Warrior - Chapter Seventy Five

 With my hair done and makeup look complete, I made my way back to my room and changed into my dress, put on some jewelry, then placed my hat on my head.

Mama in-law sure hit the nail on the head with this one!

I started to take a few selfies, but then memories of that night quickly came to my mind, spoiling all the fun.

Ugh, that night is going to haunt me for-fucking-ever!

Grabbing my clutch, I tossed my phone inside, along with some other essentials, then made my way out of the room. As I reached the staircase, I saw Shalini Singh Raizada impatiently tapping her foot.

"You wouldn't be happening to do that because of me, are you," I asked, arching my brow.

"Never," she replied, still tapping her foot.

Wise woman.

"I'm waiting for Varsha," she huffed lightly.

I couldn't help but to frown, then looked downstairs to see all of the Raizada men and boys totally ready, though there was a look of annoyance on NK's face - just like earlier - and surprisingly enough, on Madhav's face as well.

"She's not dressed yet, is she," I asked, looking back at Shalini.

"When I went to check in on them earlier, Madhav had mentioned how she wasn't ready yet."

"You would've thought she was doing her makeup on her own that she was taking so much time," I frowned, tilting my head.

Shalini let out a scoff. "You would think, but no, of course not. Then, later, Madhav came down alone, looking quite irritated, so I'm assuming they got into an argument, which only adds onto the delay."

I glanced down at uncle in-law, who had his arms crossed, still looking a little pissed. Just as I was about to look back at mama in-law and say something, NK opened his mouth.

"Ma! Can you hurry up," he yelled, throwing his arms up.

Whoa! What the fuck?!

I couldn't help but to look at NK with wide eyes, looking quite astounded.

I mean I've never heard the boy use such a harsh tone before.

"NK," Aryan scolded.

"Bade Pa, she always does this," NK huffed.

Aryan Singh Raizada opened his mouth, but Madhav Singh Raizada beat him to it.

"No Bhai, he's right," Madhav said. 

"Madhav-"

"She can't keep fucking doing this," he huffed.

Oh! I think this is the first time I've heard uncle in-law cuss!

I can't help but to look at the father-and-son duo, noting their matching frustrated expressions.

Why listen to me now when she hasn't in twenty years?

Hmm....

Shalini Singh Raizada opened her mouth, but I interrupted.

"Be right back."

Not waiting a moment to hear her response, I walked past mama in-law and made my way to Varsha Singh Raizada's room.

It's not quite often that I go to this end of the mansion. Unless Shalini Singh Raizada had something for me in her room, there really wasn't much of a reason for me to go to that side. I mean don't get me wrong, I have been to the others' bedrooms before - I have been living here for a few months after all! But there just really wasn't much of a reason for me to go this way.

A reason like now, for example.

Turning at the corner, I reached Varsha Singh Raizada's room and opened the door without a care. Madhav and Varsha's room was quite minimalistic, making the room seem even more vast. Upon entry, you would see their bed, their wedding photo hanging above, in which you could see a smiling Madhav Singh Raizada, as well as a rare sight of Varsha Singh Raizada smiling. She, of course, was decked out in her bridal wear and jewelry, and I remember being shocked the first time I saw it. But of course, it's a wedding photo, and since it went accordingly to the old demon's ways, why wouldn't she be a decked-out bride looking fancy and all?

To the left of the bed was the vanity, where a shocked Varsha Singh Raizada was standing, wearing a silk robe. Looking back on the bed, I see that - just like I had predicted - a dull, yellow floral tea dress was laid out, her royal blue dress nowhere in sight.

"Seriously," I scowled.

"Khushi-"

"Why the fuck do you do this," I asked, crossing my arms.

Varsha's eyes widened even more than they were. "I-"

"You know, ever since I met you, you've always dressed so plainly and dully. But seriously, why? Why the fuck do you dress like a plain-fucking-jane, when you're fucking gorgeous?"

To most people, it may not seem obvious. But look at her carefully, not to mention if she actually took the time to take care of and style herself, the woman is actually stunning. Think of it as those stupid teen movies where a girl with messy, un-brushable hair who decides to actually brush her hair and style it - that kind of shit.

Or heck, think princess diaries 1.

Yeah, like that.

Varsha stepped towards me. "Khushi-"

"Why do you let that old demon control your life?"

For whatever reason, a hint of fear flashed across Varsha's eyes. However, as soon as the question of why she felt that way crossed my mind, I just as quickly understood it.

Especially since I've gone through it myself, with him.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I looked at her. "Look; Arnav told me the story about you and and your husband, and mama in-law filled in the gaps, so I know your whole story. I get that you've had to hear a lot of things from people - especially from that fucking old bastard of a demon. But he's been fucking dead for years, and no one would even have the fucking balls to say any shit to you now, so why do you continue to act like they have power over you?"

Varsha pursed her lips together, looking like she was trying to hold back a sob. "Khushi, you don't understand-"

"Excuse me," I exclaimed, making Varsha flinch and look back at me.

Did this bitch just-? Oooooohhhhhhhhhh gurl!

It's fucking over. "I may not have been ridiculed for not popping a baby boy out of my vagina in 0.5 seconds like those motherfuckers unrealistically expected from you, but I have been shitted on from fucking society because I sent my ex-husband to jail because he tried to fucking shove his dick up my vagina when I didn't want that."

"I-"

"Nah, don't even fucking try me right now," I snapped. "I, of all people, don't understand? Like what are you smoking? Dude, your biggest enemy was one person! One man - evil bastard, for fucking sure - but it was still one man. Sure, people also fucking whispered and gave mean looks, but ain't none of them came up to your fucking face and said anything like he did, did they?"

Varsha looked down at the floor.

"Did. They," I said through my gritted teeth.

"No," she nearly whispered. "No one dared-"

"So then who the fuck are you to tell me that I don't fucking understand?"

"Khushi, I-"

"Unlike you, I didn't have just one person tormenting me, alright? I had all of fucking society on my case. Sure, some of them only whispered and didn't have the fucking balls to come to my face and say something, but do you have any idea what it is like for some random bitch to come up to you at every single fucking event you attended to?"

"I-"

"Do you have any fucking idea what it is like to have some haughty bitch - sometime with a partner-bitch in tow - coming over to you with slick ass comments, making jabs at you and your family, and trying to make it seem like you are the bad person? Like you are the villain for doing the right thing? No, you don't. You had to deal with the fucking old demon and his harassment, but me? Me? I had to deal with a new fucking aunty every fucking time, almost every fucking week - especially during fucking wedding season! So don't you dare try to say to me that I don't fucking understand - I'm not one of your other family members. Sure, they've gone through their share of fucking trauma because of that fucking cunt of an old demon, but I'm not them. So don't you fucking dare think of me as one of them, because I am not them. I have gone through my own trauma, don't you even fucking think that I'm one of them who can't fucking understand, cause believe me, I fucking understand better than any of them because I have gone through far worse. Far worse! Oh, your father in-law made snide jabs at you because you couldn't pop out a fucking baby? Boo-fucking-hoo!!!"

Varsha Singh Raizada looked at me with shocked, wide eyes.

"You at least had loved ones around you," I continued. "You still had a husband who was trying to protect you, who didn't want you to go through something so big at a young age. You still had a supportive mother in-law- heck, all of your other fucking in-laws were supportive of you - cared for you, loved you - but you were too fucking wrapped up in your own misery to allow yourself to see it. But me? I nearly got raped and all of my in-laws were against me! All of them looked at me like I was a liar, like I was the problem - I had no one. My family could only do so much, but none of them knew what I was going through to understand. So really, the whole you not being able to understand is my fucking line! Because none of you could ever understand what I've fucking been through!"

I let out a heavy sigh, absolutely heated, but I was done with this shit. "Look, I didn't come here to argue with you. What I just can't fucking understand is why you continue to act like Manosh Singh Raizada is still here, verbally harassing and gaslighting you, like he's still alive?"

Varsha wrapped her arms around herself, her tears threatening to fall. 

I couldn't help but to scoff and rolled my eyes. "What, does his ghost come and haunt you," I asked, annoyed.

"Heavens, no-"

"Then why the fuck do you act like he does? Why give him the power?"

Why give him the power, indeed?

I find myself to be slightly surprised from the voice asking that question, but I can't deal with that shit right now - especially when I'm fucking heated and on a fucking roll!

"Stop giving him power. Manosh Singh Raizada is dead, and he's not coming back. If he did, I'd kick him the fuck out! Though I'm sure papa in-law would beat me fucking to it, if not, one of the senior men."

I turned to leave, when I paused and glanced back at her over my shoulder. "You want to wear your plain-Jane dress, then do whatever you want, no one is going to fucking care anymore. But you better hurry the fuck up cause you know mama in-law doesn't like being late to events," and I walked out of the room.

However, just as I stepped out of the room, I find every other Raizada standing outside, all looking quite shocked, Shalini Singh Raizada even looking quite emotional, tears pooled in her eyes.

I can't fucking deal with this shit.

Without a word, I walked past them, holding my head high.

I said what I said, and I don't regret it. I could give a less fuck if my words were harsh and not proper.

I am who I am - I am a tough ass, strong ass bitch.

And no one is going to tear me down.

If you have a problem with it, well guess what? I.

Don't.

Fucking.

Care.

And that's on that, bitch. Period.