"What do you mean I was gifted to you?"
"It is not good to eavesdrop but you heard it right. You are a gift that was forcefully imposed on me."
"Y-You... are.... lying..."
"Am I? You know what? Gift is a very fancy term for you. 'Trash' suits you be...
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10 years ago
Even after having fights with Dad every day and getting herself bruised black and blue, Mom couldn't get him to go to the police station to file an FIR against Lokesh Uncle. As for me, I was locked in my room for weeks because my parents were not able to control me.
After that dreadful day, I had escaped the house on multiple occasions and tried to go to the police, but Dad always caught me and dragged me back. Because of me, he was not able to go to his work and had kept Arman at home too as he was still afraid of Lokesh's warning.
He didn't care for me as it is, and even after learning what had happened, he didn't do anything. And whenever Mom tried to make him understand, he always reminded her of their son's safety and how all of them would get killed if they went against those bastards.
I couldn't understand why he was so afraid when we could take police's help. He didn't even allow me to be with Aru; he kept my brother in their room and invited my grandmother when he couldn't find any solution — I was really afraid because I knew that old woman wasn't fond of me, and I wondered what she would do once she arrived.
"Reyu?"
I opened my room's door and slid back in my spot near the bed. Dad entered my room, followed by Mom. Both of them looked down at me: while Mom's face was stained with tears, Dad was stoic. He clenched his fists when he saw the food plate untouched and some ants crawling over the dish.
He stooped to my level and raised his hand, but Mom stopped him. He scowled at her and told her that he wasn't going to hit me. I shrunk back and shook my head when Dad asked me why I didn't eat the dinner.
"Did you forget what I told you, Reyna?" he asked calmly.
I shook my head again. He sighed and glanced at Mom. After shouting at her unnecessarily, he turned towards me and warned me that if I kept acting stubborn, he would starve me.
"Do you think I am happy with seeing you like this?" He made a sad face. "I don't have any option, beta. I can't get my son— I mean our family killed. You are so smart, then why aren't you understanding such a small thing?"
I looked at him through tearful eyes. "Why me? Why are you punishing me when I did nothing wrong? Lokesh Uncle is the one who—"
"Don't start it again. How many times do I have to tell you that we can't do anything? If we go against them, we will be ruined. Do you want to see our dead bodies? Will you be happy then?"
When I didn't say anything, he got up and exited my room. I thought that he left, but he returned soon, and he was carrying Aru in his arms, who was deep in slumber. He put my brother in front of me and sat down beside him.
"You know how much your mother and I tried hard when we learned that we couldn't have any more kids after you? Arman is the fruit of our patience and prayers. If something happens to him, we will kill ourselves. What will you do then? Live alone? Will you like to see your brother's dead body? Speak, Reyna. Will you be satisfied only when we all die?"
