Will Die In Love

Chapter 70

Paro saw the faces of strangers, the same people who had ignored her cries for help, now watching intently as if it were all just some spectacle.

“Y-yes… but—” she began, but another hard slap silenced her. She stumbled slightly, touching her cheek, her eyes welling up.

Mr. Chatterjee  looked at her with such disappointment that it left her feeling hollow. 

“Shame on you, Paro! I’ve never thought that I'll be ashamed one day that you are my daughter. Is this how you repay your family? Lying to them and betraying them? ” His voice dropped lower, his words laced with bitterness. 

“You’re a disgrace to our family Paro. Now come home and let your mother see who she has raised.”

Paro’s face went blank, her whole body numb. 

As her father grabbed her arm to lead her away, she looked over her shoulder at Preeti, who took a step forward, but her father held her back. Paro caught a final glimpse of the crowd, their curious eyes and quiet murmurs blending into one heart-wrenching blur as she walked away with her father, everything was blank in front of her eyes. 

………..

When they arrived home, Paro's father shoved her inside and slammed the door, locking her in her room. She heard her mother's hurried steps coming closer, and then muffled voices through the door as her father explained everything he thought had happened. Soon, her mother's voice pierced through, furious and hurt. Moments later, the door flew open, and her mother's face was red with anger.

"What did you do, Paro! You've tarnished our family name. All the respect that your father earned through years, you ruined it all. " her mother shouted, her voice sharp and loud. 

"Do you know what people will say now, huh? A good, religious girl would never do something like this. Never!" She raised her hand and slapped Paro, the sharp sting ringing in her ears, then hit her again, harder.

Paro stood there, numb. She barely felt the slaps, barely registered her mother's words. She just stared blankly, her mind empty.

The next day was her birthday. All Paro did was sit in her room with the suffocating silence engulfing her. She had never felt so lonely, so empty before.

Days turned into weeks, and her parents spoke to her less and less. She tried to make herself small, invisible. She didn't want to bring them more shame, and didn't want to feel the weight of their disappointment. A year passed, and she was nothing like the girl that she once used to be.

“ Paro!” Paro looked back to see Preeti standing there. Preeti almost ran to her and hugged her tightly. “ Oh my God! I am trying so hard to meet you but ..” Preeti stopped, not sure whether she should say it. Paro just gave her a meek smile and left. 

Preeti felt her inside was torning seeing her friend like that. She understood that Paro couldn't bring herself to say anything, couldn't bring herself to share the pain she carried. But Preeti didn't give up, she kept asking, day after day, and finally, after a month, Paro broke down.

“ How could I do that Preeti! I failed my family. I failed myself. How could I even live with this guilt?” She told Preeti everything. The shame, the betrayal, that haunted her.

Preeti's face was pale, her eyes wide with horror. She reached out, gripping Paro's hand tightly. "I'm so sorry, Paro, that bloody fucker! " she gritted her teeth in anger, her voice choking. "You didn't deserve any of this Paro. Trust me everything will be okay. Can I stay with you tonight?"

Paro nodded, her eyes filling with tears.

Somehow, Preeti convinced her parents, and they allowed her to stay.