One year ago

Inaya

He presses another kiss against my cheek before wrapping his strong arms around my waist, keeping his chin on my shoulder overlooking as I cook him his favourite dish.

Aditya and I. We've been the happiest since we found each other. The happiest in each other's arms, the happiest with each other's words. Not once has there been an instance that I've doubted this relationship, his love for me, or his efforts.

Since a kid, I had been undermined in my own family, by my parents. Overprotective parents. And having an elder brother on top of that doesn't always help. But being with Adi? Being with Adi is like being in another world.

Our own tiny universe, our own tiny house with a tiny kitchen where I cook for him like I am right now.

Adi snuggles his head into the dip of my neck, before placing a kiss there. It makes me let out a chuckle before I set down the knife in my hand and turn towards him, facing the same eyes I had fallen in love with for the first and longest time.

His orbs winkle as he gives me a bright smile, and my stomach rushes instantly with the same old butterflies, tingling the same old affection inside me.

I don't think I'll ever love a man as much as I love him. And I don't even think I'll find a man as pure and perfect as Aditya.

When I first met this man, he was nothing but arrogant, annoying and an asshole. But I guess connection does something, love does other things. And people do change.

There was no doubt he changed. But it was only for me. He still had the habit of being an asshole and causing trouble everywhere he goes. To which, I respond with a daily lecture. Yet somehow his cuteness gets to me and eventually, I've to let go.

"Kya soch rahi ho jaanejahan?"
(What are you thinking love?)

Jaanejahan. The nickname he's had for me seen we've been together. It's making my heart do those weird flips every time I hear it, even tho he's called me the same a million times. It still makes me blush like no other.

"Inaya?"

He takes hold of my chin, making me look into his grey orbs. A soft hue coats my cheeks which he kisses away with his full lips.

"Kabhi socha hai? Agar hum aalag ho gaye toh Kya hoga?"
(Have you ever thought? What would happen if we got separated?)

"Aesa kuch nhi hoga. Kyu sochti ho itna?"
(Nothing like that will happen. Why do you think so much?)

"Darr lagta.. Abbu ka. Nhi maane toh?"
(I'm scared, of Dad. What if he doesn't agree?)

"then I'll get on my knees and beg him until he allows us to be together."

A smile erupts on my lips and is immediately mirrored by him.

Oh, my sweet sweet man. Jaan de dege hum inke liye, sab kuch kurbaan karke aapni zindagi ka harr ek pal inko de dege.
(I'll give my life to him, sacrifice everything and give him every moment of my life)

Adi pulls away from me before taking over the cooking. Peaking over his large figure, a chuckle leaves my lips seeing my struggling to make the dish properly.

"Let me do it, Adi."

He shakes his head before looking over his shoulder at me.

"Tumne already bohot kaam kar liya ja ke rest karo. Mai karlunga."
(You've already worked a lot, go rest, I can do it)

"Let me help na"

"Nhi bola na,"
(I said no)

Before I argue any further, my phone rings loudly from the countertop. I leave a peck on Adi's cheek before slipping away from him and walking over to my phone to take a look at the caller ID.

Ammi?

Why is she calling me at this hour? I told her I was with Kaynaaz.

I glance at my boyfriend for a second before walking out of the kitchen and picking up my mother's call.

"Ji Ammi? Kuch hua hai?"
(Yes Mom? Did something happen?)

"Inaya abhi ke abhi ghar aao."
(Inaya get back home at this moment)

"magar ammi hum Kaynaaz ke sath hai."
(But mom I'm with Kaynaaz)

"Aapke abbu Aapko abhi ghar chahte hai. Aap nhi aarhi ho toh hum Aayan ko bhej rahe hai."
(Your father wants you home right now. If you aren't coming, then I'll send Aayan to pick you up)

I catch Adi standing by the opening of the hallway cleaning his hands with a hand towel as he leans against the wall with his eyebrows raised in my direction.

I give a small hum to Ammi before declining the call and turning in his direction. He tosses the fabric in his hand before stepping closer and embracing me in his arms. He pecks my nose and forehead before staring straight into my eyes with his own beautiful ones.

"Kisse baat kar rahi thi aap begum?"
(Who were you talking to wifey?)

"Woh ammi ka call aaya tha.."
(Actually, mom called..)

The smile on his face falls and he straightens up, suddenly going rigid. A clear sign of worry and confusion clouds his orbs as he hesitates to ask the reason why. Aditya and I had always been careful of our relationship, not letting anyone besides Kaynaaz and Rooh know, and a couple of His own friends.

Neither he nor I were ready to yet tell your parents that we had fallen for someone from another religion. Something that my family would kill me over. And every time Adi faced a talk about Ammi Abbu, he would freeze up the way he had now. Scared that something might happen.

"Adi, it'll be fine, they probably need help with something,"

"Inaya what if?"

"There's no what if nothing will happen, you trust me right?"

He gives me a cold nod, before squeezing me in his arms and inhaling my scent.

"I need to go, love,"

"Promise me, whatever happens, you'll fight for us, in case things turn badly."

He holds out his pinky finger, staring at me with a kind expression, one like that of a child.

"I promise."

I lock my pinky with him, before tipping on my toes and pecking his full soft lips, something I couldn't ever get enough of.

Time skip

It didn't take me long to get back home. Adi's apartment wasn't too far off from the house, although his parents' house was a thirty-minute drive, he preferred staying on campus together or hanging out in his apartment, in case any of our parents accidentally caught us.

I pay off the auto driver before stepping out of the old vehicle and opening the large doors beholding my house.

Although our family was huge, rich and dominant, I preferred staying simplistic. Wearing clothes brought from Sarojini, or any small stores out on the streets of Delhi, travelling in an auto, coffee shops over big restaurants. Not because I didn't like being the daughter of a big family, but rather that I would peace in simplicity. Rich people make things too complicated. For example my abbu jaan.

I shake my hand at the working lady coming towards me, probably to take the bag on my shoulders away from me. I can carry this much. I don't want the habit that my mom has.

"Hum ghar aagye."
(I'm home)

I rummage through my bag to find the hair claw I always tie my hair with. One that Adi had brought for me on our first date together.

"Your long hair is gorgeous, but I know it troubles you, so I got you this."

He had said. And then proceeded to pull out the most gorgeous Hair claw I had ever seen. It was always in my hair since then.

When I don't hear any response from the people of my household, I slowly step up away from the staircase leading up to my bedroom and walk silently towards the living room.

A relieved sigh escapes my lips once I spit everyone but Ammi and Aayan sitting together and having tea. Bhai usually had late shifts on these days, and Ammi was rarely seen outside in the living room. I was like that in this house. Women didn't get their own choices and words. Unless Bhaiya stepped in. Which he did. But only when he was present.

"Good evening Dad."

The said person looks up from the phone in his hands, looking at me with his usually cold stare. He nods his head at me before his eyes return to his phone.

"Where have you been Inaya?"

"Kaynaaz ke ghar the Padhai ke liye,"
(At Kaynaaz's house. For study)

"Sach?"
(Really?)

"Ji Abbu-"
(Yes Dad-)

My words come to a pause when I see Ammi walk in from the corner of my eyes, Kaynaaz two steps behind her, guilt painted on her pretty face.

Oh no.

Oh no no no no.

My gaze returned back to my father, who was staring at me with the same but colder eyes.

"Woh abbu- I was at the library, kuch books lani thi,"
(Actually Dad- I was at the library, to buy some books)

"Kidhar hai books?"
(Where are the books?)
Fuck. Fucking stupid.

"woh.. nhi mili abbu."
(Umm.. I didn't find them..)

I shriek loudly when he throws the cup in his hand on the ground throwing his phone aside in anger.

His gaze burns into the top of my head, craving a hole in the same spot. My eyes catch Kay's drained face from the corner of my slight before my hands start to tremble aggressively.

"Abbu w-wesa kuch nhi hai jesa aap soch rahe hai, humari baat suniye.."
(Dad it's nothing like that like you're thinking, at least listen to me once)

"Baat sune ki zarorat nhi hai Inaya. Tumhe jo karna tha woh tumne already Humare peeth piche kar liya hai. Ab jo bhi hoga. Woh hum karege."
(I don't need to listen Inaya. You've already done what you wanted to behind my back. Now I will do whatever I want)

"Abbu nhi- please aap suniye humari baat,"
(Dad no- please listen to me once)

"You'll break up with him. And if I see you around him again. I won't hesitate to make sure your brother gets to know the false accusations I've made to get your petty man into trouble. Consider this a chance to let him stay alive."

"Abbu aap nhi kar sakte Aesa. I love him. Humko pyaar hai Aditya se. Unko bhi humse bohot pyaar hai, bas aap milke toh dekhiye unse,"
(Dad you can't do this. I love him. I love Aditya. And he loves me too, you just met him once and see)

"Inaya. I suggest you don't say another word in his defence. Tum kisi se pyaar karugi toh humari maarzi se, nhi toh kisi se nhi." 
(Inaya. I suggest you don't say another word in his defence. Whom you will love, is my choice, or you won't love anyone)

Before I say another word, he lifts his hand to stop me from uttering whatever defence I have. It takes him a minute to pick up his belongings and storm out of the house, with my mother at his feet.

"Inu!"

Kay holds me in her arms as soon as I collapse on the hard marble floor. My eyes stinging with burning tears. A cracked sob leaves my throat as Kay brushes the hair on the top of my head, trying to soothe the horrifying pain.

Why god why? Why is it so hard? Why so many differences? What too in love? Love which is supposed to have no boundaries? No matter the religion the caste the gender? No matter what the case? Then why? Why do some people still try to break up lovers? Lovers that care for each other more than they to express?

"Inu don't cry, I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were with Aditya, or I would've never come up here, I just needed to talk to you about something, but.. I'm so sorry baby."

My eyes water up more, seeing hers fill up with ugly tears. A drop falls from her eyes and my heart aches more, almost as if ripping out of my chest.

For hours, we sit on the same marbled, sobbing in each other's arms, occasionally wiping away the stray tears. I cried for my love, she cried for my heartbreak. That is how me and Kay were. Bounded by a thread, rather than the blood.

Eventually, my best friend helps me walk up to my room, laying me on the sheets and helping me fall asleep before she leaves for her house.

The sleep didn't last long, I woke up crying yet again, dreaming about the love I lost this day. One I might never get back. One I regret not fighting for.

My Adi. My precious man.

Next morning.

My gaze stays on the ground for a long time. When I walk out of my room, when I walk out of the gates of the house of my capturer, when I reach college and now finally when I'm standing in front of Aditya Singhania.

When we started dating, he would tease me, and call me Mrs. Singhania, knowing that Abbu would absolutely hate him, or even kill him brutally for even thinking that once. But I loved it, although I didn't show it, being his wife, his begum - as he called me - it would be a dream come true. But only I could explain how this dream had broken up brutally, by the same person I considered my father.

"Inaya? Kya hua Jaanejahan?"
(Inaya? What happened love?)

He tries to lift my eyes towards his own with my chin but I deflect his actions, stepping back a bit. I can feel the hurt and surprise drift in the air, all from him, all from his precious heart.

"Aditya. Hum aapke sath nhi rehe sakte."
(Aditya, I can't be with you anymore)

I wait for a second for his reply, and when he doesn't respond, I slowly look up at him, only to be surprised by the smile he has pulled up on his lips.

"You're joking I know begum, chalo ab batao, Kya baat hai? Kyu bulaya mujhe Idhar?"
(You're joking ik wifey, now tell me, what happened? Why did you call me here?)

"I'm not joking Adi."

He raises his eyebrow at my statement, still amused, thinking that my words are just a joke. Until a few moments pass and he finally realises the truth.

"What are you saying Inaya? We were fine yesterday."

"I can't be with you anymore Adi, we're done."

I turn around to leave before I cry at the hurt filled in his eyes before he catches onto my wrist, pulling me back to where I was.

"Did your father say something? Tell me Inaya? I'll talk to him, I'll convince him,"

He gently holds my face in his hands, caressing my right cheek. I cherish the touch for a moment. For only a moment, before breaking our world the next minute.

"We're done, Adi. I don't love you. I don't feel anything for you. It's my own decision,"

I don't look up into his eyes. Because my heart knows they're filled with tears. And as soon as mine meet his, they'll cry bloody fucking tears.

With a trembling hand, I reach to the back of my head, unclawing the rose clip in my hand, letting my hair fall apart, covering my back in the heat of the summer.

Next goes the promise ring in my hand, one that held more promises than I could keep, ones that I wished I kept.

Slowly reaching out for his hand, I kept the items in his palm, handing him back the prized possessions I had of his, the ones I didn't deserve any more.

"You promised Begum."

And with the same sentence, fall a single tear, his on my hand, and mine on the concrete. I pull back my hand from his as if the tear had burned my skin, before turning around and quickly wiping off the wetness on my cheek.

"You promised Inaya,"

He repeats.

And I speak the only words on my mind.

"Promises are meant to be broken, Aditya."