The house was silent after dinner. Too silent.Ananya sat cross-legged on her bed with her books open, but her eyes had not touched a word. She felt it coming—like the heaviness in the air before a monsoon storm.
Her father's voice broke the silence."Ananya."
She startled, head snapping up. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, face unreadable. Her mother hovered behind him, lips pressed tight.
"Come to the hall."
The Interrogation
The moment she entered, she felt it: judgment hung in the room like smoke. Her father sat stiff in his chair; her mother stood beside him, eyes sharp.
"Where were you on temple day?" he asked.Her heart stopped. "Temple," she whispered, "with you—""Don't play clever," he cut her off. His hand struck the arm of the chair with a crack that made her flinch. "Who was the boy?"
Her chest burned. She shook her head, desperate. "I—I don't know what you mean—"
Her mother stepped forward, voice cold. "People talk, Ananya. They saw you. In God's courtyard, with a boy pressed close to you. Whispering. Touching." Her tone dripped with humiliation. "Do you understand the shame you've brought on us?"
Ananya's breath stuttered. The walls seemed to close around her. They saw. They saw.
"I swear—""Enough!" her father roared. The slap landed before she even registered his hand rising. Her cheek burned, tears spilling.
The Threat
"You will not step out of this house unless we say so," her father said, his voice a thunderous decree. "No tuition, no excuses, no temple, no errands. From today, you live under this roof, under our eyes. If you so much as look toward the gate without permission, you will regret it."
Her mother's face was carved from stone. "We raised you better than this. To dishonor us like some street girl—do you even understand what people will say of you? Of us?"
Ananya's lips trembled, but she forced herself not to sob, not to beg. Because what would begging earn her? Only more chains.
Inside, a small ember glowed despite her tears. The ember that remembered Riyan's hand, Riyan's eyes, Riyan's whispered courage in every reckless moment.
Alone in Her Room
They left her with the door shut, the lock clicking from the outside.
Ananya sat on her bed, cheek still stinging, heart breaking—but beneath it, that ember smoldered brighter. She pressed her palm over her mouth, over the lips he had kissed in the temple, as if guarding the only piece of freedom left to her.
Outside, the storm had broken. But inside, she swore she would not let it drown her.