Aisha returned to the wretched place she had been away from for the last two days. She was happy in that beautiful hotel room away from the ceiling, annoying faces, and the depressing state of the mansion. At this point now, the mansion, although beautiful had become a haunted house for Aisha.
When Aisha set foot inside the gates of that miserable place. To her surprise, the first person to greet her was neither the perverted old man nor the monster old man but her brother.
Neel had been waiting at the entrance of the gate for hours, anxiously. He had an important message to deliver to Aisha after the talk they had three days ago. Dhananjay had informed him about her getting sick and staying at the Taj for two days.
While Aditya had tried his best to stop Aisha from leaving as she didn't look very well. She insisted and left immediately after having a resourceful conversation with him.
"You had been gone for quite a few days, dear little sister." Neel strached his hand forward offering help to Aisha, after a servant opened the door of the car.
Aisha, unfazed by his action, grabbed his hand and pushed down all her weight onto his one single, feeble hand. Neel almost lost his balance but pulled himself together to avoid getting embarrassed in front of the servants and his little sister.
"Indeed." Aisha jumped from the car, followed by Maya.
"Heard you were with one of the Raichands."
"Correction. Brother." Aisha started walking in, still not letting go off his hand, making him escort her all the way in. "I was living in one of the best hotels ever built by Raichand's and one of the Raichands happened to be there."
"I see." Unwillingly he had to escort Aisha inside the mansion. "About what you said that day." Aisha listened to him, unhitched by his speech. "I think I do not mind if I had to become like father."
"I understand." Aisha sighed. "Couldn't expect anything better from you. However, by any chance Neel—" Aisha was disappointed in her brother. Hence, found it right to stop giving him the kind of respect that he didn't deserve.
"—Do you have a girlfriend? For if you do. I must alert her. Definitely, being a woman myself and might as well be someone who would become a mother someday in the future. I wouldn't want to see my children in that creepy Well Of Snakes. "
Aisha noticed Neel frowning. She knew something was fishy.
'Maybe He does have a girlfriend. Must keep an eye on him. '
When the main doors of the mansion opened, Aisha let go off Neel's hand. She found her father standing at the same spot he had been standing at when she had returned from shopping.
"Forgive me, father." Dhananjay didn't respond to Aisha's apology. He looked at his children from above, dominating them with his frightening aura. "You are angry."
Aisha started ascending the stairs but found it difficult. Immediately, Maya joined her by helping her climb up. She covered the back of her neck with Aisha's arm and grabbed her by her waist. They started up giving her strength to her dear miss. Slowly with the help of Maya's support, Aisha reached the top. She signaled Maya to stay there and walked towards her father, woozily. She was tottering on her way towards him but she didn't lose her contempt.
"I didn't know I would get cold so easily. After all, I am the child that serviced The Well Of Snakes. Surprisingly, that same child couldn't bear the coldness of Mumbai. How hilarious." She laughed a little, followed by a cough.
"In the last few weeks, I learned. If one creates a wall around their heart, life becomes easier. So I thought this cold was my first stepping stone in learning your way of life. Father. That's when someone told me to become strong by heart and mind, one cannot rebel against their limits. So, I guess I'll get some hot clothes for myself. "
By this time Aisha had reached her father. Dhananjay turned towards Aisha to face her. He held his hand behind his back and looked straight into Aisha's eyes. Blank. After pondering on what Aisha said. He was ready to utter a few words in a rather polite manner.
"You have learned a good lesson. Next time you shall inform me of such incidents." He said in a croaky voice. " And you maid, shall be the one to perform that job. "
" Ye— yes, master " Maya bowed with one hand on her heart and the other behind her back.
Aisha walked back to her room along with Maya, after bidding goodbye to her father.
Dhananjay had calmed down now and Neel was stunned to see how well Aisha could manipulate their father. A thought struck into his mind,
'Perhaps? Could it be? This is all her plan to manipulate me? Maybe she is lying about it all.'
Aisha throws herself on the bed and starts massaging her forehead. She could easily interpret from the conversation she had earlier with her brother that he didn't believe in anything she said that day. That is not a big deal though, he will come to believe it once Dhanajay declares it next Monday. What is bugging Aisha is that he would not be of any help to Aisha. He has never been. She needed a plan B.
'What can it be?'
Originally, Aisha had thought of using Neel to stop her marriage in the Raichand family but he doesn't believe in her story. Moreover, being a scum as he is, he really wouldn't mind giving up one of his kids to The Well Of Snakes. Unless it not him, he'll be fine with anything.
'It seems difficult to use that asshole. But then, how will I stop this marriage.'
Aisha remembered Aditya's words. "Be strong by heart and mind not from outside. One should not go beyond the nature of their existence. But you came this far. That's good"
"Aditya!" Aisha hops back up on the bed, she looks at the night sky and a large moon almost covering the clear sky. The silver moon's silver rays had already made their way into the room. Aisha walked towards the balcony.
As soon as she opened the door, a huge gush of cold wind dashed onto her body. She shivered but still walked further outside the warm embrace of her room. Her hand lay on the beautiful white railing with a few golden designs carved on it.
"What if I marry Aditya instead?"