Warrior - Chapter Three

Warning: This chapter covers slight themes of sexual trauma.

Another social event... yay.

I really wish Amma would stop dragging me to these things but what can I do? It's not like I don't understand why she does this, after all. After what happened, she tried her best to make life normal for me, and wanted for me to reconnect with people, like old friends for example. Unfortunately for her, I had no interest whatsoever. And even if Amma wouldn't admit it, I knew what she really wanted.

For me to have a restart.

You see, even after a failed marriage, my mother still believed that the right person was still out there for me. They had made a mistake and had hit a large hurdle, but she believed it could be overcome and that the right person - my prince charming! - would show up one day or another.

I felt sorry for her. Genuinely, I do feel sorry for her. I can see the way guilt flashes in her eyes when she looks at me. She tries to play it off, but I see it, each and every time. But what I can only hope is that she realizes it wasn't her mistake alone.

Shyam is a fucking asshole, and he had fooled us all.

Not wanting to think about this stuff, I turned my attention to the bar. Apparently the aunty hosting this brunch shing-ding thought a bar was necessary.

How extra.

Then again, most of these aunties were. You see, in our town, there were lots of well off families, mine included. Our ancestors had settled here and slowly built our families up, and it passed on down to the next generation. My great grandfather had arrived here with his family, and the Gupta family remained here ever since. Babuji kept Gupta Industries running, and I would work alongside him, supporting him.

So I guess being extra wasn't so surprising, given the wealth, but like really? Most of you don't even drink!

I bet this aunty did it just to catch who orders alcohol so that she can shit talk about them - how classy.

But I don't care, at least, not about the aunties. Amma was my concern, but given that she was occupied, I ordered a mimosa for myself. If anyone asked, I would lie and say it was just orange juice and that they only had fancy glasses.

I know, it's ridiculous that a 26 year old woman has to sneak and hide as if they were 16, but you try being in this community!

Taking my drink, I looked back at the stupid party. There were huddles of aunties everywhere, some of their daughters having come too. I recognized some of them, having gone to school with them, but I couldn't care to associate with any of them. Honestly, I had no desire to.

"Oh my gosh, is that you Khushi?"

Oh my gosh, is that fakeness in your voice!

Turning around, I found - not surprisingly - an aunty. She had a fake smile on her face, that was as fake as her botox-face.

Like I said, wealth.

"I didn't know you were going to be here!"

Trust me, I don't want to be here.

"I mean given after everything," she fake-sympathized.

I gave her a sweet smile. "Oh don't you worry, aunty, I'm a strong one."

"Oh of course; it's not every day one sends their husband to jail," she grinned.

For a moment, I just watched her. I will never understand people like her, who choose purposely - sometimes not - to forget the fact that my ex-husband tried to rape me. You would think that these women would sympathize with me, but no. What was a bigger deal for them was that I had sent him to jail.

That's it!

"Oh, by the way aunty, how old is your daughter- what was her name? Oh yes, Sonia! How old is she?"

"She's turning 24," she said proudly.

"Oh wow, she's gotten so big! I'm sure you're looking for a husband for her?"

"Of course-"

"In that case, make sure she comes my way so I can give her some self defense lessons, in case the guy turns out to be a fucking asshole."

Aunty reacted as if my cuss had physically done something to her - what a drama queen.

"Cause you know, that's what happened to me? Actually, why am I even asking that, I mean all of you she-devils know."

Aunty's eyes widened, and that's when Amma decided to come and interrupt.

"Khushi-"

But I wasn't going to let her. "You know, I just don't understand you people," I said loudly, cause I knew people were watching and listening to us. "Most of you have daughters, that too who are at a grown age, and you'd think that after hearing what happened to me, that there would be some sympathy but no! All of you disgusting, conniving, low people act like I'm the bad guy!"

"How dare you-!"

"Oh trust me, aunty, I dare," I snarled, cutting her off. "But I guess it's true what they say - about people not understanding until it happens to them. Maybe you will realize when you see Sonia's clothes torn up and handprints and bruises are all over her body while she's bleeding after being assaulted."

Auntie's eyes widened and I could feel the others doing the same as they murmured.

"Yes, I sent my ex-husband to jail, and I would do it infinite times over if I had the chance because he tried to rape me. You all dare to look at me like I'm the bad guy, but yet none of you fuckers ever blame him for anything! What, just because he's a male and has a fucking penis, he can't do anything wrong? Everything is the girl's fault? How fucking dare you think like that, especially as a woman, especially being the mothers of daughters?" I looked at all of them as I pointed at them. "None of you deserve to be mothers, not a single one of you! You all disgust me!"

Tossing my drink down on the ground, the glass shattered and drink splattered as I stormed away, holding my chin up high.

I refuse to appear low, I will keep my chin up high, no one is going to ever make me feel down!

*~*

"You've crossed the limit this time, Khushi!"

"Hardly, Amma."

I could feel Amma's anger, frustration, and disappointment as I continued my workout.

"What do you mean hardly?! How will I ever show my face to those people-!"

"You don't need to, they're a bunch of bitter bitches to begin with."

"Khushi-!"

"And besides, none of them actually care. They just want to poke shit and say shit all day. You're better off not associating with these people."

"Khushi, I'm being serious!"

"So am I," and I continued doing my crunches.

Amma opened her mouth when Babuji came walking over.

"There you are, I was looking all over for you. Your phone has been ringing nonstop," he said, holding her phone out to her.

Amma frowned at him as she took the phone. "It's Mrs. D'Souza," she murmured.

"Take it, it must be important if she's been calling repeatedly."

Amma nodded and took the call. "Hello?"

She listened to the other person speak and I turned my attention back to my workout. Moving to my front, I got into a plank position and held myself up.

"What?!"

My head snapped up at Amma. She looked confused, yet amazed at the same time.

"I... I can't believe this," Amma shrieked.

Uh... what's going on?

"Yes! Thank you so much, and yes, please do text me her number," and she hung up.

"Is everything alright," Babuji asked.

Tears began to brim in Amma's eyes as she covered her face. "I can't believe this happening, I just- I can't believe it!"

"Believe what?"

She moved her hands away and gripped Babuji's. "There's a rishta for our Khushi!"

I felt my body give out on me and I collapsed to the floor. Amma and Babuji immediately looked at me at the sound of the thud.

I blew my hair out of my face. "What the fuck?!"