STAND BY ME!!

Best friends

Ambily's POV
"Ok....we'll monitor you for another day and you'll be ready for discharge " I had just finished my daily rounds in the wards when suddenly Rhea stromed in.
"I wanna talk to you.... Come with me NOW" she almost shouted.
"Well... Good morning to you too" I said with a mischievous smile. "I'm being serious here! "She exclaimed angrily.
"Cool down girl....why are you grumpy early in the morning? Go to the cafeteria I'll be there in 10 minutes." She just shrugged her shoulders.
"NOW. MEANS. NOW." she said emphasizing each of the words separately.
"Fine... Come let's go."

Rhea is my best friend. We've been friends from the 5th grade... Actually we had even planned to open our own hospital, have husbands who would be best friends just like us and live as neighbours... Always.
She was the only one who knew all my secrets and I knew all her crushes. She was sweet and a very loving girl....very stubborn! No one could ever win an argument with her. I really liked her very much... Well, the fact that we're best friends justifies that.

I had to literally run behind her as she was walking too fast. "What's wrong with her?" I wondered.
"God.... does she already know that I'm not coming for the camp?
Ohhh.. No.....now you are dead Ambily! I mean literally she'll grill me."
"How can you break your promise???" She started as soon as we entered the cafeteria.
I had promised her I'd go for the medical camp to be held at a small village outside the city. I knew dad would never let me.. I just told her so she wouldn't nag me the whole day.
"Hey.... Cool down. I can explain."I said feeling awkward since all the people in there were staring at us.
" Yes ....I'm waiting." She said looking fully attentive.
"‎You know my dad.. Right??? He will never allow me for that camp."
‎"But.... You said you'll come. And it's your dream Ambily. Don't you remember? "
" ‎Yes, I do.... Bu.. "
It was one of my three wishes....my goals of life. Firstly, I want a medical degree to make my parents proud. Second is to save lives so that I be proud of myself and the third and most important is to change someone's life ....to make someone live....aaaa.....how should I put it??? Yeah.... I want to be the light in someone's darkness.
" This is the only chance you have got to fulfill your wish ." her voice broke my thought.
‎"You won't get this opportunity again."she said looking sad.
"‎Dad won't allow ..." I knew him very well.
‎"Your dad! .... Does he even think for your happiness? " She was now for sure, frustrated.
" ‎Rhea... " I gave her a death glare.... How could she say that.
‎"Sorry...but he has controlled your life for too long. He doesn't think about you, all he thinks about is your family reputation."
" I know... But he allowed me to get enrolled here and pursue my dream of becoming a doctor."
‎ "Instead he asked you to stay away from guys.. Never date anyone ." she told me the truth which I already knew... That was my dad's condition for me to let study here.
‎"If he has given you one thing, he... he has taken away the other ......isn't it that way? "
I just nodded. She was right. Dad has controlled my life ....always.
" ‎But whatever he does isn't it for my own good??" I said.
‎"Now I don't know what to say.
Atleast take a chance, go and ask him...we'll see what your destiny holds for you."she started again after thinking for some time.
‎ ‎"Hmmm.... I'll try." Yes, I was ready to give it a try.
"‎You should! "at last she smiled.
" Would you like me to accompany you???" I knew she was joking.
‎"Of course no..I can't handle two hardheaded people at the same time ...
e‎specially when the second one is already half crazy." I said laughing a little.
‎"Ahh.... " she was confused now.
"‎OK... Can we get back to work ??"
‎"Yeah sure....but can we have coffee first? "
‎"Never say no to coffee " we both laughed at the same time.
‎-------------------------------
‎Now it was time for me to talk to my parents .
For the last 5 minutes I've been standing outside our main door and preparing myself. Suddenly my phone started ringing.
" ‎Hello? "
"If you don't go inside how are you going to talk to them??"
Rhea!!!!How did she know? I looked around to see if she was there.
"Wait .....how do you know that I'm standing outside... Are you following me.. by any chance?"
I asked getting suspicious.
"No my love... I'm your best friend and I know a bit too much about you."
I knew she was smirking.
"Aaa... Ok OK." I said laughing.
"Now just go inside... And don't you think of running from this situation..."
She said in an angry tone.
"Okkkk fine... Now shall I ?"
"Yes please... Call me with a good news."
I hung up the call and rang the bell.
Mom opened it for me.
"Hi mom. ..."
I greeted her giving a side hug.
"Hii sweety. "
she said with a broad smile.
"Mom.....whe...where's dad??? "
I said with a nervous look.
"He's upstairs in the reading...why... Something wrong? " she asked getting worried.
"N.. No... Na.... Nothing."
Ohh god!! I stammered again.
"What's the matter? " Mom asked.
"Mom.. Do you remember last month I told you about the camp in the village? "
"Yes... " she said listening further.
"Mom, I wanted to go there... For the camp."
I said almost closing my eyes.
"And you think your father is going to allow you? " Mom knows my dad very well. Sometimes I think they both hide something from me.
My parents love me so much but they never support me when it's about me going out and living life like a normal adult.
"No mom.. But we can talk to him... Right??? "
I asked her doubtfully.
"Sweety.. I don't want you to get hurt when he says no. So let's just drop the topic right now."
"Mom please... "I pleaded.
"Ok...but be prepared for whatever happens."
"Hmm... "
Soon both me and mom were standing outside the study.
"All the best."
mom wished me showing her thumb up.
"Umm.. Thanks ."
'ehh.... Ambily courage..gather courage.'
And we both entered together.
Dad was sitting on his armchair. He greeted us and told to sit on the sofa.
"Something important?" he asked trying to smile.
"Yes... No.... "We both answered at the same time.
"Well... The person who said 'NO' has to answer now."
he said raising his eyebrows and staring directly into my eyes.
"Dad.... I...I.. wa.. Wanted..... to... " Stammering.. Ambily be strong... But he's so intimidating.
"Dad I wanted to ask you if I can go to the camp which is supposed to be held outside the state in a small village where people are suffering very much and I want to help them it's the last thing I'm asking you so please allow me."
I said rambling all my words without a stop.
Ambily you're dead ...any last wishes. I closed my eyes.
*Silence*
I knew dad was trying to figure out what I just said.
I opened my eyes to see him smiling and my mom was giving me a sad smile.
What just happened??
"Ok... You can go for the camp." Dad finally spoke.
"Wait... What... Really did he just say yes... No I'm dreaming."
I pinched myself
"Ouch!!! It hurts ... " Remind me to never do that again.
"Really dad????" I was so happy... My mind was doing a happy dance right now.
"Really.... "He simply replied.
"Thank you so much dad I..... I... " I was smiling like an idiot.
"Yes... You're allowed to go... But.....
I have a condition."
Here comes the bomb... My smile left as soon as I heard him.
‎"When you return, you have to marry Peter. " he said getting serious.
‎"What???... No way dad I will never do that ."
Peter Montero is the son my dad's colleague.
We know each other since we were kids but he was never more than a friend for me.
Marrying him will be the death
‎for me.
He's really irritating.
Always showing off his luxuries.
" ‎Choice is yours my love.
You either marry him when you return or you marry him anyways."
He said with a straight face.
‎"Dad you can't do this to me ..you've always been controing my life and I always obeyed you. ...but you can't tell me whom I should marry.... "
I said in my angry tone.
He's really impossible. I never said no to him but marrying someone without love... Can't happen.
" ‎I'm your father...whatever I do is for your own good ."
he said with more anger .
" ‎I know... but marriage should be my choice, dad! ."
It was getting really irritating.
" ‎I don't love him dad. " I explained my reason.
" ‎Sure you don't... But you will learn to love him....sooner or later..
I don't want to hear anything now.
Go sleep. Tomorrow is your engagement."he just ordered me.
" ‎No.... I will never do that...
Mom please tell him."
I said looking at my mom who was quiet for the whole time . She was very sad but didn't say anything.
So this was the thing they were hiding from me.
Mom... She knew all of this.
‎"My decision is final!"
Dad said in his commanding voice and I ran out of the room wiping my tears.
****-----****----****
Please vote
And comment.
‎