Chapter 22

Chapter 22 :

Anika's POV

The hall buzzed with people present here to attend our reception. Each person was dressed elegantly radiating the high standards they possess. The clinking of wine glasses echoed in the space followed by the rich laughters which were just a façade they possessed.

Women whispered among them as the men busied themselves in their talks. Both his and my family are here, attending the guests with pleasure.

Him and I are standing on the stage, the media clicking our pictures as we received the gifts by the guests.

Minutes later, we both walked into the crowd because he 'had to' introduce me to his business partners.

"Hey, I'm Nicolas Watson. You can call me Nick. I'm your husband's current business partner", spoke a pale man in ginger red hair and icy blue orbs. His tall muscular frame stood elegantly clad in a deep blue suit with light blue pinstripes, over a waist coat and white shirt beneath a deep blue tie. His features are so sharp but... they're similar to someone I know.

"He's Arshi's elder brother", spoke Arnav without looking at me.

As things fell back into place, I finally recognised him.

I extended my hand with a greeting, "Nice to meet you Mr. Watson. I guess I don't need to introduce myself", I spoke with a smile.

"No you don't need to Mrs. Rai Mehrotra. I didn't know I'd come across such a gorgeous lady who turned unfortunately turned out to be the host's wife", he spoke with a chuckle in his manly voice, lightening up the atmosphere.

Nicolas Watson is well known for his business tactics and smartness. His power to make anyone agree to sign deals with him is only possessed by him. And his charm is holds enough magnetic power to attract any female towards him.

I respond to him with a light chuckle when I felt a hand wrapping around my waist. Arnav slowly gripped the side of my waist, his grip tightening till his nails dug into my skin. I couldn't his nor remove his hand because of Nick's observing nature.

"Don't flirt so much Mr. Watson, your wife won't appreciate it", I spoke with a smile.

He raised his one brow as he asked in surprise, "You know I'm married?"

I pointed at his ring finger and said, "Your ring proves it"

And he acted as if it clicked him suddenly that yes, he's married.

"I'm sorry, my bad. She couldn't come because of being pregnant by seven months", he replied, an admiring smile formed on his lips. He's really fond of his wife and his genuine smile tells it.

"Oh, that's a good news. Congrats for the good news. I know you'll be good father", I spoke feeling the burning sensation on my waist because of Arnav's nails digger harder than before.

"How can you say that?", he asked with wide eyes.

"It's the way you behave with women and the way you're so fond of your wife. This is all that a child needs in their father to see while growing up into a gentleman or a matured woman", I replied softly.

"Nick when did you arrive?", the silky voice grabbed our attention.

I knew who it was so didn't mind to turn my head. As she stood infront of us, she spoke, "You cling so much to your wife. Come with me, I've to introduce someone to you."

And like that, she dragged her bestfriend along with her leaving me and Nick alone.

I silently kept looking at her backs fading into the crowd.

"She's always like that", Nick's voice took my attention.

"You mean?", I asked facing him back.

"I meant, she's been stubborn ever since I've known her", he replied as I nodded. It's clear that she's too stubborn to waste my time on.

The rest of the evening went by in meeting and greeting the guests as everyone finally departed by late at night. My family also went back after biding us a goodbye as I and my in-laws also returned home.

.

Mind games are such things no one can easily play. It requires smartness beyond the limit, but not over smartness. Over smartness has always led to loss and I've seen examples of that. I never knew so many people around me were playing mind games, while acting like normal beings.

The façade they carry so smoothly makes the others around them blindly believe that the players are innocent. It's just the power mind games hold.

.

| This story contains some toxicity|

.

We all reached the mansion by 12o'clock so without sharing any word, we walked into our respective rooms.

Opening the door to his room, I stepped inside but even before I could turn around to close the door, I felt myself being pushed back against the wall as my hands were locked behind my back.

He stood infront of me with one hand holding my wrists behind me, and the other rested on the wall.

His eyes burnt with fierce flames, his chest rising and falling heavily letting his hot breaths echo between us. The proximity was the least possible between us. His eyes were red but a fleeting wave of pain was visible.

He was furious and I understood that but why? I know he's angry on me but what did I do now?

"What are you doing Arnav? Leave me", I gritted my teeth trying to get our of his grip.

He reminded silent, his piercing gaze fixed on mine.

"Can't you hear? Or do you just hear your girlfriend's voice only?", I spoke, the urge in me to mock him coming out.

He chuckled darkly, as his body finally closed the distance we had a while ago. His robust chest was pressed against my bosoms while the hair strands falling on his face brushes against my forehead.

"You enjoyed a lot today, didn't you doll?", he asked. I frowned at his words.

He's a damn bipolar ass.

"How can I enjoy when you're present everywhere I go?", I fired back.

"Yes sure but I saw something else tonight. The way you hooked Mr. Raizada's arm and walked around the hall, the way you laughed with all your business partners and that too just male, provided the proof of opposite of what you're saying", he spoke being dangerously calm.

"Firstly, there were females too. And secondly, I'm not you to behave like a sick man and touch another woman despite being married. Because I know that rules are rules. And thirdly, you're my contract husband and you definitely know that you don't fucking get to control me"

He chuckled sarcastically, "Don't shout doll. Your shouts can remove the already stained reputation you have in my eyes"

I chuckled, "Sure thing. But I don't see any profit in having a pure reputation in your fucking useless eyes—", he cut me off, "Don't yell and don't curse doll or I'll put that pretty mouth in a better use", he spoke, warning lacing his voice.

His words were disgusting. How dare he say something like that? Do I look like his slut?

Fury rushed in my veins, as my head throbbed with disgust filling me because of his words.

Pulling my wrist away from his grip with force, I landed it on his left cheek, it's sound echoing in the silence of the room.

His head tilted sideways, while his grip loosened around me, his one hand held the bruised spot. Time stood still as I breathed heavily while he stood still staring at the ground because of the effect. I can rest assured that my slap had enough force to put a print on his cheek because I can feel the stinging pain in my palm.

He never made me feel respected but sometimes his hatred crossed its limit leading to insulting my character. I can bear anything but my character being insulted. I won't let anyone do that because my parents didn't bring me up to have a stained character.

In my entire life, I never had my character stained. No one was able to do that with enough audacity.

As moments slipped away, my heart palpated against the ribs, as fear slowly gripped me. Anger had taken the control over me so bad that I had gone blind for a moment while slapping him. All I felt was hatred and anger filling me, it's mixture leaving me unsettled.

I knew the moment the reality settled in, that I'm going to face the consequence of my action which won't be welcoming. My anger and action is justifiable but his anger is something no one can handle. I knew he hated his buttons being pushed, yet, I pushed them.

Even if he deserved it, he won't listen to me. He won't see what's wrong and what's right when burning in fury.

My hands started shaking but I kept my confidence because I know I'm right.

He stood up straight before he finally faced me. The print of my fingers darkened in his soft beige skin. But no emotion flickered in his eyes except the fiercely burning rage mirroring the anger he harboured for me at the moment. His breathings turned heavier as moments passed, killing me with its silence. His jaws tightened as he clenched and unclebched his fists calming his rage which seemed to increase every moment, his popping up veins in his hands, forehead and neck were the proofs.

"I didn't do anything wrong so don't try to hurt me", I spoke calmly, my inner soul shaking as a contrast.

I don't know how I'm fearing him slowly.

Maybe because he resembles him.

His body finally moved as he started taking his predatory steps towards me, a slow pace screaming at me to run.

I turned around to run, my heart beating vigorously.

As I held the door knob, I pulled it fast before running out, his yells echoing in the hall demanding me to stop.

My mind sat numb, as sweat beads ran down my face sliding down my neck. Those haunting memories flashed infront of me, mirroring every action of Arnav.

The more I avoid them, the more they crawl back to me.

"You can never find a place even in the whole universe to escape from the nightmares I gave you", he spoke before his maniac laughs echoed everywhere.

Those scary maniac laughs still rings in my ears, stabbing my heart. It hurts but at the same time, it scares me. I'm feeling so many things right now that my mind has stopped working properly. I can't seem to think straight.

As I ran and ran, I heard his heavy footsteps behind me. His yells to make me stop were still there but I had turned deaf to them.

Right at the moment, all I knew was I needed to run. I need to save myself because...my husband is chasing me.

He'll kill me.

As I entered the main hall, I sprinted towards the main door as fast as I could before I pulled the door handle. It was fortunately unlocked which helped me to run out as fast as I could.

The fear of being caught by him was enough to make me feel dizzy and nauseous at the same time.

I ran and ran, forgetting the fact that I don't have anything on my feet, my skin brushing against the rough ground making several cuts but it was my least concern. I was clad in a saree which made it harder for me to run but fear is something that makes a person go insane and do anything.

I wanted to hug Dhruv and cry my heart out. I knew he'd somewhere understand me, even after what I did. I knew he still has that soft place for me. I sound selfish but I'm helpless. I want a safe embrace, an embrace which can save me from my husband.

Others would laugh at me if they hear that I need protection against my own husband but our bond has nothing to make me feel safe and secured.

His anger can make him pull the trigger or slide the sharp edge of a knife over my neck or simply strangle me to death. He can kill me right away and he won't even regret anything except the fact that he couldn't give me the pain I gave his brother.

I didn't know when I reached the main gate.

A huge black truck was entering the mansion area which gave me the golden chance to flee away without being noticed.

I knew he's still chasing me because I can hear him yelling at his men to follow me.

I'm nothing compared to those bulky men following me.

If not by hardwork, I need to do smartwork.

As I ran down the street, a narrow bylane caught my eye. It was far away from the mansion area, just one flickering street light illuminating the narrow way.

Just like any haunted movie, it's creepiness was felt in my bones. No soul was seen striding down the lonely lane. I didn't know if I should go ahead or follow the lane to wherever it led to. But I needed to escape. I don't know where I'd go once I escape because being a gangster, he can find me right away. But I needed peace at the same time. I want to breathe for a while before enduring his mental torture again.

Looking back for once at the empty road, I entered the lane.

The dry land embedded with sharp stones dug into my bare feet, as I hissed.

My limbs are hurting, my body felt like its bones were breaking one by one. The pain was too much to endure alongwith the mental pain I was enduring. Tears streamed down my eyes, finally.

I feel so vulnerable because of these tears.

But I couldn't care about those mere salty water drops more than my mental peace right now.

Running down the lane finally, I crowched down, the pain getting out of control.

The wet feeling under my feet confirmed that they were bleeding.

Sitting down on the ground, I scooted towards the wall nearby. The lane is dark and dirty but it didn't matter right now. If I can get peace here for a while, then I'll sit here.

Bringing my knees near my chest, I wrapped my arms around the knees letting my head rest on them.

Hot tears streamed down as I sat there sobbing silently. The sound of crickets singing alongwith the night breeze whistling surrounded me. The darkness soon faded as I felt the stars geazing down at me, the half moon staring down at me with pity.

The calmness soothed my pain enough to let me breathe but not enough to stop me from breaking.

No matter how strong I show myself, I'm still fragile and sensitive. I'm still weak and lonely inside. I need warmness.

The pain is too much to handle everyday. I can't always gulp down my pain like a bitter candy. It hurts, it damn hurts to see Dhruv like that, to see myself vulnerably breaking down everyday, to see myself lying to my loved ones and what not.

Nothing went right since that night.

I still hate myself for putting my trust on someone like a blind. I loved my heart out only for it to turn out one-sided.

Excelling in studies, co-curriculur activities and household works, I did everything one's parents would want to see in their children. But I never found my true happiness. I just lived the life in the way that'd satisfy my parents.

They never forced me to be perfect but I knew that somewhere they wished for me to be like a 'perfect girl'. So I worked hard for it and achieved it.

But for what?

Only for them to die?

I had found my true happiness the day Nishant had entered my life, this is what I had thought. I believed that he loved me and was the love of my life. I gave him everything I had yet, he was never satisfied. He was sweet and soft at the start but as time slipped away, he changed into a completely different person within four years of our relationship. He got abusive; both mentally and physically. He was from a rich family and I knew that his father was a political leader but I never knew that he had criminal background who had the record of burning down his own wife when she denied to submit herself to him.

Such men disgust me to the core. They're brutes in human flesh. They see women as their toys and most of the times...their sex toys. They believe that women are born to look after the family they make, give birth and please them.

And then Dhruv entered my life, once Nishant left. He gave me everything whereas I was all empty. I had nothing to give him yet, he devoted himself to me. He gave me everything just to see a genuine smile on my lips. He loved me too genuinely to be true, but it was true. After facing just downs for three years, I fell in love with him finally. His constant efforts would forever have that special place in my heart.

He'd always be there in my heart.

I—my thoughts halted when I heard some footsteps nearing me.

My heart stopped, fearing that he finally found me. I wasn't ready, the selfishness inside me begged for peace a little more.

I rose up my head but frowned when I saw two slender figures nearing me.

They seemed nowhere similar to Arnav or his men.

Fear gripped me. My mind imagined the worst scenarios that could possibly happen.

I rose up on my feet, before fixing my saree as I voiced out, "Who's there?"

No one responded but the footsteps neared me. I wanted to run but it felt as if my feet were frozen. Moments like these always makes a person get confused and nervous, their body reacting opposite to how they should actually behave. My body was freezing cold even in the summer.

My eyes narrowed trying to focus on the features of the two people infront of me.

As they stood under the light, I finally saw two men, one dressed in black ripped jeans with loose sap green shirt and the other had worn dirty blue jeans shorts under a loose brown shirt. Their hairs were messy and their smug looks gave me waves of uneasiness.

Their eyes lustfully examined me from my head to toe before trailing back upwards, finally stopping on my face.

I felt disgusted but I couldn't fight back. I didn't have the strength to do anything anymore after being physically and mentally hurt and tired.

I gulped down before speaking, trying to sound bold, "Leave from here"

One of them chuckled, "Madam you seem lost. Let us help you get home"

"Why get home when we can take you somewhere better", spoke the other one before both burst into a disgusting laughter.

Anger gripped me, my pain subsiding.

I didn't speak anything else because I knew that I can't fight with a saree on. And moreover, they're two and I'm one.

Turning around I tried to walk away when a sudden tug on my shoulder stopped me.

I realised that they had gripped my pallu.

Our of anger, I turned around before throwing a hard slap on the man who held my pallu. As I tried to throw a punch, his companion held my hand before tearing away the right sleeve of my blouse. The tearing sound echoed in the atmosphere, bruising my self esteem.

It's not just a mere piece of cloth being torn. It's the dignity of a woman being stained.

Hatred, fury, helplessness and disgust filled me. I couldn't think anything anymore as I pulled the companion's shirt before throwing my knee on his crotch causing him to bend down in pain.

He held his crotch out of pain as the previous one lunged at me‌, his gun pointed at me.

That caught me off guard. I didn't know they had guns.

I again saw myself in a helpless situation. I didn't have anything to fight with.

Closing my eyes, I let my tears fall while I made myself ready to embrace my death.

Moments of silence passed until I heard a gunshot, and my breath hitched in my throat. 

The sudden loud sound echoed in my head, as each and every sense in me seemed to numb down. All I could hear after the gunshot was silence. No even the breeze whispered today.