AAHARA

STORY TIME.

The sun was high and so the afternoon was more hot than any other during that summer, people were trying their best to stay of the sky-open street and close to the footpath with shops and buildings to provide shade.

The young girl was walking down the street seemingly urgently, trying to find something along the way or rather someone. She was so in her world that she didn't she the man infront of her and crushed straight in his hard chest, looking up while stepping back she saw a very handsome young man. Yet she didn't have the time to admire his beauty, so she just mumbled a small 'sorry' and went along.

Though what she failed to notice was the lingering gaze of the man, which followed her back until she turned the corner and disappeared from his sight.

Neither did she notice the men that followed her all around, all day for the next few months. Hiding, protecting and guarding her from anything that meant any harm to her.

It wasn't until the next spring that she met the man she had bumped into, the man she was going to spend her life with, with or without her consent. She was stepping in her house after a long day of college, tired and hungry when she noticed the expensive shoes on her doorstep.

She didn't think much of it and just went inside, maybe her brother brought them, he had a habit of wasting her father's hard earned money. As she stepped into the house, her eyes widened. There on the living room couch was the man that she had bumped into, she remembered him. Afterall it was hard to forget someone so good-looking.

"Uma." She heard her mother call out, making her glace towards the kitchen, walking in there. While her father and the man turned their head to look at her. Though she wasn't there for long, having stepped behind the curtains hung on the door of the kitchen.

She saw her mother pouring out tea in two cups and handed them to her, telling her to serve their guest. Uma sighed, she was tired but not stupid enough to say no, her mother wasn't this happy very often so she just went along with it to prevent spoiling her mood.

She sat the cups down on the table, her father quick to offer their guest. The man did take the tea but his eyes were on the girl who didn't say anything and left the room.

"She's studying in her third year, she's very hard-working and stubborn." The old man laughed, talking about his daughter as if he didn't just accept a cheque in exchange for her.

"I am a little busy. Will you tell her to get ready to leave." He said and the old man almost jumped up, then all that was heard was a few shouts, he waited for sometime but then his patience ran out. He stood up and went to the room from where all the noise was coming.

Taking in the sight infront of him he realised a irritated sigh. Picking up the girl he just paid millons for, he dragged her out all the while all her pleas and cries only fell on deaf ears. After being thrown in the a lavish car, she turned to look at the handsome who had the indifference of a devil, it was then she realised that she couldn't escape no matter what she did.

"What will happen to me?" Uma asked while her voice shook with fear, it was only then did she was granted the man's gaze.

"You will be my claim."

                                   •

"And you gave up?" I asked, looking at my grandmother in disbelief.

"Yes." She didn't look sad, she didn't look happy. She was just indifferent.

"Why?" I heard my whisper, making her turn to face me.