𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐫 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Akshara POV:
Walking into the house I saw everyone were already on dinning table, mom looked at me and smiled "aaj badi der ho gayi, costomer bohot teh kya" she asked I nodded at her, "mera dinner ho gayi, mein sone ja Rahi hun" I voiced as I strode up the stairs, before I could hear their answer I closed the door of my room.
Putting my tote bag on the table, I took fresh clothes and entered the bathroom. Placing the clothes on hanger I stepped inside the shower, warm droplets of water relaxed my tensed muscles as today's incident flashed in my mind. He was actually came to my cafe but he didn't even talked with me, didn't even acknowledge my presence.
Only three month left for our marriage, how am I going to do, what am I going, is it normal to feel like it or its just me. Quickly getting out of the shower, I wore the clothes and entered the room back. Covering myself in quilt, hugging my teddy plushie I slept.
Tossing around, sleep was far away from me, I don't know an unknown fear was engulfing me, I feel like it's not normal. The couple nowadays are so free and comfortable with each other but we are not same. They usually talk like hours everyday but we never had a proper conversation.
Keeping my all fears and hesitation I decided to call him. Bhabhi gave me his number from bhai phone. Sitting straight on my bed I took teddy hugging it close to myself. I dialed his number with shaking hands, god why I am nervous.
The phone started to ring, at last ring it got picked up, I glupped in anticipation of how he would react. "Ishan mat aa mere pichhe" I heard deep voice from other side, "hello?" He asked from other side of the call. "He.. Hello, it's Akshara" I mumbled.
The other line went silent for moment which I decided to break "it's Shubham right" ahh what am I blabbering. "Haan" he hummed from other side. Glupping the lump formed in my throat I decided to ask the main topic for which I called.
"Are you really fine with this alliance" I asked I really wanted to hear it from him so I can get some rest from my restlessness but what he said next made me froze in my place. "No" the reply was very simple but the impact it had me is anything but simple.
"Wh-what?" I blabbered as it was so much for me to digest for me in moment's. "I–I mean it's you know arrangement, it's still unexpected for me. I just need sometime to get normal into it" he words pushed me in shock. Is he forced into it? What if he has someone in his life?
"Are you forced into it" I whispered as my eyes filled with tears, I don't think he even heard it until he replied "cause my mom want this, I hope you won't back away from this alliance, you are free to do whatever you want, you will get the respect, I will be loyal to the relationship, I will surely take your all responsibility–"
"What about love?" I blurted out unconsciously, as I felt tears on my cheeks. He kept mum for almost like two minutes and I cut the call, already knowing I won't get any answer. How can I servive in loveless marriage, how can I be in an emotionalless marriage.
More thinking of it more tears streamed down my cheeks. Why am I crying not like I like him, than why? May be because no one rejected me like this. To be honest I really felt terrible when his silence screamed. I know I don't like him but I had many expectations from him which he broked just now.
They say right, 'expectations break you more than anything'
I don't want this, wiping my cheeks I stepped out of my room, walking downstairs, I walked into kitchen first and glupped some water to clear my voice than strode towards mom's room.
I knocked before entering. "Arre Akshu, aa beta" dad said as he was seated on bed. Mom was not there. "Where is mom?" I asked while seating beside him.
"Someone called me" mom come out of bathroom with towel in hand. Putting the towel on couch arm she sat beside me. Patting my head she said.
"Kitani badi ho gayi meri bacchi" she said while her eyes twinkled with softness. I went silent as I saw mom eyes glistening with tears. Dad patted my shoulder "sirf kuch mahino ke baad mein tum toh chali jauogi" he said.
"No Papa, mein kahi nhi jaa rahi" I said as my throat felt heavy. "Paglu, har ladki ko shadi ke baad apne sasural Jana hi padta hai" mom said.
"Kyun maa, humesha hum hi kyun?" I said as my eyes also filled with tears. Mom softly wiped off the tears "tu kahan dur Jaa Rahi hai sirf chare ghante ka safar hai, jab man chahe aajana humm, aur I know Keart will take care of you like her own daughter" mom said.
I was here to deny for the alliance. "Mumma, papa you guys are happy with this alliance right?" I asked looking at them, "haan beta we are more than happy, wait are you happy with this alliance?" Papa asked me. Nodding at them with forced smile I said "If you guys are happy then I am also happy" saying this I walked out from their room.
🍂
Completing my morning routine and having breakfast I left home bit early today, it was now 8:30. Opening the door of the cafe with the key.
Making myself a coffee is the first thing I did. I didn't opened the cafe fully to prevent any customer entry. Seating at my usual place which is in corner near windows, I opened the window to let fresh air in.
Took sip of the coffee while my thoughts were having battle whether what I decided is good decision or not.
Yeah I decided to do this marriage, if not me, atleast mumma and dad are happy with this. Not like I have someone in my life so it's ok I guess. But is it really ok? Am I going to survive in this emotionalless relationship? Is it going to be easy?
My thoughts got interrupted by the sound of door opening. "You came early today!" Aditi said as she put her bag on counter. I just nodded and continued to sip my coffee. "Should I ask him the reason? But what if he find me clingy? No I am not that kind of person.
Does he have girlfriend? Am I getting between them? No I don't want to be a third person, but- "where are you lost?" I flinched as someone shaked me, I looked at Aditi with wide eyes.
"Kya hua? Kya soch rahi ho?" She asked while sitting infront of me. "Kuch nhi?" I denied shaking my head. "Agar tu kuch aur chupa rahi ho toh mein abhi bat deti hun. Mujhse bura koi nhi hoga" Aditi voice had a hint of warning. I contemplating for while I decided to tell her everything.
With sigh I started to tell everything that happened from meeting him to yesterday and my decision about this. She listened me with patience as frowns started to take place on her forehead. As I completed she took a deep breath.
"Are you out of your mind like something? You are agreeing to this alliance only for your parents? Akshu how are you even going to survive in this loveless marriage?" She bombered me with multiple questions. I looked down not being able to answer as even I don't have answer to her questions.
"Even you are confused?" "Aditi let's not talk about this for now. It's time to open the cafe" I said before picking up the cup.
Soon Nitya and Nikhil also come and we begin with our duties as customer started to arrive.
Everyone begin with their duties, and I kept myself as much busy as I could, doing every other work to avoid unnecessary thoughts.
Soon cafe got empty as it's now early evening 4. Aditi and Nikhil got seated on one of table. I started to make coffee for four of us and Nitya gave me cups and served cookies in one plate for us. Taking cup tray with me, Nitya followed me with cookies.
"It's been long time we had a vacation isn't it?" Nikhil said while sipping his coffee. "Yeah" Nitya agreed with him. "How about planning a vacation?" Aditi said "can we do that?" Nitya said with excitement, Aditi nodded in confirmation.
"Than I am in" Nikhil said "me too" Nitya also joined in and all of them looked at me. "I'll be joining you guys, I guess" I said and received a board smile from them.
"So where should we go this time?" Aditi asked, Nitya and Nikhil eyed eachother before asking "how about Himachal Pradesh, Dharmshala. We can go paragliding, camping, hiking and will be such beautiful nature to visit" Nitya said being excited.
I am glad that no one mentioned anything about yesterday event. Even Aditi didn't asked me anything. And this trip, I'll get some time to refresh my mind.
"I think it's good Idea" I said even Aditi agreed. "So when should we go" Aditi asked "how about this Saturday" Nitya asked looking at us. "It's too early, how we gonna pack our luggage" I said looking confused. "Di we still have five days and it's just five days trip" Nikhil assured me.
"I think Anika will also accompany me" I said as she was lately whining to go out for trip, so I'll drag her with me. "It will be great than, she is fun person to be around" Aditi said, I narrowed my eyes at her "only for you" I said as only I know how super exciting and energetic she behave's every time we plan any trip. Not like Aditi doesn't know it, but still.
After finishing our coffee again customer started to arrive so we begin with our work.
Soon after biding each other good bye everyone left for their home and it's decided that we are going on trip on this Saturday by road, gonna spend three days there and come back Wednesday.
Nitya and Nikhil seemed more excited than us.
As I entered the home everyone as usual in their own thing like dad and Anika were watching TV, mom and bhabhi were in kitchen while, bhaiya doing his office work in living room.
I walking upstairs to my room and freshed up before changing in my comfy clothes and did my night routine before walking down.
"Mumma we are planning to go on trip this weekend" I said while taking place in dinning table. Before mom could ask anything Anika jumped from nowhere, "where? Am I coming?" She asked sitting on table.
Mom shaked her head on this silly girl, is she really 19 year old.
"Kahan ka plan bana hai" mumma asked. "Himachal Pradesh, Dharmshala. Actually Nitya and Nikhil really want to go there" I mumbled while looking at the snacks which are placed on dinning table. "Yaar di mein aa rahi hun ki nhi?" Anika asked.
"Koi guest aaye teh kya?" I asked taking a bite of crunchy namkeen. "Haan Keart aur Maya aaye teh" mumma said with smile. "Di aap mujhe ignore kyun kar rahe ho" Anika chided. "Tu bhi aa rahi hai meri maa gala mat phad aapna"