Anika
Shaurya rings the doorbell, a faint chime erupting into the air. Silence. I stand there alongside him, feeling my heart beat so fast against my chest to the point where I think it's going to lurch out of my throat. I am about to meet Shaurya's father, who is no other than Neil Roy: business mogul, millionaire-- or a billionaire, perhaps-- and possibly the richest man in western California. And most importantly of all... a man who holds high importance in society, and compared to me, he is a boulder, and I am nothing but a mere pebble.
Several long seconds later, the door creaks open, and I peer inside as I see a vast entrance room. My mouth gapes open, and before I can study my surroundings even further, I see a man with black and white tux on, his dark hair neatly combed to the left. He seems to be in his mid 40s, considering his almost graying hair and his slightly wrinkled face. The man seems to be skinny and tall, almost the same height as Shaurya. He sports a grin on his face. "Hello, Mr. Shaurya Roy. It is nice to see you."
"It's nice to see you too, Robert." Shaurya turns towards me whilst gesturing towards this man that seems to be called Robert. "This is my girlfriend, Anika. Anika, this is my father's butler and wingman, Robert."
"Ah, I wouldn't say wingman per se, but butler I am definitely am," Robert chuckles as we shake hands. Once that encountered diminished, he allowed us to step inside into the massive vicinity.
The first thing I set my eyes on is the massive chandelier held in the center of the room, its golden lights shimmering against the ceiling, casting its aura upon the area. Then, my eyes zero in on the marble flooring, polished ever-so slightly that not even a speck of dust seems to be present on the flawless tilings. The high walls represent many paintings and decorations of all sorts, ranging from an intricate design to a painting that seemed to be flourished by an all-knowing figure. The entire place holds an elegance atmosphere, relishing within the modest designs and furnitures, and I continue to gape at the astonishing feats displayed right in front of my very own eyes.
I feel a nudge at my shoulder. "Cat got your tongue?" Shaurya jokes, and I chuckle. "This is... so beautiful. Holy shit."
He lightly laughs, adjusting his disheveled dark hair. "I know. My dad really worked hard for all of this, so I guess we can say hats off to him." I let out a laugh. "Yeah, definitely."
Robert leads us into the massive living room, where a white leather couch wraps around the area, and a completely glass coffee table stands in the middle, holding a few books and a small statue of something that I can't seem to acknowledge from this distance. There is an aquarium on the side, showcasing a variety of aquatic mammals, and the pristine water glows against the bright lights. Finally, the massive TV mounted on the wall, right across from the couch, stands big and bold, and right below is a fireplace that seems to be on, crackling noises erupting out of it.
Finally, we go from the cozy living room into another open space where there is a huge dining table present in the middle of the vicinity. Shaurya and I sit there, sitting side by side, and Robert starts to speak. "Mr. Roy is in the middle of a meeting right now, so when it finishes, I will let him know his son and his girlfriend is here."
"Okay, thank you, Robert," Shaurya gleams, and Robert disappears into one of the many hallways. I take a deep breath, my heart continuing to ram against my chest as Shaurya places his warm hand on my naked thigh. "Hey, you doing alright?"
"What?" I murmur, looking over at him, who has a worried expression plastered on his face. "Oh, yeah, I'm just... processing all of this."
One side of his lip curls up into a genuine smile. "It's alright, take as much time as you want to process everything. I know it's hard to do it, but I promise that in due time you'll be much more relaxed."
I grin at him, my cheeks flushing bright red due to the way he continues to gaze at me as if I was the most beautiful woman in the entire world. "Thanks, Shaurya. You mean a lot to me."
He gleams at me. "You mean a lot to me too."
And at that very moment is when I heard distant footsteps that grew louder in the forming seconds, condescendingly increasing in sound. Finally, I look up and see the towering figure of a middle aged man with his graying hair tied up in a mini bun, and his large chiseled face speckled in a gray beard as well. He looks intimidating, standing in front of us with his hands pushed into his lint-free dress pants. He wears a navy blue dress shirt on top with a black tie on, and he wears a beaming smile that reaches to his ears. "Hello, my son."
Shaurya gets up from his chair and goes to embrace his father. "Hey dad." They hug for a little, and I notice the awkward energy around them. I know how Shaurya feels about his father because Shaurya, of course, wants to be an artist, but his father wants him to pursue in something regarding business or economics, following in Neil's footsteps.
He sits back down besides me, and Neil's gaze lingers over me, another soft smile appearing at his lips. "And you are?"
"I am Anika, your son's girlfriend," I softly speak. I go over to shake his hand, his grip seeming to be firm and screaming I am richer than you! "It is nice to meet you, Anika," his deep voice resounds, forming a masculine presence of his. "Do you also go to UCLA?"
"Yes, I do," I speak, sitting back down besides Shaurya while Neil sits in front of Shaurya. "I actually met him in literature class."
"Literature, huh?" His eyebrows perk up while shooting a look towards his son. "Yeah, we helped each other a lot in that class."
"That sounds wonderful," he muses. I start to feel comfortable with his father as he seems eerily calm with my dating Shaurya. Maybe he's placing a facade, and maybe deep down he resents seeing me with Shaurya? I don't know why he would ever in the first place, but depicting on what Shaurya's told me about him, I'm just assuming the worst about his father.
Robert serves us our food, and in the remainder of that time, we engage in awkward conversation. I share a worrying glance with Shaurya, who reassures me by squeezing my thigh underneath the table. At that moment is when I feel a little less worried, and little more relieved.
A fresh plate of pasta alongside a side dish of salad sits in front of me, and I feel my stomach yearning to stuff my face into the meal that I hungrily gaze at. When I see from my peripheral vision that Shaurya delved into his dish, I feel internal relief as I abruptly dig into my food.
Once we gnashed our trash at our food like hungry animals, I feel my stomach heaving with food as Neil gestures us towards the living room. I notice from the windows that the sun has completely sun, formulating the fact that it is dark as night outside. I walk alongside Shaurya and I sit alongside him as well, my bottom hitting the soft and plush seating of the sofa.
Neil Roy sits in front of us, his calculating dark eyes narrowed upon us, specifically his son. I feel Shaurya's body stiffen beside me, and all I want to do right now is kiss him until he relaxes. It will be okay, baby. You are doing great so far.
"So, Shaurya, how are your classes doing?" his father questions, leaning forward as his gaze bores into Shaurya, who presses his lips together in thought. "Well, u-uh, they're doing pretty good, dad."
"Good," he nods his head, his precise expression fixated ever-so slightly on his son. "How about economics? You should do good in that class, considering how you're my son." He breaks out into laughter, and that is when I realize how narcissistic Neil Roy truly is. I hoped that his father would be loving and accepting of Shaurya, but the fact that he sits here in front of him, scrutinizing him not even an hour into our night... something tells me this day is not going to end well.
I notice from my peripheral vision, once again, that Shaurya tucks his chin into his chest, letting out a chuckle that holds no trace of humor. "Okay, what the hell do you mean by that?" Uh oh.
Neil's face scrunches into confusion, his lips etched into a forming frown. "Shaurya, you know that I do not condone that sort of language in this household."
"Dad, no! " Shaurya jumps out of his seat as I hurriedly look over at him. His face boils red, his eyes screaming an emotion that makes my heart ache with fear. I place my hand on top of his. "Shaurya, look--"
"No, Anika," he growls, his furious brown eyes latching on to mine. "I am sick and tired of his shit. And this is when it ends... now." I clench my jaw, knowing there is no way I can go against the current. I nod my head, squeezing Shaurya's hand. His gaze softens as a soft smile appears on his lips, for just a split second.
But, his soft gaze transforms into the same fearful look as his eyes lock onto his father, who continues to stare at him in confusion. Cut the crap, Neil. I take a deep breath as I drop my hands to my thighs, wondering how exactly this encounter is going to unravel.
"Shaurya, I have no idea why you are upset all of a sudden," Neil ponders. "I called you here in hopes to bring amends to us and that we can welcome your girlfriend into our family." His eyes flicker onto mine for a second, but they hold no positive emotions to it. This is utter bullshit. I drop my eyes onto the ground, my cheeks burning with fury as I understand why exactly my boyfriend is upset.
"Of course you don't understand," he mutters under his breath. "All my entire life, you have given me all the materialistic things in the entire world-- shit I didn't even want. But the one thing you couldn't give me is pure love, the love a son deserves from his father. You thought you knew me, you thought you knew what I want to be when I grow up. You also thought you were doing good for me, when in fact, it was quite the opposite, and I don't even want to hear anything from your mouth that regards any good. All my life dad, all my fucking life, all you have done is scrutinize my every move and act like I'm the one in the wrong. It's really self-depriving dad, and I'm tired of acting like everything is fine. That's why I'm here to clear up my intentions with you." He takes a deep breath, and I can feel his breath wavering due to fear.
"I want to be an artist. I want to express my thoughts and emotions due to the act of drawing, painting, and feeling. It makes me feel so happy, being able to depict an image from my own understanding. This makes me achieve my own nirvana, my own happiness. I feel a breath of fresh air whenever I express myself through art, and that is why I want to be an artist. I mean, mom was supportive of my interests since day one, which is why I have been selling my paintings at a San Francisco art center every year. Being able to see other people viewing my paintings makes me feel accomplished, and I will feel even more accomplished once I receive your blessing. So, I want your blessing on this, and I just--"
That is when everything happened all at once. Neil getting up with a furious look etched on his aged face. Stomping over to Shaurya, who does not register what is about to happen. His father slapping him in one go. The echo of the hit resounding into the air. Shaurya's cheek burning bright red. Tears brimming my vision. Anger fueling in my veins.
I don't know what came across me, but I got up from my seat and said whatever the hell came to my mind. "Look here, Mr. Roy. Shaurya has been nothing but understanding of your requests, wanting him to follow in your footsteps. I know that is all a father wants, wanting his son to be happy, and want him to be safe by making him go through the safe route. It may sound exemplary to you, but think about it from his perspective as well! He is just a college student, and he is allowed to explore his interests. He is very young still, and no one has the right to restrict his mind. Not even you. And I have faith in Shaurya, just like you should as well. He is a smart, confident, caring, and amazing young man. If his girlfriend can have faith in him, then his father definitely should too."
"Hey, you listen here," Neil snarls, pointing his finger at me. "What right do you have by judging my parenting skills, huh? I have raised Shaurya into a wonderful young man, and I will continue to do so. No one can come in my way." His eyes narrow onto me. "Not even you."
"Dad!" Shaurya yells, narrowing his furious eyes onto him. "You do not get to talk to my girlfriend like that! You understand?"
"So you're taking her side, huh?"
"Hell yeah, I am," he scoffs, interlocking my fingers with his. I immediately feel warmth seep into my heart, warmth that only gets filled up by Shaurya, and only him. "She has supported me since the very moment I met her. And I've realized, in the 21 years I've been living, that it doesn't matter how long you've known the person in order to call them closer. All that matters is the bond, and the bond I share with Anika is stronger than what you and I ever had. More than what you and mom ever had," he whispers the last sentence.
"Shut the hell up!" Neil's voice booms around the home, his eyes fuming with fury. "I am your father, and you will not tell me what to do. I am Neil Roy, businessman tycoon and multimillionaire. My puny little son and his worthless girlfriend will not obstruct my thoughts." His voice seethes with disgust, and I feel utter fear roiling into my chest. "And I just could not get along with your mother anymore, knowing that she allowed you to do god knows what out there. The divorce is coming, Shaurya, and you're going to have to deal with it. So, grow some balls. Be a man. And step up to business. Be like your daddy because there's no way in hell you can be some stupid ass artist."
That is when the satisfying crunch of Shaurya's fist into Neil's jaw resounded into the air, chiming endlessly. Blood gushed out of his mouth as he clutched his hand onto his mouth. "What the actual fuck?!" he snarls, running after Shaurya.
Panic forms in my mind as I step in front of Shaurya, but he pushes me out of the way as we both walk away from Neil, my heels hurriedly clacking onto the floor. "No, babe. This is a fight between me and my father."
"But I'm not going to allow you to get hurt," I whisper.
Before I can even answer, I feel someone pushing me away, grasping me by my arm as their leg pounds against Shaurya's chest. Neil. I try to get out of his grasp and try to run to my boyfriend, who squirms on the floor, clutching his stomach in pain. "No!" I wail, trying to lurch out of Neil's grasp, but he is just way too strong for me. "Let me go!" I plead.
Neil lets out a cackle. "Not on my watch, miss Anika. And doesn't this kind of remind you of something?" I feel my insides settle with disgust as Neil continues to speak. "I heard about your father abusing you, so hard to the point where you were hospitalized. Wouldn't you like to relive it, but with my wrath instead?"
"Dad, stop, leave her alone!" Shaurya gasps as he tries to get up, dragging his body against the floor.
"How do you know that?" my eyes narrow. "No one knows about that."
"I know," he sneers. "But I am Neil Roy, I am capable of getting into anything I want. But you see... your father and I hold a lot of history. We used to be the best of friends in college, and I used to have a girlfriend as well. But, one day, he stole my girlfriend from me. And since then, my anger for him has never left my mind."
"So what does that have to do with me?" I whisper harshly.
His creepy little eyes bore into me, and I feel my skin crawling with goosebumps. "Your dad stole your mother from me. My girlfriend was your mother, so imagine the guilt I felt when I heard she acquired cancer. She probably would've still been alive if she were married to me because I could've paid her medical bills and chemo. Yet, your father was poor as shit. He couldn't pay crap."
"No," I whisper to myself, making mind of the information that got thrown at me relentlessly.
"Yes," he breathes, continuing to grasp my hand tightly. "Now you understand my pain, huh? Now you understand my hurt, my anger, my fear. Losing a loved one is rough, but having your loved one snatched to someone else hurts like a bitch. And I will never forgive your father for that. And that is why he must pay." His grip tightens on my wrist, but he then goes and twists it tightly. I scream loudly as pain shoots up in my wrist. He lets go of me as I writhe on the ground, tears blurring my vision as I clutch my wrist in pain.
I hurriedly look over to Shaurya, who clutches his stomach in pain, but gets up to face his dad. I get up as well, whilst angry and hurtful tears obstruct my vision. "Dad, you have done enough tonight," Shaurya's voice wavers. "You are absolutely mental. More mental than ever. You deserve to go to jail. You deserve nothing, in fact."
Suddenly, Neil's hand wraps around Shaurya's neck, grasping his neck so tightly until his face turns beet root red. I gasp out a scream, but it comes to an abrupt halt as I feel something cool touching my ankle. I abruptly turn around and meet eyes with Robert, who stands at the back door. He gestures towards the gun laying by my side, and he then gestures at his leg. I get what he's saying. I nod my head, as a tiny smile appears on his lips.
I look over to Shaurya and Neil. Neil's back is towards me, and Shaurya's eyes are closed shut as tears spill out of them. His body is hung in the air as he tries to slap his dad's hand away from his neck, croaking out protests. My heart squeezes with pain as I feel terrible remorse for Shaurya. He doesn't deserve this.
Which is why I am going to do this.
In one swift and easy motion, I lean down to grab the gun with my non-hurting hand, trying my best to not make a single sound. I pick it up in my right hand, feeling the cool metal skin seep into my hand. My pointer finger sits on the trigger, edging it until I can feel the rough edges of it. I gulp, trying to remember what I can about shooting a gun, which is practically nothing. So, I desperately take a look towards Robert behind me, who doesn't seem to be there anymore. Shit!
I take a deep breath in as I try to remember what is the first thing I should do. Think, Anika, fucking think already! But then, it hits me as a light bulb as I suddenly remember that one Criminal Minds episode I watched with Ty and Em. Safety off. Point towards target. Shoot.
I notice the safety in the back as I click it off. A small click sounds from the gun as I take a wavering breath in.
Point towards target. My hand wavers as I point it towards my designated target, my eyes burning with scorching tears. My heart beats erratically against my chest as my lips waver with anxiety. I'm so sorry.
Shoot. And with that, I pull the trigger back, feeling my chest pound and pound and pound and my eyes spill tears that fall down my cheeks faster than lightning itself.
Bam!
*
A/N:
Whooooooooa. That ending was something else right there.
I don't wanna say too much hehe, cuz I obviously don't want to spoil. But all I can say is... stay tuned. ;)
- Ru <3