A Secret She Carried [REWRITTEN]

CHAPTER THREE

"You are not going to Delhi Sapna, and that's final." Dhanraj Raichand sneered slamming his fists on the polished mahogany desk, making her flinch in fear. "But Daddy, You promised me that you will let me do my MBA there." She protested her voice sore from crying. She had been having this argument with him for hours now.

"You are not going anywhere; I'm going to appoint a home tutor and you will be homeschooled like always. We will get you enrolled in the best University in the world and you will do your MBA through a distance education program. Just like we had discussed, do you understand?" he demanded.

"But Daddy you promised that you would send me to Delhi." Raichand just shook his head, "Look Sapna, we are not going to have this conversation again. You are not leaving this mansion and that's the end of the story. We can arrange for tutors if you want to study further." This was it, there was no way she could get him to understand that she was fed up of being homeschooled and wanted to get out of this hell hole which she called her home.

"Don't worry cupcake; we will hire the best tutor for you," Sidharth stated as he gently squeezed her shoulder to make her feel better. But she brushed his hands off her. "Don't touch me." she cried out as more tears rolled down her cheeks. "Listen to me Sapna-" but she shook her head, "You are my brother Sidharth, you are supposed to be on my side." She whined, making their father roll his eyes.

"Stop behaving like a child Sapna, and go back to your room." He snapped annoyed by his daughter's childish behaviour. "Sapna, we are doing it for your safety. Please try to understand." Sidharth pleaded, making her look away in guilt. This was what he always did, make her feel guilty. But this time she wasn't going to fall for it.

"You know what? I don't care." and with that, she turned on her heels and ran out of the room. She could hear Sidharth's voice behind her asking her to stop. But she wasn't stupid, she knew how manipulative he was, and she wasn't going to let him convince her to something she would regret the rest of her life. She was going to college and nobody was going to stop her; nobody.

Slamming the door of her bedroom shut, she hopped on her bed and covered herself with her blanket. She buried her face in her pillow and burst into tears making sure she cried as loudly as she could so that everybody could hear her. She didn't know what or how was she going to make her father understand that, for once she wanted to be a normal girl with a normal life. Why wasn't she born in a normal household where people had the freedom to go where they like?

That is a privilege she never had ever since she was a child. Hell, she wasn't even allowed to go to her backyard without one of the maids tailing her around. Why couldn't anybody understand that she didn't need to be taken care of, she was old enough to do her work and would rather be left alone then be hovered around by an army of maids?

"Open the door princess," she heard Samarth, her second brother's voice from the other side of the door. "Leave me alone!" she shouted angrily, wanting to get at least a few minutes for herself. "Nope, not until you let me in." he calmly replied. He knew how upset she was and he couldn't bear to see her like that. "Sam please," she pleaded hoping he would understand. But unfortunately, he didn't. "No, not until you tell me what's got you so mad."

Letting out a frustrated sigh, she finally got out of her bed and marched towards the door and opened it revealing a very concerned looking Samarth staring down at her. His lips curled into a small smile, "So what did the old man do to get you this angry?" he asked raising an eyebrow. "He refused to send me to college," she answered in a soft voice, as he let him in.

"Maybe he just doesn't want to let his little princess out of his sight." he said trying to lighten her up but she rolled her eyes, "But he had promised me that he will let me go to Delhi," she complained, making him laugh. "What's so funny? You were allowed to go to New York for college and so was Sid, and on the other side I'm not even allowed to go to college," she demanded glaring daggers at him.

He couldn't help but chuckle at her innocence; "What's so funny" she demanded. "It's because I'm a girl isn't it, tell me?" she demanded to make him grow silent. "Look," he began choosing his words very carefully, "There are things you don't understand, things that I'm not allowed to tell you. But one thing I will assure you that neither of it has anything to do with you being a girl." he replied. "What things are you talking about?

"Nothing, absolutely nothing," he answered with a smile still playing at the corner of his lips. But she was not convinced, "No tell me why I can't live a normal life? Am I some kind of a mutant or something like that?" she demanded. He let out a frustrated sigh, "Look I can't tell it to you now but I promise when the time is right I will,"

"Yes like that's going to happen right!" she hissed folding her arms before her chest pouting like a child. He gently ruffled her hair and replied, "Has anybody told you how adorable you look when you pout?" he watched her as her cheeks heated up and his smile widened. "But...you look better when you smile," he stated as he tugged the corner of her lips.

"You want to go to college don't you?" he asked as he watched her face drop. "I'll talk to dad. And don't worry, I will convince him to let you go," he assured me as he stared right in the eyes. "Promise?" she whispered once again making his smile go wide. "Promise."