Disha
" Disha?" Mom spoke in disbelief.
" I am sorry...I don't know what got into me that I was disrespectful towards you and Dad. I am so sorry," I tried to control my tears but I failed and end up sobbing.
" Disha, what happened that made you so angry with us?" She asked.
To be honest, I also don't know why I was harsh to them. After, I got to know about Dad cheating on Mom. I remember the worst memories of my childhood and I blame them. I blame them for making me a shy and nervous girl. But what I am is because of my choices and action.
" I got to know that Dad cheated on you...and I got angry that why did you continue to be in the marriage rather than getting a divorce or separation?" I said after I compose myself.
" It isn't easy as you think. Your Dad and I had a rocky relationship... Our marriage was against our will... Your grandfathers wanted our businesses to prosper and have more power so they thought of marriage. Your Dad and I never liked each other at first... When we got married, we didn't speak to each other until it was necessary, and then we got pressured to have a child after a month of marriage. The pressure was so much that we had to obey and then you came into our life still people, especially your Dadi Ji ( Grandmother) and Dada Ji ( Grandfather) wanted a boy... Then we tried to have one until my third pregnancy...Your Dad and I were fed up with being mocked for not having a son. We loved you and we didn't care what our gender child was. Then finally Mohid stood up against his parents saying that he will make you girls capable enough that you three don't need anyone to support you," Mom explained.
" We still didn't improve our relationship until Yasmin had her first fits... That was a week after the feast your grandfather arranged. That shook our core to think Yasmin is depressed when she was a kid. How can a child be depressed when they should be cheerful?. We thought it was because of our fight that affected her mentally. Instead of improving our relationship, we blame each other until we decided to get divorced but Yasmin has another fit... After that, we realised, what was causing her fits....," I interrupted her.
" I know about that,"
" How do you know?" She said, sounding completely shocked.
" I remember some of the moments of my childhood," I answered without clarifying anything further.
" Okay, we blame ourselves for not protecting Yasmin from whoever that monster was," Mom sounded like she was going to cry.
" Mom, Yasmin didn't get raped. Nina told me that and Yasmin agreed," I clarified as I am guessing Mom doesn't know about it because of her last sentence.
" What?" She sounded shocked.
" Can you tell me what happened? And how come you don't know about it?" I asked as I am getting confused.
" On the night when Mohid's father kept the dinner for the entire neighbourhood...All of us were busy taking care of guests and arranging dinner while all children were playing. Then we heard a fight happening between Asha and Nina. Nina was getting aggressive, which made Sameera drag Nina into a room... Where Nina lifted her dress up... Disha, that was a horrible and painful thing I witnessed. Nina was crying nonstop and kept saying it hurts...It still sends a chill to my body to even think about that," Mom shared her experiences while I closed my mouth with my hand so I got won't a cry and interrupt Mom.
" After that night, Sameera and Mohan were never the same. They stop socialising with people and limited themselves to close friends and relatives. And after that night, we don't host huge dinners or always invite people who we trust. Mohan tried to take Nina to the hospital right away that night but she didn't let him touch her. Sameera had to comfort Nina and took her to the hospital. Police got involved but Nina didn't say a word about the culprit. The police investigated everyone but they didn't find that monster. We didn't know about Yasmin as you all children didn't say anything that indicates Yasmin was with Nina. But after one of Yasmin's fits... You told us that Yasmin was with Nina during the feast. Then that was the moment, Mohid and I aside our problems. We did try to talk to Yasmin but she cries so much that we got scared if she gets another fit so we stop. Then we told Sameera and Mohan about Yasmin being with Nina. They tried to talk to Nina but she gets hostile and it was difficult to talk to her. Later, we decided to talk when these two gets older but they got more stubborn with time. No one knew what happened? It never let me sleep at night same with Mohid, Mohan and Sameera," Mom said.
" What else you got to know, Disha?" Mom asked after a few seconds of silence.
" That Yasmin wasn't raped. They don't want to talk... Yasmin told me that talking about that night makes Nina relive those moments and advised me not to talk about it," I said to Mom.
" Poor Nina, she had to face the horrible thing back and front after that night," Mom said.
" What do you mean by back and front?" I asked.
" I can't tell you that. I made a promise to Sameera and Mohan to be quiet," She muttered and I didn't pressure her further.
" Now Disha, tell me how are you doing?" Mom asked.
" A lot is happening, Mom" I blurted.
" It's so much work to do. It is because I am working on something different than I used to," I quickly explain before Mom could question.
" You will get used to it," Mom muttered.
" How is Dad doing?" I asked nervously.
" He is missing you and blames the past actions of his that drifted you apart from him. You should talk to him after this call," Mom instructed me and I will obey her.
" I will," I announced.
Then a knocking sound came interrupting my call.
" What do you want," I asked as I knew it could be one of the girls.
" Disha, Haniya is asking for your earrings saying it's her favourite one," Edward asked after opening the door.
" Okay, " I said and placed my phone on the table. I took the earrings Haniya was asking for as she loved this one and wears it a lot.
" There you go," I muttered while giving the earring and Edward left the room.
" Disha, who was that guy?" Mom asked right away.
" Mom...," Holy shit, what do I suppose to say, I am already overwhelmed from this call.
" Don't you dare lie to me!" Mom warns sounding intimidating making me gulp in fear.
" He is Haniya's boyfriend," I blurt out.
" What?" Mom screamed causing me to frown and turn my head away from the phone.
" What is his name? What does he do for a living? How old is he? Sent me his picture," Mom turned into an investigator and started to raise many questions at once.
" His name is Edward and he comes from a wealthy family so he has abundant shares from different businesses. I don't know much about his age though...Why don't you call Haniya and ask about him," I answered nervously.
" Give the phone to Haniya," Mom ordered.
Give the phone to Haniya so she could use one of her powers on me after she talked to Mom. Oh hell no!.
" Mom, I will call Dad after this... Why don't you call on Haniya's phone?" I spoke the truth. This way I am hitting two birds with one stone.
" Oh, okay... Tell me are you or Yasmin dating?" She asked.
What can I say about Ace? We are soulmates, we are made for each other yet we aren't in a healthy relationship. This is a real relationship, not like I hoped for which was a perfect fairy tale. Where we could hardly fight and be content with each other.
" Disha? Are you there?" Mom asked sounding concerned.
"Yasmin doesn't have anyone yet... I don't know what to say about my relationship... it's complicated," I answered.
" Trust your heart and allow your brain to analyse...it is difficult as heart and brain don't get along...Emotion tends us to ignore the truth and make us live in our dream whereas logic shows us the truth but it could hurt us and everyone around us... Yet, those two are important as your heart may fall in love with someone and if your brain analyses are positive then he is the one. There will be times when you will follow your heart while ignoring the brain and vice-versa but it's up to you to combine them and have a proper balance," Mom advised making Halona and me listen to each and every word attentively. I didn't know I needed this to hear, I followed my heart from the moment Ace entered my life. Now, I am analysing everything relating to Ace but I am not hearing or following my heart. This could have made me commit a mistake again. After hearing Mom, I will make sure to follow it.
" Right Halona?" I asked as I want to know her opinion.
Halona howls in the agreement for the first time Halona howls after that night.
" Thank you, Mom. I really needed some advice," I said.
" Mom, I thought you will be against this. As no one in our family or social circle has dated or talked to a different ethnic person," I muttered in surprise.
" Well, the time is changing Disha. And we should follow it rather than stick to the past...I think our family likes to do everything first...Like Mohan and Sameera had a love marriage or you prioritising your career over marriage or Meher continue her studies after her marriage and now my two daughters may marry an American," Mom sounds optimistic and cheerful after saying thinking about Haniya's and mine's future wedding.
" Well, I can't say about mine but Haniya and Edward are looking serious. Also, Edward is Canadian," I said making the conversation divert from my current and future love life. Even though, I am using Haniya as a scapegoat I don't regret it at all.
" Really?, Haniya always wanted to settle in Canada. Looks like god has granted her wish," Mom sounded cheerful and giggled.
" Okay Mom, I have to call Dad now. I will call you tomorrow," I promised.
" Disha, keep calling us regular as you are living in a foreign country. And be cautious of people as their opinion, lifestyle, and moral ethic are different," Mom advises, little does she know. That no one can mess with the Wolf-Queen and get away...humans or non-human, I have loyal people even though they are a different species.
"Okay Mom, I will be careful...Bye," I said.
" Alright...wait you should call Mohid after an hour as he could be in the meeting, right now," Mom spoke and cut the call.
" I feel so light after talking to Mom...it's like a huge weight has been lifted off me," I said to Halona.
" It was the best decision to talk to her," Halona spoke back sounding better than before.
" Looks like, talking to Mom also helped you," I muttered.
" Yes...What are you going to do?," Halona asked confidently.
" I need to know why Ace hasn't called me since the night? He gave my stuff back through Andy without saying a word," I muttered.
" I don't know what to say about that," Halona whispered as she is hurt that Ace didn't contact us.
" I have to call him because I don't think he will call," I decided to take the first step.
" When will you be calling him then?" Halona questions.
" Today," I answered.
" It's going to be a long day then," Halona mumbled.
" And overwhelming too," I said.
" Disha, you told Mom about Edward. What the hell were you thinking?" Haniya yells through the mindlink.
" I didn't have any fake story to tell so I told the truth and for your information, Mom knows about Ace," I said in a nonchalant tone.
" Mom told me what you said about your love life. You didn't tell her Ace's name but rather said Edward and I are committed to each other. From what angle does it look like?" Haniya sounded angry which had zero effect on me.
" Every time, I look at you two...you guys behave like a normal couple and the way you two look at each other... That I could have said but the truth is I wanted to change the subject quickly without giving Mom the chance to ask about Ace," I said.
" What?" Haniya sounded confused. Of course, she would because of my answer. Well, I am loving to hear Haniya sounding annoyed.
" Are you high?" Haniya asked after she compose herself.
" No, I talked to Mom and I am going to call Dad now. So why will I be high?" I spoke innocently.
" All the best then. We will talk after I come back as you clearly are not in your sense," She concluded our conversation and then block me before I could say something.
" That was fun," Halona commented.
" Well, the best stress relief is to annoy your siblings," I spoke while smiling like an idiot.
I lay down in the bed, staring at the ceiling. As I am trying to practice what I will say to Dad. Will he forgive me? I called him an unfaithful husband, who says that to their Dad? Well, this idiot. "You are stressing for no reason. Your Mom told you he is missing you," Halona console me.
" And I made him blame himself," I counterattacked.
" Disha, the talk between your Mom and you went smoothly then this will go the same as well," Halona tries to reason with me.
" Dad isn't like Mom," I said.
" But their love towards you is the same," Halona instantly defended.
" Well.." Halona interrupted me.
" Stop worrying, You are Wolf-Queen and act like it. Face the problem head-on rather than accepting defeat before fighting," Halona snapped at me.
" Okay, I got it," I quickly said so she could calm down as Halona can take control when she is furious.
Then my alarm rang which means it had been an hour. Mentally I took a deep breath and called Dad. He answered the call in one ring.
" Dad," I whispered.
" Thank god, you called. I was started to think you will never talk to us," Dad said sounding happy.
" I am sorry Dad. I don't know what got into me that I was disrespectful towards you. And the words will never be enough to heal the pain that you and Mom went through," I apologise as I was crying while being scared that Dad will never forgive me.
" I don't blame you...If I was in your place, I could be hateful toward Papa for his actions. Disha, I know what I did was a sin... Seher and I didn't have a normal relationship in the past. I was in love with my school friend and I had an intention to marry her. But Papa announced that I will marry Seher. Who I never liked because I believe the rumours about her. Even after marriage, we did try to improve our relationship but we never got time. As people kept pressurising us for many things and that made Seher furious with me as I didn't take a stand. That causes us to drift apart and we hardly bear each other present in the same room. I was...I couldn't tolerate the toxicity of the relationship. I don't know what I was thinking when I started to have a marital affair. And that was the worst mistake I had made in my life," By the sounds, it looked like Dad drank some water after he finish talking.
" Mom told me about your marriage when I talked to her. And after knowing the truth about your marriage, I understand everything. But still, I shouldn't have behaved the way I did," I let out so Dad won't feel guilty as he sounded.
" Yeah, Seher told me that you call and I couldn't believe my ears when she told me," Dad muttered.
Most probably Mom called him after she talked to Haniya. That way, Dad was informed about Edward. Well, Dad will ask me about him now.
" Haniya is dating a guy named Edward. Do you know his surname and what his family do? " Dad asked sounding curious.
" Why? Haniya didn't tell that? " I asked
" She didn't reveal anything about him. We just know his name. I need more than that to know what type of man he is," Dad said sounding serious.
" Dad, it sounds like you will hire an investigator," I laughed at my own joke.
" You will understand my situation when you will have children one day. And the idea of an investigator is good," Dad muttered.
" What? No need of hiring an investigator, I was joking. I will send you his number and links to his profile on social media even though he hardly uses it," I said as hiring an investigator to dig around Edward can be risky. What if the werewolf's existence exposes? Or will it consider a crime?
" Great, then I will call him right away," Dad announced.
" Dad, you have to consider the time difference between India and America," I said.
" Oh, I will do that. Give me his number so I can call him now," Dad spoke in a rush and cut the call. He is waiting for me to send him the number.
I texted Haniya and Edward to inform them that Dad will call Edward. To which Edward replied 'Okay' whereas my soft-spoken girl replied ' WTF. Fuck you' and an emoji of the middle finger.
Then I send Edward's number to Dad. Who didn't bother to reply with a thank you message.
" Are you going to call Ace now?" Halona asked.
" I need some energy as talking to Mom and Dad was tiring," I said and left the room. I was greeted with Nina's mischief smirk and Asha's stunned expression. Yasmin spoke in bewilderment, " You told Mom that Haniya and Edward are dating,"
" I send Edward's number to Dad so he can call him," I said while holding my smile back.
This made everyone laugh, " Since when did you become evil sister," Roshini asked. As I would never throw Haniya or anyone under the bus.
I shrug my shoulders and explained," I just needed to divert the topic,"
" How was the talk," Asha asked.
" It was overwhelming but I felt great. I told Mom indirectly about Ace and she gave me advice. I am planning on calling Ace today itself," I announced which made everyone shocked and Yasmin growled in anger.
" Why?" Nina asked looking confuse.
" I love him and it's not easy for me to forgive him but I can't forget him. Ace and I have to work out our issues," I explained.
" He raped you," Nina and Yasmin said simultaneously.
" No, he didn't. It's more complicated than you two think," I quickly defended Ace.
" When are you going to talk to him then?" Asha asked before Yasmin or Nina could say.
" I need something to eat then I will call him," I muttered looking at Yasmin and Nina who looked murderous.
" You need a drink than food right now," Roshini stated.
" What do you mean by that?" I asked.
" Have some drink. It will help you to loosen up and calm your nerves," Roshini explained.
" Great, I will bring some Rum," Asha said.
Then Asha quickly went and came back with a glass of Rum.
" This much is enough for you as you drink rarely," Asha said while handing me the glass.
I drank the rum.
Damn it's strong.
" Have this, sweet tooth," Asha gave me chocolate making me smile at her.
" Thank you," I said and ate the white chocolate.
" Call Ace," Halona demands as she missed him more than I did.
" I am going to call him," I declared.
" All the best," Asha hugged me and Roshini said," All the best," Whereas, Yasmin and Nina didn't say a thing rather they were staring at me with weird expressions.
" Ignore them," Halona says and I gladly obeyed her.
I made sure that the room is locked so no one could come inside while I am talking to Ace. Then I called him and after some rings, he answered.
" Why didn't you call me?" I asked desperately.
" I wanted you to have some space to think... You have called to reject me and I am fine with it as I have hurt you," Ace spoke with regret in his voice and what he said shocked me.
" Thank you for giving me some space. I have decided to give you another chance," I announced and hear a gasp.
" You are not rejecting me," Ace spoke in disbelief.
" No, and why should I?" I asked.
" I hurt you... No, the better term is raped you," Ace whispered, maybe he is in a crowded place that's why he is whispering.
" I enjoyed it?" I wanted to say it like a statement but it came out like a question.
" You said No... Mate, you are the strongest woman I have ever met. I know what I did was horrible and nothing could make it up for that but I will try my best to make you forget that night," Ace said and Halona howled in happiness.
" Mate, there is something else you want to say, right?" Ace asked after a few moments of silence passed while sounding sacred.
" Even though, I gave you another chance. But until I am sure that you won't hurt me then only you will be crowned as Wolf King. So you won't be crowned as Wolf King when I crowned as Wolf Queen," I took a breath and said it without any hesitation.
" I am fine with it as long as you won't reject me," Ace sounded cheerful.
" Ace, Dad is calling for you," Someone shouted from the background.
" I have to go, mate," Ace said.
" It's okay, bye," I said yet neither of us cut the call.
" I love you, mate," Ace claimed to make my whole body feel a warm sensation.
" I love you too," Then I cut the call.
" Mate loves us," Halona howls in happiness.
" Looks like you are back to being love sicken puppy," I mocked Halona who took the joke personally and growls, " I am not a puppy. I am Wolf Queen,"
" Disha, are you done talking with Ace?" Asha asked through the mind-link.
" Yes, what happened?" I asked.
" Is it okay for me to come inside the room now?" She asked.
" Of course, it's your room as well," I said and quickly unlocked the door. Looks like Asha was already standing outside.
" Did everything go good?" Asha asked trying to be normal but she failed as she looked sad.
" Yes, I gave him a chance and by the sounds, it looked like he won't let me regret my decision," I said and then continued, " I told him that he will be crowned as Wolf King after I trust him that he won't hurt me,"
" But Sabrina told us that Ace won't be Wolf King as they have proof...Do you remember that?" Asha raised the question.
" The council won't go against my word as Wolf Queen. As you know, the council rarely go against the Wolf King and Wolf Queen of Moonlighters," I said and Asha nodded.
" Do you think that Ace raped me that night? Because he said it as well," I asked.
" I don't think but I am sure that he raped you. For that, no one of us will ever forgive him and I don't think any of us will be nice to him at all. Now that he knows what he did...You should realise it as well," Asha answered in certainty and unusually Halona was quiet as she didn't defend Ace.
Why is everyone believing that Ace raped me when I don't believe that? If I was raped that I should be the first one to accuse him. I am not weak, I can stand up for myself. I will never let anyone hurt me and get away with it. I am not like Nina or Yasmin who will be quiet and let the monster walk freely.
The sound of whimpering brought me back to the present. I saw Asha have bowed her head to me. Shit, I got carried away.
" I am sorry. I was thinking about something deeply that I didn't realise my aura scared you," I apologise sincerely.
" Your aura wasn't scary rather it was anger and protective type. And Astra whimpered to get your attention. Disha, your aura never scared me or any one of the girls and our wolves. Rather, we submitted to you out of respect," Asha clarified.
" I didn't know that. I thought it was because of fear like Edward told us before... When we were going to meet his cousins for the first time," I said being surprised.
" At first, it was scaring us as we didn't know what was happening and because our feelings are the same as our wolves... that made them scared as well causing them to submit in fear," Asha explained.
" Every day, I will learn something new about the supernatural," I muttered.
" You are still adjusting like Haniya, me. Whereas, Yasmin, Roshini and Nina are loving the change and behave normally...they have accepted their fate," Asha shared her opinion.
" I know right, some times I think they were born with the knowledge of the supernatural that didn't take them much time to accept the whole concept of the supernatural," I share being enthusiastic.
" Nina and Yasmin knew about supernatural existed due to the prediction they get...Unlike us, Roshini believed them from the start and never question them," Asha said then I remember the prediction Yasmin and Nina told to the council when we first met them. They saw vampires killing us.
" They saw vampires killing us and that's why they suggested camping than exploring that haunted place," I said.
" EVERYONE COME HERE RIGHT NOW," Asha screamed making Roshini, Nina and Yasmin come.
" Remember, the prediction you two had about vampires killing us...How did you know we will die like how," Asha asked getting confused about how to say her question.
" We feel our future emotions. The feeling I had from the prediction was that I was dying the same as Nina had... So we assumed we died but during our attack, we felt exactly the feel," Yasmin answered as Nina look more confused at Asha's question.
" What if that incident could have activated our werewolf genes? Then that could mean, we were fated to be werewolves... It was our fortune, destiny...it was written in our stars that our future will be in the supernatural world," Roshini sounds astonished.
" We are the light to those people who lose everything because of that stalker," Nina spoke.
" What do you mean by that?" Asha asked.
" You guys have chosen to let the council take action on the stalker and their whole organisation but I will take my revenge," Nina announced.
" How will you take revenge when we are still not informed about everything?" Yasmin points out.
" After our coronation, we can demand the council to tell us everything," Nina said and Yasmin nodded.
" You think the council is hiding facts from us," Asha asked.
" The council, royals of every supernatural exist from many decades or millions of years. Then how the hell they don't have a single clue about the organisation that massacred a whole pack and kidnapped she-wolves? Especially, when that organisation is been for thirty years. No criminal is that perfect," Nina shared her theory making everyone surprised and think about it as she did have logic.
" I miss my old life," Asha and I spoke at the same time then we chuckled.
" I am going to take a bath now so I can get ready at the time for our practice," Roshini said. Then Yasmin and Nina left the room.
The practice of being a royal is exhausted and I got to know that royals have to go under this training when they reach thirteen. And it takes thirty years for them to finish it as it's filled with intense training. That a royal should know sixteen types of the fight by the age of fifteen. Luckily, we only had to practice for the coronation.