Samhitha's POV
It's been a hectic day. I don't know how people are enjoying IT jobs, but I hate it to my core. But being an elder daughter, it's my responsibility to take care of my family. My father is going to retire after 4 years, so I need to make sure everything is there for them before they get me married.
Finally, I reached my home, and before entering, I know what's going to happen inside.
"What happened, ammu? You came so late. It's already past your office time, right?" said my mummy from the kitchen, arranging dinner on the table.
"I told you na, mummy. I need to complete the work before taking leave, or else my manager is not going to approve my leaves," I said tiredly, sitting on the sofa.
Just then my little sister came from her room to show me her project. I love her a lot. She admires me and looks up to me for all her problems, and once she even told me she wants to be like me. But I know what it is like being me, so I told her she doesn't have to be like anyone. She can have her own life with her own goals, and I will always stand beside her supporting her as a backbone.
Just then my mother came with a glass of water. I took the water from her hand and drank it. Taking the glass from my hand, she asked,
"What about the leave? Did your sannasi manager approve it?"
Before I could answer, my sister joined her.
"Haa akka, tell me! I am so excited for Rohith anna's marriage. We can wear new clothes and enjoy a lot. Did you get the leave? My class teacher accepted my leave."
"Chinni, take a break. Why are you speaking so fast? And for both of you, the answer is NO. He said next month it's going to be my 2 years in the company and they are planning to give promotions, so they will check the performance. I can't take 7 days leave now."
Without letting me complete, my mummy asked,
"Then what about the marriage? You know right Rohith, pedhhamma and pedhanana are going to feel bad if you don't come."
"Mummy wait, let me complete. Now I know from where Chinni got this interrupting habit. He approved 3 days leave and asked me to work from home for 2 days. So tomorrow and the day after tomorrow I need to go to office."
"Ohh okay. But how are you going to manage for 2 days then? Should I stay? And what do you mean about Chinni's habit? Even you are also born from me and you also have my habits, okay? Now go and freshen up. Dinner is ready."
"No mummy, I will take care of myself. You guys can go, I will manage it somehow. Haa mummy, going. But I got my habits from my nanna, not from you, Mrs. Lakshmi Reddy."
She just laughed at my words and went to the kitchen. I came back to my room to freshen up.
Wait... so you guys didn't know about me, right?
I am Samhitha Reddy, elder daughter of Srinivas Reddy and Lakshmi Reddy. My father is a government teacher. Though he is strict in school, he is nothing like that at home. He is the one who inspires me every day.
When I was young, he used to tell me that people told him the firstborn should have been a son, but he didn't care about anyone and told them that son or daughter, he doesn't care. He will treat his children equally. And true to his words, he treats us equally.
I also have a younger brother Kiran Reddy, who is studying MBBS, currently in his 2nd year.
You know right, these relatives won't shut up no matter what. They still tell my father that I should have studied MBBS and my brother should have taken engineering.
And you have already met my little sister Anvi Reddy, currently in 9th grade. Sometimes I feel like she should stop growing because she doesn't know how cruel the outside world is. I don't want her to get hurt.
I came out after freshening up and went to the dining table. Then my brother and father came to have dinner.
While eating, my mother told everyone to pack our bags after dinner. She also asked me to send my bag along with them.
Then suddenly she went to the topic which I hate.
"Ammu, wear sarees for functions. You have already come to marriage age and we can take good photos, and we will see if anyone's son is there."
I got irritated and said,
"Mummy you know right, right now I don't want to get married. And what is this? Why should I wear a saree for someone else? I will wear whatever I want and if you force me I won't even come to the marriage."
"Haa, if you don't come then no one will come to your marriage. It's not like we are doing your marriage tomorrow only. If we start seeing matches now, it will take 1 or 2 years until we get a good groom who can handle your stubbornness."
I immediately replied,
"I am not stubborn and right now I am not interested in this marriage drama. I know about you guys. See what happened with Swathi. You told her it will take one year and suddenly within 2 months she got married and left."
My mother shouted,
"Choodu ammu, ammai anna tharuvatha pelli chesi pampaali. Neeku em thelusu bayata samajam em antundho!"
(Listen ammu, once a girl grows up she must be married and sent to her husband's house. You don't know what society will say.)
Then my father said,
"Leave it Lakshmi. I know when the right time is for her marriage. Now she is focusing on her career, let her. Don't disturb my ammu."
My brother suddenly interfered.
"No nanna, mummy is also right. See akka is already 23. We should get her married then only I can take her room... I mean she should also focus on her personal life, not just career."
I glared at him.
"You don't have to worry about me. I know when I should get married. Until 25 I am not going to think about it."
Then my mummy said,
"You can continue your career even after marriage. How many women are doing jobs after getting married. Just think about it. And if you have someone in your life tell us before only, don't pull any stunt."
Then my father stopped everyone.
"Enough now. You people finish eating and pack all the things for the wedding. And I know my ammu. She is not going to pull any stunt. Even if she loves someone I know he will definitely be a great guy. I believe in my bangaaru thalli."
(My sweeetheart)
Saying this, my father finished his food and went to wash his hands.
Here I lost my appetite too and went to wash my hands.
When I entered my room, I was just scrolling some reels when suddenly the door opened and the monkeys came into my room.
"Akka, we will wear matching dresses for Rohith anna's wedding. You have to do my hair and makeup and you should do it just like you," said Chinni.
Ayyoo I love her, she is so cute.
I told her we will see whatever similar outfits we have and wear them.
Then I saw Kiran sitting silently.
"Em iyyindhi ra kothi, ala kurchunnav?"
(What happened monkey, why are you sitting like that?)
"Em ledhu akka. I am sorry. I didn't mean it during lunch. I just thought if you get married I can have this room to myself. But later I realized you getting married means you will leave us all, right."
I smiled and ruffled his hair.
"It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. And who told you that you can have my room if I get married? It will still be my room."
He asked,
"How? My friend got his sister's room after she got married."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Bayapadaku thammudu, I won't let that happen in our home."
(Don't worry little brother, that won't happen here.)
Just then I heard crying.
I turned and saw Chinni crying. Me and Kiran immediately rushed to her.
"Akka, I know if you get married you will leave us and you will forget this Chinni. My friend told me her sister visits home only four times in a year. I don't want you to leave me akka."
She cried more.
I hugged her.
"Chinni, look at me. Do you think I will leave you? You are my baby. How can I leave you?"
She stopped crying and both of them left the room.
Now it's just me and my overthinking.
Whatever Chinni said is true, right? If I get married, I have to leave my family.
And who is the idiot that decided girls should leave their house after marriage? Why can't boys leave their houses?
Even we stayed with our parents our whole life right?
Or at least we should all stay together.
What do you mean only I should take care of them? Efforts should come from both sides.
And I don't know what kind of person I am going to get.
It's not like I can escape it.
When I was born it was already written in my fate, as my mother said.
But still, how can I be sure about a person and decide he is the one I will stay with my whole life?
What if he scolds me?
What if he hits me?
What if he disrespects my family?
What if he doesn't let me take care of my family?
I have many what ifs in my mind, but my mother says everything will be alright.
How can it be alright?
How can you decide about a person in just a few meetings?
It's good that Rohith anna is doing a love marriage. I know vadhina is going to be lucky. I know my brother, he will take care of her very well.
And about love... it's complicated.
It looks good on screen.
It looks good when it is ink on paper.
But in real life, I am terrified of it.
Who knows the other person might be pretending... or even suffering because of us.
I don't think I will ever find love in life.
And I don't want to also.
With all these thoughts, I went to sleep because I know it's going to be a very difficult week for me.
It's okay, Ammu.
You can handle it.
You are very strong.
Good night guys.