The Escape
It was 10:05 in the morning.
Aarini and her cousin, Alina, sat nervously, their eyes fixed on the main door while Aarini's parents had breakfast at the dining table.
Aarini couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong.
Her father had returned from a business trip the previous night-much earlier than she had expected.
The doorbell rang.
Before the house help could reach the door, Aarini quickly got up and opened it herself.
A postman stood outside.
"Delivery for Aarini ," he said, handing her an envelope.
She signed the delivery slip, took the envelope, and hurried back inside.
Without saying a word, she and Alina started walking toward their room.
They had barely taken a few steps when they heard Aarini's father's voice.
"Who was outside?"
Aarini froze.
Her father was walking toward them.
She quickly hid the envelope behind her back.
"Nothing, Dad. Someone was asking for directions."
Her father frowned.
"Oh, is that so? Then why did he come inside the house? Why didn't he ask the security guards?"
"Ah... I-I don't know."
The girls tried to walk away, but his voice stopped them again.
"What are you hiding, Aarini?"
"N-nothing, Dad."
Before she could react, her father snatched the envelope from behind her back.
He tore it open and unfolded the letter.
His expression changed instantly.
"What nonsense is this?" he shouted.
Aarini's heart sank.
"I thought we had already settled this matter. I refused to let you take admission to an art college. How could you apply without my permission?"
Aarini clenched her fists.
It was her joining letter from the art college.
She finally gathered the courage to answer him.
"Did you ask me even once before enrolling me in business school?"
Her voice trembled, but she didn't stop.
"How many times have I told you that I'm not interested in business?"
Tears filled her eyes.
"I want to be an artist. I love painting. I want to become a painter."
Before she could say anything else-
Slap!
Her father's hand struck her across the face.
Aarini's body went completely still.
She touched her cheek, her eyes wide with shock.
It wasn't the first time he had hit her.
Her father glared at her.
"How dare you talk to your father like that?"
His voice was cold and threatening.
"I already told you. You're going to business school, and that's final. There will be no more discussion about this."
Aarini wiped her tears.
"I'm not going to business school."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"And that's my decision."
Her father's anger exploded.
He grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward her room.
"Dad! Let go of me!"
He ignored her.
He pushed her inside and locked the door from the outside.
Turning toward the rest of the family, he warned them,
"If anyone lets her out without my permission, it won't be good for them."
He pointed toward the locked room.
"She stays there until I say otherwise."
Aarini immediately began banging on the door.
"Open the door!"
She hit it again.
"Let me out, Dad! Please listen to me!"
But he walked away without looking back.
A few minutes later, her mother came to the door.
"Aarini..."
There was hesitation in her voice.
"Do as your father says. He's only thinking about your future."
Aarini laughed bitterly through her tears.
"Yes, Mom. I'll do exactly what Dad says."
She wiped her cheeks.
"I'll study what he wants, work in his company, and one day marry whoever benefits his company too."
Her voice cracked.
"Just another business deal, right?"
Her mother fell silent.
Aarini already knew what would happen.
Her mother would always choose her father.
"Mom..." Aarini whispered.
"Please leave me alone. I need some space."
She turned away, trying to hide her tears.
The entire day passed.
Aarini didn't speak to anyone.
She refused to eat.
She had never felt so trapped in her own home.
That night, when the entire house had gone quiet, the door slowly opened.
Alina slipped inside.
The moment Aarini saw her, she rushed toward her and hugged her tightly.
"Aru, are you okay?" Alina whispered.
Aarini held onto her cousin for a few seconds before pulling away.
"Alina, you have to help me get out of here."
"What?"
Alina stared at her.
"But how? How can I help you?"
"Just make sure no one comes here. And don't let anyone see us together."
Alina looked around the room.
Then she noticed something lying on the bed.
A backpack.
Her eyes widened.
"What are you going to do?"
She pointed at the bag.
"And why have you packed your things?"
Aarini took a deep breath.
"I'm running away."
"What?!"
Alina immediately shook her head.
"No, Aarini. That's not a good idea. We can figure out something else."
"What?"
Aarini's voice broke.
"Tell me what I can do, Alina."
She looked at her cousin with tears in her eyes.
"What choice do I have?"
Alina didn't answer.
Aarini opened the backpack.
"I've already decided."
She began packing her most important belongings.
For months, she had secretly saved money because somewhere deep inside, she had known that one day she might have to leave.
She packed the money, a few pieces of jewellery, some clothes, and whatever else she could carry.
Then she looked at Alina.
"Just don't tell anyone you came to see me. Please."
Alina reluctantly nodded.
"I won't."
Later that night, when everyone was asleep, Aarini quietly opened the back door-the one normally used by the house servants.
She looked back at her home one last time.
For a moment, fear took over.
Then she remembered the slap.
Her father's words.
The locked door.
And the life that had already been planned for her.
She tightened her grip around her backpack.
"No more."
Taking a deep breath, Aarini stepped into the darkness.
And without making a sound, she ran.
She didn't know where she was going.
She didn't know what would happen next.
But for the first time in her life...
she was finally free.
