on the ground. “I gave her everything and what she gives us in return? Shame and disappointment!” Anahita sobbed in hurt. She rubbed her cheek, shifting her gaze to her father who was staring at her with inexplicable gaze. She couldn’t hold his eyes and looked down. She had expected all the drama but she didn’t know why it hurt so much. She didn’t want her mother to cry oceans and her father to become deadpanned.

“Alka!” Her father’s sister butted in, twisting her lips. “You should call off the wedding. Who knows what she has done with that guy who she wanted to run away with?”

Anahita narrowed her eyes at her and scrunched up her face in disgust. She opened her mouth but Ruma defended her, passing a condescending look to her husband’s sister. “Misti! Don’t utter anything. Please think carefully who you are talking about. She is your niece.”

“But, where am I wrong, Ruma?” Misti gasped, dramatically and pointed at Anahita. “Vehini, if she can run away with her lover, it is not difficult for him to sleep with him, now is it?” She didn’t stay behind to disrobe Anahita before her parents shamelessly and anger flashed inside her to see that her parents didn’t once object. If Ruma kaki can stand up for me then why can’t you, mom? Anahita thought, wretchedly and wiped at her tears. She didn’t bother to correct their opinions and stayed rooted to the ground. What else can I expect from them? They have always preferred others over me. This is no different. No matter what I say they won’t believe me, why should I waste my words then? They don’t need an explanation. They don’t deserve any.

If choosing her own happiness over others, if having a boyfriend meant she was characterless, then her family was plainly crazy; nothing more, nothing less. They were clear idiot, shackled in their outdated values and conservative thinking.

“She never cared about our family and our respect, dada. Late night parties, friendship with boys…” Misti now began to influence her father and Anahita curled her palms into fists. She just needed one more second for her aunt to continue questioning her lifestyle and she would happily break her nose. She looked at her parents again; their faces were blanched. Their heads were low and their eyes downcast.

“Yuvraaj is way too good for her, dada. He doesn’t deserve a wife like…”

“Enough!” Anahita thundered, glaring at her aunt. She stood up and threw a disapproving look at her parents. “You still won’t stand for me, will you? If this woman here continues to strip me with her words, you won’t utter a word as if I am not your daughter and you don’t fucking know me.”

“Anahita….”

“Stop it, mom!” she held her palm up and snapped at Misti. “How dare you stigmatize my character because I have a boyfriend? Is it a crime? How can you say shit about my character and that too before my parents?” she took a threatening step towards her aunt. “How do you know that I slept with me? Does this conclusion come from a personal experience?” she cupped her cheek, faking a gasp. “Is it like you had a boyfriend and had sex with him but didn’t…”

“Anahita, MIND YOUR TONGUE!” Her father bawled, raising his hand in the air and Anahita sobbed out at her father’s gruffness, feeling a knife twisted in her guts. “You believe her, dad, right? You choose her over me this time. Do you think I would this? Hadn’t I already told you about him? Didn’t I ask you to meet him? Was I going behind your back, dad? How can you stay silent when…?”

“I don’t want to hear a word from you.” he warned her with a lethal calmness, making her shudder. He was not valuing her still; he was still not caring why she did what she did and that made Mukund right in her eyes.

“Dheeraj, come along. We have to solve this issue with Chaitanya.” He ordered his younger brother and left the house. Numb, she watched them going but as her aunt uttered, ‘good for a girl like her’ made her so charged up that she stomped to the centre table, picked up the water jug and emptied it whole on Misti’s head. Misti’s surprised screech fed her inner beast and she smirked, keeping the jug aside. “You have so much fire in you, fui. I hope this little water will blow it out.” She clenched her jaw and glared at her, murderously. “This is still my home and I won’t let you demean me. I will kill you.”

Everyone had their eyes bawled out, jaw dropped and Mr. Maurya gasped, calling her name but she sprinted upstairs to her room and locked herself inside. She thumped her fists on the door in anger and bit on her lips to curb her sobs.

*****

Three hours passed by since she was packed in her room, pacing back and forth and chewing her lips for the anticipated news. She knew her father; he would call this marriage off and it made her restless. She was so alert to perk up ears on slightest noise outside. Mr. Maurya hadn't returned yet and she was totally flummoxed with the ensuing news.

Sighing deep, she sat on the bed and picked up the family photograph on nightstand. She traced her palm over the glass. It was captured on her eighteenth birthday. Her father and she were giggling while her mother was moping because she was tired of telling Anahita to stand straight and she was always sticking her tongue out. Memories pasted smile on her face and ironically, tears spilled down. She hugged the frame closer to her heart and cried out. She said everything she couldn’t say to them. She chipped sorry, she asked them to believe her and she told them that she loved them. At once, her phone buzzed and she picked up to see it was Mukund calling her. She attended the call and pressed the phone to her ear.

"Hey baby…Did you succeed?" His joyful voice came.

"Half done," she replied, dangling her legs.

"What happened?"

She explained him the whole episode, occasionally receiving his fondles. "I'm waiting for dad to come and you know what I've this strong intuition that...it's all finished."

"Don't worry, everything will be fine Anu." Mukund consoled on the other side.

"But Mukund, you don't know my father. He will deflagrate me but won't cheat anyone for my good or for anyone's good. I'm sure dad will call off this wedding but what if he doesn't, I will be home arrested for the rest of my life." She bantered, dropping her shoulders.

"A man can alter his morals for his loved ones and you are his daughter. Trust me, your dad will definitely not do anything that would defame you and calling off this marriage will bring lots of accusation over you and your family. So relax! The marriage is on."

She gaped at her phone as if gaping at him. "How'd you know this? How can you be so confident about it?"

"I've seen this world and I know how it works baby. Anyways, just relax I'm sure you are getting married tonight." 

She rubbed her face, exhaustively. "This is all because of you and your shitty job. I wouldn't have to marry Yuvraaj, Only if you had come to station on time."

"I am sorry baby but you know that I didn't have any choice." He apologized.

"It is okay but promise, you'll come soon. I mean if you are thinking of leaving me then I can-" She was beginning to give him earful when he intervened. "Yes yes I know, if I am thinking of leaving you then you will lodge FIR against me. Don't worry I'm not thinking of it." He chuckled making her smile.

"I'm hanging up because if that bitchy sister of my dad finds out that I'm talking to you. She might rumor it as I'm pregnant with your child." She joked lightly and tears fell from her eyes. The jibe hurt but she wasn’t going to cry over it. What is done is done.

"Take care and remember I love you. Okay! Bye." He reminded and cut the call, making her sigh. She stared at the photo frame again. “I'm sorry dad, I'm sorry mom but I can't just ruin my life only because you guys want to keep your words. It's my life and I will live it in my way. I know my decision has ruined my relationship with you guys and you have to face a little humiliation but it's nothing comparative to what I have to deal with all my life."

Tears pricked her eyes again and she hugged the frame, lying on the bed. "I am the worst daughter, I accept it but I will not live with a person whom I don't love. I wish you could be a little understanding."

She wiped her tears as she heard footsteps. Then there was a knock at the door. She flung the photo frame aside and padded to open the door. Her mother didn't bother to cast a glance over her and moved past her with the big salver in her hands. Anahita furrowed her eyebrows at the salver.

"What is it?" She asked following her mother. Mrs. Maurya didn't answer and called in the beauticians inside who were still unnoticed by Anahita. Taking her chance, Anahita removed the cover off the salver. The salver had Yellow Nauvari Saree, scintillating jewelry and Mundavalya.

"Get her ready and you have just thirty minutes for it." Mrs. Maurya commanded the head girl and began to move out.

"Wait a sec…mom!" Anahita leapt to grab her forearm, ignoring her glower. "Why thirty minutes?"

Mrs. Maurya freed her hand and walked past her but Anahita blocked her way, standing before the door. “I know you're angry but will you please tell me why have you asked them to adorn me in thirty minutes? Where is dad? What's going on?"

"Don't you know what's happening since you're the one who is the reason behind it?" Mrs. Maurya hissed at her. "You are getting married now. Now do me a favor and get ready."

"But, mom isn't the marriage scheduled in the evening? Why now?"

"Have you left any option for us? Rumors like these spread like forest fire. What if they call off the wedding? Do you want to embarrass your dad more than you've already done?" Mrs. Maurya glared her.

"Mom please do not blame me as if it were my entire fault. Didn't I beg you to meet Mukund? Didn't I request dad numerous times to at least try to understand me?" Anahita sniped, crossing arms belligerently.

"Mukund Mukund Mukund! This is all you chant day and night. What the hell does this guy has done to you? I'm afraid if whatever Misti said, was true." Mrs. Maurya fumed, making Anahita flinch. She clenched her jaw in anger.

"If you think that I am so impudent that I will neglect your teaching and values, there's no point in trying to shut up others because if you doubt your nurturing mom then I believe I've already lost everything and now," Anahita matched her mother's gaze, "I will say that yes, I have slept with him. Not just once but numerous times. Now what are you going to do? Will you get me married to him, huh?"

Mrs. Maurya gaped at her in shock, wondering if this was her daughter talking. "Look at your audacity! One slap, one tight slap you will have from me Anahita. I am not your dad to look over your crudity." Mrs. Maurya glanced at the girls who were watching the mother daughter duo with their jaw dropped. "Get her ready."

"I am doing the right thing mom and with every passing second, you are just making me certain of it." Anahita laughed, sarcastically. "Thank you mom for removing traces of guilt from my conscience."

Mrs. Maurya glared her but she avoided her and turned to the beautician, "Have you been paid to gawk at me?"

The girls immediately looked away, passing her the pious yellow saree. She changed into that, dueling to drape it properly. She pressed her lips and burbled with laughter, "Actually, I tried but couldn't drape it around me. Guess it is not my day."

"Don't worry." The head beautician smiled, taking charge. Anahita smiled at her. After a shitty day, the lady was one good thing to her.

*****

"No, no... Red one, use that." Anahita guided the girl who was trying shades of lipstick that would match her ocher skin tone and would go best complementing her yellow saree.

"This?" The girl eyed the Cherry red lip color. Her eyes indicated that she wasn't very pleased but Anahita insisted, “Tsk, come on, it will look good on me. At least, try.”

"Okay." The girl painted her lips in red, making them look kissable and sexy. Anahita was sitting before her giant Victorian dresser, attired in heavy, scintillating jewelry and bordered traditional Saree. Mundavalya was dangling from her forehead, framing her face. Her hairs were perfectly clutched in a decent bun and her face was caked with thick layers of foundation and cosmetics. Her eyes looked more voluminous with eyelash extensions and double coating of charcoal liner.

Pleased at her attire, she winked at her reflection and wore the big ruby studded nose ring that rested upon her upper lip, slightly covering it with the diamond. So what if her wedding was a faux, it was a lifetime event and she wasn't going to give up on the opportunity of looking prettiest bride present on earth.

“So, how am I looking?” she twirled, wiggling her eyebrows at the girls.

"Sexy!" They giggled, making wow sign with thumb and finger. She gracefully perched and grinned. "When I will remarry, I will contact you girls. You are magician."

The girls gaped, "What?"

"Just kidding, babe!  Come on, let's take a selfie. Who want to click a picture with the most beautiful bride?" she pulled them in a row and with that somewhat, fifty snaps were taken and uploaded on social media, flooding others with notifications.

_____________

Okay, so there may be a few terms that you may not be aware of. I will list them here - 

Kaki means aunt (father's younger brother's wife)

Fui means aunt (father's sister)

Vehini means sister in law 

Dada means elder brother

{Munduvalya, Nauvari saree ae some pious things that a bride wears when she gets married according to Marathi Rituals}

I hope, I have covered most of things but if there's anything left, please tell me through comments. Have a happy reading.