4

Her grip on the plastic handle fortified as she looked around. Her inquisitorial eyes sluing around to segregate the expected person among the concourse of passengers. Agitated, she so swiftly as wind, fished out her cellphone and punched the number she's mugged upon. Flapping her eyes ubiquitously and chewing her lips deadpanned, she pressed the cellphone to her ear, listening the annoying rings that had begun to churn her up.

"Hello? Mukund! Where the fuck are you?" She hissed as the call got received and unabashedly ignored the surreptitious gasp fell on her ears. "I'm, like an ass, standing here on the platform and there's no sign of you. Just tell me where have you reached?"

"Anu....baby, I can't make it. I'm stuck somewhere." Flouncing like a leaf, Mukund's quivering voice reached through her ear, paralysing her almost. She missed a heartbeat at that instant, the picture of future she had envisioned started to distorting. She assembled herself and asked with an unsure voice, "What does that mean?"

"I said I can't make it. I'm really sorry baby." This time, Mukund repeated himself loud and clear, riling her up in the process.

"Are you bloody out of your mind, Mukund? I'm here with bags in my hands and you're saying that you can't come." She yelled, unable to keep her down and earned collective glares from many pair of eyes.

"Do you think it's some kind of joke? It's my life, you fucking dog!" The judgemental look and penetrating stares of people didn't swerve her from blowing up. The deafening silence from another side managed to get under her skin and she seethed, "I ran from my home because you asked me to and now you're leaving me passing some shit."

"Anu...baby-"

"Don't baby me!" Her knuckles turned white as she forcefully dragged in the trolley, striding outside the suffocating junction. "Do you think you can play with my life just like that? Listen to me very carefully Mr. Mukund Acharya, if you're so much just as thinking of hoodwinking me, let me make it pretty clear to you that I'll head to the police commissioner and will lodge an FIR against you. Understood?" She snarled wading through the crowd and waltzed out.

"Anahita, Will You Please Listen To Me Once Before Going Mad?" Mukund yelled back and without providing her with a chance to counter, he continued, "I was to come to you and trust me, I'd done all the arrangements but suddenly at eleventh hour, my HOD called up a meeting. It was very important and I couldn't say no. I was informed there that I have to go to Bhopal. It was mandatory, else I could've lost my job. That's why I couldn't defy babe."

"Done feeding me lies?" She scoffed, running a hand through her mahogany hair that were chopped to laser cut. Her eyes brimmed with tears, ready to flow as he finished.

"For God sake Anahita, I love you. Why would I feed lie to you? I did this for us, if I had refused I would've lost my job." He timidly tried to put his point.

"And you chose that fucking job over me? Over your love even when you know what's happening here?" She retorted in broken voice.

"Anu...I have not chosen anything over you. Trust me! If I lose this job how would I feed you after our marriage? How would I manage our expenses? How would i make our ends meet?" He argued, trying to sound reasonable.

"Marriage?" She snorted, "Forget about marrying me Mukund, you know it in spades, that what's the situation. I'm getting married to Yuvraaj today and that's why I decided to succumb into your insane plan of eloping and now when I've done my part, you're backing off."

"Stop being cry baby Anahita, you know whatever I'm saying is reasonable. Then why are you behaving immaturely? You can deal with it." Mukund had gotten irked by now.

"Immaturely? I'm behaving immaturely? So Mr. Mature, will you please enlighten me how should I handle it? Since my whole family would've been well aware that I ran away and what do you expect me to do? Go back to them and apologise?" She reasoned, gritting teeth.

"Exactly do the same." Mukund suggested and Anahita glared the cellphone as if glaring Mukund, "Mukund, you've lost your brain somewhere. What in earth do you think you are suggesting me?"

"I'm in my senses Anu and I know very well what I am saying. You shouldn't stay away from your family and for that you have to go back and apologise to them."

"Mukund, THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY GET ME MARRIED TO YUVRAAJ? Are you mad?" She bawled completely mad.

He's gone nuts and he will make sure that I pay for it. She scowled, thinking and took deep breaths calming herself.

"Anahita, you've to deal with this situation sincerely okay? For that first tell me, do you want to be with me?" He asked and Anahita rolled her eyes. "Nah! I'm standing here, on the railway station with my luggage leaving everything behind, for President of America; Donald Trump. Of course for you duffer."

Mukund chuckled at her sarcasm.
"Then do as I say." He enlightened her with a way out but Anahita saw red after it. The whole world started dancing for her as the aching heat of summer did its magic on air conditioner prone body.

"This is worst Mukund. How can you even ask me to do this. are you fucking mad?" She sighed, rubbing her neck.

"Anahita stop swearing. I believe I'm gonna get deaf today if you keep cursing and yelling on me. And no I'm not mad because I know this is the only way out."

"This is wrong. It will be injustice to everyone and trust me, we'll be stuck. I know Yuvraaj and he is the worst guy of my acquaintance. You've no idea what he can do. And also it will cause serious damage to my dad's reputation. I will tarnish our prestige." She said lowly.

"And what about us Anu? Was that right of your father to reject me without even meeting me just because he has promised his friend to marry you with his son? Was that right when you pleaded him and he paid no heed? Is this right that he's marrying you to Yuvraaj without your consent?" Mukund triggered questions angrily and Anahita held peace.

"Anu...baby, when all the world can be selfish, why can't we for once? Why can't we think of our happiness for once without thinking about others?" Mukund sounded helpless and Anahita bit her lip nervously.

This was one of the toughest and prominent decision of her life and she wouldn't just sit down doing nothing. Even if it's concerned with her father, she had to plump for. She couldn't just give away her happiness and if kids' happiness matter for parents. She was sure her dad would be happy with it.

She at least hoped so.

Can I be selfish? For once? It won't harm right? She pondered, Mukund will always keep me happy and that's what matters to mom & dad. My happiness.

Finally disregarding her morals and ethics, she decided to go for it. "What do I have to do?" Her voice came out determined.

"Really? Will you do that? Oh! I so love you baby. I love you so much." Mukund squealed happily making Anahita giggle.

"I love you too. Now just tell me what I have to do?" She queried excitingly and Mukund explained her everything.

"Okay!" She chewed her nails as he finished off, her heart pounding fiercely in her ribcage, "Do you think it will work?"

"Have faith in me baby and I will strike the right note, I promise. Now go back to your home and promise me that you will take care of yourself." He asked and Anahita smiled. They cut the call biding bye and Anahita looked for taxi.

"Taxi..." She stopped one and leaned on the passenger seat "Dada Dharavi janar ka? (Will you go Dharavi?)" She asked and getting a positive nod, she opened the backseat door, pushed her trolley inside and slumped on to the seat, gesturing him to start.

Resting her head on the leather headrest, she messaged her eyes with her index finger and thumb.

Seriously? Does this 'word' things still works? A century where people back stab each other the moment other turns his back, my father is going to stand by his 'words' after 23 years. Damn! Ask me first. I'm the one who has to live in this relationship.

She was irked at her father more than any other.

***

Anahita stood on the sill of 'Maurya House', heart pumping loudly in nervousness and in fear. She licked her lips exasperatedly and watched the closed iron gates.

"Ma'am? Will you please give me my money?" She made a face as the taxi driver nudged her, she turned to him with contorted face, "What do you think I'm going to run with some 150 rupees of yours?"

She fished out her wallet from the back pocket of her jeans and taking out required money, handed it to the driver, beckoning him to move.

"Thank you ma'am." The driver nodded and whooshed away leaving her all alone in the road in burning summer.

Hot loo wind camouflaged with thick humid continuously slapped her face as if it were punishing her for coming back, the silent atmosphere around her bride adorned house could easily calculate that either everyone was sleeping, which was not possible, or everyone must be mourning over her departure which meant if she went inside, she wouldn't ever be seen.

"Dad will chop you into pieces and then grill you with salt and pepper on the barbeque. Don't go inside anu, just run away. Take a deep breath, turn around and run for your life. I can't do this. I can't do this." She breathed heavily and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Taking out her cellphone, she called Mukund for moral support, he fortunately picked up at second ring.

"I can't do this." Anahita said in a breath.

"Anu baby...where are you tell me?" He asked and Anahita dropped her shoulders looking at the gate. "In front of my home but my legs are not moving ahead."

"They won't move ahead on their own, you have to be brave and take steps."

"No no no dad will kill me for sure. He would never accept me and -"

"Are you going to stay with him all your life? No right. Then why are you so afraid, just go and confess everything."

"It's not that easy Mukund. I don't know what will he say and mom, mom is going to do hell of a drama and I know she is like mother India, she just won't accept it all as it is fed. I'm sure she will help dad in burying my body in the backyard if she comes to know that I eloped." Anahita cried. The heat had done serious damage to her brain.

"Anu listen to me very carefully. I'm not going to help you out in this, and you have to face the situation alone. Now if you want to be with me, do it else I will understand that I loved a coward." His words made Anahita frown.

"I am not a coward, understand." She seethed.

"Then prove it. Go inside, and apologise. Now you will call me only after work is done, understand?" He challenged.

"But... but how can you leave me alone to handle this. We are going to be together then wouldn't you be helping me in each step I take like a good partner?"

"Your mind runs like Rajdhani express when it comes to me and you want to get your work done but when your wit is needed, it's of no use. Stop telling me what I should do or not and go inside, fight for our love. Understood?" Mukund propelled.

"Positive." She cut the call without bidding bye and dragged the trolley inside.

She could've simply pressed the doorbell and door could've opened but in total Bollywood style, she pushed the door yet again, it remained closed.

"What the hell yaar? My life just sucks." She came crashing down to the reality and pressed the bell. Kaka, the butler, saw her and in his full speed, he sprinted to her, quickly opening the door.

"Where were you muli? Sir and madam are so worried, they thought you just.....eloped." He widened his eyes and Anahita walked past him.

"Come inside kaka and yes bring popcorns too because you are going to enjoy total Bollywood drama." She commented over her shoulder. This was going to be difficult and she hoped that she could survive.

"Mom! Dad!!" Her voice echoed in the hall ripping the doleful silence that had covered Maurya Mansion. Mr. And Mrs. Maurya eyed her as if I were an illusion, they got up immediately jumping on their feet and ran to her. Anahita didn't intend to but some lachrymal dribbled down from her eyes when Mrs. Maurya hugged her. It made her guilty as well.

"Anu... Where were you babu? Where did you go?" Mrs. Maurya cried hugging her but Anahita's eyes were searching Mr. Maurya and his stiff demeanour when he probably noticed the heavy trolley bag beside her.

"What is this Anahita?" He asked calmly but his posture was not at all calmed. By then, everyone started noticing it and comments flew in air regarding everything and anything.

'Was she running away with her boyfriend?'
'Ooh my God! My brother has such a lousy daughter.'
'She will tarnish the prestige of this house.'
'Huh! It was supposed to happen, they've given their daughter too much freedom.'

All her relatives whispered but loud enough for the whole family to listen. If she weren't in this situation, she would answer these hypocrites acutely but now was not the time. She had already her platter full and adding one more stuff would just make it difficult.

"I have asked you something Anahita. ANSWER ME!" Mr. Maurya roared making her flinch. All the courage seeped out of her and dissipated, she was left with her quivering self only.

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*Muli - Daughter