CHAPTER THREE

       

       The window is rolled down from my side. I need fresh air to breathe. My eyes are closed. But I couldn't sleep. Whenever I fell asleep, something made me wake up, blowing horns, pollution, Money and Raj didn't stop talking for a second. It was quite irritating. But they are driving on the highway. They need something for their entertainment. I can't be selfish. 

       I darted my eyes out of the window. I read the welcome board in Amritsar. At least, Her fiance doesn't live in a village. There is no reason that I'm interested in attending this wedding. Momi told me last night about it. I was strongly believing that there would be tears in her eyes hearing her sudden wedding, but it shocked me to find her blushing, she likes him. She wants this wedding. Our parents don't allow us. Doubtlessly, after the age of fourteen, our parents began to tell us that love marriage isn't allowed in our families. The result will be death, not a happy wedding life. But these rules aren't for our brothers. I can only hope, when my parents will choose a husband for me, they will not be in a hurry as Sim's parents are hurrying it. They'll keep one year's gap so I could understand him. I'll not marry. if he's not a good person. I'll take a risk in my life of running but not gonna marry a stranger. 

      I glance at the rearview mirror. The sun is spreading its rays around. There was no dark now. The road was mostly enclosed by trees. I love the smell of plants, trees, and the freshness of the wood in the air, flying birds. We've entered the city, morning traffic! Horns! Noises! Geez! Irrigation! 

       My mind is yelling at me to sleep. My eyelids are getting heavy. I rest my head back and close my eyes. I don't think I can hold it back anymore. My body is feeling heavy to me. 

       I feel a hand on my shoulder and then a strong shake that jolts my body. I furrow my eyebrows in great irritation, " Let me sleep, Momi, " I whisper and stir to move away. I try to stretch my legs. But something stuck in my way. 

      ' I'm not in bed, ' My mind says. I crack my one eye to see, ' What am I doing in a car? '

        Memories rush in. We're going to attend Sim's wedding. I open my eyes and smile at my dad. It's not his duty to make me wake, It's mother's. It clears one thing. We're not home. Akash uncle is also looking down at me. He's Sim's father. There's no expression on his face. It makes me feel uneasy. 

      " We've arrived, Rani. Come, " Dad says softly. He holds both my hands and tugs me out of the car. His eyes are on my feet as I'm not watching it. My mind is telling me to go to sleep. I'm a morning person. But…. three o'clock in the early morning. That's not for me. Why can't we start our journey according to my time? Dad holds my hands tightly. I curl my fingers around Dad' palm. I don't wanna hit the ground. He helps me out in my sleep. 

      I put my head on my dad's shoulder. I'm still clenching his hand. I can hear the soft voices of our mothers' from behind me. Some strange and heavy male voices, I ignore it. All I want to do is sleep. I couldn't sleep last night. I was perplexed, how could she be so glad just looking at his picture? He must be handsome. Well! That's not my concern. 

       " I'm sorry, boss. " I snap my eyes open and look up at my father. I'm in my sneakers, my dad is tall, five-eleven. I haven't seen this expression on his face my entire life. Our business isn't running under anyone's order. I swivel my neck and glance at the men in front of me. 

         A tall old man, black business suit, some grey in his dark black hair, he's looking like a proud, aristocratic, cruel man. 

      Did my dad just address him, BOSS? And he apologized to him. Why? 

      " You don't have to apologize, Pawan. I can see she's not a morning person. " I hear someone. His voice is soft. I hear everyone greeting him. He must be special. I don't care. My eyes are still on the man, my father called him boss, not Sir or by his name. Why? 

       I feel a hand tapping on my back. I didn't realize. When did I close my eyes again? I need to sleep, at least for five minutes. I know these five minutes are going to turn into hours. I manage to open my eyes. I freeze to find a tall and muscular man with dark hair, a strong jawline and his beautiful dark eyes staring at me. There's softness in his eyes, his smile is reaching his eyes. He's handsome more than his picture. His personality makes him the centre of all eyes. But I'm not the one to look at him. Sim already doesn't like me. I'm not interested in giving her another reason to feel jealous of me and hate me more. I saw Sim staring at the wallpaper on her phone. It was his picture, I saw. I blink my eyes. I straighten myself and hold my father's hand more firmly. I won't even put him at the last number in my queue. He belongs to her. 

       To distract me from his soft gaze, I look around, strong and high walls, costly decoration. They are rich, of course! They'll show off. My next view puzzled me. My eyes stop at him, I hear my heart picking a race, " Dad! He has a gun." I startle, I haven't seen a man with a gun before, but it is a huge one, perhaps a machine gun, No! It's... I don't know. I've seen people with it on the television. My brother has taught me self-defence. I haven't trained with such dangerous things. 

       " Rani! " My dad scolds me in a heavy and slow voice. He always uses this tone when he wants us to keep quiet. And It rarely happens. 

       Sim is standing close to me. Her face is saying everything, jealous and hating me. 

       " We're businessmen. They are just security guards. You don't have to panic. " Her future husband softly says.

        I snap my head at him. I can see the uneasy language of Sim's body. It's not because her future-to-be-husband is here. It's because he's talking to me. I can bet she'll ask him not to talk to me and if it will be in her control she'll set a rule on him asking for her permission before talking to his mother and sisters. I don't even know his name. He's handsome, but not my type. He looks like a good person, but I can see it's only for me Or us. He's tall- 5'10" but my husband will be tall like my father. 

        " Oh! " I manage, finally. I look at the bodyguard again. Slightly, I nod my head when the view approves that he's a bodyguard. I didn't look in his direction. Sim is already uncomfortable. It's not in her hands otherwise she must have ordered me to stay away from her wedding. 

       " Mom is waiting inside." Her future-to-be-husband says to the old man. Um, he's not that old, but older than my father. He whirls and walks into the house, after a nod. 

        "Sorry, dad. But I need to sleep," 

     I apologize and say it in a low voice. 

       My dad shakes his head and smiles, " Don't worry, uncle. We'll take care of your little princess," Sas smiles, coming to my side. 

      Dad pats her head softly and walks in as Sas and Saavi hold me by shoulders and tug me back away from my father's hold. We begin to pace in, " Oh! My baby! " Sas pats my head, guiding it toward her shoulder. 

       Sas and Saavi are good-hearted girls, with no envy, no ego, only love and kind words. Please, God! Always keep them happy. I adjust my head on her shoulder, I'm glad they are taller than me, " Sas, can't I go to sleep? It's been hours. I couldn't sleep while sitting. " I ask her.

       " Don't worry baby girl. First food, then you've got the rest of the day to sleep. " Saavi says as she holds my hand.

       " I hate to wake up at three o'clock. Can't I wake up at the usual time, seven o'clock? " I say to them. 

       I was just pushing my feet ahead with closed eyes, " Better we should stay out of hurdle." Saavi says. 

      I half-open my eyes. All are busy greeting each other, embracing, happy smiling faces. Sim didn't try to talk to me. It's clear she doesn't want me around her new family. 

      " I wanna go home back. " I tell them. 

      " We too, " Sas says. 

      They are still holding me, " I hate Sim's behaviour. Egoistic woman." Saavi stares at her. 

      " You don't say anything. It does not mean we don't understand anything. She's rude to you." Sas hugs me from one side. 

      " It doesn't matter to me if people hate me. I value those who love me. My parents and you two are one of them. " I smile. 

      Sas kisses my cheek, " My baby! " Sas desperately wants a sister instead of her elder brother. 

      " Let's grab a seat as far as we can sit from her. I'm fearing, she'll pounce at any time if she finds one of us looking at her fiance. " Saavi tugs us toward the dining table. 

      " Their house is so big, " Sas says. 

      " That woman is already possessive, Poor Achraj. " Saavi says. 

       I glance at Sim. A younger boy, but older than us, is sitting next to Sim. His head snaps at our side. I straighten my back and look ahead. Our mothers are sitting, leaving an empty chair between them. 

      " They want us to sit with them, " Sas says. 

      " I'll manage." They leave my hand and shoulders. I feel a soft hand on my hand. My mother pulls the chair and guides me. She didn't want me to hit myself with anything or break the expensive utensils. But it looks silver. It can't break.