Laya? A burden?

Raghuram Pasupuleti was surely a good father. He always strives for his family and his children's fortune. Even though Laya is his second brother's daughter…. He loved her like his own. She studied well, made him proud, and always has an idea of standing on her own feet. If it were his daughter's or his son's they would have asked the details of the property he has to give. But she kept silent for the past fifteen years not asking for a single penny.

She only takes the monthly allowance, if needed more she would call him and ask for the money she needed. But again she never omits why she needs the money. She always asks only if she needs for project work or needs to go out shopping with her friends or to pay fees.  He wondered why she wasn't his biological daughter many times, but that doesn't make him feel she was someone else's daughter.

From the past few days, he could sense the change of behavior in his youngest brother. He knew him very well, he neither can hurt him nor laya. So… marrying her off was the best thing for him.

Her smiles cheered his day. The way she calls him a dad, and his wife as a mom, these things would make his day. During her childhood, she would accompany him to the farm and after they migrated to Hyderabad she accompanied him to the office. He laughed at the memories of her bossing his servants for serving him the wrong tea. The servants were scared of Laya but not of Raghuram. He smiled at those beautiful memories. But when he realized that she was going to leave them…. His eyes watered.

But he can't be soft. He should be stern and stone-hearted. "Laya… I know you don't like it. But the guy is a good man. And he likes you. And your brother is their partner," Raghuram said.

"Daddy, you are selling me off for brother's business," Laya said in a small voice, making him widen his eyes.

Raghuram never thought his words would be interpreted in this way. He lifted his head and looked at her petite face. He could see a tear making down its way from her cheeks. He felt his heart breaking into a million pieces. Raghuram wanted to go near her and wanted to say he won't let this marriage happen. This is for her own good, he can't be soft-hearted. Yes! She will cry for a few days after that everything will be fine.

But was this really for her own good? Only he knew it well.

"Laya… think whatever you want. This is my responsibility. I am fulfilling it. I can't look after you for a long time. If it's my daughter… I would have married her when she was eighteen years old. I don't want you to feel wrong, that's why I gave you time to study and do whatever you want for three years. Now… I did what Í have to do. It's your time to fulfill your duties as a daughter." Raghuram said in an emotionless voice making her eyes widened in shock.

Laya looked at him with her big almond-shaped eyes which were filled with shock. She never thought her father always thought she was a burden to them. Laya thought that there was no difference between her and his daughters. So… this was how everyone treated her all along.  In the end… she was an orphan. She felt a sharp knife being stabbed into her heart. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Since she was a burden to them… she has to free them from their burdens.

"I will marry," she said as she tried her best not to choke out.

"That's good," Raghuram said, ignoring her sobbings.

"These boxes are jewelry for you. Check them once," he said.

Laya stood rooted not intending to check. "Check!" he shouted, making her flinch in fear. Laya opened them with her shaky hands and saw there are ornaments with Rubies, pearls, red corals, green emeralds, yellow sapphire, diamonds, blue sapphires. There were seven sets. She knew what these are… seven-week ornaments. And there was another complete set… which was completely made of gold only.

Laya knew her family was rich. And her father's shares were one-third of their family business. She knew these were made from those shares. And in the Pasupuleti family, she is the richest one. Because only she never used a single penny from those savings. All her accounts were handled by her peddananna. Her youngest uncle tried to do money laundering from her accounts but was caught by her peddananna.

"These are the documents of the shares that belonged to your father. I transferred them into your names. And all the income that was earned from your father's shares is stored in this bank account. In the future… they will be stored there only. These are the account details and the card for it. From the money, I bought a house for you in Banjara hills. You can check it when you have time.

"I brought it there because your soon-to-be husband's family asked for it there. I am afraid that they will take advantage of you after you get married. So… I made a deal with them. The dowry which we accepted to give them would be registered on your name," he said to her as if he did a great thing for her while pushing a stack of documents.

Laya wondered what happened to her father. If he was afraid that someone would take advantage of her, then he should be afraid of himself. The moment he agreed to this marriage he already took advantage of her. And now he was afraid of her being taken advantage of. She felt like she was hearing a joke.

"You may leave," he said.

"Dad… you can keep these things with you. Take this as compensation for bearing me all these years. Let's not owe each other anymore," Laya said and got up from her seat intending to leave this toxic room.