R I T I K A

Sun rays hit me directly, waking me up from the deep slumber. I looked around to find that I was alone in the room.

Where is he?

I stood up and was about to leave my room when I heard my father's voice, and it was dangerously calm," Advik, why did you leave the job, just to become a chef?" 

I walked down a little until they were in my sight, and I hid myself.

"Hanji. I understand your concern about your daughter, but I promise I won't let her feel a lack of anything."

"How? A restaurant doesn't bloom in one day." My father stated.

"Papa, she doesn't need my support. She earns herself; she doesn't need me-"

"Then do you have enough money to sustain your own life?" His voice was stern, making Advik flinch a little.

Before he could speak, I came and spoke," Even if he doesn't have, I am ready to sustain his life."

"Ritika, don't interfere."  

"Kyu papa? I always stayed shut whenever you thought my opinions were too much, and now also."

"Ritika, you are a child, you don't know how this world is."

A sigh left my mouth as I heard his words, but before I could say anything, he spoke," And Advik, leave this thing, and apply for your job; this is the least you could do for her."

I looked at him, who just nodded under my father's gaze, but I spoke, not This time, I would let his dream turn into another nightmare," No. He will open the restaurant and will not go to that job again."

I moved towards him and interlocked our fingers," And now we are leaving."

I could hear my parents shouting, but I ignored them and moved with him. he stopped me, "Ritika, please don't complicate your relationship with them for me."

"Advik- "

"Please, Ritika." He held my hands in his.

"Advik, I am not complicating our relationship; it was always like this, held together by a mere thread, and no, you are not the reason for this. Don't blame yourself. It was the self-respect that made me take this step. I knew my parents would resist, and I had already thought to clear the misunderstanding in a better way, but now he disrespected you." I firmly spoke.

 "And let's leave. Please."

His gaze softened, and he pulled me in a hug," Let's go."

***

A sad feeling settled inside me as his cruel words echoed in my mind, but then I was brought back from my thoughts when the bell rang.

Standing up, I opened the door, only to see his parents standing in there, anger framed on their faces.

No, not them.

"Namaste, Papa, Ma."

"Namaste, beta. Where is Advik?" His father's stern voice echoed.

"He is bathing." I replied, and I added," Come inside, he will be back in minutes."

They nodded and sat down on the sofa." Let me bring tea for you."

"No need, beta. We are here for just a talk, then we have to leave for a marriage."

"Okay, let me call him," I replied and made my way to our room, my heart beating in my chest due to nervousness and fear.

Should I talk to them and make them understand? Maybe I should try.

Sighing, I went to the living room and muttered," He will take some time, ma."

They nodded, but I added," Anything important?"

This time, Ma's voice fell in my ears," Your dad's phone came, he told Advik left his job. And even opened his own restaurant."

A shiver ran down my spine, "This is true, but what's the problem with it? If he wants to, then let him."

Before she could retort any reply, his father mused," We will talk to him; you don't need to worry."

"Ritika, where is my -" His words trailed off when he saw his parents sitting on the sofa, his mouth falling open.

And he glanced at me, I gave him a worried look and then his father spoke," Advik, is it true? You left your job?"

Advik sighed and walked near us," Yes, Papa. I did. And this time I am not giving up on my dream."

"What has happened to you, Advik?" His mother stood up.

"Ma-"

"Kya ma? Tujhe thodi bhi sharm ni ayi, tera abhi shaadi huyi hai, you have responsibility and you left your job? What about Ritika?" 

"Papa, i don't have any problem in this, and I happy Advik chose his dream instead of doing that job."

"Teri hi glti lag rhi hai mujhe toh, tune hi bhatkaya hoga." his mother spoke, coming near me and my heart dropped.

People do love to blame women, I smiled and was about to mutter but his voice cut through the air," Don't disrespect my wife."

Four words that were enough to make his mother flinch, and my heart warmed yet ached, that he took step for me, but he had to go against his mother.

"Say anything to me, but not to her." He looked at me, his state making my heart ache.

"And I want to do this, open my own restaurant."

"Advik, you are going to ruin yourself. And then don't come to me begging to give you money, you are your own." 

"And let's go." His angered voice echoed in the room, 

After they left, he dropped onto the sofa, his fingers running over his face, I made my way towards him and sat down, interlocking our hands.

"Ritika, I feel I am messing up everything." His voice cut through me, it had the pain, hurt and guilt.

"First, I messed up your relationship with your parents and now mine's. Is it everything worth my dream?" He looked at me; my eyes met his and in his brown eyes which were always shining with a spark, now had unshed tears.

"You didn't mess anything, Advik. You are taking stand for yourself. Your life. And yes- every fucking thing is worth it for your dreams. You don't deserve to live a life where you cry every day and regret not completing your dream."

"It's not easy, I know. But that doesn't mean you will give up. Advik, you started it because you wanted to build something for you, you knew your parents won't agree still you took the first step. And now you can't give up." 

I broke into tears," I won't let you give up."

"Ritika." A cry left his mouth, making me shudder.

Why life has to be cruel to him? Why can't just his parents accept it? Why? 

Throwing my thoughts back, I buried his face in my neck, letting him cry, and tell me from each tear that he is hating every second of it.

Dreams don't build in a day. They take time. They turn into nightmares- but nightmares wake you up, and let you dream again, with the hope that maybe- just maybe- every nightmare was worth the dream.

A/N

hey how was the chapter?

Trauma ends here!

Do vote nd comment.

Thank you for reading and luv u all