"Don't you all have even a shred of conscience? I keep saying no, but you just keep torturing me! Are you really my mother? I can't do this, I won't agree to it, and I'm definitely not going there!"
Rahithya was in the middle of a stubborn tantrum. Her mother, Annapoorni, who was rushing to finish the cooking, shot her a sharp, warning glare. Rahithya, however, ignored the look and stood her ground firmly.
At that moment, her father, Somasundaram, emerged dressed in a crisp white shirt and dhoti. Seeing his daughter still unready, he fixed her with a stern gaze. Though Rahithya felt a flicker of fear deep down, she masked it with a facade of bravery.
Losing his patience, her father spoke firmly, "If you aren't ready to leave in ten minutes, I'll send you to that job your uncle arranged for next week. After that, no matter what you say, it won't matter. You have two choices right now—I'm fine with either." He sat down on a nearby chair, signaling the end of the discussion. Left with no choice, Rahithya went to get ready.
When she returned and sat on the sofa near her father, she felt irritated that everyone was going about their business as if she didn't exist. She glared at her mother in the kitchen.
"I told you I don't like it! Why do you keep forcing me, Ma? Please, I'll stay home. I'll help you with all the chores... Please don't force me," she pleaded, nearly on the verge of tears.
Her brother, Rohit, who had been listening to her whining, grew annoyed. "Why are you blubbering like an idiot? At least open your eyes when you talk. Mom and Dad went outside the moment you sat down. I just came here to drink some water, and you're rambling to yourself!" He gave her a sharp rap on the head.
Already frustrated, Rahithya seized the moment. She began wailing loudly as if his small knock had caused a major injury. Hearing the commotion, Somasundaram and Annapoorni rushed back inside. Seeing their daughter slumped in the chair crying theatrically, they both instinctively pointed the walking sticks they were holding toward her.
Startled, Rahithya immediately stopped her act and sat up straight. Annapoorni, still fuming, raised her hand to strike, but Somasundaram stepped in and caught his wife's wrist.
Rahithya opened her eyes to see her mother's furious face and her father's restraining hand. As she stood up, Annapoorni turned to her husband in exasperation. "Do you hear what she's saying? Why are you stopping me? I've been watching this for a week. She's acting like we're sending her to a deserted forest! We are asking her to go to college, and she talks as if she's being asked to move a mountain."
She turned her gaze back to her daughter, her voice lashing out. "Every girl these days wants to study well and get a job. But look at this one! She wants to stay home without an education. She says if we marry her off early, she'll start raising kids in due time! What on earth am I supposed to do with her?" Annapoorni gritted her teeth, and Somasundaram, realizing the logic in his wife's anger, glared at his daughter too.
Rahithya thought to herself, "Oh no, even 'Rice Father' is glaring at me now. Better keep a pathetic face, or I'm in for a real thrashing today."
Outwardly, she maintained a pitiful expression. Somasundaram sat beside her, tossed the stick aside, and looked at his daughter with a softening gaze.
"What is your problem, Ma? Why are you so stubborn about not studying?"
"I already told you, Pa. I'm not interested in studies. Even if I study, I'm not going to work. I'll be taking care of a family after marriage anyway, so why study unnecessarily? Besides, an education should be useful. You aren't letting me take the course I want. Look at Sister—she studied law, but what is she doing now? She's at home looking after the family, completely unrelated to her degree. Why struggle for that? Fine, if you insist I study, let me take Journalism. Don't force me into anything else." She looked at him decisively.
"Listen to her! She's not even ashamed to talk about marriage," Annapoorni sighed, sitting exhausted next to her husband.
Somasundaram looked at Rahithya intently. "I can't leave things to your whims. It is my responsibility to educate you. Whether you work or not later is up to you—decide that after marriage. But for now, you must study."
"Why are we repeating the same thing, Pa? You aren't going to marry me off to a beggar. My husband will surely earn well. Plus, you'll be sending me with a dowry. Can't he afford to feed his wife? Why should I struggle and work?"
Her parents were momentarily speechless at her bluntness. Annapoorni took a deep breath. "Listen, Ma. In the coming years, it will be very hard to run a family on a single income. If you work, it's for your own family, your husband, and your children. Even in a joint family, imagine the pride of being an earning member. Depending on others is foolish. Life is unpredictable. You should never have to look to someone else to survive; your education will be your only true companion."
Rahithya let the advice go in one ear and out the other. "Fine, Ma. I'll study. But I'll take Journalism."
"Don't test my patience! Just sending you to the local college is a big deal, and you want to go to a University? To stay in a hostel far away? I wouldn't have a moment's peace. You don't get to decide everything, Rahithya. We don't burden you like other parents, so just follow your father's word and join this college. Classes started three months ago, and you're joining late because of your antics. We know what's best for you. Now, go get ready. Pray to God that you actually get a seat today despite the delay."
As Annapoorni went to check on the cooking, Somasundaram turned on the TV to catch the news before leaving.
Meanwhile, her brother Rohit was the opposite. Having worked incredibly hard in a government school to score high marks, he had applied for Pharmacy. Despite his efforts, he missed a government seat by just a few marks. His parents, not wanting his hard work to go to waste, had enrolled him in a private college. Now in his second year, Rohit spent every waking moment studying to be the college topper.
Rahithya went to the prayer room. Looking at the idols, she whispered, "God, I have zero interest in studies. Please make sure that since I'm so late, the college refuses to admit me and sends me back. If you do that, I'll offer you a grand feast of chickpeas!"
Annapoorni, coming up behind her, gave her another tap on the head. "What kind of prayer is that? May God give you some sense!" She applied a tilak to Rahithya's forehead.
As Rahithya brushed it off as usual, her mother dropped one final piece of information to lure her. Rahithya's eyes widened, and she felt like she could fly.
She hugged her mother joyfully. "Mom, are you serious or just lying?"
"What do I get by lying to you? It's true, Rahithya. They say the canteen food at that college is amazing. You used to complain that at your old college, 20 rupees wouldn't even get you a handful of food. In this new college, for just 18 rupees, you get rice, sambar, rasam, curd, appalam, and a side dish. You can eat until your heart's content. Your father paid the fees keeping that in mind. And there's more good news..."
Rahithya looked at her in anticipation.
"Bhuvaneshwari took a TC from her college and joined this one just for you. She's already there. So stop making excuses and go study properly."
As Somasundaram finished his tea, Rahithya appeared with her bag, ready to go. "Pa, come on, let's go! I didn't eat breakfast; I have to eat at the college. If we're late, the food might run out. Hurry up!"
Her parents watched her with a smile—the girl who refused to go to college minutes ago was now rushing out the door, all for the love of a good meal.