Living it my way by Shweta Patil (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud TXT) 📖

enjoy." I winked at her, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively.

 

She nudged my rib, smiling shyly and that's all we need to laugh even harder.

 

As I fetched out my keys from my bag, I thought about our little party and all the fun we are gonna do in vacations. I told them my usual plan of going to my grandma's house. All of there plans are going for a faraway trip, trying to persuade me to tag along but me being me, I wouldn't budge.

 

My face fell thinking about the actual story. The truth is I never go alone anywhere far before, not that my parents ever allowed me. I sighed in exasperation.

 

There love is surely overwhelming, I thought whilst rolling my eyes. At last, my hand found the hard metal and pulled on it as I pulled myself from my chain of thoughts. Before I could possibly open the door myself, somebody opened it from inside.

 

Oh, dad. My face lit up. His emerald eyes brightens seeing me, then his eyes went to my hand and to my lifted keys which were now pressing against his chubby belly.

 

"Are you trying to unlock me with that?" He asked me comically.

 

"Oh dad, keep your lame jokes to yourself." I rolled my eyes at him but a smile tugged on the corner of my lips, giving me away.

 

"Now give your daddy a hug, Quick."

 

He laughs wholeheartedly cradling me in his arms. Give me a break dad. I'm not a baby anymore. I wanted to cry out loud but I settled myself with saying that in my head. I will always be his baby, no matter what.

 

He kissed the top of my hair. "How your exam went?"

 

"Fine." I stretched the letter 'n' for emphasis as I persuade my lips.

 

Mom was sitting in her usual self, looking all superior. She was looking defined with her black attire contrasting with our white sofa and pearl necklace. I waved at her as I sensed something odd in her stance. If you don't know her as I know, You wouldn't see anything about her being on edge. Her stance was rigid and she didn't drizzle me with her question ceremony too. I noticed all this as I slowly came to a halt straight ahead of her behind the single sofa which was sit opposite her and land my bag in it.

 

I pulled my hand of my grey sweater up till my elbow and placed both my palm firmly on the sofa. The off-white material so smooth under my fingertips, making my palms twitchy in the need to touch it, to caress it. I love velvet.

 

"There's something going on here. Care to enlighten." I asked casually with a smile. As every passing second ticked by and she didn't smile back though I got a little suspicious that whatever is going on surely involves my presence in it.

 

My laugh staggers a little. What's up with me suddenly?

 

"Dad." I looked expectantly back at him and realized that he hadn't moved away from the door yet. A worried look crosses his face. The air seems to grow thick. Whatever it is, is going to sour my mood up for sure. I tapped my foot impatiently on the marble floor. Please, someone. Anyone. My head started buzzing with all this silent treatment I’m getting. Alas mom broke the silence with a pat beside her.

 

"Why don't you come sit? Hon, she must be tired bring her a glass of water or do you want orange juice--"

 

She started doing all the babbling without ever touching the subject. Just hit the freaking button already. My subconscious is confused too.

 

She smiled warmly at me trying to gauge my reaction. I just went straight to sit beside her.

 

"There's no need of water. I'm completely stuffed already. We went to KFC as after party." I rubbed my tummy in circular motion. I felt my hard stomach through my fabric. My friends won't get why I don't get at least a little fat on my tummy though I eat so much. But as I do workout out every day, none calories gets build into fat. I smirk internally at that. My friends would do anything to get a stomach like me.

 

She ran her hand down my back, running soothing circles.

 

"What is it, Mom? Just break the news. I'm a big girl now." I looked at her worriedly.

 

She smiled gently shaking her head from left to right. "Don't worry. It's a good news-" I tried to open my mouth to talk but she held her hand to tell me to stop. "-I just don't know how to break it to you. Don't know how you will react." She looked a little stressed.

 

"Is there anything to rea-" I retracted my sentence biting my tongue. "Stop overreacting. chill, you are always so bubbly." I patted her hand reassuringly. I have never seen her like this, struggling. Something is definitely up.

 

Her lips puckered, showing the efforts she is putting to form her thoughts in words. "We accepted a marriage proposal for you." She tried to give it all in her smile.

 

I glanced at her face not really understanding a bit. "We?" Dad and  I both exclaimed loudly, earning a look from her.

 

A giggle escaped my lips before it blown into a hysterics of laughter. I held my stomach rocking from side to side. "Oh mom you and your jokes. You will give me a mini some day." By mini, I meant mini heart attack. I laughed till my eyes starts watering. Seconds passed without them both joining in. I sat up straight lifting my hand, placing it on her shoulder. "Wasn't that a joke.?" I don't know if it sounded more like a question or not.

 

"This time your mom is pretty serious kiddo. Though, I already told her not to accept without your consent." Dad slowly walks towards us with a scowl.

 

"Hey, there's nothing to say no. There kid is a god damn CEO of a multi national company." She took a defensive tone scowling back at him. All the time me being mute. I don't even know how I'm feeling now. I couldn't even seem to process the information. This couldn't be true. As if on cue, I jolted up from where I was sitting. Mom tried to hold my hand but I shifted.

 

"This is the last time I'm asking-" I turned around, directly looking in her eyes but there's no need to ask. The sincerity was marked on her face, in her eyes. I took a step back, staggering. "Why?" I spoke before thinking but I have to know. I got to know. I always thought she loved me. Then why would she do something like that? It just doesn't make any sense. I'm growing frustrated by the second as my eyes started to burn.

 

As she looked at me, the hurt is evident on my face.

 

"Why mom?" I half-yelled.

 

"He will make you happy. Just trust me on this." Her voice sounded desperate, trying to make me understand the incomprehensible. I didn't wait for a single second more, turning and running in my bedroom. I saw dad's face, concerned and something more, pain but I didn't slow my pace. I knew in my heart that he don't have anything to do with all this.

 

I slammed the door behind me, Tears running freely off my cheeks, creating path in it's wake. They are playing some cruel trick on me but the timing is so weird. They always laughed after a minute or two. Couldn’t be able to hold much longer.

 

This time it left a feeling of sourness at the back of my throat.

 

I changed into my comfort clothes and pulled the sheets. Only this would make me feel better, cozy..loved. I pulled the comforter all the way up to my head.

 

As my senses dull, I slowly swept into the darkness, evaded by the figure in the blackness, only visible by the outline, giving off its location was my prince charming, I do know nothing about. He slowly stepped forward, closing in on me, stretching out with his hand. His face was a blur but I saw a wicked glint in his eyes, saw it in the set of his mouth as it tilts upward in a lop-sided grin.

 

Come to me, my dear..

 

There's nothing to be afraid of..

 

We are destined to be...together.....

 

His words woke the absurdity of the fate to come.

CHAPTER 2

 

 

 

 

 

I glanced at my phone, unlocking it. It's two in the FREAKING morning. I sighed in exasperation.

 

I pulled my bent legs towards my chest, resting my chin in the hollow between the knees. I should have​ brought a shawl with me. It's cold here.

 

I moved my eyes to the surrounding and giggled to myself. I might be looking as a grave silhouette; if anyone saw me here they would definitely run for the hills.

 

I was perched on the huge root trunk of my favourite tree in the backyard of my house. It always comforted me in a way. I had played, cried, laughed on it. There was a peaceful aura around it.

 

The reason why I was here today was completely idiotic though, but I'm glad.

 

I was short of breath when I got up from the nightmare an hour ago, covered in sweat.

 

After that, I tried hard to sleep but my mom.. Being a persistent-self, she knocked on my bedroom door on five different occasions in less than half an hour.

 

I told her to go away, TTYL, I'm sleeping, it's late in no succession. At the end, I sneak up from my bedroom to here. Let her bang on it as much as she wants. I smirked internally. I did good locking it.

 

I'm just plain mad at her but it's cruel of me to prank on her like that. I started feeling bad.

 

I leaned my head on the tree, closing my eyes. I breathed in the fresh air which had the soothing effect to calm my nerves right away.

 

She tied my knot without my consent but this is no way to act with her. Internally I knew that she love me a lot. I'll apologize, tomorrow.

 

A tear rolled down my cheek as the events of earlier started flooding my brain. I just don't have the slightest bit of idea about how this marriage is going to work. I don't even know him.

 

My subconscious gave a mocking laugh at me. You had not even seen him, you dumbass. That's what.

 

I never wished for a wealthy life. That was my mom's dream, to be honest. I always wanted a happy life. I glanced up at the sky, feeling defeated.

 

I'm rushing into things or being pushed, if I may.

 

All of my thoughts cut down as the hair on the nape of my neck stand into attention. I felt someone's presence as I gulped audibly.

 

What if it's a ghost? Or what if it's some psycho murderer on a hunt for his next target. Ahhh.. I cursed my thoughts.

 

I shut my eyes and pushed my back into the tree. Swallow me up tree, real quick.

 

As my eyes were tightly shut, my hearing was heightened. I heard the crunch of the tree leaves under someone's feet and then something whipped through the air. I shielded my face with both of my arm as something heavy landed on it.

 

I jumped