'we all want that person
who makes us calm in the soul and crazy in the flesh.'

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Manzar’s POV

“I want Manzar sitting here, beside me”
My mother pouted looking at me with one of those eyes that nobody denies

“Ofcourse Mom”
I said taking my glass of cranberry juice with me and sitting in the seat next to her, not before kissing her cheek.

I missed her.

A little but I did.

Everybody around were settled, Dad in the head seat, Aditya to his right, Seher just next to her husband, and Mom left to Dad with me near her.

“So, Darling how was your trip?”
my Dad asked slicing his grilled fish, his eyes on his plate, ears focused on me, as soon as the bite entered his mouth he looked at me smiling.

I grinned, “Fantastic!”

He pulled his eyebrows together still smiling looking at Mom, who was smiling eating rice with her perfectly manicured hands,
“Good”
she said

I concentrated back on my food, my left hand moved to pick up the fish piece I just sliced, taking a bite couldn’t held back the compliment,

“I am a perfect cook.”

Everybody laughed.

“What you don’t believe me?”
I said gulping it down and taking the sip of my juice.

Seher laughed shaking her head.

“Yes, you washed it pretty nicely just like I marinated it just fine”
Aditya said charmingly

Seher once again rolled her eyes

“Beta, next time make sure you make it a little spicy.”
Mom asked Seher laughing

Seher laughed, “I will Mom”

Both Aditya and I made faces looking at each other now that the news was already out.

“But maa I cooked the rice. I swear.”
I said looking at my mother who was eating rice and Fish together this time.

How does she manage to pick rice and fish together with a fork is beyond me.
I’m a messy eater, now you know.

She looked at me sideways and then Seher.
Who was smiling eating her potato nuggets alongside dipping it in curd.

“She did Mom. She cooked it.”

Mom laughed when Dad said,
“I’ll give you 100 rupees as a reward then.”

I pouted when everybody laughed.
As usual.

“Manzar, child I have some news for you.”

“Yup?”
I said gulping the last of my juice, “Wait, let me get refill. Anybody?”

“For me please.”
Seher asked raising her glass

“Sure” I said smiling

I walked back into the kitchen and opened the juice container, poured some juice for me and then in Seher’s glass. Opening the fridge I added two cubes of ice in my glass leaving Seher’s.

I’m a cold baby.

“Yes, Dad continue.”
I said giving Seher’s glass to her kissing her cheek on my way, I turned round the table and settled on my seat back.

Dad took a breath in and started,
“Your Mom and I met a guy this morning. We met his family. Everyone.”

“Dad cut the chase. What is it?”

“He is a great guy, so we were planning you to get married to him” Mom said
completing Dad’s sentence

“Leave your past behind Manzar, you are a big girl now. What happened, happened. Now move on. You are not getting any younger and this is the right age.”

My breath actually hitched this time, I turned to look at Seher and then at Aditya, Seher wasn’t paying much attention.

Classic Seher.

Whereas Aditya was waiting for my reaction.

They all knew.

Fuck they also knew that too.

I want Rudra no one else.

My appetite long forgotten, I had this urge to spill the juice all over the table, smash the glass onto the floor, shatter it into pieces.

“You knew about this?”
I asked looking at both of them raising my voice

Aditya nodded. Seher blinked looking at me rubbing her belly her gaze immediately going down.

“No! the answer is No!”

“Manzar, calm down”
Seher said looking at Dad and then at me, “No need to cause such dram…”

“Drama!”
I shouted and stood up, the chair falling back and the glass still in my hand, Seher flinched.

I wasn’t paying any attention, that this was the first time she flinched because of me.

“How dare you! Both of you, you both knew about my…” I screamed at both of them

Seher was now close to bursting, her one hand on her belly the other on Aditya’s shoulder

“Enough Manzar, I had enough of you screaming, stop this and sit down listen to what Dad has to say.”
Aditya fumed but keeping his voice under control

“Manzar…”
Mom touched my hand asking me to sit down

“No!”
I pulled my hand back and Seher followed the movement

Seher too stood up this time, faster than she should, holding her breath she had herself stable by holding the table and Aditya gripping her waist from behind.

“This is the last time I am warning you, you woman. I’m asking you the last time, sit down right now or else I know how to make you.”

“Oh look who’s talking, the big sister. What you going to do? Slap me? or are you going to cry. That’s all you know.”

“Manzar!”
Dad said out loud

“No! I’ll talk!”

I said pointing at My elder sister this time,
“This woman standing right in front of me claims, she loves me the most in this world, but look what she did. She, knowing I love someone else, let my parents…”

“Manzar, listen to me”
Seher said slapping her hands hard on the dining table, I was so occupied in my own fury to notice her breathing deep and hard.

“Fuck off! I don’t want to listen to anything you got to say.”
I said

“Manzar”

I didn’t notice him coming to me just felt the only slap impact now burning my right cheek.

“Dad!”
Seher and Aditya flinched

Mom rushed to pull my father back now crying,
“Jaane dijiye… bachi hai Aditya samjha dega. Please.”
(Let her be, she a kid. Aditya, will take care of this. Please.)

“Child! She is a child, that’s what I was thinking since the past years. Now I’ve had enough.”
Dad said his eyes big- getting bigger

“The people you are cursing right now, are the one who keep your happiness before their own, you know that. I’m ashamed of you Manzar. You know your sister more than anyone, you know Aditya more than us. How can you curse them like that?”

“Please”
Mom pleaded Dad rubbing his back to calm him down

Rubbing my cheek which was burning I laughed,
“Know them. I don’t know them anymore.”

“Manzar.”
Seher cried “Please shut up and go into your room. we will talk later”
she said now taking Aditya’s hand supporting herself she was huffing this time.

Aditya was rubbing her back with his free hand.

“ Oh please… stop acting all mature. I did everything for both of you to get together, where you both were too cowards to accept your love for each other. And this is how you repay me.”
I mused angrily

“Manzar!”
Dad shouted again and this time I saw the slap coming and so does everybody

“Dad please my swear”
Seher screamed before his hand could touch me

“You are spoiling her”
Mom told her

“Please Manzar go to your room.”
Seher pleaded now holding her husband’s hand a little tight, she was stopping herself from crouching down.

“I have no interest in talking to you even. I don’t care.”
I said moving back to my room

Aditya retorted,
“Manzar, don’t say anything you regret later please”

“I hate all of you. I hate you sister dearest.” I said looking back at her and slammed the door

“Seher, beta you need to sit down, you don’t look fine”

“I’m fine maa. I just need some water and talk to her.”

“Sit first… I’ll fetch you water. And take deep breaths.”

This was the last sentence I heard before plugging my ear phones and shutting the world out.
.

.

.

I know what all I said was wrong, but I was hurt and it wasn’t in my nature to sit and talk. I jump into conclusion before someone justifies.

I was hurt because I was expecting Seher and Aditya to say something for me, they knew about this mess my parents were about to create yet they said nothing.

Little did I knew I should be listening to what they have to say. I was aware I was going beyond line.

I needed to apologize I realized when the clock stuck 11.

We tend to hurt people when we are too furious to understand, this what happens with me and my family. what we’ve learnt from our father.

My sister wasn’t in a good condition when I cursed her. I shouldn't have done that.

What I am doing right now is to justify my false behavior towards them all. I could’ve talked nicely and explained my point to them.

Rudra is a guy who can win hearts, I should’ve been more patient.

Turning the music down, I took the plugs off my ears and counted till ten before going out.

The house was quiet which was unnatural.

“Well, the moment Manzar, you will walk out, it will all be opposite. You have a lot of apologizing to be done.”

“Naak ragad diyo waha”
I said trying to lift up my mood

I clicked the door open and went down the corner noticing the living area all empty.

The dining table still the same, all mess like last I’ve seen.

Where was everybody?

“Didi”
I called but nobody replied

I checked their bedroom, the extra bedroom even the storeroom yet nobody was there. Fuck!

I wasn’t feeling good about this.

I rushed inside my room, too worried to notice the slip note on my door.
I picked the phone up and dialed every single number I have ever had.

Seher wasn’t picking up. Aditya disconnected my call and my parents were out of the option list. I knew better than to call them.

I instantly called Rudra.

"Hey! Listen Manzar can I call you after half an h.."

“Rudra… do you know where my family is?”

“Your family?”

“Yes, everybody was here about an hour or so ago but nobody is home now. we had an argument…”
I said now crying

“calm down Manzar and tell me everything”
he said and I hear a little shuffling form his side, “Excuse me gentlemen” followed by a faint “yes sir”

I cried even harder, “Mom and Dad were... they wanted me to have an arranged marriage. Aditya and Seher knew about us, but they agreed to it. They... I lost it. I said very very bad things to her. Rudra help me… I can’t live without her. I need her, Rudra”

“Silent Manzar… I’m coming to pick you up right now. where are you?”

“Seher’s home.”

“I know that… do me a favor, go into the kitchen and drink some water for me, please. “

“Okay”
I said and started moving out of my room again, I was shivering really bad. only thought running through my mind, I need my sister.

“Grab your wallet and phone. I’ll be there within 15 minutes.”

By now I was out of my room door

“Okay!” I turned back to pick my wallet from inside the room, when I saw it,

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

“What happned?”

“I did this, Rudra.”
I cried looking at the note

The note says- ‘taking Seher to the hospital, if anything happens to her, I will never forgive you, you are responsible.’

I cried even harder.

“Relax Manzar, nothing will happen. Seher is a brave girl and so does her child relax."

“I did this”

“I am going to her hospital. I need to see her.”

I switched the call off, not even bothering to hear his response, I needed my sister. She needed me.

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I hope you liked it.
With love,
Ankita 🦋

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