Her Second-Hand Husband! novel Chapter 11

Anika's PoV

It's Friday today and I am too scared to open my eyes. I don't know when I fell asleep last night but even in my sleep, I dreamt of the worst things that would happen. Not even a flake of good flashed in my mind. I heard shuffling in the room that tells me everyone is wide awake. I am to explain myself and make them understand that LOVE is not a sin and I didn't do it deliberately to disrespect them in any means.

I woke up and went straight to the restroom without facing anyone. To my surprise, Advay was awake and was having his morning tea. The home was inconveniently silent and everyone was so rigid and moody.

"Good morning, pa!" I went to my dad after doing all my morning work including yoga.

"This is not a good morning, Anu. You and I have to talk." he said, setting aside the newspaper he was looking into. Mom, hearing our talk came from inside the kitchen and stood at the kitchen doorstep. Advay listened to us too.

"Yes, pa. Please listen to me before you come to a conclusion. I didn't do anything on purpose." I tried to talk but I have not prepared anything to tell him that will justify me.

"I have not yet come to a conclusion, Anu. I always think that you are a brilliant girl. I have always given you full freedom because I trust you more than anything. I have not given you them to take advantage of it, Anu.” Dad talked to me like usual. I didn't sense any anger in his talk that made me more scared.

"Pa, I didn't take any advantage or I didn't misuse any of the freedom you gave me, pa. I promise. It is true that I like someone. He is a nice man, pa. His name is Arun. He was the one that has been helping me with the project. He was a senior, pa. A very nice gentleman. You will like him too, pa."

"If you can find your life partner on your own, then who are we, Anu? We, as a parent have given you everything so far. Don't we have the right to find a suitable groom for you?" He asked me.

"You have, appa! Please appa, just meet him once. You will for sure like him." I don't know what else to tell him.

"We have sent you to college to study and make yourself financially independent. Not to find someone to love and be independent from us." He said which struck my heart.

"Pa, please pa. You are hurting me. It just happened, appa. I didn't plan on loving someone. I couldn't stop that feeling."

"In that case, you no longer need us. If we have no say in your life, I think you are free to leave this house." he said.

"Appa!" I never expected him to talk like this. It was like an explosion.

"Listen, Anu. If you like to be in this house and be with us, you will have to listen to us. I am your father and I will never do wrong to you. I have a reputation among our people and I will not let you tarnish my respect. You are still young and you can't make life decisions at the age of studying. Now if you want to continue your studies and go for work like you wished for, you will have to promise me that you will behave." He said which actually infuriated me.

"Behave? Appa, I am well behaved, appa. In Spite of being in love with Arun, I have never gone out with him. I just meet him in the college. I will never cause anything that will spoil your reputation. You hurt me too much appa. You talk like as if I am planning to run away with him. I agree that this is not the right age to take decisions that involves my whole life. I promise you that I will complete my degree in good grades and will for sure find a job. Then what, appa?" I asked him. Though he is not saying it out loud, I can feel what he is implying. He thinks that I have been roaming out with Arun.

"You are at fault now, Anu. You cannot raise your voice at me. Then what? I will find a suitable groom for you and you will marry and will lead a happy life." he said with a warning and I retreated in fear.

"Why can't you give Arun a chance, appa?" I pleaded with him.

"Anu, dad is talking to you very patiently. Don't push him off his limits. Listen to what he says." Mom tried to stop me.

"Alright Anu, I will give him a chance now. Answer me, how old is he?"

"He is 24years old, appa."