Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Here I'm sitting alone in a posh car with my guardian/to be a very quiet husband but silence is something I love nowadays. I welcome it with my eyes closed no more surprises in store for me I hope. The comfort it gives reminds me of the long walks of my estate. Suddenly it halted I got out as soon as I stepped outside what I received in welcome was a stone thrown right at my face the blood poured outside I didn't panic I was no new to it but was a little bit amazed at the accuracy. I heard worried shouts from everyone who were rushing to me I tried to stand upright but fell forward and that was the last I remember.

I opened my eyes to a big white room to see an old lady looking at me I smiled at her it hurt my face she hushed me that's when I realized my eyes were overflowing with tears. "I'm sorry I'm feeling hurt", I said. Her eyes were kind and understanding she shouted, "come here, boy". That's when I saw a pair of dark eyes staring at me he is only my age his face was stone-like ." I'm Rocky I would like to apologize for hitting you", he said. The lady smiled at him and then looked at me, "Now go be nice to her and show her around when she is well". One last look at my face then he ran away. My face was so shocked it must be comical." He is not bad that boy been raising him ever since he was a baby". That makes it alright I was seething inside he has marked my face for forever perhaps I was supposed to follow him around to see the place. I forced a polite smile on my face and said, "That won't be necessary I like to stay in and read ". That was the biggest lie I have ever told but mind you that was the first thing that came to my head. She left soon after I was left to my silence. There was another knock there goes my peace and this time the intruder was none other than my future husband. "I'm sorry for what my son did to you he is not like that at all. It was his mother's death he took it so hard and then your arrival ". Wow, I thought he was blaming me for it too careful buddy you don't know me yet. If I was told me I would be shouting planning something to get back at him but instead, I closed my eyes pretending to sleep hoping he would go away. But he stayed and asked, "You can stay here for dinner tonight but tomorrow you will have to come down it's our tradition ". With that he left I contemplated going back for a second and dropped that idea it's very late and I wouldn't be welcome. They have given me away hardly they would take me back now who will want me anyways. I quickly put away those thoughts and threw my blanket away I'm not the one to hide behind covers anyways. I put on a nice dress my head was wrapped up in a bandage don't remember anyone putting it there where they were kept or pain killers I wondered. I quickly went out of the room to see a giant stare case very beautifully designed I admired a good house no matter what I thought about it. My wife designed and decorated this house Ravi said I noticed he was also dressed making his way downstairs as well. I decided to befriend him he was my only ally here. I smiled at him prettily he appreciated my courage I think as we both came downstairs I saw a pair of eyes following us it was none other than Rocky son of Ravi Raichand. I gave my best smile to him and said," I forgot we didn't get meet each other properly my name is Asha every one calls me Ashu you also may call that. "Hi Asha ", was the reply I got no smile though. Satisfied with me I sat for dinner everything looked so good from the chicken curry to the dessert it was so long since I had a nice meal. After that I excused myself to take a walk outside, to be honest, I was a little full and didn't want to get indigestion so I preferred to take a mild walk in the moonlight.

"Hey you, don't think to stay here long enjoy while it lasts ". I slowly turned away, "And who will do that "? I casually asked. He glared at me I shrugged and turned to a flower bed and bend down ". "Don't you dare touch that flower bed it was my mother's ". I took a deep breath and went ahead and pulled out the weed and showed it to him. "If this was your mother's flower bed why didn't you look after it these weeds have damaged it so much". He sighed, "I don't know anything about flowers ". "You are lucky coz I do". After that we stayed in an awkward silence he was tall with dark eyes with a lot of his father's features in him. "I'm sorry I hit you" he mumbled and I could see his eyes were misty. I stared at him wishing he stopped being so emotional. I had no idea how to console him I'm hardly keeping myself together. "Where did you learn this stuff" he asked distractedly. "Ramu kaka taught me I followed around him anywhere he goes". His face was still clueless. He is our servant I told him hesitantly I somehow didn't feel it right to call him that I always called him Ramu kaka even my sister calls him the same. I thought about Fanny I hope she was happy wherever she was with her music teacher. I was very happy I made this decision for her. I was sure one day my father will forgive her and welcome her back now that I was gone he needed at least one of the family.

I looked at the star and the moon they looked the same from here and my home maybe I was not away from it after all. A sudden question called to my attention it came from my companion, "Why did you agree to marry my father "?. I said nothing just stood there in stone silence refusing to stare down I absolutely will not be attacked by him not physically nor verbally. " For money? " he asked again provoking me. "Why should I answer you you should go and ask your father "?

"I'm asking you and if you answer I will give you anything you ask?"

"Will you leave me alone then"? He nodded He said now I could see a faint smile.

I hesitated for a second but I couldn't hide it anymore, "Because none gave me a choice neither my father nor yours. No girl would want to be married to a guy of her father's age."

"You could have said no to them my father would not have forced you, "he said his face serious.

"And do what get out of my house I have no money no family I will die alone no one need to tell you what happens to a girl on road. So I decided to live to forgive me for choosing life instead of death " I poured out my feelings at him. "So what you didn't have guts to say no believe me when I say this there is always a choice. One easy the other not so." I was so insulted I walked away from him not before I heard a loud laughing sound in his direction. And that's how I met my best friend Rocky.