The room fell into a heavy silence, as all eyes focused on Anuja, awaiting her response. She stood amid the gathering, seemingly indifferent, as if the tension in the room had nothing to do with her.
Anuja’s demeanor remained calm and unyielding, and her resilient nature shone through despite the storm of emotions swirling around her. No matter how others perceived her, there was no hint of her being intimidated or threatened in this moment.
On one side, Anuja’s family glared at her with a mix of threat and expectation, while on the other side, Vikrant and his parents wore expressions of frustration and impatience. They sought Anuja’s apology, a resolution hanging in the air, waiting to be addressed.
Amidst the intense scrutiny of everyone present, Anuja calmly parted her lips and, in her nonchalant tone devoid of scruples, uttered, “I refuse.”
The room erupted with shock. Anuja’s mother couldn’t contain her surprise and let out a sharp shriek, demanding clarification.
Anuja stood her ground, repeating firmly, “I said I refuse.” Despite her disappointment, her nonchalant exterior held firm, reflecting her unwavering, fearless nature. She wasn’t someone easily swayed or threatened, even by her own parents.
As Anuja’s parents prepared to reprimand her once more, Tanuja’s voice cut through the tension. She spoke with a sobbing tone, pleading, “Sister, please do as Daddy said, otherwise our family will be ruined.”
Tanuja’s eyes glistened with moisture, her voice trembled, and her body betrayed a hint of shakiness. She appeared like a pitiful princess, willing to sacrifice anything for her royal family.
Anuja locked eyes with her twin sister, trying to fathom the depths of her emotions. Tanuja, just a few minutes younger, had always been the focus of their parents’ concern due to her congenital disease. Anuja was repeatedly instructed to protect and cherish her sister, fulfilling her wishes and giving in to her demands.
Anuja had followed these instructions faithfully, but today was different. She found herself unable to comply with what was expected of her.
Avoiding Anuja’s gaze, Tanuja continued, “Sister, your reputation has always been like this. Even if you apologize to Vikrant, it won’t change much. But if you don’t apologize, not only will our family suffer a loss in business, but my reputation will be ruined. Sister, I beg you. Do me this favour. Please.” Tanuja’s plea hung in the air, laden with desperation and fear for what the future might hold.
Mrs. Singh heart ached for her daughter and hurriedly hugged Tanuja and said, “Tanu, what are you saying, why you are begging her? She is your sister and it is her duty to protect you. Do you understand?”
Anuja scoffed, her disbelief evident in her tone. “Didn’t I protect her? Then why should I apologize for it?”
The entire charade stemmed from an unfortunate incident earlier that day. Vikrant, the son of the Ahuja family, had attempted to harm Tanuja. Anuja, witnessing the assault, acted instinctively to protect her sister, confronting Vikrant and channelling her anger into a forceful response. The commotion that ensued drew attention, and Vikrant, faced with humiliation, sought to manipulate the situation.
Now, Vikrant and his parents were pressuring Anuja to publicly apologize and concoct a story that suggested she was secretly in love with Vikrant. According to their narrative, Anuja’s supposed unrequited love had driven her into a fit of rage, leading to the incident.
“Anuja, is there any need to make things difficult for your family? Why can’t you be like your sister? Why can’t you be protective for your family like her?” Mr. Sharma scolded Anuja, his impatience evident in his tone.
He couldn’t bear Anuja’s stubbornness any longer. The stakes felt high, and he feared losing everything he had painstakingly built over the years if this continued.
As Mr. Sharma weighed the pros and cons, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Mr. Ahuja’s stern voice. “Mr. Sharma, I am not interested in your family drama. I will give you only five minutes. If I am not satisfied with the outcome, you can forget about the next project.”
Mr. Sharma hastily plastered a fawning smile on his face and reassured Mr. Ahuja, saying, “Mr. Ahuja, don’t worry. I will surely provide you with a satisfactory explanation.”
What kind of answer will Mr. Sharma give to satisfy Mr. Ahuja? And why are Anuja’s parents biased towards Tanuja? If her parents pressure her to apologize and make derogatory statements in public, how will Anuja respond? Will she succumb to the pressure, or will she stand firm, refusing to compromise her integrity?
A well fabricated nice story filled with emotions and sentiment.