Ego over Relations

Deserves Reward

Author's POV

"She is the one, isn't she?" Stella asked, I was silent 

"I was confused, why were you jealous seeing them together, it makes sense"  she said more to herself. "I thought, she looked familiar... didn't think she is the one. I saw those pictures online but they were blurry and now they disappeared..." she said thoughtfully "god! What a mess! Santhosh is madly in love  with Sita" she said after sometime. I felt anger, jealous, frustration

"Why, our lives are so messed up, we don't have the freedom to marry the person we love... all because of status, religion, ego..." Stella said sadly

"I wouldn't have problem with marrying Sita if not for that betrayer... that bastard used our family for his selfishness... he was responsible for my grandfather's death... even now he insulted dad, how dare he hold dad's collar and slap him?" I fumed in anger remembering that day

"Betrayer? Bastard? You mean Sita's dad?" Stella asked, Ben stayed silent 

"If you really love Sita and want her in your life, better watch your mouth..."

"He deserves worst..."

"Really Ben? You don't know what happened in the past, I mean the entire truth... even that day, you said you weren't there. Whatever the disputes the adults have, you don't involve... you are talking about Sita's dad. How will you feel if she use such words for your dad? Whatever has happened, you can't change past. If possible make relations better, don't make worst..."

"That... I mean Mr. Anandarajan blackmailed Sita to marry Santhosh..." Ben tried to defend 

"What about your dad Ben? Tell me, why are we engaged?" Stella asked. Ben was silent

"What's your plan Ben? How do you want to set things right? You couldn't get in touch with Sita before. Now she is in front of you " Stella asked

"I got Sita's phone number, I will talk to her... but... I highly doubt she will listen... she is mad at me that I'm engaged to you" Ben said sadly

"Talk to her... but... whatever she says, please don't loose your temper...put yourself in her shoes, how hard it must have been for her. I'm sure she is forced into this marriage...God knows what she is going through. She didn't look good at all, throwing up like that, poor girl!" she said 

"Hmm, she is grounded the whole time, didn't even step out of her room... not even eating food" 

"How do you know?" She asked 

"Attha, I mean Sita's mom said" I told her what attha told

"What? She knew you were there? Gave you Sita's number? That's a good start, she is on your side" she said with excitement 

"I don't know... Attha asked me to let go of Sita if I really love her. She didn't want me to create scene there, probably that's why she gave"

"You don't expect her to jump in excitement and give her daughter's hand, do you?" She said seriously. I wish...

I dropped Stella at her home and went to farmhouse. I have been staying here mostly. 

I didn't even think in my wildest dreams  that Sita's mom is my attha who is  so resented by everyone that no one talks about her. I heard her name for the first time when I was 7, achchamma was arguing with dad, begged him to forgive her daughter. Dad was furious, didn't  even want to hear her name. I was curious, asked whom they were talking about. That's when dad told me the whole story, dad had sister Hela. Everyone loved and pampered her so much. She fell in love with Anandarajan who was an orphan and our family helped him with studies. Dad fixed attha's engagement with his friend and she eloped with Anandarajan on the day of her engagement. My grandfather couldn't face the humiliation and died of heart attack.