Blinded by love

Chapter 25-Determined

Kabir drove us back home and all through the drive,my heart kept teetering between fear,joy and anger.It could be anyone but deep down my heart,I know that I wanted it to be Virat.In fact,I even prayed for it to be him.I promised myself that I'd forgive him if he has come back to get me,to love me,to hold me in his arms once again.By the next ten minutes,we reached home.My legs wriggled and whole body shivered so badly that Meghna had to hold me tight and take me inside.The house seemed so still and hushed.At first,I could see no one in the hall but as we walked inside,I could see them.My heart sank,my silent prayer had fallen on deaf ears.My parents were sitting on the sofa,sipping their cup of tea.Each of them were buried in their own thoughts,anger or longing(oh I just wish!).I stood rooted to the ground,unable to move.My dad and mom looked up at me,at the same time,as if it were all rehearsed.They have not changed,not the least bit.They still look the same.My dad,with his same old specs and mom,with her stern,expressionless face.There were times,when I thought they'd possibly be crying for their one and only daughter,asking apologies to my photos and spending  sleepless nights,searching for me in every nook and corner they could think of.But who was I kidding?Its my parents whom we are talking about.I don't know,maybe my dad regretted forcing me into something that I didn't like but my mom,she wouldn't have given a damn about where I went or why I went.She is only too obsessed with her own life,her job,her cooking duties and her happiness.She hardly cares about what anyone around her is doing.I wonder why she became a family women then?She could have just as well been single,doing her work all alone in an apartment in some corner of the world.

"So,this is why you left the house,is it?",my dad asked,walking to me and staring into my eyes.

"To enjoy your life,no matter how big a pain it can be to others.I thought you were so aspired about treated the tormented,but never thought you actually wanted to get pregnant.Why do you have to be a burden to everyone?How can you live such a shameless life,Aarthi?You could just as well die than live a life like this.You're a shame to us,to yourself and to everyone around you.Do you understand what you have got yourself into?You're unmarried,jobless,pregnant and living in God knows whose house.You could have just as well studied engineering and lived with us.",he screamed.

"Like a slave.",I said without a second thought.

Wiping away the tears that welled up in my eyes,I continued,"Don't sound like as if you brought me up like a princess and I,like a fool,left it all and came here.I'm happy like this,this way.Even if I'm pregnant,jobless,dropped out of college and unmarried,I don't care.I'm happy.I'm glad I took this decision,even now.I'd rather live like this,with people who love me for who I am than live as a puppet,nodding to your commands and living under your domination,studying something that I don't like and living a life of hell with not a single soul to care about me.",I shouted back,fully aware of what I was talking.

"You slut!How dare you talk to him like that!Mind your tongue and pack your dresses and come with us,RIGHT NOW!Did you hear what I said?",my mom clamored.

"Yes,I did and I'm NOT coming with you now or ever.You have NEVER EVER been my mother so don't pretend like you are one now."

My mom stood staring at me with anger itched on her face,while my dad stood dumb-struck.

"Oh...so you have that much guts,is it?Lets see....lets see what you make from your life with this vixen and crone.Lets....",she said,pointing towards nani and Meghna.

I don't mind if she says anything about me,but a word against Meghna,nani or anyone else who has helped me get here,they'd be damned.I don't care if they are my parents,these people are my family now and I can't take a single syllable against them.

"SHUT UP!That's your limit...!Hold your tongue or you have no idea what I'll do.I want you both out of here NOW!Don't ever ever come for me again.I don't want you!"