The Suggestion

Sahithi was pensive as they returned home. She realised she was in deep trouble with no one to call her own. She couldn't trust anyone nor could she fight aginst her legal gaurdians no matter how much she hated them. Her only hope to avoid her cousin was to go back to her school and finish  her education. Would she be allowed to do that? Because her aunt and uncle would lose everything if they allowed her to complete her studies. She knew her cousin would take advantage of the situation to take her virtue sooner than later and she wouldn't be able to stop him. It would be nearly impossible for Raju to protect her since she had no powers till she got her property back. The future appeared grim. The true impact of the loss of her parents and grand parents hit her fully at that moment.

As she entered the house, she was greeted with a deafening silence broken by the icy tone of her aunt. "Ah! So you have learned about the will." she remarked. "It will make things far easier." She looked at Sahithi holding her still with one hand. "We are not losing a 2000 acre estate and the perks attached with such a large property. So forget about going to school. We are in charge and you will obey us. Is that clear?" Sahithi stared at her aunt defiantly.

"You cannnot stop me from getting educated. Nor can anyone molest me." She shook off her aunt's hand and stormed into her father's room, which fortunately had the same old lock. She realised that they couldn't change the door or the lock and so had left it . She quickly typed the secret code making sure no one could see what she was doing. A scanner came out of the door and scanned her eyes, face, her body and retracted itself. Afew seconds later the door opened and let her in. She quickly closed the door behind her and locked it securely using the codes her father had given her. From now on she had to minimise the contact between her gaurdians and herself.

She knew it was impossible to avoid contact altogether, but the lesser the contact with them, the better it would be for her. Time dragged on indefinitely but using the servants, she was able to avoid any contact with her gaurdians. One day, as she sat thinking about her life with her parents, a maid came with a message for her, her uncle required her presence in the hall. She refused to go but the maid waited saying that she had been ordered to bring her in. Her face beet red with anger, Sahithi marched into the hall to an unpleasant sight.

A man of 40 years was talking with her aunt; though he was well groomed, he gave off an aura of extreme male ego. "This is my brother's daughter Sahithi." Her aunt was saying. "We took her in after she lost her parents."

"That is very generous of you Mrs. Anuradha. Where will you be staying after I move in?"

"We have another mansion in Akiveedu. We will go there."

"Excuse me." Sahithi interrupted the conversation. What is this talk of moving in? Where are you moving in? How does that concern me?" he gave a condescending look at her.

"I bought this house child. I am moving in tomorrow."

"You have no right to buy this house and the sale is void." Everyone turned towards the door at the new voice. Sahithi had never been happier to see advocate PBC standing at the door looking his most dangerous self. He was in his lawyer's attire as he walked in like a god in disguise. "I am the legal counsel of Miss Sahithi, daughter of Late Shri Jagannadham. She is the sole heir to this estate. As per the Statement of Will executed by my late friend and the original owner of the Jagannadham Estate, the property cannot be sold or bought either in whole or in parts by the legal gaurdians. It can only be protected till the legal heir, who is this girl here, completes her education. So, if you have paid any money, take it back, and find another property." The stranger paled at this revelation first, then his face turned beet red. "I want my money back!" he exclaimed like an angry bull. "Now! Or you know me very well!" Sahithi was thrilled to see the extreme terror on the face of her aunt at those ominous words. She nodded at her cousin, who went in and returned with two large suitcases full of cash. The stranger checked that the currency was real and then left the house without a word. Advocate Chakravarthy faced Sahithi. "As the legal heir you have to finish your education by the time you turn 25 years. Otherwise, the estate and the wealth will go to the government of Andhra Pradesh. Your gaurdians cannot deny you your rightful education. If they do that criminal proceedings will be taken up against them as per law." With that he left leaving Sahithi a lot more confortable and relaxed than she had been after the tragedy.

As can be expected, her aunt, uncle and her cousin appeared pissed at not being able to have their way. Sahithi returned to her room in high spirits. After all, this might not be so bad; in fact she might even get to go back to school where she could try and stay there during the holidays too till she graduated. If things went so smoothly, why would there be need to pray to god? A week passed by without any incident, both parties keeping away from each other. Sahithi had been strolling in the garden one day, when her aunt came there followed by her uncle and cousin. "Sahithi," she called. "We need to talk."

"There is no need to."

"It is about your school." Sahithi reluctantly sat on one of the benches in the garden. She knew this was one topic she couldn't avoid. "We have decided to send you to school." Sahithi glared at her without speaking. Her aunt seemed anxious. "We...um....your uncle...um....your bava (son of father's sister or mother's brother) made a suggestion for the rest of your education." Sahithi raised her eyebrows at that revelation. Anything that moron suggested would not be good. "He thinks...well...your uncle and I feel.... believe... it is best for you to go to Shanthi Girls High school."

"What? What about the school I am studying in?"

"It is a co-education school. Your uncle spoke with the Principal who agreed to issue TC to you. In fact your uncle brought your TC with him a month ago." This was news indeed. It changed everything. "The principal of SGHS had admitted you and you need to join by day after tomorrow."

"That is too fast!"

"Yes. But, it is a boarding school and we felt that it was the best possible arrangement considering the misunderstandings between us."

"Your son tried to molest me!"

"He is your bava." her uncle spoke. "He is eligible to marry you and he may have been a bit over excited." Sahithi snorted at the lame attempt to defend his son. "Get ready. We are leaving in an hour." He rose to indicate the discussion was over. Though Sahithi fumed at the way she had been dismissed, she still went in to pack her belongings, for, she wanted to be out of this place as soon as she could. But, little could she have imagined that she was going to fall from the pan into the fire.