C7 F I V E

"I have asked you something Anahita. ANSWER ME!" Mr. Maurya roared making her flinch. All the courage seeped out of her and dissipated, she was left with her quivering self only. Anahita bounced back in fear and sobbed.

"Dad, I'm sorry. Dad please don't be angry. I was naive to not listen to you, dad I'm-Please forgive me." She wasn't meant to cry, sobbing occasionally but she was guilty to hurt him. Steeling herself, she hugged Mr. Maurya but he didn't. Disappointment in his eyes slayed her painfully.

"Were you running away?" He looked at her, his eyes were blank. His hands didn't curl around her frame.

Yes!! It's a simple one word answer to give but she couldn't speak when tears stung in her father's eyes. Something bit hard, ached deep in her heart. She lowered her head, worshipping his feet. Silent tears streamed down her eyes.

"Answer me Anahita!" And this time, she knew she was going to lose her family. Still looking down, she nodded. Silence again draped them and no sooner than that she felt a sting on her cheek and the force landed her on floor; it was the impact of thunder lightening slap bestowed by her mother.

"Why didn't you die the day I gave you birth?" Mrs. Maurya knelt on the ground and cried. Anahita rubbed her stinging cheek and trembled. Her eyes found her father who was staring at her with inexplicable gaze. Despite everything, she was highly ashamed and guilty.

"Alka! I think you should call off this wedding because who knows what had she done when she ran away with that guy?" Anahita's aunt commented scornfully, hugging her mother and casted a disgusting look on her as if she were a piece of shit.

"Yes. If she can run with her lover, it's not difficult for her to sleep with him vahini." Another one spit venom against Anahita, shamelessly disrobing her before her parents. Shocked, Anahita looked at them. Never in her nightmares she'd thought her aunts to talk shit. Just because she chose her happiness and ran away with her boyfriend, it didn't mean she was characterless and would sleep with him.

The blanched face of her parents and their taciturnity pinged that perhaps they were into the lies. What else have I expected? They always preferred everyone else over me. No matter what would I say he wouldn't believe me. It was useless to waste words when no one needed my explanation. I was characterless, granted. She remained silent letting them profane her.

"She never cared about family and our respect. Short dresses, late night parties..." Anahita curled her fist as her paternal aunt continued pointing out her lifestyle.

Does late night parties means one is characterless? Does short dresses mean one is sleeping around? She reckoned bitterly.

She again looked at her parents. They were ashamed. Their dropping head and lowered eyes showed that they clearly despised her.

"Enough!" Anahita bawled, standing up. If her parents were not going to silence the accusing words then she would. "How can you stigmatized my character just because I ran with my boyfriend. Will you please ask me why did I do that?"

Ignoring impugn glares of her Aunt, she snarled. "If dad had accepted him, no actually leave accepting.. If dad had at least consider meeting him once for my sake, I would not have to do this."

"Shut up Anahita, I don't want to hear a word from you." Mr. Maurya yelled and raised his hand on her, making her shudder. She sobbed at her father's gruffness. He was still not understanding, he was not caring why did she do that! He still didn't want to listen to her and that all made Mukund right in her eyes.

"Dheeraj, come along. We have to solve this issue with Chaitanya." Mr. Maurya ordered his brother and left the house. Numb, Anahita stood rooted to the ground but 'Good for a girl like her' comment made by her aunt, did it. She grabbed the jug and emptied it whole on Aunt's head. Her aunt's surprised screech fed her inner beast.

"You've gotten so much fire inside you, Atya. I hope this little water will blow it out." Anahita smirked.

"Anahita! " Mrs. Maurya gasped. Everyone had their eyes bawled out, jaw dropped and she sprinted upstairs to her room, tightly clutching her fist to not let her tears fall. It is still my home and I would slay every head that would demean me.

***

Three hours passed by, since she locked herself in the room, pacing back and forth and chewing her lips for the anticipated news. She knew her dad, he would call this marriage off and it made her restless. Anahita was so alert to perk up ears on slightest noise outside. Mr. Maurya hadn't returned yet. Anahita was totally flummoxed with the ensuing news.

Sighing deep, she sat on the bed and picked up the family photograph on nightstand. She traced her palm over it, It was captured on her eighteenth birthday. Mr. Maurya and Anahita were giggling while Mrs. Maurya was moping because she was tired of telling Anahita to stand straight and she was always sticking her tongue out. Memories pasted smile on her face and ironically, tears spilled down. Suddenly her cellphone buzzed, it was Mukund calling her. She moistened her lips as a habit and picked up his call.

"Hey baby..have you succeeded?" His joyful voice came.

"Half done!" Anahita twitched her lips, dangling her legs.

"What happened?"

Anahita explained him the whole episode, occasionally receiving his fondles.

"I'm waiting for dad to come and you know what I've this strong intuition that...it's all finished."

"Don't worry, everything will be fine anu." Mukund consoled on the other side.

"But Mukund, you don't know my father. He will deflagrate me but won't cheat anyone for my good or for anyone's good. I'm sure dad will call off this wedding but what if he doesn't, I will be detenued for the rest of my life." She bantered dropping her shoulders.

"A man can alter his morals for his loved ones and you are his daughter. Trust me, your dad will definitely not do anything that would defame you and calling off this marriage will bring lots of accusation over you and your family. So relax! The marriage is on."

She gaped at her cellphone as if gaping at him. "How'd you know this? How can you be so confident about it?"

"I've seen this world and I know how it works baby. Anyways, just relax I'm sure you are getting married tonight."

Anahita rubbed her face, "This is all because of you and your that shitty job. I wouldn't have to marry Yuvraaj, Only if you had came to station on time."

"I am sorry babu but you know that I didn't have any choice." He apologised.

"It's okay but promise, you'll come soon. I mean if you are thinking of leaving me then I can-" She was beginning to give him earful when he intervened.

"Yes yes I know, if I am thinking of leaving you then you will lodge FIR against me. Don't worry I'm not thinking of it." He chuckled making her smile.

"Now bye, I'm hanging up because if that bitchy cousin of my dad finds out that I'm talking to you. She might rumour it as I'm pregnant with your child." Anahita smiled sadly, laughing at her.

"Take care and remember I love you. Okay! Bye." He reminded and cut the call, making her sigh. She stared at the photo frame again.

"I'm sorry dad, I'm sorry mom but I can't just ruin my life only because you guys want to keep your words. It's my life and I will live it in my way. I know my this decision has ruined my relationship with you guys and you have to face a little humiliation but it's nothing comparative to what I have to deal with all my life."

Tears pricked her eyes again and she sobbed, hugging the frame close to her chest. "I am the worst daughter, I accept it but I will not live with a person whom I don't love. I wish you could be a little understanding."

She wiped her tears as she heard footsteps.

Then there was a knock at the door. Anahita flung the photo frame on her bed and padded to open the door. Mrs. Maurya didn't bother to cast a glance over Anahita and moved past her with the big salver in her hands. Anahita furrowed her eyebrows at the salver.

"What is it mom?" She asked following her mom. Mrs. Maurya didn't answer her and called the beauticians inside who were still unnoticed by Anahita.

Taking her chance, Anahita removed the cover off the salver. The salver had Yellow Nauvari Saree, scintillating jewelry and Mundavalya.

"Get her ready and you have just thirty minutes for it." Anahita looked at Mrs. Maurya as she commanded the head girl and began to move out.

"Wait a sec..mom!" Anahita leapt to grab her mother's forearm, ignoring her glower. "Why thirty minutes?"

Her mom freed her hand and turned back to go but Anahita came and blocked her way, standing before the door. "I know you're angry but will you please tell me why have you asked them to adorn me in thirty minutes? Where is dad? What's going on?"

"Don't you know what's happening since you're the one who is the reason behind it?" Mrs. Maurya hissed at her. "You are getting married now. Now do me a favour and get ready."

"But mom, isn't the marriage scheduled in the evening? Why now?"

"Have you left any option for us? Rumors like these spread like forest fire and you know how Malini Tai is. What if they call off the wedding? Do you want to embarrass your dad more than you've already done?" Mrs. Maurya glared Anahita.

"Mom please don't blame me as if it were all my fault. Didn't I beg you to meet Mukund? Didn't I requested dad numerous times to at least try to understand me?" Anahita sniped, crossing arms belligerently.

"Mukund Mukund Mukund! This is all you chant day and night. What the hell does this guy has done to you? I'm afraid if whatever Misti said, was true." Mrs. Maurya fumed, making Anahita flinch. Tears brimmed in her eyes but evaporated from the fury that clouded.

"If you think that I am so impudent that I will neglect your teaching and values, there's no point in trying to shut up others because if you doubt your nurturing mom then I believe I've already lost everything and now," Anahita matched her mother's gaze, "I will say that yes, I have slept with him. Not just once but numerous times. Now what are you going to do? Will you get me married to him, huh?"

Mrs. Maurya gaped at her in shock, wondering if this was her daughter talking. "Look at your audacity! One slap, one tight slap you will have from me Anahita. I am not your dad to look over your crudity." Mrs. Maurya glanced at the girls who were watching the mother daughter duo with their jaw dropped. "Get her ready."

"I am doing the Right thing mom and with every passing second, you are just making me certain of it." Anahita laughed sarcastically. "Thank you mom for removing traces of guilt from my conscience."

Mrs. Maurya glared her but Anahita avoided her and turned to the beautician, "Have you been paid to gawk at me?"

The girls immediately looked away, passing Anahita the pious yellow Saree. Anahita changed into the Saree, dueling to drape it properly.

She pressed her lips and burbled with laughter, "Actually, I tried but couldn't drape it around me. Guess it is not my day."

"Don't worry." The head beautician smiled, taking charge. Anahita smiled at her. After a shitty day, the lady was one good thing to her.

"No...no...this red one. Yes, apply it." Anahita guided the girl who was trying shades of lipstick that would match her ocherous skin tone and would go best complementing her yellow Saree.

"This?" The girl eyed the Cherry red lip colour. Her eyes indicated that she wasn't very pleased.

"Come on, it will look good." Anahita insisted.

"Okay." The girl painted Anahita's lips in red, making then look kissable and sexy. Anahita was sitting before her giant Victorian dresser, attired in heavy, scintillating jewelry and bordered traditional Saree. Mundavalya dangling framing her face. Her curly hair were perfectly clutched in a decent bun and her face was caked with thick layers of foundation and cosmetics. Her doe like big eyes looked more voluminous with eyelashes extensions and double coating of charcoal liner.

Pleased at her attire, Anahita winked at her reflection and wore the big ruby studded nosering that rested upon her upper lip, slightly covering it with the diamond. So what if her wedding was a faux, it was a lifetime event and she wasn't going to give up on the opportunity of looking prettiest bride present on earth.

"How am i lookin?" Anahita wiggled her eyebrows looking at the girls through mirror.

"Sexy!" They giggled, making wow sign with thumb and finger. Anahita gracefully rose and grinned. "When I will remarry, I will contact you girls. You are sorcecer."

The girls gaped, "What?"

"Just kidding babes. Come on, let's take a selfie. Who wanna click a pic with the most beautiful bride." Anahita pulled them in a row and with that somewhat, fifty snaps were taken and uploaded on social media, flooding others with notifications.

"Look at her! She is giggling here and there my brother is almost sulking in guilt of having a daughter like her." Anahita averted her eyes at the sudden crash voice.