"Why did you reject him?" My friend asked me as soon as we were out of his eyes.
"What does that mean?" I gave her a look.
"He looks decent enough and a perfect bridegroom like your parents want." Though she was right but…
"I know that he can become the ideal son in law for my parents but…"
"But…what?"
"I am waiting for someone. I am waiting for him to arrive."
"Who?"
"Someone whom I love."
"So, there is someone who you love."
"I do. When I decided to follow my dreams, I also decided to follow him and it brought me here."
"So where is he now?"
"I don't know. But when I had met him last, he told me that he will follow his dream and will return when he has fulfilled it."
"What if he never comes back to you?"
"I haven't thought about that but my heart says that he will surely return and I have decided that as soon as he comes back, I will tell him how I feel and after that all the thing is on him."
"You are sounding like a philosopher of love." She said while shaking her head.
"Am I?"
"You are. I don't know about the future either. I hope that your love will come back but I can pray that whatever comes in your life, you have enough power to get through it and if possible then that person enters in your life who can stand by your side and support you."
"I wish it was him." I said dreamily.
"Arushi, one piece of advice, you can wish for anything but you get what is written in your fate."
"Why are you saying that?"
"Experience sweetheart, experience." She said and I gave her a disgusted look at which she laughed. "You don't have to give me that look. One day you will know what I meant."
"Is there anything that I don't know about you?"
"There is. After all, we might have met several years ago but became best friends six years ago only."
"That is quite true." We reached my home and I was getting nervous to knock on the door.
"If it could have been possible than I would have taken you to my house but your parents don't even allow you to sleepover." She sighed and looked away. Since I have graduated high school, my parents have become overly possessive which suffocates me to death. I want to argue sometimes but they are one who always shuts me off after throwing their fireball at me.
"Can you please keep quiet. I am already scared from knocking on the door." I spoke.
"What is there to be scared of?" She said and moved forward and before I could have said anything, she knocked on the door and the door opened after a few seconds only. When I heard the door opening, I closed my eyes tightly.
"You are finally back." Instead of hearing some firm voice, I heard a soft voice. I opened my right eye and found my brother. He came over to me and hugged me.
"Di, let's go inside first. Mom and dad aren't in a great mood." That made me gulp. I was frozen in my place and didn't want to get inside the house just to get some earful scolding.
"Don't worry I got your back." Megha said and took my hand and pulled me inside the house. I was reluctant to go inside but Megha was pulling me inside while my brother was following us from the back.
"Is this the time you come home?" I heard my mother's voice and suddenly I stood firm while my head was facing the ground.
"Auntie, why get hot headed? After you called, I instantly went to check over her and at that time she was coming out of the company and it was already dinner time so we had dinner before coming back."
"Megha thanks for bringing her back but we are not talking to you. You need not be included in family matters."
"Sure."
"Now Arushi, care to explain." I looked at them and then looked at Megha who was looking straight at me. She never really liked my family because they always try to control me while my brother is free. If possible then they would cage me in the room while my brother can go abroad without anyone.
My freedom has been limited by them and my dream is crushed by them yet I had dared to dream and fulfill it but they don't know if they knew then they wouldn't wait any longer but get me married. I know that this sounds ridiculous but they believe that the girl should be in the home. They, in fact, wanted me to leave my studies but continued because my relatives started to question their thinking and to show them, they are getting along with the time. They let me study and have a job but this can never satisfy them.
They want to set me off from this house as soon as possible and if possible, they want to find a rich son-in-law. Though I don't know the exact reason for that, the man which they had chosen so far had a strong background, not like those of celebrities but who were having six zeroes in their salary, and sometimes it would even be a middle-aged man. I don't know what their problem is.
"We are asking something." I flinched a bit.
"I…I had some more work to do today that is why I am late. Megha came to fetch me and take me to have dinner and after that we came home straight away." I spoke.
"Why don't you hear us and get married. After marriage we don't have to be worried about you."
"Why are you guys so back minded? Today a girl can stay outside for more hours and here it isn't even 9 o'clock that you are scolding her for. She is a working woman and her time isn't defined. You should respect her and her work."
"Megha it would be better if you leave from here now."
"If I would be leaving then your daughter would be leaving along with me."
"You won't be taking her anywhere from her home."
"I can dare that."
"Arushi you better think, if you go today then you will never come back here, if you stay then we can forgive her bad mouth." Megha was holding over my hand as she was ready to drag me out but I made her hand lose.
"Arushi." She mumbled.
"I won't be going anywhere." After saying that I went away from there and locked myself in the room and cried my heart out.