An Arranged Marriage - Episode 4

 

Anadia. 

My mother had been a rich woman, very rich, her parents had been old money, they doted on their only daughter, Mariella, my mother, but they let her go when she said she was in love with my father.

Disowned and abandoned, my mother didn't care, she was that type of woman who believed in love and let's love, she believed she had it all, at that time, she had my father, and she had Asaali, the fruit of her love, so even though there wasn't any money, not a single penny with my father she left with him.

When her grandmother, my great grandmother died, leaving her an estate, run down as it may be, my mother did not, (Now I wonder why) did not will it to my father, she left it to Asaali and then to me after Asaali's death.

It had irked my father, that the love of his life did not trust him.

I was supposed to receive that estate when I turned twenty five, only with the exception that I get married before then will my father get his grubby hands on them. 

I had plans, big plans, I was supposed to get a loan from the bank, a capital, I was going to plant a groove of berries, invest, make a future for myself. 

Dedicate my life to my siblings. 

But he took that away from me, he took it away from me, my wicked despicable father. 

He took away my sister's future, like he took away my music, the only thing I love. 

I'm going to get it from him, one way or another. 

As I wait up by the door, my mind drifts to other things, like the fact that my sister was s*xually harrased, I feel the pressure pressing on my chest. 

Just what do I do about that? How do I go about it, I can't let Aroos walk around thinking she isn't safe. 

And now Aroofa, Aroofa can't think that all the male population are just like my father and that fool, Edward. 

I feel my fingers clench, waiting, poised to strike at the only person who is going to be my scapegoat. 

After that incident 4 years ago, I decided I was going to stop being weak, no one is going to come around and save me, I have to do the saving of myself and my sisters all by myself. 

Everyone eventually leaves, even mama left us, loving just one child and scorning the rest. 

Mama. 

Asaali. 

My despicable selfish sister. 

I wait and wait and I wait. 

He doesn't show up. 

He knows what he has done. 

Good thing too, I think as I walk around, shutting down the house for the night, he would have had hell on his hands. 

***

The dip in my bed wakes me, Aroofa is sitting on one side while Anaya is standing by my window. 

"Where's Aroos?" 

"She's gone to work" It's Anaya who answers me. 

"What?" 

"She's acting like nothing happened Nady, she's acting like everything is normal" Aroofa cries, looking devastated. 

I sit up, my head already aching from my sleepless night. 

"She's refusing to talk to anyone about it, like it's normal that she.. She.." Aroofa says, her voice breaking. 

I grab her hand, giving her a wan smile. 

"Why don't you go get dressed for work? I will talk to Aroos when she gets back" 

I say and she nods, her eyes searching my face for something, she see it , that thing she's looking for before standing and exiting. 

"Let's grab that f*cker and rip his little p*nis off" Anaya says softly, with malice. 

"Temper Anaya, in due time" I say and she nods, totally believing that I will do what I say. 

"Did he arrive yet?" I ask, grabbing my Cane and standing up, limping to my dresser table. 

Anaya watches me, ready to catch me if I so much as show any sign of falling, never mind the fact that I've been limping for four years now. 

"No, he's scared" She says, the he being my father, I'm sure he is, scared that is, he hasn't forgotten so soon what I threatened to do to him if he tampers with I or any of my sister, this makes me wonder what possessed him into doing what he has done. 

"Aren't you going to work?" I ask, gently brushing my hair, watching her in the mirror. 

She ignores my question, asking instead. 

"What are you going to do now that that child has travelled abroad?" The child being the little five year old girl I tutor 3 days a week.

Talented little thing, her parents paid well but they have migrated, leaving me jobless and helpless with a lot of bills to pay. 

" I will find someone else"i say. 

She is quiet for a while before speaking. 

" Why won't you play? You've been getting a lot of offers, why won't you play? A single concert from you and we will live comfortably for a year"She says, accusation thick in her voice. 

I clench the hair brush in my hands, my voice betraying the pain in my belly. 

"There is no music without my dancing Anaya" I say and she snorts.

"You were the one who refused to get rehabilitated, your leg would have been fine, we won't be in this squalor that we are in now" 

"There is no music without my dancing Anaya" I repeat. 

"Well, try, seek for the music in your head! We need it, Aroos and Aroofa needs to go to  school, they need stability, not this hand to mouth thing we are doing!" 

"You think I'm not trying?! You think I don't know about that? I

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/an-arranged-marriage

. Don't see you doing anything so don't stand there and try to shove your mistakes down my throat" 

I say, calmly, in the face of her anger. 

She stops, watching me and my heart beats frantically in my chest. 

Her all knowing eyes judge me, read me, coming to unfounded conclusions. 

She leaves the room in a huff and my hair brush clatters from my hand, my fingers trembling, I steady it. 

This weakness is not appreciated, not from me. 

There's no music. 

There's no music. 

There's no music. 

I say this, constantly, I had to sell my soul to the devil, there's no music. 

I won't let anyone use my talents to their advantage, never again. 

There's no music. 

AN

So, yesterday was my mistake, I didn't indicate the POVs, the first pov was the hero's, kane and the second was anadia's the heroine's, I'm sorry for the confusion. 

If there are any please asks. 

Good morning 

Thank you for reading 

Have a blessed day.