MYRA'S POV

“What's your problem? You said you will drink in limit but you were stumbling around. Do you know how embarrassing that was?”

My mother's loud and angry shout echoed in the whole living room as she continued to scold my father who was leaning against the kitchen counter, staring back at her with red drunken eyes, not a single drop of remorse on his face. I had to drive us home from the wedding since he was in no condition to drive.

“Stop trying to insult me in front of my own kids!! You are overreacting.”

Yelled back my father, his loud shout made me flinch as I looked down. This is how most of our gatherings or ceremonies would end up like. I had already put Sanvi to sleep, plugging soft ear plugs in her ears, for I knew what storm was about to come. I had to stand there at the corner, making sure they didn't do too much harm to themselves.

“Myra come here.”

Ordered my father in a stern tone, I let out a sigh before taking slow steps in his direction whose head was swaying side to side as he found it difficult to keep himself stable but won't admit that he drank too much. The fight originally started when I again refused to marry.

“What's wrong? Why don't you want to meet this guy?”

His words slurred badly as he asked that question but I managed to make out what he said. My mother was fuming in fury looking at the condition of my father. I clenched my fist tightly as a lump formed at the back of my throat, unabling me to let my words out. How could I tell them that I am scared to marry because I don't want to end up like them?

“You are in no condition to talk right now. Kal mil legi vo Siddharth se, aap andar chalo.”

My mother said as she tried to grab my father's hand to drag him back to their bedroom but he jerked her hand off harshly and I gasped at the sight of my mother stumbling on her steps. I was about to move forward to grab her when my father shouted, his shoulder shook while doing so.

“Tu chup reh! Main apni beti se baat kar raha hai. Tera to kaam hi hai, mujhe badnam karna.”

“Mai badnam nahi kar rahi, Tum kaam hi aise karte ho..”

She yelled back, matching his furious state. Some more harsh and abusive words were thrown between the “Couple” while I stayed silent keeping my head down. I could feel tears forming in my eyes threatening to fall anytime but I controlled myself from crying out loud. It makes me feel disgusted when they cheaply curse at eachother like this.

Smash!!

I heard a loud shattering sound and lifted my eyelids up immediately only to find broken pieces of glass clattered on the kitchen floor, which my father broke. The sight made me feel sick to my stomach as I felt a tight knot twisting in my stomach. I bite my lower lips, digging my teeth in the dry skin enough to make them bleed. My father pointed his finger at my mother who was putting the left over food from the afternoon in the fridge and yelled.

“Bas karde tu!! Yaha to chali jaa vapis apne ghar.”

She remained silent, not giving him any answer. He then turned towards me and asked.

“Myra you tell me clearly now, Will you meet that guy tomorrow?”

“Yes, I will.”

I agreed because I knew if I tried to argue right now it would escalate the matter and I didn't want things to get worse than they already were. After hearing my answer he calmed down a little and started explaining to my mother that he isn't drunk since he was able to get me to say yes for meeting Siddharth tomorrow.

Only if he knew the real reason why I said Yes. My mother wiped her tears and finally dragged her husband to their bedroom while I let out a sigh of relief. I knew he would pass out the moment he placed his head on the pillow. Their bedroom door closed shut with a loud thud and I found myself standing all alone in the dark living room. A sob escaped my mouth and I quickly buried my face in my palms, not wanting to make too much noise.

It felt as if someone was ripping my heart out for how fast it was beating. Their shouts were still ringing in my head like a tape recording all over again and again. I sniffed and wiped my tears and bent down to pick up the broken pieces of the glass. Your home is supposed to be your safe place but this place felt nothing less than a hell. I get up everyday hoping, today would be different only for the night to always end in tears like this.

As I was picking up the small pieces of the glass, seemingly lost in my own thoughts. I unknowingly clenched onto a piece causing the sharp edges of the glass to pierce through my soft skin.

“ouch..” I whined.

The blood oozing out from my hand didn't hurted me until I realized that it was my right hand. Horror flashed in front of my eyes at the mere thought of not being able to go to my clinic and staying at this place called my “Home” due to this wound. I quickly got up, rushing to the kitchen's sink and put the bleeding scratch under the cold flowing water. Clenching my eyes shut, I whined slightly at the burning sensation but this was nothing compared to the havoc going inside my heart.

Tears once again welled up in my eyes making my lips quiver. I let out a sharp breath before taking out the first box and sat down on the couch to treat the wound. It was difficult to do the dressing from my left hand but I was used to doing things on my own no matter how hard they were. That's when, Siddharth Kapoor's face came clear into my mind.

No matter how much he annoys me or how much he makes my skin crawl from his presence, He still doesn't deserve a girl like me. Who won't be able to fulfill the duties of a wife. A wife is supposed to love and support her husband emotionally, spiritually and physically. I can't do any of those. The things I have seen, my legs would tremble badly while walking to my own wedding Mandap.

I don't think I can ever do that and if I tell him everything truthfully, Then I know he would never agree to marry someone like me.

Next day, 10. A.M

My eyes flutter open due to the shuffling sound coming from the kitchen. The moment I opened my eyes, My head spinned badly. It took me a few seconds to come back to my senses. Guess, I shouldn't have cried myself to sleep last night. The wound on my palm felt stiff, so I moved my fingers trying to get my blood circulation normal before going out of my room.

The scene of my mother pacing around the kitchen, making a number of different dishes with the help of Sanvi and my father measuring the living room with his fast steps, changing the pillow covers left me confused.

I blinked my eyes rapidly making sure it wasn't a dream. The aroma of delicious food spread throughout the whole house.

“Arey! Myra yeh koi time hai uthne ka? Jaa jaldi jaa kar ready ho jaa. Vo log aate hi honge.”

My mother spoke when she noticed me standing in the middle of the living room like a lost child. Her tone was hurried as she tried to get all the things done before time. That's when the severity of the situation hit me hard, the little sleep in my eyes ran away. He was really coming. Seeing me still standing, My mother facepalmed herself before scolding me.

“What are you waiting for? Go, get ready and wear the outfit I arranged for you.”

There was no going back now, I had already agreed to meet him. I nodded half-mindedly and rushed back to my room. Leaning my back against the lock door, I clenched my fist trying to calm myself down.

“Don't worry Myra. Just tell him the truth, He will refuse this marriage on his own.”

I tried to reassure myself and walked forward to see the outfit my mother had arranged for me. A baby pink coloured kurta paired with the same coloured pants and a golden slightly embroidered dupatta. I was sweating due to the nervousness, my palms were turning cold.

I could only pray for Siddharth to reject this proposal because if I do that from my side, It would cause another ruckus at my house. Anyways He won't agree to this marriage, after all he dislikes me right? Letting out a sigh for the nth time, I walked into the bathroom to take a bath.

SIDDHARTH'S POV

“Yes mom, I will behave. What do you guys think of me? I am not that bad okay!”

I tried to prove my “innocence” in front of my mother for the 100th time I think but she kept lecturing me about how to behave with a girl. There Poonam was laughing to herself while eating her breakfast, clearly enjoying seeing her older brother in trouble. I shoot her a glare, only for her to stick her tongue out at me.

“Siddharth. If you tried to over smart us, I am telling you it won't be good. Don't stare at her like an eagle okay? Keep your gaze and voice soft. Don't go and start behaving like her boss or something.”

My mother scolded me while holding a butter knife in her hand which she unconsciously pointed towards me. I let out a nervous laugh and raised my hands in surrender before speaking dramatically.

“Oh my dear mom, can you please lower that knife? Kyunki agar yeh chal gaya to aap kiski shadi me nachegi?”

She made an “O” sound and lowered that knife and continued buttering her toast. My father was lost in his newspaper and a cup of tea completely unaware of what was happening around him. At this hour in the morning, Noone can come between him and his newspaper, not even my mother.

After I was done with my breakfast, I strolled Vikram Bhai's wheelchair to the garden for him to get some fresh air since the doctor said it would be good for his brain. The light rays of sun falling on us in the slight coldness of the early morning felt soft like a feathery touch. I may not have time for anything else but I can never miss taking out at least an hour to spend with him.

“Bhai ek baat puchu?”

I asked in a soft tone while he hummed. I know, he may not be able to answer complex technical questions but he is my elder brother. The eldest among all of us siblings. No matter what the doctor says, I believe He could understand my emotions just like he used to, before that incident.

“How do I convince mummy papa that I am not fit for marriage?”

With a sigh, I came forward and kneeled down in front of his wheelchair. Placing my hands on his knees, I continued with my question while he looked at me with a smile.

“You know how papa loves mumma right? I can't do that, I just don't have that much time or interest in devoting my whole life for a single person.”

A smile formed on my lips when he placed his warm palm over my cold ones. He may not be able to say much but his mere presence is enough for me to feel like I am in a safe shadow. Parting his lips, he breathed out before speaking, his words breaking in between as he stuttered but I understood each and every word of his clearly.

“You…..w-will..be a ..good…husband..Sid…”

A lip tight smile danced over my dry lips, which I was chewing since morning trying to push back my nervousness. I just nodded and stood up to stroll his wheelchair in the garden for a few more minutes. It felt like something was churning inside my stomach, the last time I felt this anxious was when I had my high-school final exams.

Over the past few years, I have created a thick layer of confidence above all my fears or insecurities. That chunky rugged layer isn't easy to break through; Never in my wildest dream had I imagined that meeting her would pass through that outer layer and make my skin shudder in a weird sense of anticipation.

The moment I stepped my foot outside with my parents, I knew I would be back with her rejecting me because I would give her reasons to do so but still I couldn't control my heart to stay at it's freaking place, It feels as if it wants to jump out of my body and run somewhere else.

“Prakash, you took all the sweets right?”

My mother asked the same question to my father for the third time, wanting to make sure we are taking everything we need with us. I shook my head with a sigh. She looked really excited, it made me feel bad for what I had planned to do. I was about to open the driver's seat door when my father stopped me and said.

“I will drive, you sit back. The way your hands are shaking, you will probably hit the car in a wall.”

I frowned at his words and looked down at my hand, only to find my fingers shaking slightly. What the-, I cursed internally and quickly retrieved my hand, hiding it behind my back. Clenching my fist tightly, I tried to stop my finger from trembling.

“Get a grip on yourself Siddharth Kapoor.”

I spoke to myself and wasted no time in getting on the back seat. There is no count of how many board meetings I have led, the amount of media attention I handled without a single drop of sweat but Today I felt this nervous for the first time. Shaking off these useless thoughts, I looked outside the window to distract myself.

I will go, explain to her that I am not fit for marriage and convince her to reject me; This will be the last time I will ever meet her and then finally I can go back to my routine from tomorrow. I took out my phone and started scrolling through some work emails while my father drove us to her house.

It was a short drive of 30 minutes, this duration was short for a traffic loaded city like ours. With a sharp gaze and stiff face, I put my foot down at the front of their house which was decorated with flowers. We could hear various voices from inside which all calmed down, the moment Mom rang the doorbell.

All my nervousness was long gone, in this 30 minutes drive I had convinced myself that this meeting was nothing more than a formality that I was compelled to perform and who could know better than me about, how to perform your duty? That's what I have been doing for as long as I remember.

Within two minutes, An older lady around my mother's age opened the door and greeted us with a warm smile.

“Welcome.” She said.

“Oh no need for this formality Priyanka.”

Replied my mother and pulled the other lady in a hug. After a small talk, we finally entered the house. It was beautiful but I could feel the heavy air lingering around us, that made me a little uneasy. Going towards the expanded living room, I was shocked to see the man sitting there. He stood up to greet my parents while I stood there still, he was the same drunken man who I bumped into last night at the wedding.

MYRA'S POV

Sitting in front of the mirror, I clenched the cloth of my kurta between my trembling fingers and let out a sigh for the nth time, trying to calm myself down. I hardened my face and looked into my own eyes through the mirror.

“You will be safe, it will be alright.”

I assured myself and patted my back on my own. I was used to handling myself without anyone's help since my parents have been too busy dealing with their own issues. The door of my room opened as Sanvi stepped in.

“They are here Dii..”

I nodded at her giggly voice and stood up abruptly, feeling a sudden wave of confidence wash over me. Based on our previous interactions, I knew how to handle that arrogant man. If it has to be like this, So Be It.

While walking out of the room, I had my head held high and my gaze was sharp but all of that changed when I actually saw everyone sitting in the living room, talking. I gulped down as my palms again turned cold. I cursed myself internally when he was the first one to look up at me, upon hearing my footsteps.

“Why are his ears so sharp?” I mumbled to myself.

A smirk formed on his face seeing me get annoyed as he discreetly waved his hand at me and mouthed a “Hii..”

I just rolled my eyes in return but quickly changed my expressions when my father spoke.

“Oh look Myra is here.”

Everyone looked at me, at once, making me pass them an awkward smile as I stood there not knowing what to do. My mother stood up and was about to come to me but Mrs. Kapoor stopped her and came forward to me instead. I forced a smile at her, which turned real when she held my hand and squeezed it before whispering in my ears.

“Nervous?”

I nodded in response causing her to let out a small chuckle. Patting my cheek with her hand, she spoke. Her motherly touch immediately calmed down my nerves.

“Don't be, My son may look intimidating but I know he is also nervous from inside.”

She winked at me, making a cute face as if she told me a secret without realizing that she actually said those words out loud which caused Siddharth to choke on the coffee he was drinking. His cheeks got a red due to coughing and Mrs. Kapoor looked at him confused like she had no idea why her son got shocked.

The cute gesture of hers to make me feel at ease earned a hearty laugh from me. All my nervousness seemed to vanish for a few seconds until I realized my father's cold glare at me which made me zip my lips immediately.

“Okay okay now, let's sit down.”

My mother spoke, quickly changing the topic. I nodded at her words and was about to take a seat next to sanvi but Mrs. Sonali held my wrist gesturing me to sit beside her son. I blinked my eyes rapidly, confirming her request. Siddharth straightened up his already aligned back and shifted himself on the couch, making enough space for me. His mother tugged on my wrist once again, I passed her an awkward smile before taking a seat beside Siddharth.

I kept my legs closed and gathered my dupatta on my lap, not wanting to touch the man beside me. A sense of discomfort around us came back as everyone went silent for a second. Siddharth's parents sat right on the couch in front of us while my parents sat on our left side. Sanvi took a seat on a chair on our right side.

“Siddharth, why don't you have some snacks? They are fresh, I am sure you will like these.”

My mother broke the silence as she offered him a plate full of fritters, samosas and other snacks. My mouth watered at the crunchy snacks but I kept my mouth shut, since I and Sanvi were instructed not to eat anything until the guests leave. Siddharth shook his head, waving his head in dismissal as he tried to politely decline the offer.

“Uh..it's ok–”

“Arey waah Priyanka! How did you know? Siddharth loves samosa, right beta?”

His mother interrupted before he could complete his sentence. I could clearly see her glaring at him as if forcing me to eat the snacks through her eyes. Siddharth awkwardly nodded his head before picking a piece from the plate. I could see him struggling to eat it, his eyebrows scrunched up as he bit on it. He was just gulping it down without even chewing on it properly.

As much as I hate to admit, that sight of him eating like that was cute as well as funny. I had to put my hand infront of my mouth to hide the forming smile as I bite the inside of my cheek to control myself from laughing.

I was broken out of my trance when Mrs. Sonali spoke and I quickly removed my eyes from her son.

“Won't you have some Myra?”

Before I could even open my mouth to speak, My mother answered her on my behalf.

“Oh she doesn't like those. Myra doesn't like oily food.”

Well, That was a lie. I loved oily and fried food, especially Samosa. I forced a smile at her and looked away. God, why does the situation keep getting more and more suffocating?

“Oh then, why don't you have these Strawberries? Siddharth suggested that you will like them.”