After serving breakfast to her uncle, aunt, and cousins, Ruhi goes to her room to get ready for college. The moment she leaves, her relatives begin discussing her future.
Kamini (Aunt): sighing with irritation
“I honestly can’t put up with this girl anymore. It’s better if we arrange her marriage soon and send her away from here.”
(She feels relieved after saying this, as if a burden will be lifted once Ruhi is gone.)
Ritika (Cousin): rolling her eyes but smirking
“Yes, I think the same, Mamma. But please make sure we get something out of it. If she’s leaving anyway, at least we should benefit from it.”
(She feels greedy and slightly excited at the thought of money, not really caring about Ruhi’s feelings.)
Ramesh (Uncle): nodding with calculation in his eyes
“True. If marrying her off brings us profit, then why not? There won’t be any problem. In fact, I can even invest that money in my business.”
(He feels satisfied and hopeful, already thinking of ways to use the money, completely ignoring Ruhi’s happiness.)
The house was unusually quiet that evening. The ticking of the old wall clock echoed through the drawing room. Ruhi had gone to her room, unaware of the storm her so-called family was planning for her future.
Her uncle entered, loosening his tie. A faint smell of cigarette smoke followed him as he sat heavily in the armchair. Ritika leaned lazily against the sofa, while Ruhi’s aunt arranged her pallu neatly and looked at him with expectation.
Uncle (lighting another cigarette, blowing smoke with a cunning smile):
"I have good news. I’ve already found a groom for Ruhi."
Ritika’s lips curved into a sly grin, her eyes glittering with curiosity.
Ritika (pretending excitement):
"Already? Who is he?"
She knew her uncle’s idea of a ‘good match’ never had anything to do with love or happiness.
Uncle (leaning back proudly):
"He saw her photo and instantly agreed to marry her."
Ruhi’s aunt stiffened, her eyes widening in surprise.
Aunt (hesitant, concerned more about appearances than Ruhi):
"But… he’s fifty-five years old. Don’t you think he’s far too old for her? People will talk."
For a brief moment, she wondered if this match might draw suspicion from others. But the thought of wealth quickly pushed her hesitation aside.
Uncle (brushing her words away with a flick of his hand):
"Age doesn’t matter. What matters is that he’s rich. He can give her everything we can’t. That’s what truly counts."
Ritika crossed her arms, her sly grin returning.
Ritika (coldly, with calculation in her tone):
"She won’t even realize what’s happening. Once she’s married to him, she’ll be too busy with her new life to interfere in property matters."
The aunt adjusted her bangles nervously, then finally nodded in agreement.
Aunt (softly, with a hidden smile):
"That’s true. As long as she never finds out that the company is in her name, everything will remain under our control."
The three of them exchanged a knowing glance—an unspoken pact of greed and manipulation.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Ruhi sat by her window, staring at the stars, completely unaware that decisions about her life, her home, and even her future were being made without her knowledge
That night, while everyone was having dinner, Ruhi stood quietly in the corner as usual, serving food. She tried to make herself invisible, but her uncle’s cold voice suddenly called her out.
Uncle (sternly): “Ruhi, come here. I need to talk to you about something important.”
Ruhi froze. Her hands trembled as she placed the plate down and walked toward him.
Ruhi (nervously): “Ji… Uncle?”
Her cousin Ritika and aunt Kamini exchanged glances, their lips curling into mocking smirks as if they already knew what was coming.
Uncle (flatly): “I want you to know that I have found a match for your marriage. Everything is already decided.”
Ruhi’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at him in disbelief, her eyes wide.
Ruhi (shaken, almost whispering): “M-marriage? But… Uncle, I don’t want to marry yet. I want to study. I dream of becoming a manager, of working hard and standing on my own feet. Please don’t take this away from me.”
Her words tumbled out desperately, but her uncle’s face remained cold and unmoved.
Uncle (angrily): “Enough! You will do as I say. You are already twenty-one. Girls in this family do not waste time chasing dreams.”
Ruhi’s eyes brimmed with tears. She shook her head, pleading.
Ruhi (crying): “Please, Uncle… I beg you. Let me study. I’ll make you proud one day, I promise.”
Her aunt Kamini slammed her hand on the table, her voice sharp and venomous.
Kamini (furiously): “Shut your mouth, girl! How dare you talk back to your elders? Do you think you know better than your uncle? You are nothing without this family!”
Ritika laughed softly, whispering, “She actually thinks she’s capable of something.”
Ruhi’s sobs grew louder, but Kamini stepped forward, grabbing her by the arm roughly.
Kamini (yelling): “Stop crying! You should be grateful a man even agreed to marry you. Girls like you don’t get choices!”
Ruhi fell to her knees, crying, hands folded.
Ruhi (begging): “Please… please don’t force me… I only want to study… Please, don’t do this to me!”
Her uncle rose from his chair slowly, his eyes blazing with anger. He pulled his belt free from his waist with a sharp snap, making Ruhi flinch in terror.
Uncle (coldly): “If you refuse to obey, you will learn the hard way. In this house, my word is final.”
Ruhi covered her face with her hands, trembling, her cries echoing through the room as her aunt’s harsh voice and Ritika’s cruel laughter filled the air.
After beating her, they all departed to their rooms, leaving Ruhi lying on the cold floor of the hall.
For a long time, she couldn’t move. Her body ached, and tears streamed down her face. After some moments, with great effort, Ruhi slowly crawled toward her room. Every movement felt heavy, but she forced herself on, trembling and broken.
When she finally reached her room, she collapsed near the bed and buried her face in her arms. Sobs wracked her body as painful memories surfaced—memories of her mother’s gentle touch, her father’s protective voice.
Ruhi (whispering through tears): “Maa… Papa… If only you were alive today, none of this would be happening. You would never let them hurt me like this… you would have stood by me…”
Her cries grew louder, echoing in the silence of the room. She could almost hear her mother humming softly while brushing her hair, almost see her father smiling proudly when she used to show him her school results. The contrast between those warm memories and her cruel present broke her even more.
Ruhi (sobbing, to herself): “Why did you leave me so soon? Why am I so alone? Maa… Papa… I need you…”
Her vision blurred with tears as she pressed her face against her knees. Blood from the welts on her body stained her clothes, but she no longer had the strength to notice.
Eventually, overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion, Ruhi fell unconscious, her body trembling, her tears still wet on her cheeks.
The next morning, when Ruhi woke up, her whole body was trembling. The wounds still burned and stung, yet she chose to gather her strength. After a careful bath and dressing her injuries as best as she could, she prepared herself for college. In her heart, she still hoped that maybe, just maybe, she could change her uncle’s mind—to let her study and not marry her off so soon.
While serving breakfast, Ruhi kept stealing glances at her uncle, trying to guess his mood. Her lips trembled, but she finally gathered the courage to speak.
Ruhi (hesitantly): “Uncle…”
Her uncle didn’t even look at her. His cold voice cut through the silence like a blade.
Uncle (coldly): “What is it now? Say it quickly. I don’t have time for your useless blabbering. Just listen carefully—two days from now, it will be your wedding. The preparations have already begun. It will take place in your groom’s old mansion, and you will leave this house as his bride.”
Ruhi’s heart sank. Tears pricked her eyes as she tried once again.
Ruhi (pleading): “But Uncle…please, just listen to me—”
Before she could finish, her aunt Kamini interrupted harshly.
Aunt (scornfully): “Enough! And forget about college. From today onward, you won’t be stepping foot outside. Just stay at home and learn what a married woman should know.”
Ruhi’s chest tightened. The thought of losing her future, her studies, her dreams—it was unbearable. She opened her mouth again, desperate to protest, but before a word could escape, her uncle’s hand shot across the table.
A sharp slap echoed in the room.
Ruhi’s cheek burned as tears filled her eyes, but this time, when she lifted her gaze in shock, she realized it wasn’t her uncle. Ritika stood there, her hand still raised, a cruel smile twisting her lips.
Ritika (mockingly): “You should have learned by now, Ruhi. Girls like you don’t get to argue. Stop dreaming.”
Humiliated, Ruhi lowered her head, her vision blurred with tears. Silently, she turned and hurried back to her room, her heart breaking with every step.
After two days, the morning of Ruhi’s wedding finally arrived. Her heart felt unbearably heavy as she sat quietly by the window, tears continuously streaming down her cheeks. She clutched her parents’ photograph tightly against her chest, whispering to herself in broken sobs, “How could Uncle and Aunt be so cruel? How can they force me into marrying someone I don’t even know, someone I don’t want?”
Her eyes were swollen and red, her mind filled with memories of her late mother’s gentle touch and her father’s warm smile. She longed for their comforting embrace, but all she had now was their faded photograph.
Just then, the door creaked open and Ritika walked in with her usual mocking expression. With a sarcastic smile, she looked at Ruhi and said in a taunting tone, “Well, look who we have here—our beautiful bride of the day. But wait, why are you ruining your face with all these tears, my dear sister?”
The other girls standing nearby began to giggle cruelly at Ritika’s words, making Ruhi’s pain even more unbearable.
Ritika smirked and leaned closer, her voice dripping with venom. “I came here to give you some good news. Just so you know, the groom you’re marrying today is sixty-five years old. Sixty-five!” She let out a mocking laugh. “You’re lucky, Ruhi, not everyone gets such a ‘glorious’ husband.”
Ruhi’s breath caught in her throat. Shock and despair clouded her mind. She had feared this marriage, but now the truth hit her like a dagger. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but no words came out.
Before Ruhi could gather the strength to protest, Ritika grabbed her arm harshly. “Enough of your drama. Wipe those tears and come with me. Everyone is waiting.”
Ruhi struggled, pleading softly, “Please, Ritika… don’t do this to me… I beg you…” But her cries fell on deaf ears.
With a cruel grin, Ritika tightened her grip and pulled Ruhi to her feet. Ignoring her resistance, she dragged her out of the room, down the corridor, and through the main door. Ruhi’s bangles clinked against each other as she tried to free her wrist, her dupatta slipping from her shoulder, yet Ritika’s hold was merciless.
Finally, they reached the car parked outside. Ruhi’s aunt and uncle were already waiting there impatiently. Her aunt’s cold eyes scanned her from head to toe, while her uncle gestured for Ritika to push her inside. Ruhi’s heart sank further as she realized her cries would never matter to them.
Ritika shoved her toward the car, and despite her weak protests, Ruhi was forced inside, her fate sealed as the vehicle prepared to take her away.
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