Chapter: 2 Marriage? What!!

At the hospital:

“Dad, NO..” He almost screamed.

A tall man walked towards Neil and adjusted the pillow behind his back. The man was extremely good-looking with a sharp face, surrounded by a cold aura around him. His black eyes were as deep as the ocean, with a tinge of sadness in them. He has killer looks with devilish charms, no one could endure.

Rhea was sitting beside Neil. He looked at both the men with sorrowful eyes. Tears were already in her eyes, but she was trying to hold them back.

“You should tell him everything, Neil. He deserves to know.” she put her hand on Neil’s hands and squeezed it lightly as if giving him courage.

“Ohh, so there is something more you haven’t told me. Dad, what is it?” Annoyed by his parent’s secrets, he asked, flipping his hair back.

“Ray..” Neil paused for a second and then told everything to his son.

Reyansh stood rooted to the spot after hearing everything. No words came out of his mouth. His mother let go of her tears and started crying. Seeing his mother in such a condition, he hugged her but still didn’t utter a single word.

“Dad, we will find other doctors. Nothing will happen to you.” After hesitating for a bit, he finally managed to say something.

“You know it all, son. I’m with the best doctors in the world.” He paused for a second and then continued, “Take it as your father’s dying wish, please do as I say. Miraya is a very good girl. She is the best for you. You’ll look perfect together.”

Ray was tongue-tied, at a loss how to respond or what to say.

“But dad, marriage? It’s too early. I don’t think I’m ready. I don’t even know her.” he tried reasoning with his dad.

“It is early, but not for you, for Mira. You have a whole life to know each other. I thought we had to convince Mira for this. But even you are doing this. Son, please give her a chance. Think about it and yes, I will not hear no for an answer.”

Reyansh wanted to say more but he knew how stubborn his dad could get. So he dropped the idea and went outside to meet his father’s doctor.

At home:

Miraya’s POV

“Mira, come. Dad is calling you.” Mihir Bhaiya told me. He looked weird, a little gloomy. Maybe he is up to something!

I jumped from the bed, held bhaiya’s wrist, and went towards the room. Mom and dad both were sitting on the chairs. Mom signalled us to sit beside them on the chairs. Dad looked tired as if he hadn't slept last night and mom’s eyes were watery. What on earth has happened?

“Dad, is uncle fine? Why do you all look so sad?” I looked at them with curiosity.

“Yes, Mira. He is totally fine.” Mom looked sad while replying.

“Then what happened, mom. You look sad.” I felt sad too. They are hiding something from me.

“Mira, there is something we need to talk to you about.” Dad didn’t look me in the eyes.

“Yes, dad. What is it?”

“What do you think about…..studying here?” Hesitatingly, dad completed. Mom looked at him with questionable eyes.

“It will be good, but I will miss you,” I said honestly.

“Ohh…..” dad was hesitating to tell me or maybe ask me something. It was the first time it happened. It feels like he has something in his mind which is disturbing him.

I was sitting beside dad, so I bent towards him and put my head on his shoulder.

“Dad, don’t worry. I’m not going to leave you. I will complete my studies in India. There are so many good colleges there. I've also given the entrance examination. I'm positive about the result. Why would I study here?”

Suddenly, mom started crying leaving me confused. What has happened to everyone today? What do they want? I will not study here, I told them now. Dad looked away from me and I looked at him and then mom, a little scared. But the way my mom was continuously crying, I sensed there was something else.

“Mom, Dad there’s something else. Tell me, what is it? Why is mom crying, dad?” This time I was scared.

“Actually, there is something Neil asked me and I…”  he left the sentence in between, making me worried.

“He wants you...to….m..marry his son, Reyansh as soon as possible.” Dad immediately looked down, avoiding eye contact with me.

I felt like laughing. Is it a joke or something?

With this thought, I looked towards them, they all looked sorrowful and dejected. Everyone looked so serious, so it’s not at all a joke. This is way too serious than I can even think.

“What?”

“Dad, this is absurd. What did you say to him? You said no already?” I was hoping dad would’ve refused him already. Maybe dad was feeling bad as he had refused his best friend.

Dad looked at me with pitiful eyes and responded again with hesitation, “I said I’ll talk...to you.”

“Well, there is nothing to talk about dad. I can’t marry him. I’m too young for marriage. Wait, is this why he called us all here? There are so many girls in the world. Why me? And yes, why so soon?” I said all in one breath.

Dad looked a bit annoyed. I think it's because of my questions. But then he explained to me everything about my uncle's medical condition. But still why me of all the girls? Sadness spread inside my heart and I couldn’t help feeling bad for my uncle, aunty, and their son.

But still, I will not marry anyone. I know I was being selfish but this was the first time I wanted to be. I always did what my parents asked me to but this is way too much. Dad looked at me with regretful eyes, waiting for my answer.

“Dad, I will not marry him or anyone.” I can’t marry any stranger that too now. I’ve to complete my studies. From my childhood, I wanted to become an interior designer.

I said and walked out of the room. Mom called me, but I ran towards my room.

The next day, we all went to the hospital. No one looked comfortable. Dad told Neil uncle about my decision. He and Rhea aunty were there looking at me. I looked down to avoid eye contact. Just standing there alone was sending a chill down my spine.

“Mira, come here.” Rhea aunty called me and signalled me to sit beside her. She put her hand around my shoulder lovingly and looked at me, while I was looking down.

“Mira, I think of you as my daughter. I know you must be feeling that we are forcing you. But just think about it once with a cool mind. You can do anything after marriage. There will be no restrictions from our side. I promise you that. You can follow your dreams.” I still looked down.

‘Don’t stay silent, Mira!! Come on, you can’t marry someone like this!’  I thought.

“Aunty, I respect you and uncle a lot. But how can I marry someone I never met and that too this early. I know you will let me do everything. But still, it's marriage. And it doesn’t feel right.” I was becoming so nervous that my hands were sweating. I excused myself and got out of the room.

For the whole day, it went like this. They were literally forcing me into this marriage. I have always been a good girl my entire life. I always listened to my parents and made them proud. I was always the topper in the school with an excellent track record in other curricular activities except for sports, I was really bad at it.

But now, when for the first time, I made a decision and want them to support me, they’re not even listening to me. Instead of it, they are giving their ‘reasons’ to how this is good. My mom stopped talking to me in the evening. They’re now torturing me.

Did they forget I’m still their daughter? Are they fed up with me? Am I no longer needed?

At night dad came to me while I was standing on the balcony. After talking to him, and yes, again on this topic, I understood there’s no way I can escape this marriage. Dad hugged me but he didn’t ask me what my answer was. Maybe they’ve decided it already.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to be strong, but nothing helped. I let the tears flow down my cheeks. I sat on the floor and looked outside.

The full moon shone brightly in the sky. Such irony to my present condition.

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