Redemption

Chapter 1

Samaira

It was a beautiful morning, the sky was filled with orange and red hues. The sun hadn't risen yet. Today I woke up a little early as I was feeling a little restless and couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided to take a fresh breath in the refreshing air of the early morning and it did help me to calm my nerves. After watching the sunrise, I decided to go downstairs and make breakfast for everyone and surprise them.

After an hour, breakfast was done and everyone started coming downstairs to the dining table. When they saw that the table is already set and everything was ready, they all looked pleasantly surprised. My mom was the first one to come out of shock and she asked me

'' Saima, who made this breakfast, not even maids are that forward. They always take half an hour after we all come downstairs''

'' Mom I made it'' I replied smilingly.

''You did? But why beta [Child] ''mom asked. A frown was evident on her beautiful face. Before I could reply, my ever-so excited sister said

''What di [sis] you made it. Yum yum, my mouth is watering right now, let's have it. You always make tasty food, but on rare occasions. I am so going to enjoy eating today.'' She was about to take a piece of bread uttapam [Indian dish] when mom scolded her.

''Dimple wait for your dad. You know he always makes sure that everyone eats at least a meal together.''

''Sorry mom but this bread uttapam looks so delicious I can't wait. Why is dad not here yet?'' she whined.

''Saima, you didn't tell me why did you make the breakfast today'' my mom asked me again.

''Mom, it's nothing. I woke up a little early today, so I thought of making good use of my time and made breakfast and this little mouse was also pestering me to make something for her, so I made it''

''Di don't call me that'' she pouted.

''What little mice'' I said with a little smirk.

''DI'' she yelled at me.

''Stop you two, your father will be here any second. You know how angry he gets whenever he sees you two playing around.'' my mother chastised us.

''Sometimes I wonder if we live in a house or in a military camp. Cadets don't laugh, Cadets don't do this., don't do that.'' I mimicked our father making my sister burst out laughing.

''I said stop you two''

''Mom, we are only children. We have to see him occasionally but you are his wife, how do you handle him all the time'' I asked my mom teasingly.

''Aren't you being a little too forward today? Huh.'' mom said while holding my ear a little too tightly.

''Oww oww sorry mom sorry please leave my ear''

''Now shut up and sit down you two''

Just as we settled down at the dining table, Dad graced us with his presence. We all greeted him good morning and then started our breakfast. Breakfast was uneventful. After finishing my breakfast, I took my leave and went to my room to take my books as I had to leave for university. When I went downstairs, my little sis was waiting for me with her own books. And we left for university.

We turned on the music loud in my car and sang along. This time of the day is my favorite. We get to do anything we want. No one is here to put restrictions on us. The wind feels so good as it weaves through our hair. After half an hour, we reached our university. We both study at the same university. My sister is doing her UG and I am doing my masters from here. But it was my last year here. And I was a little sad because time is just running and my third-semester exams are around the corner. The thought of exams always gives me anxiety, even though I am an average student, but still. Exams are exams and we students are bound to feel anxious.

I went round the corner of the corridor just to meet my best friend, Nikita, standing outside of our first lecture hall with her boyfriend, Aman.

''Heya Nikki, What's up'' I asked her when I reached her hearing distance.

''Hey, girl. I am good what's up with you'' she replied while giving me a bear hug, which I reciprocated. Her hugs are the best thing.

''Same old. Same old'' I replied.

''Hey, Aman.'' I greeted him while shaking his hand.

''Hi, Samaira'' he replied.

''What are we doing here, let's go inside'' I asked Nikita.

''Yeah let's go. Aman was about to go. His lecture is also going to start.'' Nikita stated.

''Okay, girls, I will take my leave now. See you two later.'' He said goodbye.

The whole day went by, lecture after lecture got us busy and by the end of the day, we were exhausted. And wanted nothing but to go home. My sister had already left as she messaged me her lectures were finished early, so she called our driver and went home. I also bid goodbye and went to my car. I really didn't want to drive, but I had to. I started my journey towards my home.

After half an hour later, I reached home. I already ordered pizza while leaving university. It should have been delivered by now. I entered my house and, yup, I was right. My Pizza was already there waiting for me. Yum yum, my mouth watered at that. But something caught my eye and that was the dresses on the carpeted floor of our home what is going on here? I went towards the lounge area and saw my mom selecting some really pretty dresses, but for what?

''Mom what's going on? What is the big occasion why you are buying these heavy dresses? I asked her a little, suspicious now.

But before my mom could reply to me, my Dad spoke up from the single chair which I failed to notice as it was placed a little away from where my mom was sitting.

''These dresses and these decorations are for your engagement, which is tomorrow'' he spoke in his usual cold and stern voice.

WHAT engagement, what decorations and that's when I looked around to see that our house was indeed being decorated and that, too, really beautifully, but all this is not what is shocking. The shocking f*****g thing is that I am getting engaged and I don't f*****g know it. And that too tomorrow.

''Saima baby'' My mom shook me a little, breaking my trance as I hadn't said anything since my father had dropped this bomb on me. But then he didn't expect me to say something, as his words were the final decision and no one could argue with him and forget the argument. No one could even say a word in front of him. That's how he brought us up. I looked at my mom with unshed tears. I knew my marriage would not be my choice, but this, this is too much. I am getting engaged tomorrow and I don't f*****g know anything.

My mom is pleading with me with her eyes not to say anything, not to make a scene in front of him. Because of her only, we bare everything this man throws at us, but I don't think I can bear it anymore. So I apologized to her through my eyes only and turned to my Dad to speak my mind this time.

''Dad, I don't think I am ready for marriage,'' I stated.

''Did I ask you? Are you ready or not? No right'' he replied.

''But dad-- before I could say anything, he stood up from his chair, making me flinch. And took two steps toward where I and mom were standing.

''I said your engagement is tomorrow, so it's tomorrow whether you are ready or not? Whether you want it or not? You are getting engaged tomorrow and that's final.'' with that he left the house. Leaving my heart broken in his wake.

Today he crossed every line. I looked toward my helpless mother. She always did that. Tells us not to make him angry and just follow his every order blindly always making us helpless too. With a shake of my head in her direction, I too left from there, taking my pizza with me to my sister's room. Only she is the one who can understand me right now. And to whom I can rant all about our Dad. s**t, I don't even know who this person is with whom I am getting engaged. Is he a manwhore or a drug addict or a serial killer or maybe he has some real anger issues just like Dad? O God please help me, I can't trust that man, that is my Dad. Only God knows what he chose for me.