Chapter- 3

Rathi's eyelids disturbed when something kept dripping on her forehead, she opened her eyes and touched the thick fluid in her trembling fingers, it was dark red in color. The place is dead silence and her breathing became rapid when she found herself covered in that thick fluid which is none other than blood. The dark place is soaking in the cold blood. Her eyes shot open in terror to see from where it's coming, the blood is gliding from the insides of her thighs.

She felt afraid yet she touched her sex and took her hand only to be soaked completely in the blood, her blood. She couldn't breathe and her wide eyes welled with tears. The more she feared, the more the blood came out from her groin.

"No!" she left out a scream and gasped for air but felt like someone strangling her throat. She closed her eyes when she felt nothing to do anymore...

Rathi opened her eyes from the bloody nightmare, and her tears started flowing out from her eyes involuntarily. She cried like a small kid since this is the worst dream that ever came into her life.

"Why you're crying?" that deep voice startled her even more. She turned her head to see Aadhiyan. Sitting comfortably on a chair crossing his legs he is watching her with concern in his eyes. He is dressed in all black which is attractive to look at.

"I have locked my door then how did you come in here?" she questioned knotting her eyebrows.

"Is it? But when I touched the lock it is open," he said like a good man and didn't do anything to come inside. Rathi narrowed her eyes hearing his reply. She knew very well that she has locked her door before going to sleep.

"Did you had a nightmare?" he queried changing the topic.

"I won't tell you," she sighed in frustration.

"I've warned you. Watch your tone," he threatened sweetly and got up from his seat. Taking a seat beside her on the bed Aadhi placed his hand on her forehead.

Rathi was taken aback as she thought he would punch her face for talking to him like that.

"You're having a fever,"

"I know," she said looking down.

"It must be something really scary, am I right?" he asked caressing her cheeks. Now the nightmare isn't frightening compared to the man sitting beside her.

"What did you saw?"

"Dark? Silence? Blood?"

Hearing that Rathi's eyes widened in shock and he identified what must be her dream.

"Do you get dreams like this often?"

"Yes," She nodded.

"Have you ever wondered why it is coming to you?" he asked.

"It's PTSD, my fears and the abuse that I went through is coming in the form of nightmarish visuals," Rathi gave a proper explanation so that this dude will shut his mouth.

He smiled, "You're smart." "But sometimes it can be a foreshadow."

"I don't know about others, but in case of you. It might be a warning sign," he smirked and tugged the hair behind her ear. His touch gave shivers to Rathi.

Warning? What he's talking about? Will it happen for real? Oh, God!

Already her day started bad and his statement made it worse. The morning was not bright like Rathi's life, her fever, dream, and this weird guy all stressing her out.

Aadhi observed her leisurely with his eating eyes and she felt uncomfortable.

"Get dressed," he told pulling the sleeves up that fell from the shoulder. His charming eyes bore at her silky nightgown that lying like a second skin on her boobs, unintentionally giving a clear view of its perfection.

He groaned under his breath and raised his gaze to her face. Her lips fascinating him like how it will taste.

Soon those feelings came to an end when Rathi got down from the bed. He is blown out to see her closely, she is the definition of beauty perhaps it's only for him. Because Rathi never considers her attractive.

"Can you please go out?" she asked.

He agreed and came out with a smirk at the corner of his lips. It's for so many reasons... but he's delighted to see his wife-to-be closely. He's completely haunting her brains, in an instant he made to look her life's situations in a different way that were seemed to be normal for all these years.

It's like she has been living a life by the order of someone. Perhaps is that him? She thought.

But in that, he didn't fail to charm her and in the same way scared her too. All she could feel now is brain wrecking confusion.

Rathi looked at her reflection on the bathroom mirror. She is dull and her hair is messy. Then she realized where her pain is. She removed her nightgown and looked at the birthmark which is now kind of bruised and inflamed. It's sickening to look at that.

All of sudden what happened to this? She wondered and sighed.

Finishing her morning chores Rathi came out and dressed up in an oversized grey T-shirt and a skirt. Putting her hair in a bun, she came to the dining hall.

Aadhi was sitting on one of the chairs. Shankari and Das were also there, it turns out that they're all waiting for her.

"Can't you wear something better," Shankari complained coming close to Rathi. She shrugged and gazed at Aadhiyan.

"Ayya, told that you're having a fever. Should I call the doctor?" she asked.

"No I am fine now," she replied, kept staring at him.

Rathi sat beside Aadhiyan; Das and Shankari filled the rest of the seats.

Aadhiyan placed the warm soup that's specially made for her to ease her fever. Chandran served the food for the rest of the people.

Rathi can't bear this new care on her, Aadhiyan kept watching her every little move.

She glared at him in sideways and he smiled, "I would like to take Rathi out for a walk," he announced sipping the water.

"Oh, that's so great," Shankari replied with a big smile on her face.

"Mama, what you say?" Aadhiyan asked Das.

"That's a good idea," he said.

She doesn't know whether they're going with him, why he isn't asking my damn permission?

"Rathi, wear something good," Shankari requested and it's kind of new to Rathi.

"It's drizzling outside," Rathi argued.

"Are you a kid, it's just drizzling. You can carry an Umbrella, Rathi. Do what Ayya wants you to," Shankari grumbled.

She didn't talk anything after that and agreed, nodding her head. This way she could know more about his plans and what he's going to do with her.

She got ready wearing a purple maxi dress. It has long sleeves that could protect her from cold. She wore her shoes and brushed her hair a few times. That's all she didn't put any makeup to look good for that old guy.

She came to the living area and there he is waiting for her in the same costume. "Shall we go?" he asked.

Rathi nodded lightly and walked following him. Mani gave an Umbrella to Aadhiyan and he held above their heads.

The roads were damp, for the past one week Wayanad is having heavy rainfall. Their bungalow is located at the hill area; the lush green mountains were standing high beside their home. There's no wonder why Kerala is called God's own country, it's so pure in nature.

"Come closer, I don't want you to get wet,"

Rathi did and looked at the man who seemed to be good and in the same way villainous. But he's looking so handsome even having that stern face.

"You're walking too fast," Rathi said unable to cope up with his speed.

"I'm walking too slow for you," he countered yet walking in the same way.

"There's a small tea shop down this street,"

"Yeah, but I haven't gone to that place before," Rathi told.

"Oh, then this is your first and last time going there," he told and Rathi stopped in that place.

"What?"

"I mean you're leaving with me to my place which is far away from this country," he reasoned and stood before her.

"Why you're insisting to take me with you?"

"Because you're my wife, Rathi," he revealed and the thunder chorused her shock.

"Are you on drugs?" she asked feeling how stupid that sounds.

"I don't even know you or your name before then how possibly you can say that thing," she asked taking a step back.

He sighed, "There are things which have no proper explanation to connect us and you don't understand even if I say it."

"Now come with me I'll give you a proper reason so it might change your mind," he asked for her hand.

Rathi looked at his hand and his face, "Can I tell you a truth. You're giving me this feeling like you're going to hurt me and my subconscious constantly ringing to avoid you, so I don't think this will work out,"

He chuckled, "You've got good intuition and I like how honest you are. But you should know I won't hurt you at all if you listen to me."

She gulped hearing him and looking at his eyes she placed her hand eventually on his hand.

The rain poured heavily and they walked to the coffee shop holding hands.

Rathi for the first time felt something strange at the bottom of her stomach, like something fluttering so rapidly.

It feels like this isn't the first time, she has seen him somewhere...

Due to the heavy rain, there isn't much crowd. And they sat at the corner seats.

"Two chai, do you want anything else," He asked Rathi.

She nodded no, right now all she wanted is to hear her explanation.

"How old are you?" She asked the next moment.

"I am going to be thirty-three," he replied.

They have twelve years of the age gap. And Rathi couldn't take this thing at all.

"What do you do for a living?"

"Nothing," he nodded.

"Then are you a gold digger? If you Marry me then you will inherit all properties that belong to Shankari, so that you're here!" she told her assumption.

"You're highly spoiled by the books and television," he countered back.

"The house that you're living in, the clothes, food, and everything that you're spending is my money."

"Then how on earth a man could get a lot of money without doing anything?" she shrugged.

"I do nothing, but I have my people all over the world to work for me. It's a sort of power and money business. I will give them what they want and they will give they have earned,"

"You're completely confusing me,"

"That's not a point here, Rathi,"

"Let me tell you why I am asking you to marry me,"

"Okay, tell me?" Rathi crossed her arms.

"Because you could only save me from dying," he told and Rathi looked at him in a shock.

"What?"

"I'm cursed, Rathi," he said and her scar sting sharply at that moment.

"Ouch," Rathi had an uncomfortable face placing her hand on her side.

"Is that scar hurts," he pointed.

"How did you know that I am having it?" she asked in surprise.

"Because I am having it too," he disclosed.

"Wait, really?"

"Do you want me to show you?" He asked and prompted to removed his jacket.

"No, I'll see that later," she stopped him.

"The only way to end my curse is, you need to marry me and have my child," he explained.

"I can't do that," she said right away.

"I am not joking here, Rathi. You should marry me,"

"I can't believe this fantasy," she leaned back on her seat.

"I am not telling any fantasy here, it's real, fucking real," he clenched his jaw after sharing back to back conversation.

"Look you're too old for me and I don't want to waste my life for ending someone's curse," Rathi replied.

She felt bad for telling that but again her honesty doesn't want to keep silent in this.

"You don't have to waste your life, just spend two years with me. Then you can leave. I'll give whatever you want money, house, or anything," he began a negotiation.

"Act clever Rathi, you will get a wonderful life after this. You'll get your pretty freedom," he told looking at her eyes.

Suddenly her heart changed seeing his mystic eyes.

"Are you playing with me?" she asked.

"I am not in the age to play games with you. You've to believe me," he held Rathi's hands.

"Only you could help me," he asked in a very sweet way that Rathi couldn't say no.

"Will you give me some time to think?" she asked and he nodded with a smile.

"We are leaving tomorrow and tell me yes for coming to our house." He sounded so confident and Rathi finds it's a waste to continue this argument.

Sipping the coffee Rathi watched him and calculated his face. She could feel he's telling the truth but there's something off about that truth.

If he knew me for a long time, then he might know about my birth. He must have information about my parents. Even though she doesn't want to find her dead parents she wants to know their background, especially about her mom.

Rathi is afraid about marriage and this man is really scary but she thought this is something put on her way and she wanted to find what's exactly happening in her life. She wanted to walk through all the closed doors in her life to get free from this.

"What happens if the curse isn't broken," she asked after a leisure moment.

"I will die," he replied.

"Once I die you'll die too," he added and that made Rathi's eyes shot in horror. The thunders cracking heavily outside.

"We both are damned."

Rathi's breath stopped by his revelation. Now she felt there's much more she has to find out than running away from this.