A LOVE IN A BUSINESS DEAL.

I was happy with my life. My parents loved me so much and treated me like a princess. I was the apple of their eye. Living happily in my own world, I was so unaware of the storm brewing just around my life. I was so unaware of the crises that my family was facing. I was so unaware that one single eavesdropping will lead to a whirlwind in my life and uproot everything that I have built up until now. I was so unaware that my father's one wrong move will cost me my life.

I had just entered the house that more or less looked haunted. It was dark everywhere. Somewhere in the living room I could hear that distinct tick-tock...tick-tock...tick-tock of the wall clock. That reminded me that my life has changed, that the times have changed and I am no longer the same person that I was yesterday. It brought fresh tears to my eyes but I blinked them away. Now is not the time to fall weak, I chastised myself.
This is so wrong, I don't even know him, I had bellowed at the top of my voice.
You can't do this to me, I am you own child, I had said.
That man has a year old fucking child Father! How can you expect me to ignore that and marry him? I had exclaimed.
But all that fell to deaf ears.
My mother had been crying helplessly in a corner. I could see the despair in her brown eyes due to her inability to help her own daughter. She couldn't do anything.
I can take care of myself. Don't you worry! I am your daughter mom. You take care of yourself and dad. I will be fine, I had said to her trying to smile through my tears.
I shook my head to clear these thoughts out of my mind. I looked around the dark empty house once again and willed myself to remain strong and face these new unknown demons that have suddenly appeared in my life.
I told myself, rather harshly, This is my life now and I am going to make the best of it.