Happy reading, honey buns!

(Not edited Or proof read)

She entered her home premises and looked around to find her father on the couch while her mother in the kitchen.

Her father gave a look at the watch and then looked at Ekantha.

"What time is it, Ekantha? Why are you late?",he asked.

"I- I couldn't complete both yesterday and today's work in just one day's shift right Dad? I had to work OT for that",she said.

"Yeah, how would you complete if you keep getting lost in your own world thinking how to trouble your parents more",he said.

Ekantha took a deep breathe, it might get difficult she might have a break down but she's decided today is the day to face it.

"I wasn't lost in my world, Dad because I never had a world only to get lost in",she said and he looked at her seriously.

"Yeah, now she speaks back too. Kanyaka, come here! Is this what you are teaching to your daughter behind my back?",he shouted.

Kanyaka came from the kitchen and looked at the duo, one was angry because of ego issues and the other was angry too because of being suppressed the whole time.

"What happened?",she asked.

"Look at your dear daughter, she is learning to talk back to her father now. Is this what you are teaching her?",Ketan yelled.

"Stop it, Dad. Why do you have to blame amma for everything? Why don't you take the responsibility as a parent too? Why should amma do everything for me and why not you?",Ekantha voiced out.

"Because I-",he tried to complete his statement but he couldn't.

"What dad? Why do you always have something or the other in store for me? Why do you dislike me so much?",Ekantha was close to have a break down.

She was trying to stay strong, and act stronger but every word she spoke was breaking her internally.

"Because I never wanted you",the moment Ekantha heard these words she felt the world stopped spinning and everything paused for her to react.

Her eyes widened and tears were falling down her eyes without any warning.

"But why?",a small whisper left her mouth.

"Because you are a girl and every time I see you nothing else comes to my mind except for that you are a burden on my shoulders",he said.

That was it, that was enough to break her totally. For every daughter her father will be her first hero and it wasn't anything different from everyone.

Everytime, she fell and he wasn't there she consoled herself telling he might be doing something better for her.

Everytime she needed him and he wasn't there she yet again controlled herself from asking him why?

Everytime he became a reason for her to grow more and more timid and more and more insecure, she stopped questioning and accepted the reality.

This was her last chance to question him and get to know why he hated her so much and why would he never be her strength and why wouldn't he ever be proud of her, and she did ask him to get her heart broken.

"Just because I was a girl? Nanna, you hated me because of that?",she asked wiping away her tears and sniffing back her tears.

"Your worthless mother couldn't give me a son, first she was not able to conceive and when she did she had you, and later there was no point of having kids again because madam her highness was weak and the doctor said she couldn't conceive again",saying so he looked at Kanyaka with his eyes filled with hatred.

Kanyaka bent her head low, trying to bite her lower lip to control her sobs. She never wanted Ekantha to know the reason. She didn't want them to have a discussion like this.

"Its okay, Da- since you never wanted me as your daughter. I'll not be one, since you never wanted your worthless wife she wouldn't be your wife too",Ekantha said with courage filled in her eyes and voice.

Gone was the time, when she was timid and scared how her father would react. This was it for her, the do Or die situation. She either had to stand up for herself and for her mother or just let them live the same life for the rest of their lives.

She went to her room, packed all her emergency necessary things. Then came back to the living room once again.

"Amma, do you want to come with me?",Ekantha asked.

"Ekantha, kanna where will you go? Listen to me",Kanyaka tried convincing her.

"Amma, enough of everything! When we know that he doesn't want us to be here. Why do you want to stay amma? You stayed back with him for 20+ years. He isn't going to change amma, some things will never change. Atleast let's live peacefully amma, with whatever we can afford",Ekantha gulped down her sobs.

Kanyaka looked at Ketan, hoping that he would stop them from going but Ketan didn't seem like it bothered him. He just stood like a rock with a stern look on his face.

"Come Ekantha. I had a little hope he would atleast stop us but no, I will get my dowry money and the jewelry which my parents gifted me and come",she said and Ketan turned around with the same stern look on his face.

"You won't take anything",he yelled but Kanyaka didn't stop. She took all her jewelry and cash from the locker.

"This is what you got along with me right? Now since you don't want me. You won't get anything too",she said and tears were flowing from her eyes too.

Ekantha looked at the ho- house one more time and went out of the home along with her mother.

She didn't want to take the scooty since it was a gift from him, she didn't even feel like calling him father anymore.

"Where can we go to, Ekantha? We don't have anyone to go to",Kanyaka said.

"Amma, we will go to Vennela's home for now. Later tomorrow morning let's see what we can do",Ekantha said and Kanyaka nodded.

Ekantha quickly dialled Vennela and she answered it within  a few rings.

"Hi Ekantha",Vennela chirped.

"Vennela, can Amma and me stay in your home tonight?",Ekantha asked trying to sound okay.

"Why do you even ask? Just come over. Should I book a cab for you?",she asked.

"Nope, we'll get there by an auto. Thank you Vennela",Ekantha genuinely felt grateful to have her as a best friend.

If best friends aren't there in our tough times, what are they best friends for?

Both of them hired an auto and got into it. Ekantha was feeling overwhelmed and she felt like she couldn't hold it anymore. The whole ride none of them spoke anything.

It all felt like they were at the end of everything that has been happening to them but what will happen tomorrow? Will they be able to get through tomorrow? Many such questions were roaming in both of their brains.

After around half an hour, they reached Vennela's home and both of them got down with their bags.

Ekantha held her mother hand and both of them took the stairs and reached to Vennela's flat.

Ekantha rang the door bell and Vennela opened the door ASAP.

"Ekantha, aunty. Come in",she said and took bags from there hands.

Ekantha and Kanyaka went in. They were feeling bad to stay in someone's home and that too for that night.

Vennela noticed their discomfort.

"Aunty dont feel like you came to someone's home. Feel home and make yourself comfortable. I'll go and get water for you",Vennela said and went to get some water.

Later Vennela and her mother made dinner and served Ekantha and her mother.

Ekantha didn't eat it, while Kanyaka force fed herself not to disappoint the people who gave them a shelter.

Neither Vennela nor Vennela's mother asked them about what happened.

"Thank you Vennela for not asking us to tell what happened and being considerate enough let us stay here for tonight. We'll never forget this in our life",Kanyaka said and held her hand with a painful smile on her face.

"Aunty, it's okay! You are my family too please dont make me feel like I am doing a big favour to you both. It's nothing, you both first relax and neither me nor mamma have any trouble if you stay here. Okay?",Vennela said and all the time Ekantha was lost in thoughts and Kanyaka nodded.

"Ekantha, you come and sleep with me. Aunty you can sleep with mamma. Mamma, take aunty with you",Vennela said and Kanyaka was taken from there by Vennela's mother.

Ekantha couldn't bring a morsel of food down her throat. Her father's words seem to be struck there.

"Ekantha, come with me",Vennela held her hands and took Ekantha to her room.

"Do you want to call Abhi?",Vennela asked settling on the bed and..

To be continued..

Hello dear readers,

I know I am here super later and no amount of apologies or excuses will make it up to you all.

So I will try to give you all one update per day till this weekend as a compensation hopefully.

And to all those who want to ask how did Ekantha get so much courage to face her dad suddenly then I have only one answer for you.

Sometimes as much as life pushes us down and down, sometimes it gives you the strength to get over the things too and especially in situations like now or never.

This doesn't mean Ekantha's personality of being the insecure, shy, introvert, self doubt is gone in a poof. She just covered it with a temporary layer of courage which came over her according to the situation.

Now now, thank you so much for reading and supporting the book. It really means a lot to me.

I hope you enjoy reading the book, don't forget to vote and comment your views it will really boost me to write more and more.

How was the chapter? Did you all like it?

Missed Abhi? Don't worry he's coming in the next chapter.

Also, special thanks to all those regular readers who support and encourage this author who updates once in a blue moon. I promise I won't disappoint you all.

Now that's my cue to go,

I have my second semester starting from tomorrow. Wish me luck guys! Thank you in advance.

Till the next chapter, Adios!

Your Author
Sakshi Devi