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~Author's POV~
The same night
Rathore Mansion
"Okay okay fine. I will not make you sleep until she comes. At least stop crying Aru" a lady said consoling a girl who was sobbing continuously asking "When will she come? When will she come?"
"Aru she has a lot of work na. You should sleep now. You can meet her tomorrow before your school okay." Her mother stated but she became sadder.
"Aru come let us eat ice cream." A boy in his early twenties said holding her hands and she finally stopped crying. He picked her in his arms and took her to the kitchen, then made her sit on the counter.
"Bhai when will she come?"
"Why are you so excited to see her today? Usually you sleep. Hai na?"
(Don't you?)
"Why won't be she?" a voice interrupted their convo as a woman in her late twenties entered into the kitchen carrying a huge teddy bear which was covering her face.
"Dida" the little girl shouted and jumped from the counter.
(Dida is basically a revised version of Didi which means elder sister)
"Arey" the boy exclaimed. "Nice now teddy bear is here so no need of me." He crossed his arms.
"Yes Shaan bhaiya we do not need you." The woman said mimicking a baby's voice and handed the stuff toy to the girl who giggled happily.
"Oh so this was the reason she was crying. Matlabi log" the boy said hitting the little girl's head slightly.
(Selfish people)
"Oye, do not say anything to my baby. Anyways, Shaan, you have your college tomorrow. Why are you still awake?"
(A/n : Do you remember Shaan from chapter one? Yup, he is the little brother mentioned there)
"Because you are still awake" said Aru's mother from behind.
"Shreya, it's okay to be late due to your hospital work. But, what was the need to roam around the whole city at night to find her the exact teddy bear she saw in her cartoon show?"
"It's okay bua." Shreya replied passing a smile and carried Aranya, her cousin in her arms.
"Dida, now go rest. You have been awake since 5 today." Said Shaan, her younger brother. She hummed and they all left from the kitchen.
She got freshen up and went to meet her mother who was as usual waiting for her in the garden. She went and hugged her from the behind.
"Aa gaya mera baccha" Kavya, her mother caressed her hands. She then sat beside her on the bench. "So, how was your day?"
(My child came)
"Wonderful. All the patients were handed well. No deficiency of instruments. Staff was functioning well. I didn't skip meals. Myra and I visited a hospital for an operation and that's all." Shreya asserted describing her that day's chores.
"And?" "What?"
"I mean why are you so late today?"
"Arey nothing, I went to the market while returning. I had to bring some essentials for myself."
"Well tried. Now tell me the truth." Kavya said passing her a glare as she understood she was lying.
"Ummmm Maa I just bought a stuff toy for Aru. That's all."
"Great. First work whole day in your hospital and then spare free time completing your siblings' demands. How many times have I told you? No need to go overboard and spoil them." She hit her head playfully.
"Haww" Shreya's mouth hung open.
"What hawww?" Kavya said copying her expressions. "Jab shadi karke chali jayegi tab kon demands puri karega inki?"
(Who will fulfill there demand when you would go away after marriage?)
"No no no no. I am not going anywhere. No matter how much you try." Shreya said giving her a side hug.
"Saying this, you rejected seven worthy proposals. Now be serious. Life is not meant to be alone. It might be feeling good now to be with your family but after some point, you need someone who belongs to you, just you. You would not love sharing him with someone. You need someone baccha. I am trying to make you understand this par nahi meri baat toh maanni hi nahi hai" Kavya said throwing her hands in the air and got up.
(But no you never listen to me)
"Okay now go sleep. And yes, when your father brings up another proposal, don't come to me whining and saying you are not ready and all. I won't be able to convince him again."
"You go, I will go after sometime. Good night" She waved at her mother and rested her back on the bench looking at the night sky.
She looked at the full moon shining brightly among the stars which decorated the enormous sky like pearls.
She was lost in the beautiful view when her phone ringed and she answered with her drowsy voice. "Kya hai yaar" she said half asleep.
(What's the matter man?)
"Hey tomorrow we have to visit a hospital. I have sent you details. Tell me if you are available or I take someone else with me." Myra said from the other side with a voice filled with urgency.
"Relax Myra!!! Breathe. I will come with you."
"Thank god mannnn. Warna fir se uss khadoos ko leke jana padta" She said sighing.
(Otherwise I would have to take that rude person with me)
"Itna bhi khadoos nahi hai jitna bolte ho toh tum sab" Shreya said and sat on the bench getting up.
(He isn't even that rude as much as you guys state)
"This. This is why he is behind you. Stop supporting his idiot behavior. Stop being a people pleaser. Paaleeeeez" Myra whined.
"You know I can fire him in one go if he dares to do something in front of me. But he hadn't said anything to me, how can I do that?"
"Then he better ask you out quick or I will kick him out of the hospital."
"Leave him, how's Maheer bhai?" Shreya asked digging her head in her knees as she was extremely tired now.
"What's with him? As always, he is cool and crazy busy in his work all the time." Shreya felt a pinch of hesitation in her voice.
"What happened?"
"Ummm his family is coming to my home next week for the marriage proposal"
Hearing this, Shreya's fatigue vanished and she got up jumping in happiness. "OMG that's so cool. Idiot, why are you hesitant about it? It's obviously going to be a yes. I know your family knows about you both and they even like bhai"
"I know Shreya" this time her voice felt sadder as if she tried to hide multiple emotions within. "Myra, is there's anything wrong?"
"Yes, there is. There is a lot wrong. I want to see you happy. I want to see you happy with someone. But you are stuck Shreya. How can I live my life peacefully when you are all along entangled by storms inside your heart?"
Shreya could not speak further and just stared at the ground. Her eyes got teary but she looked up to hold the tears and cleared her throat.
She proceeded to speak with a fake smile but immediately dropped it realizing she was on a voice call so there was no need to pretend.
"Myra, let us talk about you both. Why to spoil such beautiful moments by discussing about such crap? So tell me, what did you plan to wear that day? I will get you ready okay." She said first in a serious tone then turned her voice in an excited mode to change the topic.
"Excited about my wedding?"
"Of course why would I not? Listen I would be the main bridesmaid. End of discussion. And choreography, yes all dance choreography will be done by me. You won't stop me okay." She said in one go waiting for Myra to reply but she kept silence.
"Myra" she called. "Ho gaya drama?" Myra replied making Shreya shut.
(Done with you drama?)
"Accha ek wedding gift chahiye, degi?" She asked at which Shreya instantly replied. "Why not? Ask whatever you want. Don't care about money. It's a one-time thing. Let it be expensive."
(Okay I want a wedding gift, will you give?)
"Yes, it is definitely expensive. But I feel you won't be able to give me."
"Come on. Myra. You know I can do anything for you. Just tell me once."
"Move on" and the call went silent for straight five minutes.
"What happened? Is it too expensive?" Myra said breaking the silence but got no reply.
"Shreya, please. Enough of your drama of not being interested in marriage and all. Why don't you just accept that you are still stuck there? Why don't you try to move on? If not for yourself, at least try for the people around you. For me. I can't see you suffering like this. What life is this? Working endless hours and taking care of everyone. Who is there for you? I want someone to make you his priority. I don't want you to spend your whole life serving others."
"I didn't want to tell you all this but whenever I am with Maheer. I always think about you. I feel I am betraying you. I don't know why but I feel doing something very wrong with you. Maheer is also not happy with this. We want you to be contended. We can't see you like this. You were the reason I met him. I found the most important person of my life because of you but I can't Shreya. I just can't like this." Myra ended the call almost sobbing.
Shreya got up and threw her phone on the wall. It broke into multiple pieces and the thud sound echoed throughout the lawn.
She went inside the mansion and climbed upstairs. Right, then straight, left and stop after fifteen steps. She stood in front of the wooden door. Like every other night, the door handle was eager to be held, twisted and allow the owner of the room to enter and spread her emotions all across.
She got inside. It was a huge space, not much occupied. Barely filled with some possessions like a speaker and a small cupboard fit at the corner of the wall.
The owner walked towards the cupboard and took out her weapons. Her weapons. The weapons which helped her control all her emotions, suppress her desires and not let the world know her inner turmoil.
She tied the ghungroos to her ankles and went to the centre of the room. There were red curtains all around and in the mid, stood the ill-fated woman with tears griming in her eyes.
Like any other night, she didn't need any melody or tunes to dance on. The sound of cracking coming from her broken heart was enough to make her fingers form the mudras and let her body jump and twist and twirl and fall.
Feeling the intensity of her emotions, even the nature was screaming pain and despair. Cool and sharp breeze was moving all around the room through the open windows which made the curtain flow and touch the body, actually the soul of the woman who was lost in the agony of her fate. Her broken fate.
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