The Unwanted Bride

6 - Her Number

Typed: 05/12/2023
Chapter 6: Her Number

Author's POV:

It didn't matter to Khushi whether the man was handsome, wealthy or astrologically compatible with her. Nothing could convince her.

Khushi stood raging in her parent's bedroom, seeking an explanation. "How could you just let them visit us tomorrow? Tomorrow. Without consulting me. I made it very clear I am not interested in getting married."

This is probably the first time in her life or first time in nine years that she's addressed her parents with this much aggression.

Her father is massaging his tensed temple, avoiding eye contact like a culprit. "Khushi, it's for the best."

"This is the same line you said last time too," her tone is clipped. "Only difference is I'm working now, so I'm no longer a burden to you both."

Her mother grunts in annoyance. "The boy is wealthy. He's the eldest son, so you don't have to worry about an elder sister-in-law. He has a separate two bedroom and one study flat, he shares it with his brother. You don't have to live with your in-laws, what else do you want?"

Khushi has never felt the bitter taste in her mouth like this before. She staggers back, speechless. "Is this supposed to convince me? How does living separately, being the first daughter-in-law and his wealth and flat have anything to do with me?"

Her mother touches her forehead in dismay, "for a lawyer you surely are dumb. It'll all be yours. His assets will be yours. His father just transferred the whole business to him. He's the CEO and his younger brother works under him. You'd have no financial difficulties, in fact you can stop working too, Khushi. He's a businessman."

There's this sickening wicked smile on her stepmothers face, as if she's just found the key to a million dollar locker. "I—I can't believe this. You're using me as an investment. You're—you're selling me off. Again."

"Khushi." Her father's voice is pitched-dark by demeanor and clamor. He stands up from his seat and Khushi unintentionally takes a step back in fear of what's to come next. "Yug Verma isn't just any boy. He's exceptionally talented at such a young age."

"You mean his money." Her voice is dim. It's no longer authoritative but broken and powerless. She can already see losing this battle. It always felt this way with her parents. Her biggest weakness was her fear and will to be accepted, to be loved. Loved, which she hasn't felt ever since her mother died when she was a little girl.

Her father comes right to her face and stares her down, intimidating her, "is it wrong that I want you to live a comfortable life? Do you really think I never planned on marring you, again? Marriage is part of life, Khushi. Stop running away from it."

She lets out a whimper, begging him. "Not now. Please. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm happy. You didn't even give me enough noti—"

Her mother jumps in, "enough notice for what? Call Rohan and Neha for help?" Her mother is in front of her, pushing her father aside, and grabs a hold of her chin. The touch is light but there's an underlined threat to it. "They will come tomorrow morning to see you. Behave. Dress presentably and respectfully."

"Let go of her," her father mumbles, avoiding looking at his daughter. He turns around, walking to his bed, releasing a yawn. "It's for your best Khushi. Just meet the boy. Just meet him."

That whole night Khushi sat on her bed, staring out her window, watching the moon. She kept looking at it until her vision gave out and it looked nothing less than a small torch light.