Starlight

Chapter 2: Ameer baap ki bigdi aulaad

A week later:

My dad was lying in his bed when he called for me. I was making a painting so I took my brushes with me out of habit.

"Hnji?" I asked him and he patted the seat at the edge of the bed. I sat down on it and waited for him to speak.

"Your mother and i had a dream" He said "With your mother no longer being here-"

He paused for a moment and my heart started aching. It was all my fault. I'll die.

"We wanted to see you get married" He said.

I'm almost 24 and I have no problem getting married because my mom always said that I have to get married one day.

I was never allowed to date because my mom didn't like it. And I loved my mom so I always listened to her.

"I know" I told him.

He had a sad smile on his face.

"Bete it's not like I want to see you go away. But fathers have one responsibility, that is to marry their daughters. Kritika never let me choose her husband but she is married"

Kritika, my sister, got married when she was 19 and I was 20.

A lot happened that day.

"I won't be here for long" He said.

"Please aise mt boliye papaji" I said and my eyes started filling up with tears.

He still kept smiling "Arey. Aaj nahi to kabhi na kabhi to jana padega na. Your mom is waiting up there for me"

When he said that, my step mom entered the room. She looked angry at what she heard.

"Your mom is waiting up there for me? Kapoor Sahab aap or aapki beti ne merse itni saal jo majdoori karwayi hai uske baad bhi mujhe 2 minute k liye bhi kabhi appreciate mat karna"

What is she talking about?

When my mom died, my dad remarried after 3 years because he thought someone should take care of me.

When he was away, she made me do EVERYTHING. From laundary to dishes to cooking to cleaning.

She sat like a queen while she passed me orders and treated me like a servant.

Call me Cinderella basically.

And now here she is, making up things, playing the victim card of second marriage. I hate her, i hate her, i hate her.

She ruined my life.

"Aisa nahi h, Aunty" I said.

"Tumse kisi ne puchha bolne ko? Shut your mouth and go paint those ugly paintings of yours"

My mom always said that if you get angry, don't speak till you've calmed yourself. It always helped because i never regretted anything that I said after or get irrational.

I stayed quiet.

"Rab kare iski jaldi shaadi ho and she gets out of my house"

Her house? Sure.

"Chhaya! Quiet! It's her house as much as it is yours"
Dad said.

"Don't tell me to get quiet, Kapoor Sahab. You haven't heard a single word your daughter says to me when you're not around"

"I've taught my daughter to always respect her elders. I trust her"

She got more angry and she started muttering to herself and left the room.

I was looking at my lap. I controlled my tears from falling. I just miss my mom.

"Don't listen to her" Dad said "She doesn't mean that"

I just nodded at him.

"Ishan's mom called me a few days back" He said.

I looked up at him and waited for him to continue and see where he is going with it.

"She said that she wants her son to get married. He's already 28. Something happened with him in past so he's not going to choose a person for himself so she said that she has seen you and wants to know what you would like"

I listened to his words.

I have no problem with marriage. Infact i'll be happy to get married and be less of a burden to my dad even though he doesn't wanna admit it. I'm totally fine with it as long as there's mutual respect.

Ishan does not seem like a bad guy at all and my jealousy cannot be the reason for rejection.

"What does he want?" I asked dad.

"He says he wants to meet you and discuss this in person"

I nodded. He's not dumb either.

I told my dad that I'll meet him tomorrow but dad said he was at a friend's wedding so Ishan specifically asked for us to meet on Friday. I said okay.

I resumed painting my canvas to sell it in the fair that's in a few months.

My art is...nice. I'm proud of it. But every artist would say that they're proud of it.

My paintings are never sold at any fair. And not to be a total narcissist, they're better than the ones people like to call 'modern art'

My phone binged and I picked it up to see who texted me. I barely get any texts.

"Hi, Ishan this side.
Just wanted to know if
Friday is okay with you?"

I looked at the text and thought of a reply.

"Hello. Yes. I just talked to dad.
Friday works with me"

"okay"

He replied immediately and it made me wonder if he's on his phone all the time or was he waiting for my text. It's probably the first one.

I don't think he's nervous about meeting me. He seems like a pretty chill person. He gives off typical "Ameer baap ki bigdi aulaad"

Doesn't matter how nice he is, it could all just be an act and I can't judge a person accurately ever. Like, it's my talent.

But with him, it's judgement at first sight