R I T I K A

And suddenly, my father's eyes met mine, a little shock plastered on his face, and his eyes were slightly red, reminding me of that day, my heart throbbed against my chest, and a fear settled inside me.

"Ritika, come here." The cold and stern voice of his made me flinch again, and without many thoughts, my feet started moving on their own.

And now I was back in the room, with my angry dad and petite mom who was pleading, and her eyes were filled with tears and something dark- fear of my dad.

"Why did Advik leave his job?"

"Pa-papa he-" 

Why are you stammering, Ritika? Tell him how your husband deserves to live a happy life, tell him that if her husband wanted to live on her money, she would happily give him, tell him that now she was married to him and he had every right over her, tell him how she wished society wasn't this cruel to him.

And I did, I opened my mouth and spoke, this time my voice stern, "Papa, he wants to be a chef, he has left his job to fulfil his dreams."

"What dreams? Bawarchi Bana koi dream Hai?"

And my heart broke again into pieces, and brokenly I spoke, "Papa- please."

"Ab tu pale gi usko?" He asked.

(Now, you will provide for him?)

 Tears burned in my throat, but I gulped them and spoke, clearly and loudly, "HA main paalungi usko, mera husband hai, mujhe koi dikat ni hai palne main. Apko koi dikat ni thi koi paraye mard se shaadi krane main or ab main mere pati ka sath de rhi hu apko dikat ho rhi hai?"

(YES. I will provide for him. He is my husband, and I have no problem doing that. You had no problem marrying me off to a complete stranger. But now that I choose to support my own husband, you suddenly have a problem?)

My father's eyes widened, his nose flaring in anger, making my heart drop.

 And his one hand was about to meet my cheeks- again, just like that day, and in fear, my eyes closed but it stopped just before it could touch me.

I hesitatingly opened my eyes only to look my mother grabbing my dad's wrist in the midair, a shaky sigh left my mouth.

She let his hand fall, and pleaded," Please. Please mt ladayi kre."

"Ritika, go to your room and sleep." My mother's voice echoed in the room along with the deep breaths of my father.

I glanced at her before going to my room.

***

Why it had to be like this? Why for once my parents can't be understanding? Why? Tears fell from my eyes, my chest aching due to intense pain, my breaths growing rapid, I hate it here. I don't want to live here.

Without thinking, I picked my phone and dialed his number, "Hà baby bolo?"

His soothing voice fell in my ears, breaking me completely.

How could people even think bad about this guy?

"Advik-"

"Hn Ritika, bolo-" 

And that was my last straw, and I burst into tears," Advik, I I-"

I hiccupped, "I don't want to live here. I don't want."

I bought my knees close to my chest, while my other hand was itching to touch something, and my nails dug into my palm as I curled myself.

"Ritika, what happened baby? Why are you crying?" 

More tears fell from my eyes hearing his concerned voice.

"Please, Ritika. Speak."

"I am begging you, please Ritika tell me what happened?"

And I sighed, finally speaking," Please take me with you Advik."

"Please come tomorrow."

"Ritika, please don't cry and I am coming today. Don't worry, okay? I am coming now." He spoke, and I could hear him standing up.

"No, Advik. Come tomorrow and that's final."

"Ritika-"

"Advik- I hate my dad. I literally do." I breathed.

A silence fell between us and I continued," You know, when I was five years old, my dad was shouting at my mother for a little mistake she did, she was crying and he was about to slap her but then I came between them and asked him to stop."

"I was so naive, yet I didn't want my ma to get hurt, he asked me to step aside, and I didn't listen to him and then in anger he slapped me. So tightly and from that day a hate grew inside me for him."

"You asked me about my dream, right?" I whispered.

"My dream was to never live with a man like him-to never depend on someone else's money, and to never be hit again. And today I was in the same situation, but I was about to get slapped by my own father not the stranger I feared."

His breathing grew heavier and he spoke," Ritika-"

"Advik, promise me you will come tomorrow to take me with you. I don't want to live here." I interrupted him.

"I will, Ritika. Please don't cry, I will be there for you."

"And above everything, Ritika, I am really proud of you. I really am. You were not naive." He said softly," you were just a kid protecting her mother from him."

A faint smile curled up, the tears now stuck on my face," Thank you, Advik. And now sleep. Don't worry I am fine."

"My Ritika please take care of yourself and don't cry, okay baby? I will be there for you."

"Okay." I whispered and cut the call.

***

My eyes fluttered open, and I looked at the time, I have only slept for two hours? I sighed and was about to stand up to drink water until my phone buzzed.

I frowned, who is calling me at night?

I picked the phone, only to see Advik was calling me. My frown deepened, is everything alright?

"Yes, advik?"

"Open the door, Ritika." My eyes widened.

"Advik- I told you-"

"It's freezing cold outside, please."

I hurriedly stood up from bed and went to open the main door only to find him standing there, breathing heavily, his hands rubbing against his arms.

My eyes softened, looking at him, "Fast! come inside."

He nodded and in minutes we both were in my bedroom; he came closer to me and made me sit on the bed, while he was standing between my legs.

"Ritika", he took my name as if it gave him a relief. 

"Han?" 

"Are you fine?" He asked caressing my cheeks, making me melt in his hold.

I leaned in his touch and whispered," Now I am."

He pulled me in hug, my head rested on his stomach while his hands caressed my head, providing me the warm that only he could give to me.

"You want to go now to our home?"

I shook my head, "No, let's sleep. You are literally freezing."

"You sure?"

"yes."

With that he pulled out of hug and slipped under my warm blanket and whispered, "Come to me, I need your warmth."

I smiled and went near him, sleeping beside him, hugging his waist while my head was rested against his chest, hearing his loud heartbeats. His hands slipped against my waist, pulling me closer.

"Advik, I told you to come tomorrow. And why did you come today at nght?"

"But Ritika how could I sleep when you were suffering here alone?"

"But-"

"You know when you called me and broke down, my heart dropped and it felt like a piece of me was falling apart. I tried to sleep but I was so restless, my mind and heart were aching to see you and my body was starving to hold you. How could I even sleep when my world was falling apart, uhm?"

My eyes turned teary and I pressed myself into him, providing him the warmth.

"I love you, Advik." I whispered and pressed a kiss against his chest.

"I love you more, Ritika." He mused, kissing my head.

Wrapped in his arms, my breathing slowly evened out. And soon, I drifted into sleep beside the man who felt like home.

A/N

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