The maid

Chapter 23: Can't

It was like a sudden wave of solace had rushed through his veins and it had only left his heart elated. Knowing the truth now probably didn't change much in his life or his situation but it did change a lot about the way he saw that girl and now, he couldn't stop laughing his heart out as he closed his phone.

" Bhai?!" didn't care anymore if they thought that he was going mad because he had also begun sobbing but now, as his brother held his hand, and everyone looked at him in worry, all he ever could do was shake his head in a big "NO".

No.
He couldn't do it anymore.

Maybe he was just drunk and the alcohol had begun talking to his brain but he genuinely couldn't do it anymore. Keeping a stone over his heart? He couldn't. Doing the right thing? He just couldn't. Listening to his frightening father? He just could not.

His mind was like a pot. A pot where every time he gave up something important to himself, it would fill up with sadness and this time, the pot had cracked open, letting all those hidden feelings pour out. All the values he stood for. All the values his family and the world stood for... They were all leaking out of the pot now and his mind was feeling blank.

Sure, he was there, laughing cynically like a madman, taking his brother's support to even sit in his place. Sure everyone thought that he had finally lost it which he had. But his brain truly didn't care. Just seeing one picture of her on the net and verifying the entire story, really made him believe. She was living his dream.

She was out of the cage, flying, in fact, soaring in the vast sky.
She was fighting, laughing, and truly independent.
She was what his best nightmares always told him he would end up like if he didn't listen to his father and at that moment, he wanted to be her.
He wanted that life, out of his drama, out of his comfort zone. He wanted that adventure, no matter if he had to face backlash.

Because she was a philosopher in his eyes and her words were the preachings that he would take with him till the end of his life. Preaching that he wanted to follow, even if it meant blindfolded because he really wanted to breathe in peace once again... Just like her.

" You all are idiots and I can't do this anymore," he didn't care if his mother was worried. If his sister was disgusted or his father was angered. He didn't care if his brother was scared to even or if that girl that he would have cheated on was repulsed. He didn't care if his future father-in-law took it the wrong way and charged at him.

He just didn't care.
And maybe for the first time, he was happy someone slapped him. Because he didn't care.

" GET IN YOUR SENSES YOUNG MAN!" the old man had thought that he could bring Sohit back to sober up but the young man only shook his head and kept laughing.
" I'm in my senses and this marriage is something I can't commit to-"
" SOHIT!" maybe he was slapped once again, " I TOLD YOU, DON'T DRINK THIS MUCH!" and maybe his father did it only to hide the fact that he was a little fearful of what all was on the stake, but like I said. He just didn't care.

" Sorry baba. But I can't do this anymore," so he only held his hurt cheek, looked his father in the eyes, and said it once and for all. Confidence brimming from his eyes and happiness from the small smile over his lips. He couldn't have felt more at liberty than that...
" Sohit? I know that you have drunk a lot today. Come, I'll take you to sleep and we can talk tomorrow-"
" No, ma. No. I am sober now and I... I break this engagement. Sorry, nothing against you guys. But. I can't do this," he shook his mother's hands off his and looked at the woman in the eyes for the first time since they met. She knew that he wasn't and couldn't lie this time
" I can't do this," and as he arched his eyebrows, begging her through his eyes, he saw tears spring in around the corners of her. He hurt her. Hurt her feelings and hurt her pride.

But still. There she was, nodding her head as she tried her best to not let the tears run down her cheeks. The banquet was booked. The wedding cards were sent. The jewelry was bought and the families had already gone ahead to join contracts and companies to form a solid firm after the wedding. But there they were, the two individuals who were about to get married mutually agreeing to not do it and ruin their lives.

" WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T DO THIS!?!"
" THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT MAID, DOESN'T THIS?!"
" YOU. YOU SKANK! YOU CUNT! YOU FUCKER! HOW DARE YOU SAY NO TO MY DAUGHTER?!" and sure, his life was in danger now, especially as he felt to hands strongly grab his collar and two eyes glare at him with a strong hatred, but he still didn't seem to care.

" I don't want to ruin her life in the future. That is all, uncle," so, he raised his hands, ready to be punched in the face anytime, and looked that old man in the eyes, showcasing much valor but in the wrong kind of situation. Because he was punched. Very hard. Right on the nose and that it was going to leave a very bad bruise too.

" SOHIT!" by his father, not that girl's father. No. Because that girl's father understood that he was telling the truth. That her life would be ruined and that she would be marrying the wrong guy if he were to tie her knot with that man. That drunk, helpless man whose father still had all dictatorial rights over his life...
" Ouch. Ouch. Ah! BABA!"
" GO TO YOUR ROOM RIGHT NOW! We will talk about this tomorrow and get one thing in your head. This is because of the alcohol. Tomorrow morning, I better not hear any of this bullshit coming from your mouth!"