Anika
I feel my cheeks warming as I see Shaurya driving away, flashing me a bright grin and waving me goodbye. Flashbacks of him grabbing my hand, hugging me tightly, and feeling his presence around mine... it makes me feel joyous inside.
What is going on with me? Why do I feel this way?
As I walk inside of my house, I mentally cuss at myself as I realize I got mad at him for no reason in the car. And not even getting mad at him, but more like me snapping at him for no reason. I don't even know why I did that! I guess I just felt overwhelmed with all the things he was saying, such as him explaining how he was there when it all happened to me, how my father and him had the most dreadful conversation about me, and how he saw me getting carried onto the stretcher, fighting for my life.
I sigh exasperatedly as I slam the front door close behind me. It feels nice to be home and to be alone for once. Not have an overprotective father up my ass and people constantly asking me if I'm okay or what happened to me last night. For once I just want peace and quiet before I go to Shaurya's beach party this evening.
So I found out that I have to be at the beach by 3 o clock, which is in three hours. My father won't be home by then, and I know for sure this time he'll be working late today because he has to make up for the hours he missed for the past few days. I just have to be stealthy and smart about the decisions I make and hopefully I won't get in big trouble again.
I trudge my way upstairs after I grab a granola bar and a glass of milk from the kitchen. Placing my food on the nightstand table, I sit cross legged on my bed, annoyingly brushing a piece of hair out of my face. Since it's Shaurya's party tonight, I should try to at least look good today and have a great time, just like at the party I met Shaurya. I'm not gonna let my father ruin my life while I'm young.
Going to the closet, I look through the drawers where all my swimsuits are. I decide not to wear a two piece because 1) I don't want all the people to see all the scars and bruises I have all around my body, especially Shaurya and 2) I just don't feel confident enough today to walk in public with a two piece on. Instead, my eyes land on a sultry and sexy one piece that covers most of my frontal body but has two openings on the side that sort of makes my body look like an hourglass, in a good way.
It's a nice navy blue color with white hems on the side, and it has strings by my cleavage that reveal a little bit of skin right above my breasts. It's not as revealing and bold as a two piece, but it's good enough to make me look nice and cover most of my scars.
I lay it out on my bed and decide that I should probably go wash my hair. I still feel groggy from last night and the whole stay over at the hospital, so I should probably get fresh and look fresh as well. My feet lead to the bathroom as I strip of my clothes and go to the shower as hot water immediately starts to pour on my body.
I wince in pain as the hot water makes contact with my body and it especially hurts the most where my bruises and cuts are at. Immediately, I turn the dial to make sure cold-warmish water bow pours from the shower so it won't sting as much as hot water. I usually take a hot shower, but unfortunately today that won't be the case.
After I finish my fifteen minute shower, I go to my room and after drying myself and wrapping my hair up into the towel, I look at my swimsuit sitting on the bed. Sighing, I pick it up and wear it, feeling my bruises ache on the side, but I persevere through the pain.
Once I wear it, I look at myself through the mirror and try to place a smile on my face. Today, I am not gonna let my internal problems get to me. Today, I am actually going to enjoy my day with my friends.
Wait... my friends!
I completely forgot to ask them if they were coming at all in the first place! Gasping, I run over to where my phone would usually be, right on my nightstand, but instead I see nothing. Mainly because my father had it in the first place. Ugh!
Running downstairs to the kitchen, I go over to the counter where I last remember my father placing my phone. Hopefully he didn't take it with him...
I cheer with excitement as I see my phone sitting idly on the counter. Thank God!
Now I just have to FaceTime Em and Ty because if I text them, then our texts will be revealing and very easy to find and if we call then that could be easily recorded. So I run back upstairs and go to my room, excitedly turning my phone on. I see at least hundreds of messages from Em, Ty, and Shaurya since I haven't been on my phone for such a long time.
I immediately call Em and Ty for a Group FaceTime and both of them pick up almost immediately. Ty is the first person to speak as Em trails behind him.
"Bitch?! Where the hell were yâ"
"We were worried sick aboutâ"
"We texted your fat ass SO MANY TIMESâ"
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS ANI?!"
"Guys!" I yelp. "I'm sorry! I'll explain."
And so I told them everything.
Everything as in my father screaming at me, dragging me up the stairs, abusing me, hitting me, locking me in the room, me attempting to commit suicide, him opening the door and calling the ambulance, me getting carried away to the hospital, me getting released this morning, and Shaurya picking me up and telling me that his beach party is today.
"And that was why I wasn't able to answer," I breathe out.
Me and Ty stare at me in complete and utter shock. Ty's mouth is gaped wide open and Em's eyes are the size of saucers. "I..." Em trails off. "I'm so sorry, Ani."
"Are you okay?" Ty whispers. "God, I had no idea that happened. And you attempted to... commit suicide as well? Jesus," he mutters.
"Your dad's a dick," Em spats out. "He needs to show his love for you in an appropriate way, not make you suffer and almost making you take your own life. That's not good," she whispers. "I think you should live on your own now."
"I know," I groan. "But I don't have enough money for that. I mean, the money I make at work isn't sufficient enough for me to live on my own. And I would live with you guys, but I know your lives are way too busy for me to just butt into it like that."
"No, don't say that!" Ty gasps. "You can stay with me or Em. Whoever you feel the most comfortable with, it's okay."
"It's not that, Ty," I sigh, frustratingly massaging my forehead. "I just know your guy's lives are busy. Like, Ty, you have five siblings. How am I supposed to live with you?" I explain. "And Emâ you live in two houses because of your parents. There's no way in hell I can live with you guys," I mutter.
"I see your point there," Em speaks up. "Do you have anyone else you can live with?"
"I... I don't," I contemplate.
"Not even that guy you've been talking with lately?" Ty blurts out, a smirk growing on his face. "You know, the one that hugged you this morning? The one that invited you to his beach party? The one that is the son of the richest businessman in California? The one whose name is Shaurya Roy?!"
"Yes, I get it, Ty!" I breathe out, feeling my cheeks warm up. "But I'm not that close with him to live with him. And doesn't he have a roommate?"
"That's true," Em sighs. "It's okay, Ani. We'll find a place for you to stay."
"Thanks, I love you guys," I weakly smile.
"We love you too," Ty grins. "Just please make sure to take care of yourself and don't ever attempt to take your own life like that. Em and I can't afford losing you."
"Yeah, Ani," Em frowns. "You're one of my closest friends. And Ty and I will make sure that you will be happy and won't have to suffer from any pain ever again. Okay?"
"Okay," I nod my head. God, I am so lucky to have these people in my life.
After a few moments of silence, Ty takes a deep breath and blurts out, "So, are you gonna go to Shaurya's party today?"
I pause for a couple of moments and then nod my head.
"Wait, seriously?!" Em screeches. "Weren't you saying no before?"
"I was," I mutter. "But I just want an escape from this place, you know? I just want to enjoy this day, forget about what happened last night... and just live my life."
"That's great," Ty beams. "What time does it start, though?"
"In... like, two hours," I trail off.
"What?!" Ty yelps. "Girl, the party is starting soon! You better get ready."
"I know!" I groan. "And I'm trying to get back before my father comes home because he told me I'm not allowed to go anywhere now, except college."
"That's horrible," Em gasps. "You're an adult now. He needs to start treating you like one now."
"Exactly," I frown. "But it's whatever now. Like I said, I'm just gonna live my life now and forget last night."
"Preach, girl," Ty whoops. I chuckle and lean back. Then I quickly add, "Are you guys coming as well?"
"What?" Em whisper-yells. "I thought it was invite only!"
"It is actually open invite, so the party is going to be huge," I inform.
"Well, in that case..." Ty punches his fist in the air. "Hell yeah we're coming!"
"You betcha!" Em laughs. "Man, I haven't been to a party in months."
"I'm glad you guys are coming," I smile, "So I know I'll have company."
"I mean, even if we weren't there you'd still have Shaurya to talk to," Ty winks.
I roll my eyes. "Guys, we're just friends."
"And I'm Jewish," Em blurts out. "But seriously, you guys need to become a thing now!"
I roll my eyes again, smiling a bit, but it quickly fades as I acknowledge that my father had threatened Shaurya if he ever laid an actual hand on me. I sadly sigh and add, "Well, that's not gonna happen because Shaurya came to visit me at the hospital last night and my father saw him and threatened him if he ever got near me," I whisper. "And he only said that because we've been texting each other lately and I've been actually talking shit about my father because Shaurya's been there for me."
"Wow..." Ty breathes out. "He threatened Shaurya? Does he not know that he's... well, Neil Roy's son?"
"I don't know," I sigh. "Hopefully he does so he knows his boundaries."
"True," Em adds. "But we should probably start getting ready now, since we're all going to the party."
"Definitely," Ty nods his head. "I'll come to pick you guys up around 2:45, and we'll reach the beach at 3. Make sure to look sexy!"
"We will," I laugh.
The call ends and I sigh, slamming the pillow onto my head. What even is my life anymore?!
But the main thought that runs over and over again in my mind is... does my father know Shaurya is the son of Neil Roy? When he was threatening him last night, was it because he was talking to me or did he actually know Shaurya's father and have... bad history with him?
I sit up in bed, rubbing my eyes consistently. I need to get these thoughts out of my mind! Today I will not let my thoughts consume me and make me think negative! And today I will not let my father ruin my day and let me enjoy my life for once!
Jumping out of bed, I go to the mirror again and apply makeup on my face. Of course it's going to be water proof so when I go in the water, there won't be streams of mascara dripping down my cheeks, which would be highly embarrassing.
Once I apply makeup, I look in the mirror and sigh, finally feeling satisfied by how I look. My hair is lightly combed, as I pinned back strands of hair to keep my hair flying into my face, since it's probably going to be extremely windy at the beach. I applied water proof mascara that makes my eyes stand out, as there is eyeliner applied as well. I put on water proof foundation to cover the bruises and scars on my face and lip gloss to make my lips stand out. Then, I add the finishing touching, which is a necklace with a butterfly pendant that my mother had given me for my 10th birthday.
I miss you, Mom.
Standing up, I acknowledge myself in the mirror one more time and sigh. I have to admit: I look good.
I grab a small backpack to put sunscreen and my sunglasses in and my wallet. Shaurya told me that we're going to Oakland beach, which is a 10 minute ride from here, and I've heard the beach is extremely nice over there, so I need to make sure I'm prepared for the mid-day heat that is about to come.
I leave my room and go downstairs. Realizing I have my phone in my hand, I decide to leave it at the same place my father had left it last night. Remember: I have to be stealthy and smart about the decisions I make. I can not afford to screw up again.
Once I place my phone in the kitchen, my feet lead me to the front door as I place my hand on the doorknob. It is 2:38 and Ty should be on his way now. But God... I'm so nervous! This isn't going to be the party I went to before college started, when I ran into Shaurya and had the time of my life. This is going to be a party where it's daytime, people can easily see me and I have to be myself.
My fingers start to twist around the doorknob. I am tired of living inside a hole, running away from my problems once they make a hit at me. I need to become stronger. I need to fight back. I need to be happy and be whatever the hell I wanna be. I need to make my own decisions. And I need to stand up for myself.
I open the door and step out into the outdoors.
*
A/N:
I don't know about you, but I am so happy to see my girl Anika go through her internal development!! She's been through hell and back and she actually deserves to enjoy her life for once.
Also, Anika is becoming suspicious of her dad's actions, especially when he threatened Shaurya about Anika. Do you think their fathers have had history together? And what really made Anika's Dad despise Shaurya from the start?
Stay tuned for the next chapter, as we see how the beach party is actually going to turn out and where Anika is going to live.
- Ru <3