Song of the chapter is They just don't know you by Little Mix

-46-
-Siya Natekar-
-Present-

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Natekar Residence
20 December,  2019
10:30 am

"He's just a friend."

I said nervously as I fidgeted with my hands, and looked across the living room. The disappointed faces of my parents, the tensed glances of my sister and the smirking face of Nikhil Sharma.

An hour ago, Kartik had called in saying that he had found a lead in his father's case and that he wanted to check it out just to find out the whole truth. He asked me to accompany him and I really couldn't say no.

So I packed up my belongings, some books, just in case my family suspected something, I could tell them that I was visiting the library. God that lie was so exaggerated. I really needed to think of a better excuse to sneak out of my house than that.

I had just zipped up my bag and took a few steps out down the stairs , hoping ardently that my parents wouldn't be around, when my mother called, " Siya! Will you come down a minute?"

And now, I was here, sitting in the living room couch, with my whole family and Nikhil standing in front of me like they were about to hold an intervention.

My mother's first words to me were , " Sanchi has told us all about your new friend, Siya."

And my worst fears immediately had come true. I gulped and looked at Sanchi. She had her arms crossed in front of her chest and a stern look on her face.

" Siya, you have one minute to explain why you were hanging out with that boy." My father had thundered.

" He's just a friend." I had said with great difficulty, my breath hitched in my throat.

" A friend? Who said you could be friends with that kind of a boy?" My mother said, her voice filled with accusation.

" And how did you even start hanging out in the first place? You two are polar opposites! You run in different social circles." Nikhil said, emphasizing on the concern in his voice.

"That's none of your business." I replied, looking directly at him.

" Siya, you do not talk to Nikhil like that." Sanchi warned, moving closer to him.

" Then he doesn't get to talk about who I should and shouldn't hang out with either."

" Siya, enough." My mother warned. I rolled my eyes.

" What do you want me to do? Stop hanging out with him? " I asked.

" Yes, Siya. The Malhotra's are dangerous, which is why we don't want you associating with that family." My father said, looking sternly at me.

I looked down at my lap. Why was my family so critical towards the Malhotra's? What could be so big of a reason that they despised Kartik's family so much?

" Dad, " I dawled, regretting instantly. " Why are you so sceptical of the Malhotra's?"

My dad gave me a look so fierce, that I would have succumbed to tears if it wasn't for the embarassment I didn't want to be in front of Nikhil.

" You wanna know the reason for my hatred for that evil family?" My dad said, his hands on his hips as he shared a look with my mother. " Okay, Siya, maybe it is time you know the truth too."

" The truth?"

" Yes, the truth."

A moment of silence passed before my father resumed, " Your grandfather and Kartik's grandfather were really good friends back in the day. Business associates, to be exact."

I raised a brow. " Grandpa knew the Malhotra's?"

" Yes, " my father paced around saying, " And he was the reason why the Malhotra's could even establish their business empire here in Delmore."

My father sighed. " But then , things started getting ugly between them as business started to flourish. They both wanted the better half of the profit and control over the business."

" And then, one thing led to another and....on one fateful night.....Ashok Malhotra shot your grandpa, right in the head, out of jealousy and his desire to eliminate competition."

My eyes widened as I struggled to speak, " Wha-at?"

" Yes, Siya." My father sat down next to me as my mother caressed his arm. " We filed a case against him but...he got away because he had the wealth and power to do so. The case was shut close without granting any justice to your grandfather."

He looked at me with his earnest eyes, which were slightly glistening at the edges. He put a hand on top of mine and said, "I always thought you were too young to hear this kind of a truth....and so I kept it from you. But now I see that maybe I shouldn't have."

I looked at our hands together and then up at him as I blinked to process all that he had just told me. " But...but dad....how is Kartik at fault here?"

My dad raised his eyes at me, so did the rest of them.

" I... I... mean...it was his grandfather......who did it. Not him. So...we... should-n't... shouldn't....blame him..."

" What do you not understand, Siya?!" My father stood up straight and sneered down at me. " That family is cursed, he's just like his grandfather! It's his destiny to be like his grandfather! It runs in their blood."

" But dad, I assure you Kartik isn't like that!" I raised my voice, hoping to be convincing.

My father raised a hand , signalling me to stop. " Enough, Siya. I don't want to hear you defending that family."

" Dad-"

" Siya, stop it!" My mother scolded. "What has gotten into you today? You weren't like this. Why are you behaving this way?"

" It's his influence, mom. Don't you understand?" Sanchi chimed in. "He is manipulating her into being like this."

" Shut up, Sanchi-"

" Enough!" My mother glared at me.

I shut my mouth close. I knew it better than anyone that there was no way I could ever make them understand my point.

" You're not going to associate with him any longer, Siya. And that's an order." My mom thundered, looking severely at me. "Infact, I think it's better if we ground you for a couple of days."

My eyes widened, " Mom!"

" Your mom's right , Siya. You have committed a mistake and you have to face the repercussions of that." My father said, his voice loud and stern. "I don't want you leaving the house to go anywhere other than school. I'll drop you to school and Sanchi will pick you up when it's over."

" But dad-"

" I don't want to hear any excuses, Siya." My dad said, raising a finger to stop me from uttering any more words and I knew better than anyone to stay quiet when he did that. "Go to your room. Now."

I wanted to scream at him, tell him that he had no right to control my life like this but I knew it better not to expect any understanding in return. My parents had a grip over my life. A grip I wouldn't ever be able to escape.

So I stomped my away to my room and flung myself onto my bed and stared at the ceiling. What was I going to tell Kartik?

I took out my phone to dial his number when there was a knock at the door. I sat up, thinking it was probably my father.

" Come in."

Sanchi came inside, her face solemn and worried, like it was me who had outed her in front of our parents. She came up to me and stood at the edge of the bed.

" Look, Siya, I had to do this. I'm your elder sister and I need to look out for you-"

" Save it, Sanchi. Why are you really here?" I snapped, already tired by her fake concern for me.

Her eyes turned cold again and she pursed her lips before saying, "Mom wants your phone. She says she'll give it back to you when she feels that you've learnt a lesson."

I groaned in frustration.

Taking a deep breath, I handed my phone over to her but not before switching it off. If she was thinking of sneaking up on my phone, she had another thing coming for her.

She took the phone, smiled her fake smile and stalked her way out without closing the door.

I watched her silhouette walk away before closing the door and flinging myself back to my bed.

Fuck my life.

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I sat by my study table, doodling on a piece of paper and thinking about the reason behind my family's hatred for the Malhotra's.

While my grandfather's fucked up history with the Malhotra's really did put a lot of emphasis on why my father and mother would hate the Malhotra's so much, it still didn't explain why my sister would be so sceptical of them. If anything, she would've understood my point better than anyone else. That it wasn't really Kartik's fault that his grandfather killed mine.

Then why would she behave in such a way? Was she just manipulated by my parents into hating everyone in that family or was there a bigger reason to that?

I guess you could say that she had always felt threatened by Alishka's presence at school. She had grown to hate Alishka's guts when she was in high school. Even if junior, Alishka always had a way with everyone. She was the only junior who would be invited to parties thrown by seniors. She might have also had a thing for Nikhil. Or atleast pretended to have. I remembered seeing her wander around him in school, talking to him during basketball practices and joking around with him.

So was jealousy the reason Sanchi hated the Malhotra's?

But why did she have to fear now? Alishka was dead. There was no threat left. So why be so critical?

Just then , there was sharp knock at the window. I turned around in a swift , to find Kartik hanging by the window sill, softly tapping the window pane.

My eyes widened.

I quickly stalked my way towards the window and opened the panes. He smiled up at me.

" Hey there Juliet."

I didn't know how to react. My throat was dry and my heart was beating fiercely against my chest.

" Kartik, what are you doing here?" I whispered, hoping ardently none of my family members would hear us.

" Will you atleast let me in first?" He asked, his eyes soft and warm.

" Uh yeah.  Just don't make any sound. My parents are gonna kill me if they knew I snuck you in." I said and stretched out my hand to help him.He simply hooked one leg over the windowsill and holding the window frame with his hands, pulled the rest of his body in.

Once he was in the vicinity of my room, I closed the window and turned to him.

" Okay, we need to be quiet. My parents are literally downstairs. If they hear you-"

" I know. I'll keep it down." He whispered, smiling slightly.

" How did you even get to the window?" I asked after nodding.

" Uh...there was ladder in the garden." He simply shrugged.

" Did anyone see you?"

" Do you think I would have been able to get to your room if that was the case?" He said and tilted his head.

I breathed. " Point."

" I tried calling you but it said that it was switched off." He said, looking around my room.

I nervously fidgeted with my hands. " Uh... yeah, my mom took my phone."

" Why? " He turned to me.

I looked at him hesitatingly , contemplating whether it was a good idea to tell him the truth.

" My sister told my parents that I was hanging out with you."

His face turned soft with his brows creased at the edge. " And that's wrong because.....?"

" My parents aren't that fond of  your family." I said, nervously.

He nodded softly and smiled slightly. " Yeah, not many people are."

" And....they were really angry about it. So....my mother decided to ground me for a couple of days."

" Wait-" He raised a finger. " So you're telling me that your parents get to decide who you should and shouldn't hang out with?"

I looked down.

" That is such bullshit." He muttered under his breath. "You let them do this?"

" I don't have a choice."

" No , you do." He said, determined. "You do have a choice, Siya. Look , I get protective parents. But this is not that. This is controlling and toxic. Just because they are your parents doesn't mean you owe them your life. It's your life, you get to decide what happens in it."

I threw my hands in the air. " It's easier said than done, Kartik. My parents have always been like this. They have been incharge of deciding what I am supposed to do in my life. I cannot just break away from this."

" Yeah, but you can try." Kartik said, taking my hand in his. "Come on."

He pulled me towards the window.

" Kartik, what are you doing?"

" I'm helping you sneak out, come on." He said, hooking one leg out the windowsill onto the ladder and then pulling another one out. I looked down at him.

" Kartik, I can't do this."

" Yes , you can. Now come on before anyone sees." He said, stretching out his hand towards me.

I nodded negatively. "No... I...I..."

" Come on, Siya. It's now or never. If you don't do this now, you'll never be free from your parents' clutches."

I breathed heavily. He was right. This was my chance. Whether I take it or leave it, that was going to determine my entire life.

" What's it gonna be Siya? Now or never?"

I looked back at my room and then back at him. A new chapter awaited me if I took his hand. Was I ready to take that risk? Undo all of life choices?

For him?

I gulped down the lump forming in my throat and put my hand in his, intertwining them.

Yes, I was.

" Now. "

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