Chapter 1: The Daughter They Never Saw.
{Rishika pov}
"I don't remember the last time someone asked me what I wanted"
There's a kind of silence that doesn't came from peace. It's the one that grows in home like mine— where voices are low , prayers are loud and daughters are invisible..
Our house is filled with gods but not with believes. And me? I've always asked God when & why me but never got the answers but he help me in everything.
I am the only child. But not the loved Kid; I was the daughter that everyone wanted but no one needed. I was rised like duty-fed, educated, Covered and told to behave.
"Good girls don't answer back"
"Good girls don't question elders"
"Good girls don't disrespect anyone"
I memorized those lines better than my textbooks.
My father is a strict man. Not cruel- not physically. just with rules. He love his daughter just want to control her whole life. He just never had the time to know me.
And my mother? she is soft-hearted with words that cut sharper than knives. She is very supportive women just fight for my future to be good. Sometimes I think she give up on herself the day she got married.
I never had trips, never been to a party, nevey wore lipstick that are bold. And concerts which I like the most were sin. But today.... I wanted to breathe.
There's a concert in college tonight... my best friend isha has begged me for a week to come.
"One night" she said. "Just one, yaar; wear something pretty and feel like you exist.?"
Exist. I liked the word more than I expected.
I asked my dad. Not once but three times.
The first two in silence. The third time, he looked up from his phone, eye cold.
"Its a concert that too in night not any kirtan"
"What do you want to go for? "
"I just wanted to go papa. Its safe. It's in our collage and everyone's going"....
"I said no... End of discussion.."
That's the thing with him — every Conversation like this feel like I'm standing trail for crimes I never committed.. I didn't argue.
I just noddes, walked away and cried silentely.
My mother found me, and tried explaning its fine..
"I don't want to do anything wrong", I chocked. "I Just want to live a little. just once.....".
she didn't promise anything, just was sitting with me, that was more enough to break me a little more and maybe, just maybe, it broke her too...
Next morning, while I was washing dishies, papa called out: "Go....... But you come back by ten"!
That's it. Go; like it's nothing to him.
But to me? freedom. A chance to be seen — not as someone's daughter, not as shadow but as a girl who could choose her own breath for Once.
Now, Standing in front of mirror, I feel like I'm committing a sin just wearing this black dress. It's not even skort —- but different.
Just Me.....
And for first time, reflection in the mirror like someone I want to know...
Tonight, I will exist.
Even if only for a few hours.
Even if only in dark.
Even if only in his eyes....
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Thank you for giving your time in reading this...do tell me how excited are you for next chapter... will post next chapter in 2-3 days!!
