NINA

It had been two weeks since she saw Eric, and Nina was ready to put him behind her. She had successfully only thought about him thrice in two weeks—once when she got drunk with Benny and twice in the shower. It didn't mean anything. She was merely attracted to him. It made sense—the guy was hot. Fortunately, she didn't believe in love and all that crap. So, she didn't have to be confused about catching 'feelings.' Especially since she was presently entering her father's house with Ritvik.

Her dad had invited her fiancé for lunch. Nina had tried getting out of it, but apparently, she had an important role as the bride-to-be. Nina had been dreading this all week. She even got drunk with Benny the previous night because of how nervous going back home made her. Nina's family was a nut-house. And she didn't say that in an adoring, silly kind of way. Everyone in that house was bat-shit crazy and as close to human as a... bat.

As soon as she entered, the familiar, overpowering smell of incense and perfume hit her, thick with the heavy scent of nostalgia. The space felt both suffocating and oddly comforting, familiar in all the wrong ways. It was as if no matter how much she'd tried to distance herself from this place, it was still the very thing that weighed on her chest every time she walked through the door.

Her paternal aunt, Mira Sagar, stood by the entrance, her pitch-black hair styled into an immaculate braid, not a strand out of place. She wore a red floral summer dress that clung to her broad shoulders, with a thick mink shawl draped over her. Aunt Mira was the type to command attention with every inch of her presence—loud, forceful, and yet strangely quiet when it mattered. 

Aunt Mira married a rich conglomerate in her early twenties and about two decades later she decided that waking up to the moans of her husband and his mistress wasn't worth the monetary benefits. A long drawn out battle in the court led to her getting the custody of her then four-year-old sons and she came back home to her brother with a huge lump-sum of alimony. Aunt Mira had lived here for almost ten years now and had been one of the chief contributors to Nina's chronic headache back then. She always criticized others, having become embittered by the events in her own life. She was the queen of gossip, and being secure with her personal assets as well as the allowance she received from Nina's dad, she'd made it her primary pass time. It was closely followed by over-indulgence and snark.

Aunt Mira nodded at her, unamused. "You're back," she said flatly.

Thank you for pointing the obvious. Nina's smile was tight, forced. "Hi, aunty, this is Ritvik."

"Heard much about you," she muttered, her words lacking enthusiasm. "Welcome."

Her twins, Nirav and Gaurav, rushed over, grinning mischievously. Nina instinctively took a step back, her arm tingling from memories of their mischief. They weren't identical but close enough that she never quite knew which was which. Thankfully, they were older now, and slightly less dangerous. Their grins were still unsettlingly identical, though.

"Welcome back, Nina didi," Nirav said, his voice high-pitched and too sweet.

"Hi!" Gaurav waved at Ritvik, who responded with a stiff smile.

Nina hesitated. They were supposed to be family, yet she couldn't shake the discomfort of being around them. She had grown into someone different from these people—someone who didn't fit in this environment anymore. This was supposed to be her home, but the moment she stepped in, she felt like a stranger.

They moved to the dining hall, where her father was already sitting at the table, flipping through a stack of papers. His thick, greying mustache twitched in annoyance as he glanced up. The air was thick with tension, and her stomach dropped as he set the papers aside and handed them to a maid.

Gesturing for them to sit, he grunted, "Good, you're here." His eyes flicked to the clock. "Where are the rest of them?"

"Rishi said he'd be here in five minutes. Helen is probably sulking somewhere, and last I saw, Kora was sleeping. She doesn't seem to do much else these days," Aunt Mira said, slipping into her seat with the grace of a queen claiming her throne.

Rishi was Nina's father's younger brother. He was thirty-four and still stuck in a perpetual state of adolescence, refusing to grow up. Nina had long ago stopped calling him "uncle" after he asked her not to. He was a certified bum, living off the promises made by her father when her grandparents passed. His life was one endless party of gambling, alcohol, and procrastination.

Aunt Helen was a forty-something writer who had migrated to England after Nina's mother, Pearl got married Nina's dad. Since Granny Kora, Nina's maternal grandmother was free-spirited and loved traveling, Aunt Helen was by herself for a long time. After being dumped by more guys than she should, she had resolved herself to a single life. 

Ten years ago one of her fans turned into a complete stalker and when she finished a book series, he threatened to kill her if she didn't continue it. When things got too scary for her, Nina's dad asked her to come live with them. Nina's parents got divorced after a few years but her dad didn't have the heart to send Aunt Helen away. So although he was not related to her in anyway now, she lived here with Granny Kora.

"Shall I go bring them, uncle?" one of the twins asked, but before he could move, the last three members of her family arrived.

"Nina, my dear!" Granny Kora cried out, her voice louder than anyone else's, her arms wide open for a hug. Her back was slightly bent now, and her frame smaller than Nina remembered. Her once-thick blonde hair was thinner, and her striking blue eyes now carried a certain muted, distant look. Yet, despite her age, Nina was certain Granny Kora was still active in the dating game.

She wrapped Nina in a warm embrace, her scent—a mixture of rosewater and tobacco—clinging to Nina's skin as she breathed her in. "Granny Kora, I missed you!" Nina whispered, allowing herself to melt into her warmth.

Granny Kora had always been the most unconventional woman Nina knew. In her youth, she had been the epitome of a femme fatale. Lovers, flings, short-lived relationships were her way of life, and she had never seemed bothered by it. Kora had eight children, each from different relationships, and at least twenty grandchildren she was aware of. Everyone called her Granny Kora, her first name forgotten, her last name now nothing but a formality. But she preferred it that way, not wanting the hassle of formalities. She had always told Nina that romance never retired.

"Likewise, dear. Although I have way too many grandchildren to keep me company-"

"And let's not forget the men," Aunt Mira scoffed.

"Yes, let's not," she agreed, "Anyway, you are the one I've missed the most all these years. How could you not come by even once, Nina?"

Nina was terrified that coming back here might somehow trigger the headaches she had worked so hard to get rid of. But she couldn't tell her that. "I got so busy with life, Gran. I'm so sorry."

Aunt Mira smirked, "Yes, an Art History student surely has a lot to do."

"That's right," Nina smiled tightly, "Especially as I had to work to put a roof on my head and pay for my tuition as well. You see, Aunt Mira, I didn't have an alimony to depend on."

Ritvik, who was seated opposite of her, coughed, no doubt surprised by her biting remark. What do I say? My family brings out the worst in me. Aunt Mira shot her a dirty look before turning to the food.

Her dad cleared his throat, "Ritvik, how's your family doing?"

"They are doing great, Mr. Sagar. Dad asked me to remind you of the golf game next Sunday," Ritvik replied, a charming smile on his face. His high-pitched voice as always caught Nina off guard. In musical terms, he was probably a counter tenor.

"Yes, tell him I'm looking forward to beating him again," her dad smirked. As the conversation shifted to business, Nina tried to tune out, but she couldn't escape the feeling of being trapped—of being a pawn in a game she never wanted to play. When she heard them discuss the marriage, she couldn't hold back the groan that escaped her.

Granny Kora grabbed Nina's hand, the touch warm and comforting. She looked up at her grandmother in surprise, seeing a glimmer of understanding in her blue eyes.

"I understand why you don't want this, honey. We Grayson women aren't meant to be restrained by one man," she said, her voice a soft whisper of reassurance, yet carrying an undeniable strength.

The table went still, all eyes on them as Nina's father stiffened.

"She is not a Grayson woman, Kora," her dad barked, a sharp edge to his voice. "She is my daughter, Nina Sagar."

"I mean the genes, boy," Granny Kora chuckled, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "You don't inherit those from only one side of the family, silly."

"I don't know if that is something to be proud of," Aunt Mira muttered with a sneer.

"To me you are all just a bunch of commitment phobic cowards," she said the hurtful words with an indifferent expression before gathering a spoonful of rice.

"I didn't think your tiny head held such big-people words," Aunt Helen said with a sigh, "I always assumed someone who stayed with a cheating husband and his mistress for two decades wasn't all there."

Granny Kora chuckled.

"You guys really shouldn't be talking like that in front of the twins," Nina muttered. But her comment went on deaf ears.

"Yeah at least I ended my relationship," Aunt Mira snapped, "How many guys have you been dumped by. Twelve? Twenty? If so many of them left you, I'm sure-"

"Family! We have a guest," her father reminded them through gritted teeth.

Rishi smiled, "Yes, we should all calm down and-"

"Oh, shut up!" both Aunt Helen and Aunt Mira cried out.

"Hey! You guys have no right to treat me this way!" Rishi banged his hand on the table, making the water in the glasses sputter.

Ritvik looked up at her, his brow raised, not knowing how to respond to the craziness that was her family. Nina just shrugged. He signed up for this when he went ahead and got engaged to her. Besides, the more she interacted with him the more she felt he would fit right in with the rest of her family.

"I am an important member of this family as well. You all need to stop acting like I don't matter!" Rishi cried out.

"You don't matter, though. Have you done anything of significance in your life for us to pay you any attention?" Aunt Mira asked, taking a sip of water.

"And what significant thing did you do? Get divorced? That's awesome, di!" he said with mock enthusiasm while clapping his hands slowly. "You are living off off your alimony and your brother. What makes you think you are any better than me?"

"Shut up, Rishi!" Aunt Mira got up and yelled, "Before I tear your mouth off and stitch a trash can in its place!"

"EVERYONE BEHAVE!" Nina's father bellowed, "IF I HEAR ONE MORE WORD..." He let the threat hang in place. Her family quietened down. The sounds of spoons scratching against the dishes seemed harsh and deafening as everyone focused on their meal. 

"You know, dad," Nina began and all eyes were on her, surprised that she was defying him, "Now that I think about it, this family is more than just dysfunctional. I mean look at you guys. You don't get along in the least. None of you care about the fact that there are two kids here who need a good growing environment. You have seriously messed up lives and still think you can dictate or comment on other people's choices."

"Nina..." her father gave her a warning glare.

"I grew up among you all and not a single one of you is a relationship role model. No wonder I'm terrified of marriage. And now, dad, you think that you interfering in my love-life is a good idea. Go figure," she chuckled.

"It is exactly because of all that I've seen and experienced that I know this is good for you," her father said sternly.

"You know this is good for me," Nina chuckled, "Like you knew mom and you were made for each other."

"NINA!" her father yelled, baffled.

"Oh, come on, dad. It's been six years already. Get over it! I remember what it was like being in this house. You drove her away. You don't get to act like it's her fault," Nina said, her eyes burning. She had never spoken to her father this way. But all those repressed emotions were bubbling out of her in uncontrolled rage.

Her dad shot up and tossed the napkin down, furious, "You have no right-"

"And what right do you have?" Nina stood up as well, "To have me marry a stranger against my will?"

"Will?" he chuckled, "Don't act like you're being forced to do this. I gave you a choice."

"Choice. Right," Nina let out a disbelieving laugh. Tears were beginning to escape the confines of her eyes but she couldn't care less, "You manipulated me into this by threatening to ruin my career! How is that a choice?"

"At least I have good intentions and I care about you, all of you," her father glanced at her family before fixing his eyes on her, "And what did you do? You left, Nina. You couldn't be bothered by any of us. And you didn't contact us for six years. You gave up on us."

A soft throb began at the sides of Nina's head. The intensity increased and increased before it began to feel like the blows of a hammer. Her heart ached from his hurtful words. "I saved myself," she whispered. Then, turning, she walked away from them once again, hoping that the headache would disappear as soon as she left the room and knowing that it would not. Not as long as they were a part of her life.