Bound By Unknown(✔)

XII. Baby

Avni

Life is a beautiful journey. It is like a painting with many colours in it, the vibrant colours describe the happy moments in life. Those moments in life will be less but always needs to be treasured. The dark colours angry and dark feelings of a person. Light colours the sadness in life. Those are always part of a person's life. Many expressions like anger, dilemma that colours can explain. All the mixed feeling's together will be part of a person's life.

In my life, I think sadness and endless doubts were the only feelings I can have. As Mr. Goenka dismissed me for the day, I left for my house and mentally prepared a huge apology speech for Anu. I went inside and found Anu in the living room with a forlorn expression on her face and some documents in front of her on the desk. I went and stood behind the couch and placed both my hands over her neck and leaned down.

"Sorry Anu," I kissed her cheeks. "I had valid reasons to stay out and for what I did in the party. Don't be upset with m-", she cut me off and pulled me towards her. I sat beside her.

"No Avni, I am not upset because of you. I am upset with the decision your mother made", she pointed towards the papers and continued, "Your mother handed them to me, and I am supposed to give them to you on your 21st birthday. It is about your property and your parent's last wish, and you will get rights over the property after your marriage." She took a pause allowing my brain to register the words.

"W-why would they do that to me", I whispered brokenly, Anu rubbed my hand.

"Your parents did that because they wanted you to be safe, they were constant life threats for them and if something happens to them then your life will be at stake. So they asked Rudra to keep your identity hidden and to protect you until your marriage. Now your presence must be announced, according to your parents will your marriage must happen within 10 days after your public announcement", she took a deep breath, "If your parents were alive everything present there would have been nullified", she sobbed into her hands.

"Anu, we will find something to void the will", I tried to soothe her cries.

"No Avni you can't", she pushed my arms away and stood up. She looked angry that she could not control the situation. "Your life is threatened, you may not know this but I know the threats you are receiving and your father took a promise from Rudra on his death bed that both you and Abhi should be married at a suitable age."

My father's last wish was Abhi's marriage with me, "Anu I can't marry him, he detests my presence, we can't agree to it and I will talk to papa and try to convince him", I took my phone out of my clutch and was about to call papa when Anu took my phone from my grip. I looked at Anu and tried to plead with her.

"Why Anu, let me talk to him and convince him"

"No Avni you can't. He is already suffering a lot and Abhi already agreed to marry you"

"No, I don't want to marry him, I'll convince papa he will listen to me", I tried to coax her. She was having enough of me.

"Avni he has cancer", Anu shouted making me freeze in my spot.

"No, Anu you are joking right don't joke", I chuckled but when Anu did not laugh I fell to my knees and started wailing. I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders and lifted me, I looked up and saw papa there with a sad smile on his face. I hugged him and started sobbing in his chest.

"You have cancer and you didn't even tell me, why?" He patted my head and tried to calm me, I am anything but that. Now I am angry. I moved away from him and glowered at him and he put his hands above in submission.

"Explain"

"Ok, so I have cancer, lung cancer to be specific and it is stage-2. I want you to marry my son because I know that you are perfect for him. I wanted to discuss this yesterday, but I wanted to respect your wishes and give you six months. But today I got to know that my health is detonating and I need medical treatment. I always worry about your safety so please marry my son, so I don't have to worry about your safety." I felt bad that I made him feel stressed because of me. He is like a father figure to me. I will do anything to make him happy.