Forced marriage
Rita was counting numbers. It was very important impact. She needed to understand importance of her skill. She always felt that it was nothing. She kept doing it every day. In fact in her family she used like calculator by other people. She didn't mind. She never thought that she was doing something special. She kept doing it. She always felt that she was just stupid girl. She looked at herself in mirror. She was not beautiful. It was not as if she didn't like her look. She loved it but other people taunted her about everything. She was not considered some beauty. Other people always made it clear to her. She knew that she was not that beautiful. She still felt plenty of hopes for her future. She managed to get nice husband. She felt that if she didn't demand too much money or she became ready to go anywhere in world it would happen. She was so upset when she decided to marry Raja & he agreed to get married but then he started criticizing her. Her hope that her husband would love her was shattered. She sensed that this man would marry her but he kept criticising her on every day of her life. Her guess proved true. She felt so sad. She couldn't understand how could she control her emotions. It was so stressful. She had to adjust. She began to cook in kitchen when suddenly her father-in-law came with one calculation. She immediately started doing it then she told number. Her father-in-law nodded. She didn't got any admiration since she was useless according to them. She was not earning enough money. She deserved nothing. She didn't understand why did she needed to be treated this way. She tried so hard to earn but her life never gave her much chance. People around her were not helpful too. It was so stressful for her. She didn't got any opportunity. It was as if atmosphere was always against her. She tried so hard. Her father-in-law went back in hall. Then Raja entered in kitchen. Today he was not planning to go to office. He was going to stay in home for entire day. It was worst for her. He kept demanding non stop. She didn't understand what she supposed to do first. On that second he came & ordered " When you will make tea & snacks for me?" She smiled & said " I am making.." " Hurry up. You are so slow. You can't earn & you can't cook." She didn't understand what was wrong with her cooking? Every one admired her cooking. They wanted her to cook different dishes. She kept trying. She tried so hard to make it successful but nothing was working. She kept cooking every day. She needed to do all properly. She considered all but still she couldn't make anyone happy. She began to feel so sad. She knew that she was going to cry. She was so nervous. If anyone noticed her, she started crying then they would taunt her more. She began to feel so nervous. She tried to console herself that no one was coming to harm her. She began to do cooking. She kept watching clock. She wanted to finish all in time. She smiled & she was taught by every one that she needed to smile & do all otherwise she would never be happy in her married life. She was so confused. She was not truly happy in her life. She kept smiling & pretending. Now she began to doubt that concept. She sensed that those who smiled in this situation would keep showing others that they were happy but it didn't show that they were happy. She began to sense that her smile made it easy for her husband to pretend that she was so happy. He began to do bossing & still he could pretend to public that he was giving her happiness. She still kept pretending before her Mom. She knew even if she decided to tell truth it was impossible to hope tha her Mom would sympathize her. Her Mom never liked her. Her Mom was so fond of her brother. She never understood why. She was smarter than him. She did many things for their house than her brother. She cooked & cleaned. Her brother got good job but he never gave any money to parents. He just kept it in his account & used it for his family. But her Mom didn't mind it. Her Mom kept saying that was his family. She didn't understand why did they needed to admire him? Her Mom kept saying just one thing that she wanted son. It was so upsetting for her. She didn't wanted to be burden but she was always treated like one. She began to feel so restless. She didn't understand what she wanted to do in her life. She just hoped for husband who would want her. She felt that she was born as per destiny but person would marry her by choice so that one wouldn't complaint. But it was not happening. She loudly called Raja. Raja came in. He sat like some King. She supposed to serve him like slave. It was so horrible. She needed to concentrate on his moods. She did all. Then she went back in kitchen. She suddenly located one ad in newspaper. It was ad of dance class. She knew that she was not permitted. Then she saw ad of drawing class. She knew that she was not even permitted to go here. She was not supposed to go out. But today she wanted to do it. She called drawing class. She managed to get information. She calculated money that she had. It was nothing. She didn't have any money for admission in drawing class. She began to draw peacefully in her mind. Then she got an idea. She went in garden & started drawing. Soon she began to feel that it was canvas. She started drawing a beautiful picture in dust. She was so happy. She knew that it was not permanent. It would vanish but she didn't need it. She began to draw. She totally forgot that she was cooking until her mother-in-law didn't come in garden & started screaming on her. " Mad woman! Are you planning to burn our kitchen to ashes?" She didn't understand. " Why did you went out without closing gas? It could have burn entire house! You are such strange woman!" Then her mother-in-law saw her drawing on ground. " What are you doing?" Then her mother-in-law looked more angry & she shivered with fear. " Let me guess. This is witchcraft. You know black magic." Rita was so confused. She wanted to deny it. But she knew that it was useless. Her mother-in-law started calling Raja already.
Raja was eating his food. He really liked it's taste. First time his wife managed to do something good. Since marriage he hated her, he wanted another girl but she rejected him. He was not enough educated or rich. His family had bad reputation. They always managed to get involved in every argument. They were not considered nice people. In society they considered arrogant & abusive so he needed to adjust with what he got. He didn't like her that much but still she was useful. He now needed kids then all would be perfect. He wanted everything as per his plan. He was eating tasty food. He had wife who would jump on his voice. He knew that was what he needed. Then he suddenly sensed that he needed a pair of socks. He was too tired to go in market. On that point he heard screams of his mother. He ran in garden. He noticed that Rita was sitting in dust doing something in it. She was doing some pictures. Kids normally did painting like that in dirt on ground. He didn't understand what was going on. Raja's Mom pointed towards Rita & screamed " Look at her. She is doing black magic!" Now he didn't believe it. But he sensed that it was opportunity to increase his fear in her mind. She didn't cook instead of that she came out to do painting in dirt. She was sitting in garden. She was totally dirty. It was clear that she needed to disciplined. He gave her angry look. He never actually hit her. Since he knew that it would give marks & she could complaint but his words were nothing less than punch. He smiled & said "Wow now to avoid cooking you started doing this? You want to prove you are mad & take rest in room?" Rita was so confused. She just came out in impulse. Rita stood up. She started to find excuse. She immediately did. She smiled & said " I was just searching for my gold earring!" She managed to show off that she was wearing her earring back. Raja began to laugh. Raja was in good mood that day. He didn't want to declare her sick. Now she was showing that she was healthy it was okay for him. He turned against his Mom & said " Mom it is just earring." His Mom wanted to argue but she didn't say anything. She wanted Rita to cook too. Rita went inside. She began to feel so restless. She wanted to feel normal. But she was not feeling that way. She was getting agitated. She began to cook. But even while cooking she started drawing pictures on water. She began to do pictures in floor. She didn't sense how could she lose her time in those drawings. Finally Raja started asking about lunch. She came in her senses. She began to cook but it was too late. She was so stressed. She needed to start to concentrate but it was already 12 o'clock. She was not going to hide her absent mindedness now. She started breathing loudly. She didn't want to make noise but it was too late. Her mother-in-law came inside running. Her mother-in-law started screaming when she saw painting which did on floor. She also managed to paint refrigerator with ketchup. It was shocking her too. She never acted like this on her impluse. She always behaved like good girl. She was always obedient child. She began to sense that something was taking hold of her thinking. She didn't understand what. Her mother-in-law started to scream. " She had some ghost inside her. She had it from beginning. That day I saw her touching burning gas. She didn't burn." Rita was so confused. She didn't remember anything like that but she believed her mother-in-law. She was taught to always respect her. She kept nodding. It was so frustrating. She wanted to respect her but she screamed " I want to draw more. I want to keep drawing." She began to search for pen. Then she started drawing everywhere. She watched herself doing drawing on her own face. It was little bit painful. Sometimes that pen was hurting her cheek. She could see blood was coming out but no one could stop her. She needed to do it. She required to do it. Her mother-in-law started calling her husband Raja. Raja came inside. He was frustrated when he came inside but he saw her face & immediately it vanished. He looked so shocked. Then he tried to stop her hand. But he couldn't. She pushed him far away in few seconds. He began to scream in pain. She didn't understand how could she suddenly managed to get so much strength. He screamed " She had ghost inside. Let's run." Raja & his Mom ran outside. No one came to stop her again. She managed to draw designs on her entire body then she kept drawing in kitchen. She didn't stop. Then finally she stopped. She began to cry. She tried to get rid of that ink but it was not working. She managed to hurt her face more. She kept crying. After sometime finally Raja came in kitchen. He looked towards her face & started screaming "Look at her. She is looking so ugly. I can't tolerate this woman in my room.." mother-in-law came running. Her mother-in-law " Just throw her out of house. Otherwise people would start to say we did this to her." Raja nodded. He started dragging her out of house. She began to cry. Finally he pushed her out & closed door. She kept banging on it for sometime. But soon she sensed that it was useless. She began to feel as if she was in some movie. She was some tragedy queen. She didn't understand what was happening. She painted her face. Due to it her husband deserted her. She was thrown out of house. She didn't understand why she did it. Raja never even asked her that question. He just threw her out of house. She decided to return to her parents house. She didn't have money so she started walking. Soon she sensed that it was impossible. She requested a lady for mobile. After seeing her injured face that lady immediately gave. She felt that she had accident. Luckily her brother took call. She told him everything. She knew one thing that her father-in-law was not in home. Her father-in-law was only source of re-entr in that house. Her brother agreed to come there to pick her up. She took breath of relief & thanked that lady. Then she stood on corner of road waiting for her brother with injured face. Every one was watching her. They all felt sad. Some even offered help but she denied it nicely. She told them all her brother was coming. But her brother didn't seem to be appearing. She started crying slowly. Her tears was increasing her pain but she couldn't stop it.
Rita's brother Prabhat was very upset by her behaviour. He didn't want her responsibility now. She was married off to rich man & she was supposed to settle with him. He knew that Raja was not that much nice fellow. But they didn't have much option. Rita was not something unique & his Dad didn't spend any sum on her education or to improve her. Boys had been plenty of demands while she was just another plain girl. Her looks were not so bad but she didn't earn or her Dad was not ready to offer large sum to compensate it so she was useless in eyes of many boys & he didn't blame them. Prabhat was also planning to find a bride who earn large salary or her father needed to have some big business. He knew that it was all about money but everyone did it. He didn't consider it crime if he did it too. He knew that his family didn't want Rita from beginning. They wanted another son. He was bank balance. Now if Rita came back her father would have heart attack. He decided to give call to Rita's father-in-law. He knew that he managed to stuck that man in tricky situation. If his son tried to divorce Rita, his father would land in jail. Prabhat laughed. Prabhat was wise man. He was not planning to take back product which he already sold. Prabhat never sensed that he was considering his sister like some product. He didn't sense it was wrong. He just knew one thing that his sister must marry to someone from whom he would be benefited. He knew entire family think that way. He called Rita's father-in-law & he immediately agreed to take her home. Rita was standing in corner when she saw her father-in-law instead of Prabhat she shivered. Then she noticed that he was not alone. A Doctor was with him. She wanted to hide but she was so scared. Suddenly she began to draw on ground again. She tried to calm herself but she couldn't. Her father-in-law pointed towards her & said " She is acting like this. She is mad woman but I am stuck in financial obligations so I can't let my son take divorce. Look at her face. She did it all.." Doctor gave sweet smile to her. Doctor " Don't worry if you pay for treatment we can cure her." " But I don't want her back in my house." Doctor smiled & said " It is easy. You can arrange some job for her. After treatment she could do it & stay in some woman's hostel or as PG. You can arrange it if you spend money." Her father-in-law nodded. She was so scared. But she didn't have much option. She went with psychiatrist. She began to discuss. She told him everything. Psychiatrist " It was not about your beauty. It was about earning profit out of human too. It was worst habit. Some human feel that they could treat other human like some commodity. They don't give them much options like your family. From both side you were treated like some product. They don't care for you.." she started crying slowly. She added " I want to become painter. I loved drawing but my father didn't want me to do so. He didn't encourage. He decided everything & I suppose to obey. It was not moving in right way. I wanted to develop my career in my way." She began to remember those days when she used to paint for hours. Sometimes people admired & sometimes they criticised. But she used to feel alive by it. She still wanted to return to that painting. Psychiatrist " Do you want to paint?" She nodded. She smiled. But her face started to pain. She began to feel so scared. " I don't want to paint!" " Why?" " I start to paint everywhere." " It happened because you tried to paint on canvas. Give some freedom to your soul!" " No..no I must not paint. It is wrong habit." " Who told you that? Many people paint in fact many people earn out of it. Painting is good habit." She began to feel confused. She started arguing. " No.. I must not paint. My parents dislike it. I can't disobey them. My husband dislike it. I can't disobey him.." psychiatrist " You can." She stood up & started screaming that she couldn't. Then she suddenly started to draw on her hand again. But psychiatrist called nurse. She was immediately injected. She slowly started to faint. She shivered with fear when she woke up, she was not okay. She started crying but Psychiatrist came. He convinced her that it was not hard. Psychiatrist " This happened since your husband never loved you. He was forced in this marriage by your brother since it was regarding some business deal. Your brother didn't want to spend amount on your marriage so he took shortcut. He managed to select a man who could be blackmailed. Your father-in-law was under his thumb. You needed a husband who love you not one who was forced in marriage. This happened due to lack of love in your life. You need to start your life in new way & your father-in-law would help you financially if you are willing to left his son." Then Psychiatrist took pause & asked " Do you love Raja?" She didn't thought even for moment before saying " No." Psychiatrist stopped her. Psychiatrist " Take your time! We will do your treatment when you will be cured then you can answer me." She nodded. Then they began her treatment. She began to sense & understand her life in different way.
Finally one day Rita got cured. She called her father-in-law. Before Psychiatrist she started telling him that how much she needed divorce. Her father-in-law smiled. He said " My son is saying same thing to me yesterday." She smiled. " He is getting bitter day by day since he dislike me!" " No it is not about you. He is too greedy. He was ready to become pet for rich woman. His Mom made him that way by her upbringing. I personally didn't interfere. It is his life & his choice. I did some mistakes due to greed too that landed me in this position. Prabhat could manage to blackmail me. Now Raja is making same mistake but he needed to learn from mistakes only. He doesn't deserve you & you deserve better person. I never mentioned it since I don't want my son to overheard me." She nodded. She knew that he was talking like that since he wanted easy divorce. She knew that this was trick. But she wanted her independence too so she decided to play along. She showed him her demand. He looked tense then he tried to reduce them but she didn't agree. Finally he agreed & went away. She smiled happily & looked towards Psychiatrist. Then she said " In sound mind or in unsound mind I just wanted that man out of my life at any cost & thank God his father is paying cost of it not me." Then she started laughing & Psychiatrist joined her. On that point her new journey began. She started to see new hopes.
The End
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