"No."
The word still echoed in Samar's mind. He had went all out with his proposal to Dimple. He had prepared flowers... Cake.. Lighting... Even a dance performance by him and dance academy students.... He thought he had nailed it.
But Dimple still said no.
How can that be? These grand gestures always work right?... It did work with his mom and Anuj. Whenever there was a issue in family... They solved it with song and dance.. The best form of expression.
A hand on his shoulder startled him. Dimple was looking at him , her face unreadable. He looked around. The students have left following Dimples refusal. It was just them at the academy.
" Let me explain... Before you start doubting yourself.. " She said with sincerity.
They sat at the table, flowers and cake mocking Samar.. Laughing at his heartbreak.
" You are a good man Samar. But no matter what I do.. I won't be happy with you. "
" You have someone else, right?.. He asked... His face a mask of agony.
"No... There's no one else. But I won't be happy because your family will make me miserable. "
Samar exclaimed, " What!... How dare you... "
" Stop yelling. Otherwise I will leave now, and there will be no further contact between us!... First listen to my side.. And then choose how to react. "
Samar sat down... His anger still simmering under the surface.
"Let's start with Baa. She has been mistreating me since the day we met. And why?... Because some scumbag managed to violate me in worst way possible. She doesn't even want me to touch anything in your home... She has verbally abused me at every chance she gets... And no one dared to defend me... Not even you!.. "
Samar couldn't argue with these facts.
" Except babuji, all married males of your family abuse their spouces in one way or other.... And the elders manage to gaslight the abused to not do anything. Konjam stayed with toshu because your family told her that pari needed both her parents... But toshu does nothing for his daughter. He only got a job to stay close with kinjal.... Your dad makes unilateral decisions.. Never consults kavya.. She had to leave behind opportunities because of him, and that she is successful as a model, your family is smearing her name in the society. "
" Even when Anupama mam divorced your dad, she is kept entangled in the matters of shah household. Anuj sir and choti keep suffering because they are never the priority, and when he opened his mouth... He became a villain, choti is forced to grow up at this young age.. But your baa won't even spare that 6 year old child...and once again you keep mum"
" And last but not the least Samar, you threw your ex fiance out because she dared to ask for justice for her maasi... Because she wanted to live separate from your family's toxicity... "
" How do you know about nandini? ".... Samar had never told her.. He wanted the shadow of his past away from his present.
" We were friends before she met you... Even now I keep in contact with her... Ever heard of social media? "
Samar hung his head. She was spitting pure facts now. But why didn't she understand... You don't speak up against your elders. Not in his family.
" I know you can't stay away from your family, even for your betterment. I will always be second to them...and no matter what they do to me.. You will expect me to bear it just like your mom did. "
"Lekin jeete ji aise nark me jeene se.. Mujhe inkaar hai".
Debate Mansion
