Five Weeks by Shruti Omar (any book recommendations .txt) 📕

“I am not going to marry him and that is final.” Anahita announced, angrily throwing her bags on the floor as she entered her home. Mr. and Mrs. Maurya looked at each other before preparing themselves for another episode of her reluctance and outburst.

“How was your shopping?” Mrs. Maurya asked her, gathering the bags and peeked inside, “Looks like Lata got you most of the dresses. Now, we will only do the jewelry shopping.”

“Will you hear me out first?” Anahita grumbled, squinting her eyes, “I just said I won’t marry him.”

“Who dropped you?” Mr. Maurya asked, interrupting her and she rubbed her forehead, “Yuvraaj, but I am saying….”

“And, he went? Didn’t you invite him in?” Her mom questioned. Anahita rolled her eyes before replying, “Seriously? Why do I suddenly have to invite him when he is already considered a family member? Has he ever waited for invite, mom?”

“Anu,” Mr. Maurya intervened, austerely. “He is considered a member of the family but that doesn’t mean you won’t invite him.”

She pouted her lips, guiltily and lied, “I did but he was in haste because he has a meeting to attend tomorrow and he couldn’t spare us time, now will you please listen to me?” she threw her hands in the air, frustrated.

Her mother sighed, folding the crumpled clothes and her father grinned at her, “Okay, but before that, have this.” He dropped a whole piece of white Rosgulla in her mouth. Anahita ate the sweet delicacy in surprise and cupped her chin to prevent the sugar syrup from falling on her dress.

“Tasty?”

“Hmm…” She nodded, chewing hastily and gulped, “But, dad…”

“I know what happened. I know why you are angry but he was just joking.” Mr. Maurya smiled, supporting Yuvraaj and Anahita narrowed her eyes, wiping her lips clean. “You knew? Is he feeding you lies?” She felt her throat choking with sweetness and her mom passed her a glass of water. She drank the water in a go, “He wasn’t joking. He emptied my entire clothes and inspected them, disregarding my privacy. And, not only this, he made fun of my dressing sense. Is this joke?”

“Ugh, let it be, Anahita.” Her mother coaxed, softly. “He was joking otherwise why would he call us and apologized?”

“He apologized?” She blurted out, shocked. Her mother nodded, handing her the bags. “Yes, now go and keep them in your cupboard and come down fast, we will have dinner together.” She palmed her face, lovingly. “You are cranky when you are empty stomach.”

Anahita rolled her eyes, dragging her feet to her room and stuffed the bags in her cupboard. She got fresh, changed her clothes and joined her family at the dining table. Quietly, she ate the dinner where her parents did lame attempts to cheer her up but her mind only registered how they again took Yuvraaj’s side, neglecting her and her feelings. She felt her head throbbing as her mother kept notifying her with the progress of wedding preps.

“Mom, I am going to sleep. I am really tired.” She yawned, holding her head after she finished clearing the table.

“Okay, we already have a long day ahead. I am worried how will I manage everything alone? Your father doesn’t help me with the preparations.” Her mother blabbered without taking her eyes off the laser pad. Anahita rolled her eyes, “You are getting full help from Aai. Why are you exaggerating?”

Her mother muttered something inaudible but Anahita was so fatigued that she staggered to her room and hit the bed directly. As her head hit the pillow, her phone rang and she grudgingly picked the call without glancing at the ID but she already knew who it was.

“What is it?”

“I was wondering….” Yuvraaj drawled, lyrically. “…if you are free tomorrow?”

“No. I am very busy.”

“Doing nothing?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, in that case, I will pick you up for breakfast. Be ready by nine.”

“I take breakfast at ten.”

“Okay. Ten, it is then.” He surprised her by acceding. But, she sighed out. “No need. I am very busy. I am hanging up now.”

 “Anahita…” He droned, cackling. “I was joking, mou.”

She twitched her lips, flipping on her back. “I am hanging up. Bye!!”

“Listen…” He butted in and she held the phone closer. “…I will show you what actual strangulation means after our marriage,” he husked, “…but in a very passionate way.” And, her breath hitched. All the pent up frustration and disappointment transformed into anger and the venom sputtered out of her mouth. “Do me a favor and die before our marriage before I kill you with my bare hands.”

He chortled, carelessly. “And, if I survived by any chance, get ready for a night more tortuous than this.”

“You wish, Idiot!” She muttered and hung up, twisting on the bed. Her sleep was stolen by him once again. She dialed the only number who could rescue her from the future of insomnia. “Hello? Mukund, please do something.” She cried.

“Anahita, can we please talk about it some other day?” He asked, icily. “I am not in mood of listening how Yuvraaj tortured you or whatever.” She pouted at his coldness but sunk her face in the pillow. “Okay fine. I will not talk about him but what can I do? He irritates me so much.”

“Isn’t it running fast?” He asked, vexed. “Your goddamn marriage, I mean.”

Anahita scoffed, playing with her hairs, “According to our families, we have already delayed much. I am thankful that they didn’t marry me to him in childhood.”

“But they got you engaged which is against the law.” He pointed out, “They didn’t ask you before promising you to him.”

“Yes, but it was all in words. They never held any ceremony that literally could bind us together until the last month.” She mumbled, picking at her nails. “You know what Mukund…ten years back when he went to Australia; I really hoped that he never comes back. I mean I used to pray that he find his love there and settle happily. That was the only way to escape from his clutches but he chose to come back and dominate me. Obviously, why will he give up on…” she paused, listening to the beeps on the other side. She stared at the phone blankly. Did he just hang up on me?