Back to India
"Young Miss? Is it really you?" Aunt Diya had been working here for such a long time. She was more like a family member than just a maid.
Seeing Sanaya Diya couldn't hold onto her tears. She quickly hugged her and cried out, "You are finally back. Miss, we all missed you so much. How have been these past two years?"
"I have been good. How have you been?" The first she met after coming back here was Diya but she was eagerly waiting to see the one person whom she was so desperate to meet now.
"Diya, who's it... San." Hearing the familiar voice tone as Sanaya twirled her head, she saw her... Her mother. Without wasting any time she ran to her mom's hug. "Maa." On the way to her home from the LA she had thought of meeting her parents first, she missed them so much.
"San, it's you. You are finally back, my dear."
The home she had once left knowing there was less possibility of her coming back here... Sanaya somehow couldn't feel that warmth from this house anymore. One by one Sanaya met her father, her best brother Kunal and all the other members of the family except one person. Though Suraj and her cousin sister didn't bother to show any excitement about seeing her again.
When everybody was delighted about her coming back, they wanted to celebrate it Sanaya looked around as if she was looking for someone.
"Are you looking for your grandpa? San." Hearing her dad asks her so, Sanaya bobbed her head and grinned, "I don't see him here. Is he not at home?"
"Ahh, he might went to..."
"Ohh, he is here..."
Sanaya glanced in the direction her dad denoted and saw her grandpa standing still. As her eyes went on the people standing behind him, she clenched her fists. Wrath surged through her vessels, she could barely keep calm.
"Oh, Virat is here too. What a pleasant surprise!" Suraj sounded excited all of a sudden. Even when his sister came back, he was not that enthusiastic.
"Yeah, he couldn't stay away from when he heard our daughter had been back. He is such a Romeo..."
Sanaya heard the female members of her family laugh. But the more she saw Virat, the more intolerant she was becoming. Her patience had a limit.
Sanaya aspired to go back to her room. If not for her mom to stop her, she would have gone to her room already.
Sitting on the chair when everyone was chatting and laughing Sanaya was playing with the fork. Many eyes were on her only.
"Everyone, I have important news to announce." Her grandpa announced so. Everyone was eagerly waiting for him to announce except her. She ate a spoonful of food and just when he was about to say something she wheezed.
If it was before she would never think of doing that because there was a strong rule and she would get scolded later but now? She didn't give a d*mn!
"In the..." Her grandpa stopped talking and he stared at her coldly. Coughing Sanaya stared at Diya and dished, "Aunt, can you pass me the glass of water please?"
"Ahh... Sure, Miss." Diya looked at the people there and she enacted a glass of water to Sanaya nervously. True to say, they were kinda shocked to see Sanaya interrupt her grandpa like nobody dared to do that in so many years.
Drinking the water in one go she looked around as if she noticed what she did. Sanaya giggled awkwardly and blurted out, "Ow, sorry. What were you saying?"
"San." Sanaya saw her mom gesture at her and tell her to keep quiet but she didn't care. She kept glaring at her grandpa.
The old man in his sixties declared openly in a tough tone of voice, "In the next seven days, Sanaya and Virat will get married. You all start making arrangements..."
"What? Seven days? Isn't it too early?" Family members started gossiping but the old man didn't say something. He gaped at Virat who was seated next to Sanaya and then blab, "Virat, are you ok with this?"
Virat grinned like a snake and replied, "Yes, grandpa." More like he blushed.
"Then it's settled. In seven days..."
"Dad, shouldn't you also ask Sanaya? No, I mean..." Her uncle bowed his head as the old man gaped at him coldly. Feeling kinda proud the old man proclaimed in a heavy tone, "She is a girl, why does marriage need her opinion? Since Virat is ok with it, we will go with that."
Sanaya heard him. Right, since her childhood women's opinions didn't matter to him. She had always suffered and it should be enough. She was no longer gonna let people decide for her.
Nobody could say something like the head of the family already made his decision. Everyone was looking at her with a sad expression.
"Everybody do as I said. From today, start..."
Suddenly the old man was interrupted. Sanaya took another spoonful of food and asked, "How many months."
"What how many months?" As the old man questioned Sanaya gazed at him. For a whole minute, she didn't blink. Before she never dared to look straight into his eyes but now... Everybody could feel her changes. As if she didn't fear him anymore.
Sanaya turned her head towards Virat and smiled at him. "I can't marry him until some months pass. Am I right? Virat."
Hearing her suddenly Virat seemed astonished. He saw the cold gaze of hers fixed on him. Virat quickly looked away and asserted, "Two months. Right, we can't get married till two months passes. Sorry grandpa, I forgot to tell you that I have some issues so..."
"Ohh, it's ok. Take it easy, Virat." Seeing Virat startle again, Sanaya's dad said so. Virat smirked at him and then gazed at her.
"Two months? Didn't you say you wanted to..."
"No, I... I mean it's ok to get married two months later. It's only two months, grandpa."
Now, not only she but Virat also interrupted thee, old man. Interesting! Everybody could tell that something was wrong with Virat. He seemed to be scared for some reason or as if he listened to Sanaya more.
"Fine, then I will give you two months." The old man agreed but he seemed dissatisfied with Sanaya. Seeing her eating and not doing anything when Virat seemed to choke on food, he announced, "Sanaya, did you forget all your manners after going to the USA? Virat choked on food, and pass him some water. It's your responsibility to take care of him, he is your would-be husband."
'Would-be husband' the words echoed in her ears. Until now she was eating silently but as she heard the two words she suddenly put the fork and spoon in her hand on the table, making loud noises.
Sanaya stood up and her mom asked, "Where are you going? You haven't finished your lunch, San."
"I don't have an appetite anymore. I am full." Saying so she walked upstairs, not giving an ear to her grandpa when he was saying something more like he was scolding her for not obeying him. Walking upstairs Sanaya could still see them having lunch.
Sanaya had her fists clenched as she gaped at her grandpa and Virat. 'My husband is sleeping in the hospital bed and you want me to get married to another man. Fine, let's play the game. I will teach you you can mess with anybody but not me. Don't blame me for being rude. There's much more you will see, just wait.'