Kashvi : A forced bride's tale | +18

~ Ch 10 ~

Avinaash's POV:

The days passed like a gust of wind slapping my face with the dark truth of reality; and from today the actual disaster starts. Today is my Haldi ceremony.

I should be happy. I wished to be happy. Because, it was supposed to be the happiest day of life. Today is the same day I dreamt for years..but…I wasn't feeling the same I should feel or wished or dreamed to feel. 

I wished to feel happy and excited. I dreamt of dancing on the stage surrounded by my loved ones with my friends as I was supposed to stay joyful. But,I am feeling—Actually….I am feeling nothing. I am sitting here all numb without having any feelings or emotions. I am neither guilty nor regretting it. Neither am I crying nor am I smiling.

Great dad! This is all you wanted for your son's wedding. 

You won Dad! You won.

Power won over love.

Congratulations dad! 

I felt a pair of cold hands on my cheeks making me land again on the harsh ground of reality, only to find my mom sitting in front of me with tears glistening in her eyes. She took some turmeric paste on her hand and applied it to both of my cheeks and immediately hugged me. 

My hands felt too numb and heavy to reciprocate her hug. Observing my reaction, she whispered in my ears,

“I am sorry son, but I can't do anything in this case.” she said and a tear droplet, probably my mom's, landed on my neck.

“Dad ko roka kyu nahi apne maa?” I whispered in a barely audible voice as my lips trembled.

(Why didn't you stop dad, mom?)

“Koshish kiya tha bete. Believe me. Kiya tha koshish…par woh meri ek n mane” she said and more tear droplets landed on my neck but this time it was both mine and my mom's tears.

(I tried it, son. Believe me. I tried it….but he didn't even try to understand my words)

I sighed and looked up at her. She looked at my face, her eyes were red and fluffy as if she cried the whole night. Her face had cuts and bruises as if someone had beaten her. As the realisation hit me that how could she get those marks, anger ran down my body making my whole body tremble. I closed my eyes and fisted my hands, not before taking a deep breath.

“ Unhone firse ap par hath uthaya maa?” I whispered, my calm voice indicating silence before the storm.

(Did he again raise his hands on you mom?)

“Leave it, son. It's your wedding, enjoy it.” she tried to divert the topic from my brain.

“Ma, please, tell me. Did that heartless monster again beat you?” I said, not before opening my eyes. I could feel my cheeks burn in anger.

“Beta please calm down and focus on your wedding, ok? I love you.” she hurriedly went away from there, while I kept looking at her disappearing figure.

The whole day passed with all the stupid functions and as the Sun was going to set, all my family members came to make me ready for my so-called wedding.