Her Second-Hand Husband! novel Chapter 9

Anika's PoV

Dad came into the home and yelled at my mom. I am more than scared now. I am dumbstruck. What should I do now? Should I agree that I am in love with Arun or should I hide that fact and act like nothing? What if I tell them now? Arun has no job. I have no job yet. The chances of rejecting him will be high now. But what if I hide the truth now? Dad will fight with mom for hitting me without any reason. He will be my pillar of support. But then, it will be a great sin. I cannot deceive my parents. Later, when I tell them about Arun, dad will be devastated. He trusts me so much.

"Anandhi, how dare you lay your hand on my daughter?" Dad confronted mom.

"Your daughter? She is my daughter too." Mom said with a shiver.

"If you had thought like that, you would have not laid your hands on her." dad said.

"Appa, don't hurt mom. First ask what happened." Advay came in between mom and dad.

"Whatever happened, it is wrong to hit a grown girl." dad said.

"I am so sorry, Anika. I will never interfere in your life.'' Mom told me and went into the kitchen.

"Ma!" Advay ran behind mom. I don't know what to do now. I couldn't even breathe.

"Anu, Go inside, dear. Wash your face and go do your work. I will take care of everything." Dad told me and went inside.

I stood there not knowing where to go. Mom is hurt. Dad was wrong to speak like that to mom. I was wrong to have kept my mouth shut when dad hurt mom. I was wrong to have talked without respect to the guest. I was wrong to hide the truth from dad. Dad trusts me so much that he didn't even care to know what happened. I should not do this to them.

"Amma!" I went to the kitchen and called her. She was busy cooking dinner for us. Advay was helping mom.

"Amma, sorry ma." I said. She ignored me as if I was invisible to her. She kept on doing her work and even Advay ignored me.

"Adu, Please ask her to talk to me." I spoke to him.

"Why should I? You will speak where it is not required and will keep your mouth shut when you are supposed to talk. Mark my words, you will suffer in your life because of this character of yours." Advay yelled at me.

"Adu, go and study. I can finish the rest." Mom told him and he went to the room.

"Amma!" I called her again but she continued to ignore me. I knew she was not going to talk to me. I walked out to see dad.