Shades Of Thirteen

A Try IV

Naina POV:

Hell, that meeting went smooth, and they had asked for nothing officially but everything un-officially as dowry.

Father of would-be groom: We are extraordinarily rich and honestly don't want any dowry and we don't believe in that.

Dad smiling with grace.

Father of would-be groom: But as Dev is our youngest son and an engineer by profession, so we are looking for a wealthy and good family's daughter. We really liked Preet and hope that you will give enough to your daughter for her own happiness and future.

Dad: Yes, I will, as much as possible from my end. Any ways anything special that you all are expecting from us?

Father of would-be groom: Nothing, but all appliances that a modern house needs in day-to-day life, one bike for our son, one lakh rupees in cash and all category of jewellery (necklaces, bangles, earrings, chains, rings etc.) for the bride and the groom.

Dad: (With a deep breath) Ok and?

Father of would-be groom: Approx. 60-70 people will come in the 'Barat' with the groom, so you must arrange minimum 15 luxury cars for our transportation.

Dad: Ok and?

Father of would-be groom: That's all we want, as I told earlier, we don't believe in dowry. These all are required, not for us but for Preet's good future.

I was like (Are you serious man?! These are not dowries but for my sister's well-being?)

I just hate that entire family; I hate them from the core of my heart.

The would-be groom was an engineer working in the organization called Neepco, he was living in Shillong.

My family & D blindly trusted all their lies & got flattered with all their false promises. But somehow Dad was sensing something, and he was a bit upset & tensed, so he called my uncles.

But they were not uncles, they're the main villains inside of uncle's mask and I knew this from very beginning. I saw my dad in such a helpless, powerless, and low self-esteem, what I had never seen earlier. First time I was seeing a dad with so many worries inside of that man, who used to fight with us every night and whom I thought was a monster. My monster was surrendering slowly in-front of uncles. They always wanted to use my father's money & he had never realized this or maybe he had realized but never showed.

My uncles were planning to misuse our money & use for their own sake. They were like "well dressed thieves" who were not ashamed of their thoughts neither feel shy to take money from my father. As expected, they were suggesting Dad, to sell out our home and do this marriage. They also brain washed him saying, this is such a good proposal for Preet, as now a days getting a good man with a good family who are ready to accept one poor family daughter is exceedingly rare. I was very curious to know what good in that family and those people they had seen?!

Just for sake of a marriage of a 21 year old girl they were suggesting to sell out our only property where we were living, what we call our home, where we come back after school, where I play with my friends, where we have so many plants and trees, they were suggesting to sell out that property where the childhood of both of sisters are lying? Beyond my belief, shockingly Dad agreed with this plan and said 'Yes' to sell out the property.

I was neither allowed nor matured enough to comment anything on this decision, but I had tried my best to make Dad realize that this is not right what he is doing. This marriage proposal and selling this house proposal, both are not correct. I had tried a lot to stop this shit from happening, I asked crying, don't do this dad, where do we will live after D's marriage?