7. Drunk Part I
Don't be quick to judge.

* * *

[Anmol's P. O. V.]

On Monday morning, I reached the set of In Too Deep.

Myra was the lead actress while Roshan, her twin, was an assistant director (AD) like me. We had a lot of work as assistants such as making call sheets, taking care of food arrangements, taking care of the cast & crew, etc. We introduced ourselves to everyone and tried to get to know each other.

The official shooting was starting tomorrow, so everyone went home early.

I ate dinner before Ashar and his family to avoid them.

I sat on the sofa in my room working when Ashar entered. He chose to plop down next to me and turn on the TV.

"Do you mind?" I asked irritated.

"No, feel free to stay. Just keep your noise levels low," he replied, turning up the TV volume. Is he serious? I was actually doing important work unlike Ashar who spent his day playing with Photoshop and now wasting time on Spongebob.

"Is it like a husband's job to disturb his wife when she's working?" I proposed.

"I dunno." He shrugged. "You're my first wife, so I'm experimenting everything on you."

Great.

"I won't be like your future wife, serf. Who knows what poor girl you'll marry." That ought to show him his place. "Maybe Cecily," I pondered.

Ashar let out a dry laugh. "Very funny. I don't think I'd want to get married anytime soon after this year of imprisonment is over." I turned myself his way. Wait, why am I even wasting my time on a serf? I turned back and focused on my work. "By the way, how was your day?"

"Splendid."

"And what's your job again?"

"AD--assistant director. I'm a film major."

"Yeah, daddy's money makes getting into Hollywood easy," I heard him comment. Dropping the paper in my hands back on the table, I turned to him. Seeing my glare, he gave an innocent look. "What? It's true. If you weren't 'Princess Majhraut,'" he airquoted before continuing, "it'd be much harder to become an AD straight away."

That serf mentality.

And here I thought we were going to have a civil conversation.

"Yes, Ashar. That's exactly how I got the job: Papa's money," I said with a bitter smile. "He sent me to the best elementary, middle, and high schools in the state. Afterwards, I got into the best film school in the country. He paid for everything. Everything except for my qualifications which--believe it or not--got me the job." To top it off, I added, "But unfortunately, my daddy's money is all I have left of my--you won't understand. I mean, your sisters' education also depends on my daddy's money."

Ashar blinked at me, realizing how much his words affected me.

I collected all my papers and put them in a binder, quietly.

Why was I even wasting time working here? There was an entire library and a study to get work done in. I needed time to myself. Away from the guy who called himself my husband. As I turned to leave, my hand was grabbed. I frowned at Ashar's warm hand engulfing my fingers.

"Hey, sorry, I--"

Melodramatic serfs.

I shook my hand free and tromped downstairs.

[Ashar's P. O. V.]

For once, Mole and I were having a decent conversation and I ruined it.

She was right about me depending on her money for Rosie and Aara's education.

Rosie came to my room, holding a drawing. She shyly gave it to me and said, "Don't look at it!" I pretended to hold the paper against my chest, looking away. "Can you give it to Annie?" I slowly nodded and checked the paper. "Hey!"

The paper was a drawing of a crying face. Next to it was a broken photo frame and a stick figure on a bed. On the top of the paper, there was one word: SORRY.

"Why don't you give it to her yourself?" It might help make us all on amiable terms with Ano.

Rosie started shaking her head, but I took her with me downstairs. "Where's the princess?" I asked one of the maids.

"Library, sir," she said and directed me towards the room.

I handed Rosie the drawing back and urged her to go inside and apologize herself.

[Anmol's P.O.V]

My phone rang as I worked.

"Hello?"

"Annie!"

"What, Carter?" I hated being disturbed during my work.

"No need to be grumpy. Anyways, you, Tara, the twins, and I are going out tonight. I'll pick you up. Be ready by ten," he told me.

I put down my pen and paper. I didn't hear a question in there. Was Carter drunk already? Was he trying to wield his CEO status to his advantage?

Noises outside my door soon interrupted.

"I'm busy," I replied. I shook my head upon seeing Rosie. I had't forgiven her for breaking my dad's photo yet. I turned away and began doing my work.

"C'mon, Annie!" Carter insisted on the phone.

"I really need to--" I stopped abruptly when I saw Rosie edge close to my important documents on the floor. I had somehow managed to sit on the floor after not finding enough room for all the papers. "What?" I asked Rosie. She smiled, holding up some stupid drawing of hers. The paper was half tilted down from gravity.

"I made a drawing--" she began.

Kids and drawings. Why don't they teach something better in primary school?

"Not now," I told her and focused my attention on the phone.

"Annie, I said you're finally twenty one and--" Carter was saying.

"Carter, no--"

"No, you have to--"

"But I wanted--" butted Rosie, taking a step closer to me. Her flip flops had dirt underlying. Maybe she was playing outside today. Her foot ended up leaving a soil print on a paper.

"Stop!" I screamed at her. Rosie froze in her spot. Carter shut up too. "Get out of the room!" I said sharply to Rosie. With her face dropping, Rosie ran away, clutching her "masterpiece." I didn't know what to do. Handle Rosie, handle Carter, or handle my dirty paper?

"Are you okay?" Carter asked.

I wanted to throw the iPhone in the fireplace. What point of no did he not understand? I was not in the mood.

To make matters worse, Ashar stormed inside. His eyes were narrowed and he was also holding a paper. What was going on? First, Rosie, and now, her brother.

"What's your problem?!" the serf demanded.

"Excuse me?"

He came in to fight?

"Why did you yell at my sister?"

"If you came to defend her, then just know that there's no judge here to take your case." Rosie completely ruined the call sheets I made.

"Look, whatever your issue is, it's with me! Stop breaking my first condition!" he snapped. "Rosie came here to apologize and all you're worried about is some phone call!"

"Excuse you! One, my phone call could be important!" I retorted. "Two, the only apology your sister did was--"

"Save it!" Ashar interrupted. He just shook his head at me in disgust. "You're useless. Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall. No emotions or feelings. It's all about you! I can't believe I have to call you my wife! You're a bloody shame to Ravi Majhraut. How are you even his daughter?! You don't know even know the meaning of being kind." He threw the drawing in his hand at me. "Sorry for breaking your photo frame," he said sarcastically, "from Rosie, by the way. I don't care about anything anymore." He stormed out of the library.

He called me a shame to my own father.

Did he even know Papa?

Did a goddamn serf just tell me off?

I looked at the drawing in front of me. There was a small, broken photo frame on what appeared to be the ground. Next to it was the bed and picture of a small girl with her leg out, signifying she had kicked it. There was a large crying emoji-type face with huge tears falling down. On the top of the page--which hadn't been showing before--had the word Sorry written.

Rosie did come to say sorry and I misinterpreted.

A part of me felt slightly pathetic, but the deed was done.

Rosie was Rosie, but Ashar didn't even hear my side! And he was the mature one. How dare he say all those things about my father and me?! I never broke his condition. I did treat Rosie like a human being who ruined my hard work!

"Annie?"

I had forgotten about Carter on the phone. Damn. He probably heard everything.

Great job, serf.

"Pick me up at ten," I said before hanging up.

* * *

"Marriage s--sucks!" I said, putting down the vodka . . . or whiskey . . . or champagne . . . or tequila bottle.

The world may never know.

"Annie, why did you marry that waiter boy?" Carter asked. Tara, Myra, and Roshan also seconded the question.

I blinked rapidly in the darkness and laid against the windshield. All of us were sitting on the hood of Carter's car at cliff point. I thought about their question and downed the burning liquid in my throat again.

"I don't 'member," I said and held my aching head. "Mommy f--mess--Mommy made a mess!" My life was a joke. "I miss home," I cried. I hated Aashiyana now, because of Ashar. He was a horrible human being for implying I was a disgrace to my dad. "Ashar is a meanie."

"Leave him, then," suggested Roshan, "If he doesn't take care of you."

"Next year," I replied, closing my eyes. "My next birthday g--gift will be n--no Ashar!" I smiled at the thought.

"What do you mean?" asked Carter.

He interrogated me so darn much. I threw the alcohol bottle at him. "Stop annoying me!" I screamed. "The questions hurt my head!" He muttered an apology. Apology. "All y--your fault I messed up, today," I murmured to Carter who sat next to me. If it wasn't for him, I might've listened to Rosie.

And Ashar wouldn't have yelled at me.

"Why was Ashar fighting with you?" Again, Carter tried to question me.

"I want to go home," I said annoyed. My eyes felt heavy, and I wanted to see Papa. He never saw me drunk before. There's a first time for everything.

Everyone was ready to leave since we had work tomorrow. Unlike serfs, we had tighter schedules and more things to worry about. Carter dropped everyone off. I began crying when I realized he dropped me at Aashiyana. I specifically said to leave me at my house!

Struggling, I managed to make it to the front door.

"Open sesame!" I said in a spooky tone at the door. It remained shut. "Alohomora!" The spell didn't work. "Abracadabra." Nope. "Open door open!" I screamed and kicked it continually. I didn't want to be alone in the dark.

Someone might hurt me.

Boogeyman. Gabbar (a bandit).

"Open!" I screamed, leaning against the door and slapping it.

The door suddenly opened. I fell since all my weight was against the frame. I ended up in someone's arms.

Ashar.

"You stink," he said with his face scrunched up.

I pulled up my shirt collar and smelled it. "Smells like vanilla!" I argued, pushing him away. "I don't stink."

He exhaled loudly before closing the door. I stumbled a couple of steps forward before tripping on the carpet. I fell face flat on the floor. "My nose!" I cried out. Holding my poor nose, I whined. Ashar helped me up and told me to get moving into my room. "I'm f--fatally injured!" I snapped. "We need a stretcher! M--Woman down!"

I sat down on the floor, waiting for the ambulance.

"Ano, stop the drama. Come on." Ashar tugged my arms. I shook my head and broke free of his grip. "Well, here comes the paramedic with the stretcher."

I held up my arms for the paramedic to take me. I was lifted and flung over the shoulder!

"Cheater!" I screamed at Ashar.

I kept kicking and thrashing in his arms. My whole body felt weird. Nauseousness arose as soon as I was placed on the ground in my room.

I ran to the bathroom and puked out everything in my stomach.

______________________

A/N

I hope the chapter wasn't too bad. Thoughts you wanna share? Was this chapter boring?

How was Anmol's misunderstanding with Rosie?

Does anyone even try to justify Ano?

Do you think Ashar was a bit harsh with her?

What'll happen in the next chapter? How will Ashar manage the drunk girl?

Please please please don't forget to vote & comment (Christmas, birthday, or New Year gift for me maybe?)<3
Happy Christmas and New Year in advance!

Dilwale and BM were awesome, btw! Those who watched it agree, I'm sure. (Still #Raj&Simran for life!)

--Kiran