Circumstances of You & Me ✔

2 | One Year

Dad is in ICU, he had a minor stroke and we all are waiting outside to see him. I never been this terrified before, what if something happens to him? Could I forgive myself for that?

I close my eyes and pray for 100th time to keep him safe. I’m his little girl, I’m his Pride but now… I open my watery eyes to look at Mom, who is still crying silently on my Aunt’s shoulder. They sat four seats away from me, nobody talked to me from the moment we stepped in hospital. Even if they glanced at me, they averted their gaze like I had betrayed them. This is all because of me. No. Not me, because of him!

My hands balled into fist as I stand up. "Sunny, come with me." I mumble to my cousin, who is standing beside me. I gesture my head to corridor end grimly, he nods and follows me. I sniff, clearing my eyes. I cried enough, I can't sit here and sob like a looser. I need to do this.

"Where to, Saru?" Sunny asks the second we turn around the corner.

I want to say this to Aadi but he needs to be here in hospital, so I have no choice but to take Sunny with me. He is my uncle's son and a year younger than me. We are close from childhood; if I take out a family album from our childhood; he would be there in every picture with me and my little brother. We share almost everything but I failed to mention about that Man to him.

"We need to go to the police station. If we wait for few hours; he won't be in custody, he will get a bail soon. I need to talk to him, that bastard has-" My chin trembles saying those words. Tears starts to roll in back of my eyes but I swallow hard not to let those spill out. I won't cry, dammit!

“Co..Come with me?” He nods in agreement.

We said that we were heading to eat something but instead made our way to the Police station. Anger repealed through me whenever I glance at my hands which are covered in Mehandi. I don't want anything but to punish that bastard badly! I’m still in my wedding saree but I removed all my jewelry and flowers from my hair long ago. I should keep this Saree on, not that it is good but I need to remind myself what has happened today. I want to peel my skin my off to remove this Mehandi because this is not needed when there is no Sandeep in my life, he left me. I take a deep breath and hop on Sunny's bike.

Sun is rising up over the buildings far away, birds are twitting from their nests and flying in the air by stretching those little wings proudly. I wish, humans has wings too then I would have flee away from this town to far heights of this dark yet pleasant Sky.

I smile at myself sadly because I would have been married by now. My mind is wandering to memories which happened few months ago when Sandeep proposed me. He said he would help me financially after our marriage; that he would look after my Brother’s education fee. That is the reason why I agreed to marry him.

Now there is no marriage. No money. No help. How I wish I’m still working now. Sandeep’s parents didn't want me to work so I quit two weeks ago before my marriage. I didn't like to quit my job as a co-designer but he convinced that he would help me and he asked only a favor in return. To quit my job in the boutique so I did for him. I have to find a job again; I’m not a lazy girl to sit in home and eat, I’m never that type of a girl to depend on someone’s money. I will be fine if my old job is still there for me but I'm afraid of thinking about what if's. All my plans are turned into ashes under His foot!

"We are here, Saru."

I blink, coming out of my thoughts when Sunny mumbles. We are here already? I try to control my nervousness and hop down. I never thought I would step into a police station.

"Inspector, we are here for Mr.Nayan Anand." Sunny says to an officer sitting behind the huge table. I always imagined a Police officer to look like a Rowdy, scary looking guy. Maybe it is the effect of movies I am watching from childhood. But this Officer is looking decent enough with clean shaved face and neatly trimmed mustache.

He gestured us to take our seats and points his finger towards the corner cell.

There he is, standing inside the cell; resting his back to bars but he turns our way when he hears his name. His face hardens seeing me, I squint to look at him properly. I’m actually surprised to see him still here because he is a rich kid, he could be out of the cell in minutes if he wants. Officer informs us that nobody has come to give him a bail and the shocking news is he never requested to make a call for his lawyer. I wonder why he hasn't requested any. Whatever, I made my decision.

I give a weak smile to Sunny and turn to Officer, "We are taking back the case sir." I state.

Suddenly, Sunny’s head turns towards me and he stands up, "Are you crazy? You want to take the case back? Are you out of your mind, Saru? Uncle is in hospital for god's sake and here you came to release this psychotic person?!" he shouts in shock. I take a shaky breath, I can't explain to him or maybe he won’t understand if I explain.

Ignoring him, I turn to Officer, "Sir, I'm here to propose something. If he wants me to take the case back then I need compensation from him. He stopped my marriage, I need him to pay me for all those expenses." I say and look at Sunny.

Relief washes over his face when he gets the matter and he takes the seat again. I smile at him lightly, I speak in low voice till now; fearing what Nayan would think of my proposal but now, I’m terrified to say next words. I close my eyes and pray the God to give me courage to say next. I need to stay strong and do this so I say loud enough for him to hear this.

"I don’t know why he ruined my marriage but he did and it’s over. As much as I want to know his intention behind this, I don’t have time now. My father is admitted in hospital because of him. He needs to pay for what he did, he needs to bear my father's hospital expenses and my marriage expenses," I stop and continue in loud voice. "My marriage is cancelled because of him. I want him to marry me, if not I will go to the Court for justice."

Officer stills for a minute, not even blinking and his brows shot up to his forehead. Sunny's mouth drops open beside me and I know what is coming next. 1.. 2…

"Let's get out of here!"

He shouts the second he realizes everything and grips my wrist tightly to make me stand. I yank my hand away and sit in my place like a stubborn girl. “No, Sunny, we are not going anywhere.” I say through gritted teeth but stop saying further when I heard a loud laugh from the cell.

“Marrying you?” then comes set of chortles.

Clenching my jaw, I turn to Nayan; who is laughing hard by clutching his stomach, "I rather be in prison than marry you!" he snorts.

I stand up furiously, "Sir, I told you what I want from him. If he agrees for my conditions then I'm taking back the case."

Officer furrows his brows, I think he still hasn’t processed what I said because he nods unsurely. He already has my details so I turn around to walk out of station, to give them time to decide. Nayan glares at me, I shiver under his stare but stand on my ground strongly and walk out with my chin up.

Wheels are turning in my head as I take each step further away from the station, what am I even doing? I think I'm going crazy. Yep, that explains why I’m taking this stupid decisions with my madness.

Sunny is arguing with me but nothing is coming to my ears. He is right beside me and shouting at me but I can't hear him. My mind is elsewhere, I only came here to ask for compensation but never thought I would ask about marriage. I have so much on my shoulders right now. Being in a middle-class family, money is the only thing that is making sense to me. I come to a stage where I would do anything for money. s**t. That sounds like I’m ready to become a w***e, yuck. I didn’t mean like that; maybe, the ego brought the worst out of me and suggesting me to do this thing.

Dad works as clerk at a private company, Mom is working as an assistant teacher. I had a dream of studying Engineering and to be in a good position but we couldn't afford for my studies so I took Fashion designing courses. I discovered about myself a lot when I took that course because I did like designing from my childhood, I enjoyed doing my work from then. I even started my own boutique two years ago in Hyderabad but I didn't know it would be a failure. As always, life played games with me, at first six months my business was okay and next, not much.

My brother wanted to be a Doctor, we couldn't afford the education fee for that too but which made us to make him a Doctor was his grades. He got a good rank in +2, I knew he wanted to be a Doctor but he convinced us that he would take Pharmacy path but I couldn't see him suppressing his goal like me. I couldn't achieve my dream because of our financial situation so I gave up being an Engineer. I don't want him to do the same so I took personal loan on my name. Which I used it for extending my business and his studies too. He has completed two and half years in Mbbs now and he has to study for two mor-

"Saru!!"

Someone shakes my shoulders and I jerk away, exhaling loudly. I clear my eyes to see Sunny properly, I would have laughed at his comical expression if we are not in this state. He gestures me to turn around, there stands a Constable. He informs us to come inside and leaves.

"I won't let this happen, Saru. I'm calling my Dad, let them handle this." Sunny mutters, taking out his mobile. I snatch it from his hands immediately.

"You are not uttering a word about this!" I warn seriously and walk inside. He starts cursing under his breath. I already made up my mind, I'm not backing away now. I need money, Nayan has ton of money with him. I don't care if my life is going to be ruined.

I'm sorry, I forgot, my life is already ruined, so what's the matter in ruining some more?

I stop in my tracks when I see Nayan sitting lazily in the chair I sat few minutes ago.

"Dad is going to kill me." mutters Sunny behind me but I ignore him and stumble ahead to sit beside Nayan. I hate to stay near him!

"Ms.Aastha Saraswathi, Mr.Anand has agreed for your terms. He is going to pay for what he did and," Officer stops and looks like he swallowed a sweet made with salt. I wait for him to continue but Nayan starts chuckling beside me.

"What he is about to say is, I will marry you but only for a year." Nayan finishes the sentence with boring tone.

My head snaps to him in shock. What does he mean by that? He will use me for one year and throw me away after that? My hands balled into fist yet again.

No, I won't let him do that! If he wants to give divorce, I will be the one to give that first not him. If I'm going to die, I will drag Nayan with me too. He shattered my life; I want him to suffer for that too, he needs to marry me.

"Hello madam, come to ground, Asthama. I already spent so many hours in that b****y cell because of you. Don't waste my time!" Nayan barks at me. How dare him!

"Time? You are talking about time?! I wonder why you are still here when you could afford a lawyer, I'm not agreeing with one year thing! You are going to marry me! Take it or leave it! But I'm not going to leave you, Nayan! I will drag you infront of media! And I want jus-" my words are cutoff when he stands with stormy temper.