"You must marry her."
After hearing those words my world came crashing down.
Who would've thought
That I would become just another investment for my father's business, an unwanted burden he no longer needed.
•••••
A ta...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Archit
"Archit, you put baking soda in the dal instead of salt!"
"Take some more." My mother-in-law said making me gulp. "No, I am full au-" I paused. Maybe, aunty will be a little too rude. I glanced at Priyodorshini who was standing by the dinning room door, glaring at me like I had just grown two horns. But, what if Priyodorshini doesn't want me calling her mother ma. "I think I'm full." I said. "Are arektu khao." Priyodorshini's mother said...clearing faking a smile. [Translation: Take some more.] For some odd reason, I could tell her smile wasn't genuine. I forced my lips into a smile. "No thank you Aunty." I said watching my mother-in-law's smile falter for a little while before disappearing completely. "Don't call me aunty." She said. "Then what should Archit call you dida?" Priyangshu asked while looking up from my lap. My mother-in-law widened her eyes. "You shouldnot refer to him by his name." She said to Priyangshu. "It isn't his fault." I said smiling. "It is just Priyodorshini hasn't told him what to call me yet." I said.
I felt frustrated, Priyodorshini and I, we have been married for almost a year now. Yet, our relationship hasn't progressed at all. It was like we were still stuck at point zero, the starting point. I wish I could romance my wife like a normal husband. Maybe cry in her arms, smile with her, joke with her, tease her. But, instead all I get is an alliance. Not a marriage born out of love, just an allaince of convenience. "I'll get up now." I said. Priyangshu hopped down from my lap. I went ahead, washed my mouth, "I feel sleepy, I am going to go take a nap." I announced before leaving to go to Priyodorshini's room. We were going to stay over at her mother's tonight, it was jamai sasthi afterall.
I walked upstairs, went to Priyodorshini's room and lied down on her bed. Since I am the guest today, might as well just sleep on the bed. My back hurts from sleeping on the floor all the time. Honestly, I wish I could just run away from these shackles binding me back, just disappear from the Earth's lap, just disappear and never come back.
A tear slipped down my cheek.
Why did my life have to be like this? Messed up childhood, friendless, falsely accussed, no one believed me. And now an unhappy marriage. Why? I am sick and tired of playing good all the time. The one making sacrifices. The one making peace. The one apologising, even if it isn't my fault. I. Am. Sick. And. Tired. Why? Why? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY!
●●●●●●●●
"Look, it's that guy."
I could hear the whispers. I tried to ignore them. Lowering my gaze towards the ground, I kept on walking. "What did he do again?" I walked faster. "Don't you know what he did?" I could feel my eyes watering up. I just wanted to scream that I had done nothing wrong. But, what was the point of all that now? No one would believe me now. The evidence against me was too strong. "I did hear. But, I forgot." I bit my lip and walked faster. "He sent nudes to a senior and kept harassing her!" I walked faster. "Chi!" [Translation: Ew!] After what felt like an eternity I finally reached my classroom. I took a seat in the last row. I kept my gaze lowered, I was trembling badly cause of anxiety.
