Palki was sleeping silently in her bed. Archana entered the room. She knows her daughter is not having her nights properly. It's hurting her to see how much her daughter is crying.
" Piku beta.....wake up...see, ma bought you your favourite cupcakes”
But Palki didn't turn.
Archana gulped the lump in her throat.
" It's already been a week. Stop sulking beta.. I'm sure everything will be fine after your marriage”
Palki clenched her jaw. She sat up straight immediately.
" Stop manipulating me ma! I'm done. Since the day I have come here...you keep ranting everything's gonna be fine but look !! I have my engagement in two days now. And I'll marry that Aman after a month”
Palki broke into sobs.
She begged and cried to her father to not marry her off. But yet he fixed her marriage.
She can't forget the way he had pointed her out as a burden.
" Papa...i... I can't marry him. He won't let me work after marriage”
Vikas looked at her furiously.
He was humiliated so much after she rejected the proposal.
" Work ? Did you talk to him about job ? Did you ask me !!! I asked did you ask me ?”
Palki flinched hard. He was shouting so loudly.
" Ji...ji... please calm down”
" Calm down !? Look at what she has done Archana !! Is this why I had sent her to Delhi !”
Palki was shivering sitting on her place.
" Atleast find me someone compatible. I can't marry a person who wants to cage me in his house"
Vikas almost raised his hands on her. Palki looked at her father shocked, no matter what he had never done that.
" Please... please calm down...bachi hai”
Archana stopped him. She was crying at that point.
" I don't know anything. You will say yes to him”
He ordered her.
Palki shook her head slowly.
" He has everything. He earns well. His family has a very good reputation. Also he likes you... that's why they asked us to think again”
" I won't papa... please...i...I beg you....”
But he didn't listen even a bit. Instead he locked her inside her room. She kept banging the door but he didn't open it.
" I'll marry her off”
He said while calling Mr Gupta again.
" Atleast think of some other proposal ?”
Archana tried to convince him.
" I did everything you asked for your daughter. I can't anymore...Aman is best choice for her”
He warned Archana.
" Hello...yes Mr Gupta. No..no... actually Palki was a bit confused in the beginning but now she is not...no..no...yes...yeah...it is yes from her side...”
With that her marriage was fixed a month later.
Archana couldn't help but look at her daughter helplessly. She will always be guilt of something happens to her daughter after marriage.
Because even she was responsible for her daughter's current situation.
Palki came out of the house for a walk.
She felt guilty of speaking to her mother like that. Her mother loved her the most and took care of every tantrums she has ever done.
Her eyes fell on a board. There were names of the students who cleared UPSC last year. She was feeling upset.
She is unlucky. Her parents will never be proud of her any work.
And soon Rinku will also face the same fate. Rinku is her little sister currently doing her 12th in boarding school. Her real name is Kashvi Sharma.
Only if she could have breaked the cycle, her sister would have been safe from this toxicity.
Now she can only let fate decide everything.
..........................
Engagement
The engagement was done at a hotel.
Palki was asked to smile properly instead of coming with a poker face.
Everyone was eating inside and she was sitting outside in the garden. It was already night. The wind was cold. She was looking at the mountains infront of her.
She looked at the ring she was wearing.
It felt more like a burden than something sacred.
She wanted to marry a person who would love her. Who can do anything for her, someone who understands her without asking. But maybe that's not written in her life. Her life was filled with compromise.
She heard footsteps. It was Aman.
He sat just beside her.
" The food was amazing”
He laughed out. She just gave him a small smile.
She can already see her future. She hasn't eaten anything yet, nor did he ask her to accompany him. Like a starving man he ate all by himself without even caring about his fiancee.
" You liked the ring ?"
Palki nodded.
" What about you ?”
She asked out of formality.
" Nice...but looks a bit cheap"
He replied in a casual voice and that hurted her. That ring literally costed her so much!
" It's fine you know....as long as you're gonna be my wife...”
Out of nowhere he kissed her cheeks. She moved back immediately. She did not expect him to do this. Atleast not until the wedding.
" What ?”
He smiled at her.
" I...i...”
She couldn't form any words.
" You are looking hot in this purple lehenga. I couldn't control myself. Anyways you'll be my wife a month later...”
He tried to kiss her again but she stood up.
" Please stop...it... atleast wait... till the wedding”
Aman rolled his eyes.
" Fine”
Saying that he left from there.
Tears filled Palki's eyes. He did not even ask for her consent. She didn't like his lips on her cheeks at all. She wiped her cheeks harshly.
" This is it...my life”
She cried looking at the sky. Right now she couldn't explain her state to anyone. She was feeling suffocated. All she wants to do is run away from there as soon as possible.
............................
Time ran fast.
Soon one by one all the rituals were done.
Today was her mehendi ceremony.
She sat silently as the designer completed their work. Palki was really tired of all this. She was feeling more caged.
In the night after removing the mehendi when she was about to sleep her phone beeped.
Hi dear wifey ! What's up ? - Aman
Palki rolled her eyes. Doesn't he have any other work.
She was feeling irritation with his constant messages. It's not like he talks anything sensible.
Was washing mehendi... - Palki
Show me !! - Aman
Not now I'm tired. - Palki
I don't know anything. Show me!!!
-Aman
Please.... - Palki
He started spaming her with calls. Palki felt like crying at that point. Why won't he leave her alone for sometime !
Photos*
Photos *
You didnt write my name ?? - Aman
I forgot. - Palki
How could you ??? Ughh - Aman
Fine. I'm sleeping. - Palki
You know. I'm waiting for our wedding night. Can't wait to have you !!
- Aman
Yeah yeah...bye - Palki
All he does is this creepy and cheap messages. He once wanted me to send him photo in my blouse that I was trying.
Does he even know about my likes and dislikes ? Anything about me ? No !!
He's nothing but a horny lusty man. Who just wants a wife to satisfy his needs.
I wiped my tears.
Papa loves me very much. That's why he is sending me to this hell !!
I'm feeling trapped in my own marriage.
I cried the whole night.
Suddenly I got a call. She is my friend Sakshi. We both studied together in Delhi.
I recieved her call.
" Where the hell are you Palki ???! I'm waiting for you and it's been almost a month you haven't reached me yet”
I cried and told her everything. All about the marriage.
" What ? How can uncle do this ? I had not expected him to force you atleast”
She was furious.
" What should I do Sakshi ? I have no idea"
The call was silent for a while.
" Run away...”
" Huh ?”
I frowned at her words.
" You don't have any other option but to run away Palki. Just run away from the damn marriage and come to Kota”
" But... marriage ? It's already fixed. How can I leave my parents ? And about all the expenses ?”
I cried more. How can I leave all if this at last moment.
" You have to...you have to Palki. It's up to you now. Whether you want a life caged around households or become what you have always dreamt of. A civil servant...”
Everything crashed upon me. My heart was beating loudly. I don't know what to do ?
Should I run away ?
" I'll handle everything in Kota Palki...just take a train and come....what is your answer ?”
I thought for a while.
" But if I get caught ?”
" You won't...trust me. I'll figure out everything. My brother is very supportive. He'll help you. About money you can do part time here....but escape that hell first”
She assured me.
I saw a hope.
I can't break this marriage but atleast I can run away secretly. I know a lot of things will be at risk. Papa might face humiliation by the society. He might even blame Ma.
" Remember Palki...your destination is Kota. Not someone's house.. I'm sure you can ace it!”
She motivated me.
But if I passed my examination then maybe he'll accept me.
Maybe he'll look at me proudly.
" Okay...”
I replied.
She was happy.
" I'll book your tickets. It's just before your marriage”
Write a comment ...