Today is the second day my sister has been missing it was only yesterday we were all shouting for my sister frantically searching for her but here I'm in the very next day marrying the guy she was supposed to marry. But today is not my wedding day after all it'd be illegal to wed not to mention impractical after all I'm a child therefore useless in the case of matrimony. Though it's not my marriage everything else will happen I will be handed over to another guy I will leave my horse my house and everything that has been known to me. Familiarity is something I shall miss from today onwards my home will be different even dear and near will be lost for me. I held my mother's photo tightly together prayed to her to help me survive a loveless marriage that has been forced upon me.
I had a chat with Ramu kaaka he is unhappy with my decision he thinks me insane but doesn't say even i don't see myself sane anymore. I left out the part were I'm to mention my fiance I don't know if I should call him that he is my father's age his friend how could he even think of marrying his teen daughter to him is beyond may be alcohol is messing up his mind. I haven't met him yet he doesn't bother with that either but I wanted to clear things with him if he is looking for real marriage I shall have no option but to call police but it's not that he will be my guardian from now onwards I shall answer to him instead of father which pleases me I didn't even want to face him. Not after what he did to me or Fanny or Raja he has wronged every one. Even the one's you are supposed to care for. I got an audience with him today I hope to make everything clear I held myself together and wore a dress that made me look older and mature. He was as expected old with slightly bald hair my father looked younger than him may be he was. "What do you want to be my wife?" he asked it was straight to the point though not very tactful. I took a heavy breath and answered by forced boredom,"I just want to know how will our marriage work " . He said surely, "I really like and respect your father i have a son he is older than you. I want only a marriage for name sake since I'm suffering from cancer so people are going to come after my son as he is the only heir to my property but if I'm married they will leave us alone". I was very surprised at this he was a very cunning business man nothing passes through him. He continued, ",i have been in love with my late wife as far as I remember I'm not interested in any romantic relationship plus my son doesn't want a mother ". I got his point he wanted a girl whom he could control not the other way around he also doesn't want anyone to hurt his son so I'm the buffer to shield him from his cousins unwanted attention. I got his feelings for his son and wife it was heart touching but what about me what will I get out of this arrangement sounds like he us the only one winning here." I give you complete control over your life over to you I will interfere we will get married only after you turn 18 and no one will ever know anything about us except I'm your guardian . I will also write your name as a beneficiary of my estate". So that's it nothing but a monetary transaction nothing that remotely signifies marriage. Should I tell him about Raja and what happened between us then decided against it because there is no point in admitting a crush if one would call it that. I wasn't happy but I was relieved he has given me back my life besides I will still be single till 18 what else would I want may be he will die before I turn 18. if only I was that lucky I laughed at myself. I asked one last question which was most important one, " Can I go to school "? He was smiling a bit and answered, "Yes you may and even have a few boyfriends enjoy your time there considering our family don't want you using any drugs ". I was surprised he was very chill my father would kill me for even mentioning the word boyfriend.
I was packing everything there is not much I took Fanny's letter with me and ofcourse mother's photo . I went to the stables to make sure Rani was ready I looked at Raja's spot it was very clean and tidy I remembered the time when it used to be messy. I imagined Raja sleeping there or reading those were pleasing thoughts but very disappointing ones. The new and changed me didn't want to dwell on those feelings I turned away but not before taking a few stands of hay with me thinking this might give me company on coming lonely days in New house.
Now the only thing left for me is to say goodbye to everyone who suffered my pranks and ask for their forgiveness. They were all genuinely sad for that I was surprised i couldn't even remember one kind thing I have done for them. Apparently they all had a good laugh at my actions and will miss my adventures they all wisely kept their mouth shut about Raja. They didn't feel that I have done right thing to him. I could only ask for their forgiveness and blessing and ofcourse I went to see Ramu kaaka he was watering the plants i looked at him and thought how much I will miss him can I just take him with me. I know he wanted to stay here looking after the place he has ever known from child hood."Ramu kaaka" i called him he turned to me. I hugged him tightly and cried like a small baby and said to him one thing, "come with me".He smiled at me and said to me,"see these saplings we will plant them away from their mother tree because for them to grow they will need a lot of space with mother tree with them they will suffocate and die. You are now a big girl you don't need me anymore and besides I need to be here baby for your father I have promised your mother I will take care of you both". I was surprised at that Did she love him?" I was very amazed. Love is not the only thing you can feel for another person your mother was very compassionate just like you. She understood your father perhaps more than he did it himself. Go and see him. Ravi is not a bad guy I have served him tea enough times to know it. When I asked before you were born he used to come here alot he liked your mother's company your father was very jealous that's end of it. I went to study to say the last goodbye I have saved that was for my father. I went to greet him he looked at me surprised to see me. "You want something " he asked. "No just want to say goodbye " I said. "I hope you don't dishonor me there ", he said. I was surprised at his nerve, "I'm happy for being at your service father next time remember before selling off something you have no more daughter to pay for it". With that i left that place with zero hopes and dreams.