Storm of throes

Chapter 3

A week passes by in a jiffy and I am still stuck back on the day when Kavya screamed at my father.Later that night,my father quietly walked into my room while I was lying down with my eyes closed.I don't know if he knew that I wasn't sleeping but he just came and brushed my hair aside and whispered a sorry before he kissed my forehead.That made my day,really.My parents aren't really the meanest but they usually go insane in some issues.Otherwise,I think they love me and I love them so much,nonetheless.We may not make the perfect family but we surly are the best example for love and sacrifice.We fight,we forget and we re-unite before we even know it.Though he fight gets pretty bad and violent,I'm glad we are not one of those families where one gets out of the house and doesn't return back for days together.Yes,even this environment hurts me too bad that even after so many years I'm not able to accept it but what I console myself by saying is that it isin't even worse,at least.Sometimes,we have to look at what is worse than our situation to gain some courage and control over life.

"What are you staring at?",Kavya taps the desk and distracts me from the blank gaze at the file in front of me.I look up at her and see that she is already ready to go.I frown at her and she shoots me a questioning look.

"Where are you going?",I ask,bending forward anxiously. We are handling a huge and important project and she can't be going out on a date at this time.She rolls her eyes and looks back at me,without bothering to reply.When I don't react too,she says,"Where am I going?For Lord's sake,that man is coming to see you today.And we have to get going so we can have you all dressed up to meet your mystery man and sweep him off his feet." I tap the desk in frustration and frown at her as I stand up to defend myself.

"You don't have to tell anything.Now why are you looking at me like that in the first place?You agreed for it,didn't you?What is the problem in just seeing him.You can still say no if you are not interested but first give him a chance.",she reasons out,taking my handbag from the desk.She sounded right,sensible.Well,even if she doesn't sound like that,she has somehow convinced my brain that she was right.No one has as much influence on me as her. I bite my lips and think but she drags me with her before I could respond.

"We have to inform our manager.",I say and she says that she has already got his permission."What did you tell him?",I stop midway.She looks back at me in mock anger and drags me with her forcefully without telling anything.in less than fifteen minutes,we were home.I notice Kavya keeping an eye on me wherever I went.

"Why are you watching me like a hawk?",I frown at her,just as she comes screaming for me into the kitchen,where i was making mango juice for all.She smiles sheepishly and hands me a pair of earrings.

"This would get along with that saree.Try it," I ignore her and walk back to my room to finish off the book that I am struggling to read for the past four months. "If he doesn't like me like this..",I point to my kurta,"...then,I don't think I need him." She throws her head back and laughs and right that second,my father enters my room.After that day when he slapped me,things weren't too bad nor too good between the two of us.We have just been minding our own business and carrying on with our routine. It was Kavya who told me the very next day after that incident,when they have arranged for the meet.

"Has she not changed yet?" ,my father asks her.I just sigh and concentrate on the book."yeah uncle,she'll be ready in a few minutes.Why do you worry!".

"I'm not dressing up for anyone.I agreed to meet him only for the sake of you people.Why do I have to dress in the first place?After marriage,he is going to see me like this only right!Then what!?",my father scowls at me angrily but I ignore it and look at Kavya,who is trying so hard to keep her mouth shut but ultimately fails in the end.

"Come on,uncle!She has almost agreed to marry him.Just see how much she is thinking about the future with him.",she jokes,earning a playful slap from me.To my surprise,my father laughs and leaves the room after tapping Kavya on her shoulder. I then go to the bathroom to wash my face and that is when I hear the sound of people jabbering near the doorway.Wiping my face which is dripping with water,I go to the hall,trying to escape from the sight of the bunch of people who had arrived.But they see me just as I enter my bedroom,which is to the left of the doorway.I don't even understand how I thought I'd sneak into my room without getting caught. I flash the best of my smiles but I already see a slight disappointment in the faces of the few elderly people there.'Was it my dress or my just-cleaned face?',I suddenly get nervous for a reason which I couldn't figure out. I take a quick glance at everyone and one man,that one handsome man stops my gaze,turning all my attention on him.He had a nice-guy look and all sort of good manners were already itched on his face.There are some people who didn't have to act to prove they were good,they just have that look on their face.That look,which explained more than what their actions ever can.I rub the goosebumps that appear on my hands and smile shakily at him before rushing inside.