Chand Sifarish

𝑆ℎ𝑒ℎ𝑛𝑎𝑎𝑧

BE A VOICE NOT AN ECHO

The flight landed at 2 pm sharp. It was such a hectic journey and I have never been a fan of travelling. My ears felt so heavy as I dragged myself out of the airport. Mama and dad would have reached by now. They were spending the holidays in the Bahamas and flew straight from there to India. I was not even told about the events. My tickets were booked and I was summoned here. Well, I obviously am aware of the reason. Sidharth, my beautiful cousin whom I have no interest in.

Since the day I was born, I have been tagged with the alias of his fiancee. My right to choose my own life partner was snatched from me. It didn't matter then, we were best friends and happy, unaware of what love meant.

As I grew up, I realised life is not a thing to be missed. The cool london winds to the warm beaches of Bahamas, to the culture of India I love it all. How could I hand the reins of my life to someone else? How could I let go of myself? 

I love life and I love stories. That is what I am studying right now, films and tv. I want to create stories. My parents had wanted me to join the firm, to become a strong headed business woman. I denied the offer and they let me choose my career  although their faces dripped of disappointment. But this time, they won't listen. They knew I would revolt, create a nuisance and thus they secretly planned everything, under my nose. But even though I badly want to book a flight back to London and flee, I can't. It's the only thing they have ever asked of me. I can not betray my own family.

We are rich people. Owning houses and people. I have been surrounded by nannies and frocks ever since I was born. My father has this intense possessiveness for his property and he wants it to stay forever in our family. 
The prestige, tradition and heritage of the Rehmani family should forever be shielded by their own blood.
The reason why my marriage has been arranged with my own cousin, my own blood.

I wonder how things would turn out in the near future if I let it be. If circumstances would have been different I would be pursuing my dreams now, building my career in london. I am too young to get hitched. Even though I know they will allow us a few years to ourselves after the engagement.  I don't want that. They would persuade me to settle in India leaving my life in London behind.

I have not met Sidharth since I was 14. I have no idea how he is as a person. What if our likes don't match. What if we are a misfit ? What if I lose the only chance to find love?

It was so hot here, the tropical climate burning my skin. I removed my trench coat, god knows what I had in my mind that I wore a coat in this burning heat.

The sun shone so brightly at my face that I had to put my shades on. Dilwalon ki dilli. I had spent half my life here in the crowded streets and traffic of Delhi but I didn't feel even a bit of familiarity here. It felt distant. The pollution felt suffocating. Horns blaring and stop signs. Dad should atleast have come to receive me but no, he sent a driver. Wasn't I already very alone?

How are you supposed to feel when you are going to be forcibly engaged in a foreign land? Lonely and scared.

The car halted in front of our mansion. I entered inside, the driver telling me that he will take care of the luggage.
The garden was still the same. Wild lilies and sunflowers with a swing in between. How I used to spend my day huddled on it, enjoying breezy days and rainy nights. I wanted to get a dog, I had secretly made a kennel in the corner of the garden with some cardboard. But mama didn't allow it and I had no option but to convert the kennel into a dollhouse. 

The memories start swaying in, my whole childhood coming back. I took a deep breath trying to stop myself from getting teary.

"Aa gyi hamari shehzaadi", dad silently tapped on my shoulder. 

"Assalamu alaikum dad", I engulfed him in a hug finally bursting into loud wails.

"Walekum assala.. shhh..zaroori hai beta. Aap baad me samjhegi. Sidharth acha ladka hai. Isbaar hmara farman maan lijiye. You are my strong baby and moreover aap Rehmani khaandan ki bachi hai. Don't disappoint us."

I hummed trying to gather myself back. What could I say? I was helpless like always.

"Andar sab intezaar kr rhe h", he whispered, patting my head. "Apko yaad hai Sana?"

I hummed. She was Aisha khala's daughter, my pre-teen bestie.

"Wo bhi wait kr rhi h. Chaliye Mama ne apke liye favourite dish banwaya hai"

I nodded silently, stepping inside the house.

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Hope you like this.
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Love,
Ahsmir.