Page 9 of The Secret Bride
Then Avija snorted.
"What job did you get? Sweeping floors?"
Her voice dripped with mockery. I felt my face heat up, but I kept my expression calm. I had learned long ago that reacting to Avija's jabs only encouraged her.
Uncle, however, was not amused.
"Avija, stop that," he said sharply. Then he turned to me, his face breaking into a proud smile. "Congratulations, Viya. That is wonderful news. Where will you be working?"
"A tech firm," I said quietly. "As a Junior Developer in their tech department. I start on Monday."
Uncle's smile grew even wider.
"That is excellent, beta. I am very proud of you. You have worked so hard for this."
His words made my chest swell with warmth. This was exactly the reaction I had hoped for.
But then I made the mistake of looking at Aunty.
Her face was unreadable, her eyes calculating. I could practically see the gears turning in her mind, weighing options, considering angles. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured and controlled.
"Well, that is good news. Congratulations. But just because you have a job now does not mean you are free from your responsibilities here. You will still need to finish all the household chores before you leave for the office every morning. And at the end of every month, you will give me twenty thousand rupees for household expenses."
I felt like I had been slapped.
Uncle's expression darkened immediately.
"Sangeetha, what nonsense is this? She does not need to pay anything. This house is her home too."
Aunty turned to him, her voice taking on that sharp edge she always used when she was about to win an argument.
"Why not, Vinay? She is part of this family, is she not? We have spent so much money on her upbringing, on her education. Is itso wrong to ask her to contribute to the household expenses now that she is earning?"
Uncle's jaw tightened.
"We spent money on Avija's upbringing too. On her fashion design course, on her business startup costs. We do not ask her to contribute twenty thousand rupees every month."
Avija opened her mouth to protest, but I could not let this continue. I could not be the reason for another fight between Uncle and Aunty. I had seen too many of those over the years, and they always ended with Uncle giving in and me feeling guilty for causing trouble.
If giving Aunty twenty thousand rupees a month bought me some measure of independence, it was worth it.
"Uncle, it is fine," I interrupted, my voice steady. "I am okay with contributing twenty thousand. It is only fair."
Uncle looked at me, frustration and sadness warring in his expression.
"Viya, you do not have to do this."
"I want to," I said firmly. "It is fine, Uncle. Really."
He looked like he wanted to argue further, but I gave him a small smile, silently pleading with him to let it go. After a long moment, he sighed and nodded reluctantly.
I turned to leave, but Aunty's voice stopped me.
"One more thing, Viya."
I turned back.
She held out the piece of paper she had been writing on earlier.
