NA'

to her, laughing nervously. "Leena!" Father called to me abruptly. I knew that tone, and I was not ready to find out what was wrong. He grabbed me by my hand gently, and pulled me aside. Lily, my step mother sat on one of the court benches in a distance, unconcerned by whatever was taking place before her. If it were up to her, she would have her own daughter in my place instead, and frankly, I did not mind. Father was dressed in an off white suit which sat cooly on him. He was a tall man, strongly framed and was not very tolerant, yet, when it came down to the family's business, he was just as weak. "My daughter. Are you okay?" He asked searching my face for answers, before my words would bring forth its lies. "Yes, Father, I am very fine. How are you?" I asked him in return. Apparently, he knew better than I did when something was completely wrong. He knew I did not want this marriage, but he also believed that Zack was still the same angel like friend he was to me when we were much younger. "You don't have to do this, you know that, right?" My father said boldly. But I knew otherwise. If I did not do it, it would break his heart. It would ruin us forever. He, just like Zack's parents thought we would both be extremely suitable for each other. But that was just a lie. That was a tale fabricated by them to ensure that the images they had confined within their thoughts about our lives became their reality. I was tired up, threatening to scream, "what about us?!! What about me!! I am tired!!" But.the words never came. I sat beside the man I was beginning to despise beyond life, like a lamb led to the slaughter. I watched the documents being presented before us, and I picked up the pen which had been laid down before me. Zack had already signed t