"ab ayega asli maja, boring life m thoda masala laate hai, chlo maut ka taandav dikhate hai." I said in poetic way and being full dramatic with a playful smirk over my face....

(now let's the play begin, Let's stir some chaos in this mundane play,

And watch as death takes the stage today)

Khyati

I explained Inaya everything about our plan, so she'll be already present there for me.

I am a PhD student and I live in Bangalore, my family is a middle class one, so they actually were not able to pay my college fee, that's when I realized money is everything in the world. I worked hard, I gain a scholarship and I get here, in Bangalore for my studies. I do a part-time here as an assistant under a researcher and it helps in my practice too. I live in a PG all alone.

I am leaving for airport now because I have reach at home as soon as possible. I stepped out of my PG apartment, the roads are still not crowded, I flew a hand towards a taxi to stop and asked to go to the airport. The city is still waking up, Streetlights flicker as the first rays of sunlight paint the sky in soft hues of pink and blue.

I am dressed in a DUSTY PINK SHIRT, its soft fabric flowing gently with my movements. The shirt is neatly tucked into HIGH-WAISTED CREAM PANTS with wide legs, elongating my silhouette. On my feet, a pair of BLACK HEELS-modest at two inches-add just the right amount of elevation without sacrificing comfort.

A SMALL BLACK HANDBAG rests against my side, its structured shape contrasting with the fluidity of my outfit. My HAIR is loosely tied in a low, effortless bun, a few wisps escaping to frame my face.

The cab stopped in a halt in front of airport, I stepped out of taxi as if I am the owner of the airport. Ufff!!!! I can't leave my attitude guys, it's like my fashion, my jewelry, my makeup anything you name it but it is what it is.

My expression is poised yet distant, my fingers briefly tightening around the handle of my suitcase as I checked in the airport. Rest of the time goes comfortably as the flight descends on Delhi airport. I stepped out of the airport as the sliding glass doors part, revealing a bustling view of Delhi.

I signaled a nearby standing taxi, got in with my luggage and showed the address to the driver, and he starts driving. I put my head against the window as I see the bustling city sprinting backward, as sky stole my attention.

For last one week, I am feeling unease in my gut, like something bad is going to happen. My thoughts are lingering over that one horrific night that, almost changed my life. It was the same night I saw today as a nightmare in the morning.

Keeping those creepy thoughts aside, I saw trees outside the car window sprinting past, I leave my whole thoughts with those trees behind and started my music playlist on air pods and the whole route is covered to my house silently.

About 40 min later, I reached my house but before entering I called Inaya.

"hello, where are you?" I asked.

"Arey, yrr yaha to kaand ho rkha h, pura khaandan leke aya h ye tubelight. And he'sliterally a tubelight, can't uncle see what their daughter is." She said being blanked,confused and shocked. (hey, there is a scandal going on here, he has broughtthe entire family here with him.)

"what the fuck." I got shocked for a sec, "where are you, babe?" she asked.

"At doorsteps."

"wait, I'm coming." She said and in a while she opened the door. We hugged each other. Passing a knowing glance to her I entered the doorway.

Reaching in living room I saw a man in his late 50s, a lady in her 50s with a man sitting next to them in his late 20s probably the age of 27, they all were sitting on couch. Papa saw me, when their eyes landed on me he stood up, came towards me and took me in his embrace.

He said Facing towards the guest "meet her, she's my daughter." Then papa leaned in near my ear saying "beta, this is the groom's family, they are here to meet you. I didn't tell you before about this because the reason is all you."

Then he gestured me to sit down near a sofa. As I was greeting with everyone present their, my eyes lingered towards my mamma. She was looking at me with such hope, that I will be good with groom's family, and that made my lips curls up into a devilish smirk.

"Are yrr kahan phans gayi, achi khasi sone ayi thi. Iss langoor ke bacche ko to btati hu m, beta tu chl akele mein." I murmur to myself. (Oh no, where have I gotten stuck? I was about to sleep so peacefully. Let me teach this monkey's child a lesson. You come here alone!)

Just then his mother said laughing dramatically, "why shouldn't we let children talk alone, after all, it is they who have to get married."

Papa firstly hesitate because of me, they knew how I am. Then out of nowhere he said to Inaya "Inaya beta, take Khyati and Maanav to another room." After listening this she nodded having a frantic smile over her face. We change glances to each other and we nodded in our mind.

Then Inaya and I both reached my room with that tubelight, we made him sit down, and then our plan started.

After about 15 min he came back to the living room and said to his family, "shall we go, Dad?"

I and Inaya entered the living room, seeing me coming from behind and having a crooked smile over my lips papa asked to that tubelight in a worried tone, "what happened beta? Is everything alright?"

To that tubelight replied, "uncle, you need to know your daughter's need and I don't think this proposal of marriage will be going to work. We are sorry." To which his mother asked, "what happened beta? Tell us something, what is going on?"

"mom I'll tell you later, but first we should leave now." Saying this he left with his family.

According to me everything was fine until my eyes darted towards my papa, his cold expression making me to burst into a wild laugh but at the same time I knew what I had done to that tubelight. At least he's not going to come to my house again with that stupid proposal of marriage.

"khyati..." papa was in furious rage to burn everything that'll come in his way. "what you've done? Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a good person for marriage in this time of world? This is the 3rd boy you made run."

"speak up now, what do you want? Don't you want to get marry?" he asked taking a step closer to me.

"Papa, I don't want to get marry now, I want sometime..." I said in a clam tone. "but you don't listen to me like I am just a burden for you." I continued.

"Khyati beta, it's not like that but My age is passing by, and I want you to get married soon so that I can hand over your responsibility to someone else and breathe a sigh of relief." He said while controlling his rage.

But listening this I became angry with him and said, "right, like I can't take my own responsibility? Like I can't handle myself? Like I need a man to live with otherwise, I'll die? Right papa?"

Papa was about to say something but before he could, I left the living room and went back to my room. Inaya followed me.

Author

"but this time, what did this girl do that made the boy say such big thing, that we don't understand our daughter's need." Her mother said being confused.

"bhagwaan jaane ye ladki ky hi krke maanegi." Her father said. (God knows what this girl will do to be satisfied.)

To be continued...