Chapter 3

Opening the gate she entered. Leaving her sandals on the top shelf of a shoe rack she jumped in the house with one foot playfully and then another foot.

As soon as she stepped in the smell of delicious food hit her nose as she welcomed it with her closed eyes and a beautiful smile plastered on her face with satisfaction dancing in her heart.

Just by the smell she could guess the food.

"Paneer and Puri".

She shriek and whispered to herself as she opened her eyes with great contentment. Her eyes didn't search for her grandma as she already knows where her grandma is. If she wants to meet her grandma she has to go straight to the kitchen.

Before going in her eyes took in the features of the big swing in the center of their house with the strongest wood with a black and brown rough texture. The furniture of the house is pretty strong and old. Her grandfather and grandmother bought the best quality in that generation.

The house is mostly wood except for the floor and walls but it a very spacious. Though it is old, the house is a grand one and has four large rooms with a store room.

The two brothers with their wives used to live in their rooms which include her grandmother and grandfather as a couple. Later their children that is her parents and aunt and uncle are given rooms for themselves. It was a joint family but everything broke frantically. And that is the issue she is facing for a long.

Not the joint family-breaking part. But facing toxic relatives. Because she is an orphan she is being taken a lot of advantage of. Not just advantage, they are trying to throw her and trample her down. But thankfully she has her grandmother and grandfather.

After their parents died when she was 11 she was taken under the wing of a married aunt who is the own sister of her father. The rituals of the death ceremony continued for 10 days and it is on the 11th day the insurer contacted her and her grandparents. Her grandparents didn't take her as a burden but when they get to know that she is under the protection of an insurance policy they were happy with the fact that they can provide her with everything just like her parents planned to give her the best.

But Adhira's aunt Meghana proposed to her grandparents that she is willing to take Adhira under her wing. And of course, her grandparents and Adhira herself agreed to be under their guidance as she remembered how she was cherished by her aunt. Her aunt always used to make talks used to hug her, and pepper a lot of kisses. Meghana used to bring her clothes despite having her daughter. Adhira felt that she can be taken care of. She was of course taken care of for a month or two with sweet and concerned talks.

But as days passed the sweet became normal to bitter. For the first six months, it was okay. Sometimes she was scolded and slapped for mistakes. But she took it as common because her parents would do the same when she does wrong.

As time passed it grew a little more. She can endure it and endured it all. But the most un digesting thing is that year when her academic year is finished and the next academic, year she was sent to government school by her aunt and uncle.

(In India government school is a school where they provide free education and free lunch in school to anyone who takes admitted there. Everyone has the right and can study in a government school. But parents caring for their children and wanting the best for them must of them join their children in private schools where fees are to be paid. So basically government schools are for poor people).

That thing was kept hidden until she attended school on her 1st day. The atmosphere, truth, and the fact that she is away from her friends who made her feel normal after her parent's death are no more. She cried on the first day remembering her friends laughing and talking elsewhere while she stay in an unknown school with strangers she never knew that she is transferred.

And when she asked her aunt about school she tried to convince her by saying there is no sufficient money though they keep the insurance money. But when Adhira was not convinced and made a fuss about school that's when the table turned entirely.

Her aunt shouted at her intimidating her and she felt helpless and powerless. She was been shouted at for days as she refused to go to school. As if it was not enough her aunt beat her with the leather and spatula. She gave up and started going to school. But from then she felt nauseated to stay there. School is like a second home for her. And now that is changed too she felt empty.

In the future, she was beaten for mistakes but she couldn't see it as some elder's care or love as she lost that good impression on them. She was scolded when she asked about insurance money as they didn't put that money into her school but rather on furniture. It became harder when she see her sister Nitya going to private school while she goes to a government school.

It was a day when her grandfather came to visit Adhira with a package of samosa and pakodi (Indian snack items). The door was open and his eyes widened on seeing the scene and the package fell in his hands.

Her aunt is beating her with leather as Adhira is shielding herself with her hands with her back sticking to the wall so that at least her back couldn't be beaten. From time to time she jumped on her feet whenever she hit on her legs. Adhira's cousin Nitya stayed out of the house and was crying listening to the screams. As she saw her grandfather she immediately ran to him and caught his hands and explained.

"Dādā (grandfather). Mom is beating sister".

Nitya cried. Grandfather's teeth gritted. He is a man with serious anger issues. Once the anger bubble bursts the aggression is severe. He wouldn't stop shouting until he felt content. Taking long strides he entered the house and pulled Adhira into his embrace. Meghana suddenly stopped beating as she saw her father standing right in front of her.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING"? He growled at her loudly making her panic as it may attract the attention of neighbors.

"Father. Little slow. Neighbours might listen". She said lowly.

"THEN WHAT ABOUT MY ADHIRA'S SCREAM. DOESN'T THAT ATTRACT THE SURROUNDINGS". He didn't lower his voice a bit.

" I was saying her to not scream. But she isn't listening ". Listening to that his eyes grew more red and wide in anger. His mustache which is pointed at the end proudly gave him a more enraged look as he looked at her with both disbelief and anger.

So? Was she asking her kindly while beating cruelly?  He thought.

"You little piece of girl. Now you grew big you dare to talk back. As if that's not enough you even dare to do such acts. Who gave you the right to beat her up. Who do you think you are".

He shouted at her making her flinch in fear.

" If I would say you the reason you would do the same. She bunked the class".

" I didn't. I came home straightforwardly. Why would I bunk class where they even don't care to take attendance ". Adhira spoke with her might to let them fall in her grandfather's ears earning a warning glare from her aunt.

"WHY DID YOU BUNKED CLASS ADHIRA".

When someone does wrong it is wrong. He doesn't take exemptions or excuses.

"Dada (grandfather)". She cried out clutching his white kurta (a common men's wear, basically like a vest), and hugged him.

"I don't want to stay here. (hiccup). She is beating me a lot. (Hiccup). T-take me away from here. I-I feel suffocated. (Hiccup). J-join me (hiccup) in some hostel. I-I won't even(hiccup) complain (hiccup) how-how will the food is (hiccup). A-and anywhere is okay (hiccup) b-but n-not government school. (Hiccup) P-please take me away (hiccup) from here. I'll be at your feet. (Hiccup) I-don't-want-to-be-here. (hicupp). Da(hiccup) da". She couldn't able to continue anymore as there is a continuous attack of hiccups in her throat.

His hold on her became tight listening to it.

"WITH WHOSE PERMISSION YOU CHANGED THE SCHOOL". He asked calmly. As calm as it will be before the storm.

"WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO BEAT HER".

"She is under us Father. She is equal to our daughter. We don't want to but we have to discipline her strictly. She is being a brat".

" SHUT YOUR MOUTH BEFORE I SLAP YOU. WHO SAID YOU--WHO SAID YOU THAT YOU ARE HER PARENT. YOU ARE JUST HER AUNT. AND NOW YOU SAY THAT MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS INDISCIPLINED. WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE YEAR AGO THEN? SHE IS WELL-DISCIPLINED AND AN OBEDIENT GIRL. YOU THINK MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S TEACHINGS GO WRONG. HOW COME SHE GONE ON WRONG PATH WHEN YOU TOOK HER IN YOUR WING"?

His shouting doesn't stop. He is an old age person who lost control over his emotions and has less patience. He is a person who stands against injustice strictly. And that to his only leftover bloodline, his granddaughter is being wronged. How can he stay silent? No way.

Listening to her father's shouting tears started to stream from her eyes. With his shoutings and questions, she was no more able to answer. And at another point, she knows that talking back doesn't help. Talking back only makes him shout and scold her more and more. He doesn't like rebelling and that to his children.

"AND WHY THE HELL DID YOU JOIN HER IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOL? SHE IS A GOOD-SCORING GIRL IN THE SCHOOL THAT HER PARENTS JOINED. AND HOW DARE YOU JOIN HER IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOL. WHO GAVE YOU THAT AUTHORITY OVER MY GRANDDAUGHTER".

"Father. W-we don't have enough money. That is why I joined her in government school ".

" SHUT UP. IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE SENT ADHIRA BACK. WHY WOULD YOU KEEP HER WITH YOU? IF ANYTHING YOU SHOULD HAVE SENT NITYA TO A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL TOO. DIDN'T YOU SAY YOU WOULD TREAT HER LIKE YOUR OWN DAUGHTER"?

"Dada. T-they bought a television, furniture, and a landline for their home. But didn't send me to school. They are lying. T-they are using my p-parent's money" She stuttered in his embrace as he still held her by her shoulder protectively.

"TAKE OUT THE INSURANCE MONEY. SHOW ME EVERY ACCOUNT CLEARLY. SHOW ME EVERY EXPENDITURE THAT YOU SPENT WITH MY SON'S MONEY".

"I-it is mixed up w-with our money f-father. B-but, w-we did take care of her".

"SHUT UP. YOU STILL HAVE THE VOICE TO JUSTIFY YOUR THINGS. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT MY DAUGHTER WOULD SHOW SUCH PARTIALITY TO HER BROTHER'S SWEETNESS. DID YOUR BROTHER EVER TREAT YOU BADLY? HOW CAN YOU BE THIS UNGRATEFUL-----

Those verses didn't stop there. He kept on shouting until his anger cooled down a bit. And from there he took Adhira away to his house. Her grandfather take that insurance money back partially and provided her with everything with his own money. Her both grandparents raised her like their own daughter. But after that, Meghana and her father never talked to each other. She lost her face in front of her neighbor and got that aggressive stubbornness not to talk to her father. And five years back he died. Meghana regretted not talking to him and blamed Adhira for his death and the breakage of the father-daughter relationship. She took it all in without any complaint as deep down somewhere she blames herself.

"Are you a thief? Why are not making a sound after you entered? Planning to steal something"?

Adhira's head snapped at the direction coming out of her trance.

There stood a little old grumpy granny with her hands placed on her hips and spatula as her weapon. Her brows are playfully pulled together showing her mood to play.

Jogging on her tiptoes she hugged her granny grinning like a child and said.

"And who would dare to steal from Banerjee's house huh? Moreover I'm a Banerjee too. Why would I steal something from my home".

Saying that she corrected her dupatta(veil) on her shoulders with her chest out like a soldier proudly showing that she is a descendant of the Banerjee family too.

"I know right. Who dares anyway".

"Go scroll over your phone in some corner by the time I cook the remaining food".

" No. I'll help you too ".

Saying that she entered the kitchen along with her grandmother.

Before she could help in any cooking there was a vessel she didn't yet guess it. Her hands flew and opened the lid only to shriek with her hand hovering over her mouth.

"Oh my god. You made gulab jamun (an Indian sweet dish) for me. You are incredible maa".

" I know I am. After lunch, we will eat them to our fullest ".

" I'm eating a little bit right now".

Saying that she immediately took a jamun and put it in her mouth with her two fingers barely touching her lips and simultaneously she took another one and it put in her mouth again, two jamuns at once.

She closed her eyes feeling content with the fullness and sweetness in her mouth. Giving a sign of fantastic she half-heartedly closed the lid.

"Maa you are fantastic. I don't know how to prove my words to you but you are fantastic". She said with each word stressing to show her depth of gratitude.

"If you marry a man you would be fantastic too". She rolled her eyes knowing where the topic is going and took the spatula to take out the Puri from the oil while her grandma is making a thin circle layer with dough.

"So when are you going to marry".

"Maa. Not so soon. And you know why is that? And I said many times that I will marry the person if I feel him suitable".

"Then which person didn't look suitable to you. Everyone is so nice".

"No maa. Not everyone is nice. They just appear to be nice. After marriage the real revelation will be".

"Oh spare me. Don't talk such shameless things in front of me".

Adhira's jaw dropped looking at her grandmother. Her eyes are slightly wide open. Her grandma took the double meaning from a serious issue.

"I'm not talking about such things. Please put your brain away from sacred things". She spoke sarcastically stressing the word sacred.

" There is a reason I'm asking to marry someone fastly. You know my age. And I could be dead anytime. And I'm again afraid of these wolves around us who will take advantage of you".

"Maa. I'm not a kid anymore. Before they try to take any advantage of me I'll snap them immediately. And as you said, you are not just old but alone too. There should be someone to take care of you. And I don't want to get myself busy in my marriage life".

"Hai Ram. Are you saying that you will marry only after my death. Just say that you are asking me to die first".

" Maa. Please. Don't twist my words. I hate it..... I never said such a thing. Just know that your granddaughter loves you a lot".

" So do I. The love I put in your father and mother also belongs to you now. You think you love me more than I do".

" Now I don't want any more arguments. Do you know what happened at my sister's granddaughter's baby shower function? They are again trying to marry you, someone. Mainly Meghana. She is suggesting some boy repeatedly and kept on singing praises about him. She directly hinted that she wants you to marry him. And just not that. She discussed this thing in front of all and now the pressure is on us".

Listening to that Adhira's anger rose. She doesn't want to marry a man that was suggested by her. And that too she hates the pressure she is pressing on them. They all look like hungry wolves to Adhira.

" Don't she dare grandma? Don't she dare. Ask her to stop looking for someone for me. Can't she mind her own business? Say to her to stop. I'm not even going to see her or that whatever man's face. God. Just ask her to shut her mouth".

She breathed heavily in anger as she dipped the flat circle layer of dough in the oil aggressively yet carefully.

"I already warned her Adhira. And you should know by this age that some people don't listen to you no matter what. She gets sadistic happiness in troubling you and me. I'm very worried thinking if she would bring some worst matches to you".

Word by word her grandmother's tone became softer and softer trying her best to convince her granddaughter.

"And that is why I want you to get married and that too on my hands and my selection and send far away from these people so that I could be at ease. Moreover, I want you to have a look at your bride's side before I die. Is that too much to ask? Look I wouldn't have worried about all these if you have parents. But unfortunately, you don't have any more and this is strictly my business and my worries. Just accept my wish Āmāra kaṇyā (my daughter)".

Listening to all the things Adhira fell silent like always she does. It would always end up emotional at the end as she controls her tears. What her grandma said was of course right. If not for her no one could get a good man for her in matches. And it's not like she can find a man for herself just randomly like finding a friend. It is hard to find a true friend randomly and a partner is something so far. She sighed heavily thinking all about such things.

"You are saying as if you were not searching for any matches after I refused. You are just trying to make your searching matches thing legal. Do whatever you want. If I find him good then I'll marry".

" Look at the younger blood who can't accept it straightforwardly because their guard falls". Grandma taunted her and the cooking was finished there.

Adhira only gave her a bored look and started to set the table. Praying to her parents on the occasion of their death day they started their lunch.

After lunch, both she and her grandma lay on the bed as her grandma started to say every gossip among the relatives when she attended a recent function.

Soon both of them were asleep when her grandma's phone rang. Immediately Adhira woke up as she slept lightly and picked up the call immediately.

"Hello"?

"Hello. Adhira. It's me. Rashi".

"Oh yes, my legend. How are you after trashing my dignity ".

" Put your dignity aside. Someone called me saying if I know you and said that he repaired your scooter. Girl what's going on".

Already repaired? She mumbled to herself.

She was surprised to know that he meant when he said he would get her scooter repaired. But why does he take care of her scooty which isn't his fault anyway?

She thought in her mind.

"Hello!!! The lady bee. Could you speak something".

"Yeah. I'm listening. Yes I gave my scooter for repair. Who called you".

"Yeah, son Aiden man. But girl his voice is so sexy and chilly".

"Tch". She rolled her eyes irritated as she is still a little bit sleepy. Then she spoke.

"Okay. Say to him to let that scooter be there. I will collect it sometime".

"Excuse me? Who do you take me as. I'm giving this number of yours to him so that you both could talk directly".

Gasping Adhira asked her.

" How can you just give me my number".

" Be happy that I'm at least giving him your number. Where as mine, it was found in the crematorium on the walkway path ".

" Fine. Ask him to call this number. I'll talk to him directly ".

Saying that she sleeping back on the bed when again the phone rang. Irritated she picked up the phone and threw a harsh hello to the member.

" Hello".

" Hello Ms.Adhira. Your baby is here".