*Satvi Pov*
“Good morning!” I said cheerfully climbing down the stairs.
I saw that Karthik is at the dining table, and I smiled at him before taking a chair beside him. Dad smiled and then said, “Did you have enough rest?”
“Yeah! I still have the headache, but I am just trying to ignore it. I saw that my alarm is not set so I got up late.” I replied pouring myself water.
“Breakfast is ready.” Leela said smiling entering the dining room but her smile left the face for a few minutes, and then again, she smiled.
I frowned but brushed off before smiling at her back. She placed the bowl on the dining table before sitting beside Dad.
“I am feeling so hungry.” I said and saw that it looks really yummy.
“Where did you learn to cook, Leela? It is so delicious.” I said, sighing in content.
“Of course Karthik…” She trailed off immediately and silence embraced us.
“So you learned everything from me to teach my sister. I don’t know how you both bared each other. I hope there were no accidents in the kitchen at that time.” I said jokingly after a few minutes not wanting to affect the time I missed showing itself in front of me.
“Yeah!” they three mumbled awkwardly.
I didn’t stress them to explain the awkwardness because I fear to even know anything from them. I need to prepare myself again, which I already did before coming downstairs, but I should try again.
“So, are you getting late for college?” I asked her, hoping to make some conversation.
“I stopped going to college last year, and I am studying now privately.” She replied when Dad and Karthik tried to pass the question.
I choked on my food but controlled it after drinking some water. I slowly nodded and asked, “Why?”
“I am helping dad in the business as much as I can along with Karthik. It is now really solid with three of us. I know you must be angry with me for giving up study...” She started saying, but I cut her off shaking my head.
“I am not angry, dear. Why would I be? If you are delighted with this decision, then who am I to say anything to you? You are major, and you can do anything you wish.” I said smiling at her.
“You are not joking, right? You always push me not to take my studies as a joke.” She said frowning.
“Yes! Because you have something to do better with it as you are studying. Now if you know what you want to do in life, I would say to do your best with it. I really don’t have any say in it, and I will be with every decision of yours as you are my little sister after all.” I said smiling at her.
“Oh Satvi!” she said and before I scold her again like every time for calling me by my name, she got up and rushed towards me.
“I missed you.” She said hugging me, and tears burned in my eyes while hugging her back.
“I missed you so much this whole year.” She said sobbing.
“Shh… now I am here right? Don’t cry.” I said, brushing her tears away with my good hand.
She nodded smiling and went back to her place. I glanced at Dad and saw that he is brushing his tears away.
“Please! I really hate these tears ok. So stop this opera right now.” I said and they three laughed.
I felt like I didn’t miss the year with them at all. It was how we were every time and there are no changes to that. I smiled with satisfaction with a hope that I can get back to my life.
I washed my hands when we heard the door bell ringing. I stopped them from getting up and walked towards the door to see who it is during this time in the morning.
I opened the door only to come face to face with the nightmare I had yesterday in the middle of the night. I just couldn’t forget his angry face and his shouting, which was aimed at me no matter how much I tried.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him with my hands trembling, which are holding the door knob.
“Let me in.” he said in a demanding voice, and I did without thinking.
I frowned at my stupidity to do what he asked feeling such fear inside me. I glanced around and saw the old vase which looked like my own protective device.
I immediately held it in my hands and followed him hiding it behind myself. I would have hit him but saw that Dad is not quite surprised seeing him.
They all got up and walked towards the living room after washing their hands while I still stood near the couch end opposite to the chair where he is sitting down.
“Dad! Do you know him?” I asked him calmly as he sat on the couch along with Leela while Karthik sat at the other chair.
“Yes! Sit down here, Satvi.” He said gesturing at me at the space on the couch where I am standing.
I nodded sitting down but only after placing the vase on the table in front of us. That guy looked at me with a raised eyebrow while I shrugged, not caring about it.
“I want to talk to you about your marriage.” Dad said and immediately my hand went to my head where there is no hair, which I am trying to forget from the time I woke up, and I must be looking ugly too, which is not a good state for any wedding ceremony.
“Is it important, Dad? And that too in front of strangers.” I asked him and glanced at that guy a little before looking back at Dad.
“It is! Please understand and accept with my decision.” He said, and I saw that he is tired.
“Ok! But I just have to tell you something though. You need not to choose the groom for me.” I said and glanced at Karthik.
“I really like you Karthik, and I don’t think anyone would be better as my husband than you. I know I never expressed my feelings, but I just hope there is a chance for us.” I said boldly because I realized that I don’t want to miss another moment in my life after knowing that I missed a lot.
“I will come some other time.” The stranger said, getting up and left the house without letting anyone say anything.
Everyone sat still and I just hope I didn’t do anything wrong by saying these words. He closed his eyes and then opened them shaking his head.
“I am married!” he said and I sat stunned, thinking a few times that it is another joke of his.
I gulped when I realized that he is telling the truth. I took a deep breath and asked, “Who?”
“I am his wife.” I heard a reply, and my face moved within a second towards her.
She married him? How can she do that when she knows too well how I feel about him? I shared my feeling with her, and she is quite simply saying that she got married to him.
“Please tell me you are joking.” I pleaded with her.
“No! We got married ten months before.” She said with coldness like she doesn’t care what I am feeling.
I got up to my feet, wobbly and asked the next question, hoping I get it positive even though I know it sounds selfish of me.
“Was it arranged?” I asked them directly.
“No! It is a love marriage. We loved each other before tying the knot.” She replied, and both Dad and Karthik stayed quiet.
I nodded numbly and turned to rush out of here feeling complete suffocation. I tried to take deep breaths, but I couldn’t breathe, feeling confused as I don’t even know what to feel.
I ignored their calls and rushed outside the house opening the door and ran towards the gate and turned only to get collided with someone who is talking on the phone it seems.
I didn’t care about anything and just cried in this stranger’s arms. I hugged him tightly throwing away the cautious mind and decided to bear with the result later.
I don’t care if I get slapped by this person, but for now I want to cry, and I want someone to hold me. Surprisingly, the stranger hugged me back and soothed my back while I clung to him.
After a few minutes, I realized what I am doing, so I released myself from his arms and covered my face feeling embarrass to even look at the guy.
“I am very sorry! I am really sorry.” I said, shaking my head.
“It’s ok!” he replied coldly, which felt too familiar, so I slowly removed my hands from my face, and I realized that I got myself in the situation where I get to see his cold and harsh face, which will definitely not improve my nightmares.
Kill me now! I thought groaning, but suddenly swayed feeling a severe headache like yesterday in the hospital.
And once again I got myself in his arms, but this time I get into an unconscious state before I could protest about his arms around me.
*Satvi Pov* I slowly got consciousness, but I don’t want to open my eyes, hoping whatever happened is completely just a stupid dream. But I know that it is not as I am only getting nightmares of that stranger whenever I sleep and not some dreams. I sighed with still closed eyes, but then heard shoutings like very clearly. I frowned and tried to hear more concentrating only to those shoutings. “When are you going to tell her about the deal?” I heard a very cold voice making me shiver with his angry face coming into my mind. “She just got discharged yesterday, and she woke up yesterday itself from the coma. Give her some time to rest.” Then I heard Dad’s pleading voice. Pleading? Why is he pleading that monster? I thought, fuming myself. I decided to know more before letting them know that I am not asleep. “So? I don’t know what you will do, but I want her to know about the deal today. Actually, now itself when she opens her eyes and the arrangements are already in the process.” T
*Satvi Pov* I don’t know for how long I sat like that and felt tears rolling down my cheeks. After a few minutes, I composed myself brushing my tears away and mumbled “I am so sorry.” “I... really don’t know that someone died in that accident.” I added looking up to stare at him, but he is staring back with coldness. “The marriage will be in three days in a registered office.” He said checking the time of his watch. “What? I don’t want to marry you.” I mumbled frowning still not able to believe that someone died. “Because of you she died…” I cut him off and asked, “How do you know?” “How do you know that it happened because of me?” I asked again. “Didn’t you tell the doctor that you were picking up your phone when the accident happened?” He asked back making me close my eyes immediately. “I don’t know what to say, but my decision will not change.” I said shaking my head. “Then my decision on the house and business will get strong.” He said shrugging. “Why are you so eager to
*Satvi Pov* “What are you doing here?” I shouted at him and immediately looked around to see that my voice attracted few stares towards us. I smiled at them awkwardly, hoping they will just ignore my shout, and they did as there are not many passengers around us. “What are you doing here?” I asked him again in a whisper. “Is this bag enough for your getaway?” he asked back, gesturing at the bag on which he has a grip. “Yes!” I replied and tried to pull it away from his hold. “Why are you running away?” he asked calmly. “Are you serious? You are asking as if you don’t know.” I replied, rolling my eyes, and he stared at me like he really doesn’t know. “A psycho guy wishes to marry me. Oh! You are that guy so you must already know the answer to your question.” I said sarcastically. “Let’s go!” he said, getting up while pulling my bag away from me completely. What I don’t understand is how did I not feel him sitting beside me all this time? I thought, shaking my head and tried t
*Satvi Pov* I got up abruptly from the nightmare with sweat covering my entire body. I patted myself hoping to reduce the increased pulse of my heartbeat. Rubbing my face, I looked around to find that I am in some unfamiliar room. Then I remembered my so-called marriage with that mad man. If I am not wearing this black beaded necklace, he put around my neck, I wouldn’t have even felt like I am married. I am getting this stupid nightmare of someone trying to kill me, and that face belongs to my husband. Is he really going to get rid of me? Like blood for blood type of revenge. God knows what in his mind and what he wants to achieve by this charade of marriage. I freshened up a little opening my bag and saw that most of my things are sent here. How can Leela get this much time of packing all this stuff so soon? I shrugged and cleaned my face before I heard a loud knocking on my door. With a desire to overlook it, I continued to take out all my things. “Satvi!” his angry voice can
*Satvi Pov* “Wake up!” I heard a harsh tone making me groan. “Go away!” I mumbled and tried to drift off into sleep again. “Get up right now.” I felt the harsh shaking too. “What?” I asked, sitting up and opened my eyes adjusting to the sunlight. “Do you know what time it is?” he asked still with a harsh tone and moved away from me stretching his hand. “For your information, I just opened my eyes. How can I know the time?” I asked him back feeling irritation hearing his harsh tone. “Because of you, I am going to get late for my meeting.” He replied, getting up from the bed and walked towards his cupboard. “How can I be the reason for it?” I asked him with a big frown. “You slept on my hand, making me unable to get up, and I am trying to wake you up from the past half n hour.” He replied and went inside the washroom. Why the hell is he in the mood to fight with me immediately after getting up? I thought, rubbing my neck with soreness because of sleeping uncomfortably. I shou
*Satvi Pov* “Is dinner ready?” I ignored his question and continued to cook. “I am just asking you. Are you having any problem with your hearing ability?” he asked standing beside me. “Are you having any problem with your watching ability?” I asked him back and turned my head to see his reaction. “Do you always need to make some counter attack? Don’t you know how to talk normally?” he asked, staring back at me. “Your wish will be granted when I get a chance to speak with some human being.” I replied shrugging and continued to cook. “Just prepare it fast and serve me.” he said moving away. “Don’t you know how to cook?” I asked frowning. “No! My wife spoiled me.” He replied, and I rolled my eyes hearing it. “Did your wife spoiled you from the time you were a kid?” I asked and immediately regretted for having no control over my mouth. “No! I used to have a chef, but she made me remove him.” He replied surprising me. I thought that he would get angry and say something stupid ba
*Satvi Pov* I can’t do this anymore!!! I seriously can’t do this anymore! I thought, leaning on the wall, feeling like my hand just got amputated. I am not able to feel it at all after cutting just a part of the fence. Slowly stepping away from the wall I left the bathroom along with this stupid knife. After locking the room carefully, I literally crawled onto the couch and fell on it. I glanced at the clock and saw that it is already evening making my eyes go wide. I didn’t have anything except breakfast from the morning. And to top off that this madman is going to return soon. I need to get this knife back in its place. I groaned, but got up from the couch and walked towards the kitchen. After that, I walked back near the couch. I think I am related to tortoise, by the way, I am walking right now. Calmly covering my head with a scarf which I am doing from the time I decided to run away not to allow anyone see my scalp with tiny bits of hairs. I don’t know when my hair will gr
*Satvi Pov* I sat on the couch and waited for a few minutes to get my dessert cool down a little. I am feeling more than excited for this running away. Nonetheless, I should be careful near him and use a poker face, which will not make him know anything about the success plan I have under my sleeve. I leaned back and started to close my eyes to dream about the freedom from this prison. I was nearly jumping off that window, but felt someone pulling me back with pretty harsh words, and that is none other than Mr.Choksi. “Get up!” I felt the shaking and I opened my eyes to see him, in reality, with an irritation on his face. “Why do I always sleep and then had to suffer your brutal wake-up call nearly every day?” I asked him with equal irritation or maybe more. “That’s what I am also thinking. You are hell bend to ruin my mood.” he said, and I stared at him in complete shock. “Seriously? Just stop your childish complaints.” I said, getting up and walked towards the kitchen. We ha