Chapter 2

Sonia's point of view...

How could she do this...!

I was more disgusted than surprised.

I can't believe my ears not even my eyes, my dear aunt introduced an unappealing man with a pot belly just like a nine-month pregnant woman, presumably to be my groom.

I know I can't get anything good from her but not at least this. I deserve better.

Holy crab...!

How much more could I endure in a single day?

It became apparent that my aunt was willing to trade me off to that wealthy yet unattractive cartoon of a man for a sum of money.

Why...?

After all this, I got to know one thing and that is, if I didn't stand up for myself now, I would be forever tied to him.

Just the thought sent shivers down my spine. "What do you mean, Aunty?" I yelled in anger, "Who is this man?" I had long suspected my aunt might pull a stunt like this, but I never expected it to happen so soon.

I was left behind by my mom when she died a few years back. My mom's brother Uday and his wife Amrita took me in just because they wanted a free maid in their house. I had been doing various jobs from the moment I entered this house just to feed these ungrateful mouths for years. I was never treated as a family here yet I bear with it. But now...!

This water is out of my bearing. I couldn't take it anymore.

Now that I had finally found my voice, I anticipated that my aunt would reprimand me for being disrespectful, and I might be locked in my room to starve as they did for all these years.

But it wasn't the same anymore, I never thought that she would resort to violence.

A sharp pain seared across my right cheek, and my vision partially darkened. Before I could comprehend what had just happened, I collapsed to the ground.

Slapped...! I couldn't believe my aunt had just slapped me.

She didn't hesitate for a second to strike me in front of that so-called guest.

"Come here with me," my uncle, Uday, dragged me into my room. He is related to me through blood, perhaps the only one who cared a little about me, the only one whom I can tend to.

"Listen to me, baby, I know it's tough, but it's for your good." it blocked my head completely, was that the same man whom I knew?

"He's a rich man, and he'll take good care of you," Uncle added, but I still couldn't believe he was supporting his wife in selling me off.

I was so silly, of course.

Why wouldn't he? Money can change anything.

I raised my head and locked eyes with him. I couldn't believe that he was saying this. I hadn't expected it, at least not from him.

He took an oath when my mom died that he would take good care of me before taking away all the diamond jewelry from her.

"You...!" I wanted to confront him, ask him, or force him not to do this to me.

But before I could speak my mind, my aunt burst into the room and grabbed my hair.

"Listen, Sonia, I don't want to hear any excuses," Amrita snarled digging her nails into my arm too.

I screamed in pain, but it was futile. She added,

"I went to great lengths to bring that man here. He's not here to sleep with you, but he'll marry you as planned."

Uday tried to release my hair, but it only made Amrita grip it harder.

"She'll do whatever you say, just let go," he said assuring his wife and deciding it all for me. How dare he...!

I stared at Uday, who the hell is he to decide my fate?

The moment he supported his wife in this, he was not my family not at all.

No...! I have to resist...!

Though it was painful, I managed to free my hair myself.

"I won't marry him...!" I said stubbornly taking a stand for myself. My aunt gritted her teeth.

"See, I told you," Amrita said to her husband, pretending to be weak and pitiful, wiping her eyes for those tears that had never come out.

"We've been raising her for this day," she said with a disgusting look in her eyes.

"Come on, Uday, I took five lakhs from Mr. Khurana to pay off your debts. We can't back out now."

Five lakhs...!

That's all...! Is that what they decided as my price?

I clenched my fist on my dress, realizing it was all about money. I was now convinced that I had no other way out.

But this time, I decided I wouldn't be a victim in Amrita's game, not anymore.

"Money, right?" I mumbled, "You want the money, and that's it, huh?" My eyes welled up, not with sorrow but with anger.

"Your mother dumped you on us. We were the ones who raised you. Do you have any idea how much we spent on you? You ungrateful child" she gritted,

Seriously...!

I sighed at the audacity of Amrita's question. I was fourteen when my mother left me here with them and I wasn't allowed to stay in their home without contributing.

I had to work in my aunt's salon to earn my food. I had to beg people on the street, convincing them to visit the salon. Only by bringing in more customers could I get a meal. There were many nights I went to bed starving myself.

And she is telling me that she raised me...!

Hilarious...!

"Okay, I'll let you go if you give me the money I spent on you," Amrita said looking at me, her eyebrows raised crookedly and I was sure that she knew that I could never come up with the sum she was about to demand.

I wiped away my tears before they could fall. I couldn't let them see that I was weak.

Because I am not.

Those tears would only make me look defeated, which I refuse to be. I took a deep breath and finally spoke out,

"How much?" I was now certain that Amrita wouldn't let it slide easily, but this time, I was prepared to buy my freedom.

She smiled and strolled around me,

"Five... No, ten lakhs..." A smirk crept onto her lips as she deliberately raised the amount, knowing it was an impossible sum for me to pay.

How could a girl struggling to earn a few thousand from multiple jobs possibly come up with such a large amount?

As I remained silent, Amrita moved closer, raising my chin and sneering mockingly.

"What happened to the lioness just now? Is it dead hearing the amount?" Amrita pushed me a little, ordering me ironically.

"Just be ready to marry that..."

"Fifty lakhs...!" I interrupted her command. Amrita was shocked as those words echoed in her ears. Fifty lakhs...!

What the heck is wrong with me?

She chuckled instantly.

"Do you think it's a joke? As if I would believe in..."

"Fifty lakhs, and I'll move out of this place." I added, "We won't have any connections in the future," I said firmly.

Even though fifty lakhs seemed an impossible amount for me to come up with, especially now that I had lost my job, I was determined to stick to my words.

"Don't spit like a crazy dog, Sonia," Uday grabbed my hand, trying to shake me from my resolve. But I wasn't joking, I was certain of what I had just said. I slowly released my hand and added,

"I'll give you the money within twenty-four hours."

With that, I opened the door and stepped out. Amrita was still in shock, gaping at me for a while before she finally pulled herself together.

"If you can't pay by tomorrow, be ready to marry him," she warned. I tilted my head a little, glancing at my dear aunt one last time.

Although I felt a slight pain in my chest because of their behavior, I nodded and made my way out, slamming the door behind me. That man was still sitting in the hall but I stormed out avoiding him.

The night was still dark, and the only place I could think of going, where no one would hear my tearful screams was the rooftop.

I know it was a foolish move but I can't let them sell me to an elephant...!

Sitting on the edge, I wept before looking at my phone screen. I had promised an impossible amount to free myself, and now it was time to accept the most unusual job to earn that money I needed.

The only way to get that money...!

Scrolling through my phone, my fingers stopped at the name on the top of my missed calls list, Misha, Misha Mehra.

Tapping the number, I held the phone to my ear, my eyes still closed, and my fingers clutching the phone.

It was a job I was not willing to do, even though Misha promised me a handsome amount of sixty lakhs. I never do anything to hurt my dignity but this time I was forced to do it.

"Hello, Misha," I said reluctantly, "I'm ready. Send me the address."

"Finally...!" Misha hissed. "Okay, now take down the address. I'll transfer half of the amount tomorrow morning before you get here."

Misha provided me with the address where I had to show up and then hung up the phone, seemingly content that her plan was proceeding as intended.

************