' A Date?'

Nia

"Where were you?"

My mother's crisp tone made me halt my steps from climbing any more stairs. I took a deep breath in, trying not to lose my calm.

"Just somewhere."

I continued to climb the stairs before she could bombard me with any more questions. But that just remained as a mere thought when her loud voice thundered around the huge luxurious mansion causing even the silent air to vanish.

"Halt your steps and talk properly to me. I don't want to see any disobedience under my nose." After pausing for a bit she continued again "To each asked questions you will answer obediently without any hint of mockery or sarcasm."

I shut my eyes tight, tears pricking out already, my breathing became unstable. All the buried memories came back to the surface. I clenched my palm when the sound of her leather stick tearing my skin echoed deep inside from my mind.
Every inch of my skin filled with wounds and cuts from her disciplinary class was the reason behind my sleepless, dreamless night filled with only deadly nightmares.

I tried not to shudder when the chills ran down my spine. After a few more deep breaths I opened my mouth but no sound came for a second.

"I- I went to meet Viraj-"

"Tsk! Calling your soon to be husband's name is considered sin. Whereas visiting before marriage is strictly prohibited without any guardian's permission."

As expected by my mother, she was a typical orthodox type of person brought up especially for connecting to other high profile families by marriage.

Therefore, she expects the same from me.

I didn't like to be controlled, but did I have a choice?

"My father gave me permission."

"Your father's rule doesn't work around here. You know that."

"Yes. I didn't want a new drama so I asked my dad. He agreed, so I went. It's as simple as that."

"NILIMA !!" 

Mother's voice went up the scale, all the servants halted their work. Goosebumps appeared behind my neck but I didn't let the fear creep in me.

"You have to follow my rules as long as you live here. No going out unless I say so, No more contact with the shithole you lived in. Understood?".

I gulped the bile, my throat aches badly from stopping myself from crying.

It hurts.

It hurts more when the healed wound opens up. But when the wound is opened again and again then the pain is foreseen already.

It hurts less but still it hurts.

I slowly turned around returning my steps the way I came. I didn't look down as always, instead I looked straight at my mother's smirking face.

The more steps I descended the more my mother's smirk grew. By the time I was on the last step she was grinning at me.

Probably cause she thinks she won.

I didn't stop there and walked towards her way, I didn't halt my steps even though my heart was thumping loudly, my breathing was unstable, millions of thoughts were running in my mind but still I didn't let the fear overtake my body.

My mother's grin soon disappeared slowly when I crossed her and walked straight past her.

"Where are you going? Get back here."
My mother screamed from behind but my own heartbeat nearly made me deaf, it was nothing compared to her chilling screams.

I wasn't going to let her win this time.

Even though I act impulsively, I decided to listen to the intrusive thoughts today.

Nilima was scared of her, not Nia.

"I said get back here or I will tear the deal."

I halt on my steps. She scoffed and circled me with her heels clicking and echoed on the silent walls.

"You can't run away. You'll always belong here no matter where you go. My shadow won't leave you, my dear daughter." She said whispering the last part near me that nearly made me shudder.

I clenched my hand and faced her smirking angelic face that covers the monster hidden inside.

"I dare you to do it now. I too will cancel this marriage in a snap."

I said with clenched jaws, I didn't try to hide the hate and anger in my voice.
It was my turn to smirk at her colour drained face and walk past her.

"Where are you going?"

"To the shithole I came from."

My voice boomed for the first time inside that mansion I grew up in. I didn't stop until I reached outside.

I will not let her treat me like how she used to when I was a child.

She had ruined me enough! Not anymore.

~•~

Viraj

Fuck!

I threw away my ringing phone across the wall and it finally stopped. The news of my marriage had spread like wildfire, there was a huge crowd of reporters waiting for my statement.

As always my father held an emergency conference and answered every burning question.

He had already done enough bad things but no he had to do way more worse.

The news of my engagement being held in private was now trending in every social media platform that ever exists.

"You guys have to pretend like lovers from now on." My father told me as a warning when I questioned him.

He wants to further ruin my life.

John's phone rang and he instantly picked it up, after a few yes and no he came up to me holding the phone near me on speaker.

"You will make a public appearance today."

I want to smash something otherwise my fist might greet his face. Just listening to his voice made me clench my hands into a tight fist and grit my teeth hard enough that it might fall.

After a few short breaths I asked him the question that was burning me from the inside.

"But why?"

"For publicity. Our stocks will reach the sky when all the news will report our news constantly for even a day." He laughed at the end and said as a matter of fact.

"Greedy people play this disgusting game. Businessmen don't."

"Oh, we do. Everything is a game. There's no such thing as disgusting." He muttered under his breath and added " Make that happen my evening. We had done enough buildup. Show them your pretty face. Good luck."

With that the line ended and I was pacing around the office by the end. Running my hands through my hair.

Fuck it.

"Inform her now."

John hurriedly nodded and sprinted off outside. I slammed my hands on the edge of the metal chair with so much force that my hands turned red.

Why?

The question burned me from the inside to the point that I feared I might explode.

"Sir she's not answering her phone. Should I try her house number."

"Just do whatever. I need her ready in an hour."

" Sure sir"
He hurried out speaking to the phone already.

I might be trending on twitter again thanks to my father's press conference. For couple of days I had to turn off my account and stay away from any social media platform until my marriage.

Great!  All thanks to my father.

"Sir, she's not home. Her mother said to pick her up from Mrs Bhansali's House. "

John panted and said in all go. I furrowed my eyebrows at her weird behaviour.
Why stay at that house when she's rich anyway?

"Let's go."

We both exited the office and in no time we were on the highway moving towards her orphanage house.

"Why must she choose to stay at that old place?"

I asked no one in particular, John was too focused on driving that I guessed he wouldn't answer but he beat me to it.

"Not sure but I guess it's the memories that she cherishes."

I just stared out the window and the silence once again filled our car.

In no time we were parked near the house. I climbed down the car and admired the beauty of the place. It was perfect for what I've planned.

In no time I would be on the list of top ten billionaire without my father's influence and no longer his puppet.

John had already reached the front door and rang the bell. When I reached him the door opened wide.

What the hell am I looking at?

Nia stood with puffed cheeks filled with.. I glanced at her hand which held the packet of chips in a tight grasp like we are here to steal it from her... unhealthy junk food. 

Her eyes went wide and a few chips rolled down her wide agape mouth.

"Waft arre udoingg hearee?"

She barely managed to speak with her mouth stuffed with chips.A few small bits of the chips flew from her mouth and settled on my expensive suit which was enough to trigger my fury.

"Goddammit. Either empty your mouth or gulp it down before you speak."

"Swarry"

She turned around after muttering gibberish apologies but the small bits of chips landed right on my face.

The urge to scream my lungs out to the point that every fucking person goes deaf intensified to the point I was flaring fire through my nostrils.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
This dumb woman ruined my clothes and now my face! Just a great fucking day!

John extended his handkerchief towards me with stiff posture, and clamped lips suppressing his laughs like his life depends on it.

It sure depends on it. He better clamp his lips shut with nails if needed.

And to think I had to take this woman on the date?
I want to yell at my father's face.

FUCK WHY?

*********________*********

**NOT EDITED**

Ignore any grammatical error or comment it down so that I can correct it when I edit the entire chapters. It means a lot to me and saves my time.

Apologies for the late update. Diwali week didn't let me finish the chapter.

I hope your Diwali went well. Wishing you a very happy and healthy life.

Until next update ~~Sayonara~~

P.s- Do let me know how's the chapter and don't forget to vote!