Book #1 of Blinded series
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Sign the papers! She said
I'm not into child marriage Miss Mishra! Shaadi karke mujhe jail bhejne ka irada hai? He said
Can't you be serious with me at least for once Avyan!!
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Avyan Chauhan- 28 ye...
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I stood in the middle of my room, my dupatta slipping off my shoulder as I rummaged through my jewelry box for the hundredth time. My oxidized bangles were missing. Missing! Of all days, why today? My family and I were heading to Avyan's place for dinner, and my entire look hinged on those bangles.
"Maa!" I yelled, my voice teetering on desperation. "Mere bangles nahi mil rahe! Kahan gaye?"
"Aditi!" My mother's voice boomed from downstairs. "Tumhaari cheezein tum khud sambhal nahi sakti? What will you do after marriage, haan?"
She came all the way upstairs and boom now the classic Indian mother taunt- "Room hai ya sabji market. Agar yehi haal raha tumhara toh tumse shaadi ko karega. Kaya karu mein is ladki ka. Shaadi ke baad tumhare sasural Wale aise nahi rakhege jitne pyaar se humare ghar par ho. Waha jaakar kuch zimadari bhi nibhani padegi aur-"
"That's it mom!"
Oh no. The shaadi card. I groaned, rolling my eyes so hard I almost hurt myself. "Ma, mujhe shaadi nahi karni abhi! I just want my bangles!" I flopped onto the bed, flailing my arms like a damsel in distress. "Why is my life so hard?" Who will tell her now,....that I'm already married!
"Aur waise bhi Avyan toh hai na shaadi karne ke liye! Woh toh mujhe princess banakar rakhege" I muttered, just enough to hear it only by myself.
She left, not before glaring at me for the last time and I looked down like a small kid whose just been shouted by her mother for not studying well.
A moment later, Ma appeared at my door again, hands on her hips. "Aditi, you're still not ready? How long will you make us wait? Tumhari wajah se sab late ho rahe hain!"
I sat up, pouting like a child. "Ma, I can't go without my bangles. What if someone asks why my outfit looks incomplete? Imagine the shame!" I gasped dramatically, clutching my dupatta for effect.
"Drama band karo aur kuch kaam karo," she snapped. "Aur haan, tum kabhi apni cheezein sambhalti kyun nahi? Who will marry a girl this careless?"
"Ma!" I whined, stomping my feet. "Why do you think I'll be homeless without a husband? I'm independent! And I also have Av-" I bit my tongue in frustration.
She looked at me scepticaly but then sighed.
"Haan, haan," she muttered, shaking her head as she walked out."I pity the poor soul who ends up with you!"
If only she knew. The "poor soul" she pitied was the same man she was excited to see tonight. My parents adored Avyan, but the idea of us being a couple would be a little too much for them to process right now.
"Why me?" I muttered to myself as I tore through the last drawer of my wardrobe. Just as I was about to give up, my hand brushed against a familiar clinking sound. There they were-my beloved oxidized bangles, hiding in plain sight.
With a triumphant grin, I slipped them onto my wrists and admired how they completed my look. My phone buzzed on the table.
The screen lit up with a call from my PA Avni. "Hello?" I answered, my voice steady despite my still-racing heart.
