Anika's PoV
It's Friday today and I am too scared to open my eyes. I don't know when I fell asleep last night but even in my sleep, I dreamt of the worst things that would happen. Not even a flake of good flashed in my mind. I heard shuffling in the room that tells me everyone is wide awake. I am to explain myself and make them understand that LOVE is not a sin and I didn't do it deliberately to disrespect them in any means.
I woke up and went straight to the restroom without facing anyone. To my surprise, Advay was awake and was having his morning tea. The home was inconveniently silent and everyone was so rigid and moody.
"Good morning, pa!" I went to my dad after doing all my morning work including yoga.
"This is not a good morning, Anu. You and I have to talk." he said, setting aside the newspaper he was looking into. Mom, hearing our talk came from inside the kitchen and stood at the kitchen doorstep. Advay listened to us too.
"Yes, pa. Please listen to me before you come to a conclusion. I didn't do anything on purpose." I tried to talk but I have not prepared anything to tell him that will justify me.
"I have not yet come to a conclusion, Anu. I always think that you are a brilliant girl. I have always given you full freedom because I trust you more than anything. I have not given you them to take advantage of it, Anu.” Dad talked to me like usual. I didn't sense any anger in his talk that made me more scared.
"Pa, I didn't take any advantage or I didn't misuse any of the freedom you gave me, pa. I promise. It is true that I like someone. He is a nice man, pa. His name is Arun. He was the one that has been helping me with the project. He was a senior, pa. A very nice gentleman. You will like him too, pa."
"If you can find your life partner on your own, then who are we, Anu? We, as a parent have given you everything so far. Don't we have the right to find a suitable groom for you?" He asked me.
"You have, appa! Please appa, just meet him once. You will for sure like him." I don't know what else to tell him.
"We have sent you to college to study and make yourself financially independent. Not to find someone to love and be independent from us." He said which struck my heart.
"Pa, please pa. You are hurting me. It just happened, appa. I didn't plan on loving someone. I couldn't stop that feeling."
"In that case, you no longer need us. If we have no say in your life, I think you are free to leave this house." he said.
"Appa!" I never expected him to talk like this. It was like an explosion.
"Listen, Anu. If you like to be in this house and be with us, you will have to listen to us. I am your father and I will never do wrong to you. I have a reputation among our people and I will not let you tarnish my respect. You are still young and you can't make life decisions at the age of studying. Now if you want to continue your studies and go for work like you wished for, you will have to promise me that you will behave." He said which actually infuriated me.
"Behave? Appa, I am well behaved, appa. In Spite of being in love with Arun, I have never gone out with him. I just meet him in the college. I will never cause anything that will spoil your reputation. You hurt me too much appa. You talk like as if I am planning to run away with him. I agree that this is not the right age to take decisions that involves my whole life. I promise you that I will complete my degree in good grades and will for sure find a job. Then what, appa?" I asked him. Though he is not saying it out loud, I can feel what he is implying. He thinks that I have been roaming out with Arun.
"You are at fault now, Anu. You cannot raise your voice at me. Then what? I will find a suitable groom for you and you will marry and will lead a happy life." he said with a warning and I retreated in fear.
"Why can't you give Arun a chance, appa?" I pleaded with him.
"Anu, dad is talking to you very patiently. Don't push him off his limits. Listen to what he says." Mom tried to stop me.
"Alright Anu, I will give him a chance now. Answer me, how old is he?"
"He is 24years old, appa."
"About his family?"
"He has a sister and mother. No dad."
"So his sister and mother are his responsibility. How much does he earn?"
"um... He is still looking for a job" I looked down.
"Good, then how is his family living?"
"His mother works in a government office as a clerk."
"So he is still living off of his mother's hard work. Do they own a house?" He said sarcastically.
"um... they live in a rented house."
"Very nice, What is their financial status?"
"uhh, they will be like us appa. They are not poor."
"They are not rich either. I don't want them to be super rich, but I want them to be at least better than us so that I can be sure that you will live in peace. But then, let it go as you both have years to come, you can earn more if you both get a good job. What is their caste?" He asked me which is another unexpected thing from dad.
"Appa, I don't know that. I didn't expect this question from you, appa." I am greatly shocked.
"Why not, Anu? There is a reason behind our clan and caste. I am not telling you that people are higher or lower based on caste. I strongly think all people are the same and equal. But the habits and their traditions will be different based on it. You have been brought up in a particular way. It will be hard for you girls to adapt to your new households when you get married. Marrying in a different culture will be even harder. No parent will wish that hardness upon their kid. Every parent will only wish for the happiness of their kid. I am the same." he said.
"My happiness lies in him, Appa." I am feeling defeated. I cannot talk strongly to my dad.
"That is just the hormones speaking, Anu. Every human will have this phase in their life. Not everyone is marrying their love. I am not angry with you because Love is not a bad thing. I am glad that you experience that feeling. But that is just a feeling. Nothing more. Life is far greater than that mere feeling. Now this is the end of the conversation. Talk to that Arun and tell him that you will no longer see him and ask him to excel in his life and take good care of his family. You don't have to go to college today. We are all going to Tirupur today. We shall return on Sunday and you can go to college from Monday, as a good daughter." he stood up and patted my head and left to carry on his day.
Nothing can change his mind. What shall I do now? Nothing like this would have happened if I kept my damn mouth shut to that guest. Everything would have been different if I told my love a year later to mom and dad. There would have been a fair chance that they might have agreed. Everything is spoiled because of my stupid mouth. Advay was right about my tongue.
"You are lucky. Dad is not angry. Just do as he says and don't prolong this. Be cheerful and get ready, akka" Advay told me.
"Anu, we will tell you things for your own good. I am sorry that I hit you. I was angry yesterday. I was trying to be strict with you just to stop you from getting into all this. But when the same thing happened I lost my cool. Just like dad said, it's all a part of this age. This will pass, dear.'' Mom came to me and sat near me.
"Ma, sorry ma!" I cried hugging her.
"It's ok Anu. This is not you, this is just your age. Forget that these things happened. Be like as usual. Do like dad says. Even after a year, if you still think Arun is the best suitor for you, I will talk to dad myself for you. But you should sever your ties with him now. Ask him to concentrate on his career. Ask him to wait. Meanwhile, you explore this world. Go to a job. Earn. Tell me your decision when we look for a groom for you." she said which gave me hope.
Mom is right. I should listen to dad now. I should ask Arun to wait for a year. If I bring up Arun when he is well settled, then mom will back me up. I should land myself in a good job. I should prove to dad that I didn't decide things out of hormones. I should let dad know Love is not just a feeling but a feeling without which life is nothing!