She collapsed away

Why would her boss call so early? Did some problem occur? Any emer… her process of thinking stops… as the memories of the last night flooded in.. filling her up with every single detail.

Damnit. Today is her marriage and she is still in her bed (out of bed, to be correct ), wearing the night pajamas, the sheet mask still fixed on her face, creating an itch.

Then her mind started filling in with what she thought was a nightmare. She just… she just banged the door on their faces.

AHHH!!! She screamed loud as hell. Her frustration, her fear, stress, tension, building up in her again.

Her phone's screen lit up again. But it was the caller id that was terrifying her. Her boss. Mr. Pratihast.

'H-Hello Boss.' After gathering all the courage she could, she responded.

' Good morning, Miss Chauhan. Did you sleep well?' came the dominant, masculine voice from the other side, standing all her body's hair on end.

'Pardon!' She couldn't help but ask to repeat, wondering where the things went wrong.

'Did you rest well, Miss Chauhan?' He repeated the question in as calm and soft a voice as possible.

'Y-Yes.' She answered in a monosyllable way. Not trusting herself with more words. Not even knowing what could be the best answer to that question, in the first place.

'Are you alright?' He asked next.

'Yes.' She replied again with a nod, which obviously wasn't visible to the person on the other side.

'Then, what's wrong? Why are you sounding exactly like a cornered cat?'He asked with a smile.

'No. Not. Nothing.' She replied, almost praying to the heavens to disconnect the call, since she can't.

' Then, did you like the surprise?' came the next question, after which there was a pin drop silence, as if her reply matters the most at this moment.

'Surprise! What surprise, Boss?' Yuvika asked in confusion and bewilderment. She might have faced many situations, but this definitely has to be the most tragic among them.

' You didn't receive them. Actually, it was Vivek's idea. He said, you would feel more happy if your family and your acquaintances would be together with you on such a great occasion of your life.

So, I dispatched the security team of The Raj and our personal jets and as per the last information I received, they were already outside The Housing Colony. I was expecting a happy and smiling girl, not this cornered cat.

Let me recheck, once.' Ashutosh said, though his voice failed to hide the nervousness and anxiety in it.

But, what could be done? The girl had already desolate herself from the world, after receiving this news. He.. he invited them.

She could hear the breathing of the person, then how he called someone and asked for the updates, then she heard how the other person said that he was waiting outside her door with all the people mentioned in the list. She could also hear the other person asking for further orders. She could hear the deep breathing of the person.

She knows the question is about to get directed at her. She could see, hear, sense, her senses were working, yet at the same time, she was feeling herself surrounded with darkness. As if the room was far away from that dark place she was in. She could see her hand holding the phone, but it seemed like that hand was being displayed on the projector and it wasn't real.

She could hear his breathing, yet she felt it was coming from a faraway place.

' Miss Chauhan…' only these two words rang in her head, in the dark, lonely place before she collapsed away.

~~

When she regained consciousness, her eyes were greeted with an intense blaze of light. She shut them back. This darkness, it is her safe haven. Safe haven from that cruel light. But she knows, she just can't stay here. So, she opened her eyes and closed them again, she kept doing it, till she got familiarized with the intensity of light.

She found her head touching something tough, she turned and realized it was flesh. Her mother's face came to her. So, she was resting in her mother's lap, she concluded. She could see how her mother was controlling her rage, keeping her anger in check.

Strange. That has never happened before. Then, she heard the loud noise and turned in that direction. It was her father. She could only see his back, he was busy gossiping with someone, but who she couldn't see. There were a lot of people, not even a single one of whom she really liked, or not even a single person whose company she enjoyed.

There it was. The negativity. Those people who either diss her, hate her, bully her, make fun of her, scold her, beat her, cuss at her. Everyone. But she couldn't tell whom they were treating with so much respect, so much care and love. Just who is this person, to gain everyone's undivided attention.

As if the heavens acknowledge her curiosity, her father shifts aside and the face of the person comes into view. She jerked up with a start. Within minutes, she was on her feet, standing in front of him, with as much power as she could muster.

'Boss!' She said with a gasp, but as if her body wasn't prepared for the shock, she just gave, her feet staggered and she was about to fall once again. Luckily, her father held her with his iron strength.

The only person in this world to whom she truly loves and wants to make proud of her. The ray of light in her world of darkness. The spark of positivity in this world of negativity of her. Her back bone. Her support. Her source of love, care, warmth and happiness among all those creatures, to whom she doesn't even categorize as humans.

'Easy, my child.' He said, while shaking his head, bringing a sweet smile on her face. While tears started flowing from her eyes. She missed him. It's been nine years. She hadn't seen him for nine years. She avoided him because of others. But still, only her heart knows, only her wet pillow knows, only the stars and clouds know how much she missed him.

The person who made her strong enough to live her life on her condition, on her rules, on her own. This person earns the credit for teaching her and making her a fully self dependent person. It's his ideology which she follows.

She hugged him tightly. Yes, she missed him. He just gave a small smile, while patting her head. As always, he was encouraging her, filling her with strength, power and inspiration, just like that.

Finally, she calmed down and gave an embarrassed smile to everyone. Since, she doesn't know how to make up for the embarrassment. As expected, she could sense her mother's distorted face, who must be cursing her while maintaining that happy , oh-I-am-so-touched face.

' I am so happy for you, my child. But are you really sure?' Her father asked in his gentle voice, completely different from the one he used to address soldiers in the military.

' We are happy, my child. Besides, I am sure, she must have thought things through.I am happy, you finally realize the importance of marriage and getting dependent on someone else.' Her mother said, not forgetting to emphasize that they are a happy couple, among all their near and dear ones.

But Yuvika's father didn't let her slide, he maintained an eye-contact, the one he used with his soldiers to extract the truth from them.

' Yes dad, I am sure.' She uttered the words with a weak smile, trying to avoid the scary eye-contact.

After all, it wasn't a traditional marriage. They might become husband and wife in people's eyes, still they will remain boss and an employee, behind the closed door.

But at the very least, she would be getting rid of this toxic family of hers, who still can't acknowledge the fact that a girl is sufficient enough to survive alone in this world. These acquaintances of her, who just can't digest her being a working woman. Her own mother hates her for being different from her. Luckily, she had her father, who gave her wings, who showed her a completely different perspective of this world, who loved her and trained her to be whatever she is today.

But now, she has to lie with that very person.

' I am glad. Besides, your happiness is my happiness.' Her father, Mr. Avinash Chauhan said with a wide grin.

Getting affected by him, her face was carrying another sweet smile. With a smiling face, she turned towards her boss, wondering what took him here. Shouldn't he be in the wedding venue or in the greenroom or at his own house?

' You didn't respond and I heard a loud thud. So, I came here. So sorry, I didn't mean to, but at that time I couldn't think straight, as I was worried, so I ordered my men to break the main door.

Don't worry, I will get it repaired. Consider it as an apology from my side. Are you alright, Miss Chau…. Yuvika? Should I call the doctor?' Ashutosh asked, anxiety and worry laced in his voice.