Defying All Odds

Chapter 2

Chitra had instructed Kajal to call Priya for dinner after the men had left the dining room. When Kajal came back to Chitra a short while later, it informed her that Priya had declined to have dinner.

Chitra sighed and told Kajal to continue with her dinner while she served a plate for Priya and left for her room. 

   

      After arriving in her room, Sitting on her bed with her eyes closed, she discovered Priya. She had her head resting on the headrest. Chitra saw the marks of tears on her cheek. Looking at her daughter in this state broke her heart as a mother. 

    Reaching over, she set the dinner plate down on the side table. Priya opened her eyes and wiped away her tears when she sensed someone was next to her. Priya’s mother was staring at her with worry as she gaped. 

“ I know that the sudden announcement of your wedding has upset you. However, missing meals will not help you in any way—instead, it will make you less resilient to life’s challenges.”

 Priya asked her mother while holding her hand in hers. 

“ Mom. Try to talk to Dad, please. Right now, I am not interested in getting married. My goals are to work hard and get a good job. Right now, I do not want to get married.”

    With a sigh, Chitra picked up the dinner plate and began feeding her with her hands.

“ I know that you have goals for your life, and I have complete faith that you will too, but only if given the opportunity. You will never have an opportunity in this house. “

     Priya choked on the food, so Chitra passed her water.. after she got her normal breathing back. After setting the plate back where it belonged, Chitra informed her 

“ It is impossible for your father to grant your request. Are you not familiar with him? It would be better if you wished for a compassionate and understanding life partner so that you could live a happy and fulfilling life with him. If you are fortunate enough, you might finish your studies at your in-laws’ home.and fulfill your aspirations as well. Eat your food, please. “

 Chitra stood up to leave the room when Priya told her, 

“ Mom, please don’t make my life a mess.. I can’t.. It is just not possible for me to...” 

  With a sorrowful heart, Chitra simply gave her a cheek pat and departed the room. She wished for Priya to be free from fantasies. Since she has no other choice; it is preferable that she accept her dad’s decision as soon as possible.

After breakfast the following morning, Priya was heading to her college. With a paper in hand, her twin brother Piyush reached out to her. 

 “ What is this?”

“That is what I had ready for you. “

“ For me ?”

“ Yes, check it out and turn the volume up so that Mom and bhabhi can hear it at the same time. “

   Shaking her head, Priya read the paper. 

    “ Name.. Priya Singh “

“Age 22 “

“Height -5 ‘5””

   “ Color: fair in normal situations, red in angry ones “

   Qualification: If she passes the final exam, then she is MA?

    Hobbies - sleeping, eating, daydreaming .and discarding objects in hand—even her own body 

 While Chitra was watching the scene in disbelief and Kajal was laughing hysterically, Priya glared at her twin brother. However, Kajal quickly explains what the paper Priya just read means.