Passion & Dilemma

1. Shadows & Thunder

Let's begin the journey of reluctant romance.

Prerna's POV

"You can never do something right for once in your life, can you?" My father, Jayesh Mathur's loud and angry voice echoed in the house. "Worthless." He retorted.

My mother nervously placed a hand on his shoulder, in a futile attempt to prevent him from blasting his head in fury.

But when has he ever stopped? He yanked my mother's hand away with a strong force and she instinctively took two steps back.

Meanwhile, I stood at a distance with my eyes fixated on his feet and hands clasped behind my back, just like he wishes.

The society would laugh if they found out how the woman they consider to be fierce and strong-headed, is nothing but a puppet in her own house.

"Do you even know how hard I tried to set you up for a date with him? And you just simply did not show up." Rage radiated from his body. "Why?"

My nails dug in the palm as I gulped before speaking, "There was no point of going to that date. I will never marry that man." I tried to keep it as short as possible.

"What did you say?" He gritted.

I glanced up for a very brief moment but it was enough to startle me. The veins on his head were about to burst any moment and it made him look murderous.

"I'm sorry, Dad." I lowered my head. "But I cannot marry him-"

"I never asked for your opinion." He interrupted, "I'm your father. My choice should be your choice."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes on his ignorance. There was no doubt he loathes me but this was too much.

He was so blinded by the hunger of money and power, that he was not even willing to consider my clear refusal.

And it's not like we don't have money or anything. We do have a lot of that, but still he is not satisfied.

First he wanted money, then honour and now power. That is why he wants to marry me off to the son of an influential politician.

I sighed and tried to speak more calmly but he didn't let me.

"What is wrong with you, duffer?" The name he addressed me with was enough to evoke anger in me.

This was the name I was called with, throughout my childhood. By my teachers, classmates and parents.

Being dyslexic is definitely a curse in the Indian society. A disorder that everyone claims to be an excuse for avoiding academic work, when it is actually fucking not.

"Nothing is wrong with me." The room fell quiet at my answer. "I am just simply not interested in getting married." I instantly regretted my tone when a ceramic vase hit my head and broke down into pieces.

I hissed and touched my head feeling pain but stood on my grounds. Every word I uttered was nothing but the truth.

My faith in marriage is long gone after witnessing my parents' married life. If I had to describe their marriage in word then that would be 'disturbing'.

And it's actually quite funny because they literally eloped to get married. But look at them now; they've got nothing worth looking at.

Maybe my mother is right when she says I've ruined their lives. But I don't mind because they ruined mine in return, so we are even.

"You have to get married!" Father roared. "I was trying to be nice by letting you see the men and go on dates with them but you don't deserve anything nice. Now just be prepared to get married whenever I say."