Chapter- Unspoken Truth

3 months ago

Mikky

@MidnightLibrary

Chapter- Unspoken Truth

Ayesha was sitting on the bed , her fragile frame seeming to shrink under the weight of her troubles. Investigating officer ACP Zunaid and ASP Zoya took their seats on plastic tools .

The atmosphere of the room suddenly turned heavy with an unspoken understanding as if very walls were watching the scene unfold.

Ayesha was looking very pale and weak. As if illness grabbed her at such an early age . Her eyes were swollen and dry as if they lost the motivation to live .

Zunaid's deep voice broke the silence, his words carefully chosen to ease into the conversation. "Mrs. Ayesha, we came here to have a brief conversation with you."

Ayesha's brow creased, her eyes narrowing slightly as she asked, "What is it you want to discuss with me, officer?”

Zunaid's response was measured, his tone neutral . "We came to discuss your conversation with Mrs. Sanyogita Malhotra. We've received information that she met with you yesterday."

Ayesha’s response was immediate and her voice was firm “No, officer , Mrs Malhotra come the day before as well “

Zunaid shot her a curious glance onto hers, his gaze piercing “ I see. In that case I hope you'll cooperate with us . “

Ayesha's shallow eyes stared back at the officers, her expression unreadable.

“ Mrs Malhotra has been missing since last night, and that's why we're here “Zunaid said, his words dropping like a stone into the silence.

Ayesha was taken aback by the sudden unexpected relevance of Zunaid, “ What??” Her eyes widened in shock

Zunaid's expression was reassuring “ Don't worry , Mrs Ayesha, we won't take much time for you . We just need to know why Mrs Malhotra came to visit you. We believe it will it might help us find a clue in our investigation “

Ayesha remained silent for a moment. Her gaze dropped, her eyes fixed on her lap. There was a sudden shift in her features . A cold chill rushed down her spine , shaking every cell of her body .

"Mrs. Ayesha?" Zoya asked, concern etched on her face as she observed Ayesha's strange demeanor.

After a pause , Ayesha took a deep breath, she parted her lips as she spoke. "Yes, Mrs Malhotra has come to meet me , a few days ago, but I declined meeting with anyone."

Her voice was eventually dripped with emotions when she added more “Satish and his parents both helped me too. They took care of me as if I'm also someone closer to them . Despite having no blood relation they took care of me but …” Her voice was shaking

Zunaid found it uncomfortable so he glanced at Zoya, sensing Ayesha's growing unease.

Zoya took over, her tone gentle. "What happened, Ayesha? Is anything bothering you? Don't hesitate , may we can help you."

Ayesha's voice shook as she continued “ When you came here, you already have learnt why I'm here , instead of at home. But whatever, I'll try my best to cooperate with you, officers. Ask what you want to know?”

Zunaid's eyes locked onto hers, his voice was firm . "We have information that Mrs. Malhotra was planning to appeal a case against your husband. Didn't that make you feel angry?"

A mocking smirk danced across Ayesha's lips, her expression twisted in disgust. "Husband!! Huh!! I still couldn't figure out my relationship with him. I've seen movies about cruel villains, but Gautam is the only person who can fit that role in the real world. He's a monster in a mask of human skin, officer."

Ayesha’s face reddened. Zunaid witnessed the depth of her hatred and disgust for her husband as he sees the hatred , disgust in her eyes for her husband.

“ People at least have sympathy for their toys , but Gautam always considers me as waste material , as if I was only born to get humiliated by him. “

Ayesha continued, her voice cracking with emotion. “ I don't know what my fault was . I tried to be a good daughter so I never questioned my parents , always agreeing with whatever they have decided for me. They didn't even ask me about my marriage. I thought perhaps it was written in my fate..I promised myself I'd do my best to be a good wife and a good daughter-in-law.

But alas ! On the wedding night , I was looking forward to having some rest..exhausted from a day of festivities . I hadn't eaten anything since the morning. But nobody seemed to care about whether I was hungry or my wellbeing . Even my husband pounced on me like a hungry beast . He didn't bother to ask for my permission whether I was ready to be physically intimate with him or not .

In the wedding night, I was raped by my husband, by the man I suppose to love and cherish . I read in news about all those innocent girls who are raped daily . That's why parents always caution girls to be more extra careful whenever they step out of home . Why don't any parents tell us we too have to be wary of our spouses ? Is it because marriage gives them a license to rape their wives?

That night was just the beginning . Subsequently every night , the beast came into the room , demanding that I ought to please him. A sign of a good wife . If my body didn't respond , his anger turned to slaps . Gradually those turned into kicks and punches, sometimes on my face and sometimes on my stomach.”

I couldn't understand the duality of Gautam's personality. What happened to this person in the morning, when he treated me like a queen of his life .And in the night I found a huge contrast in his character. In the darkness he transformed into a blood-sucking vampire, his kindness and decency disappearing in the darkness.

In the presence of everyone , he was polite and decent, but alone with me , I feared his devilish side. I felt trapped, torn between the loving husband he pretended to be and the monster he truly was.

Ayesha’s eyes grew mosisten but the tear didn't dare to come out , she continued , her eyes were burning with a fire of hatred “ This is my life partner ,who doesn't know how to respect his wife , her feelings, her thoughts , her opinions. I'm forced to spend my whole life with him . Thinking about that made my heart twisted.

I was relieved only on the days when Gautam left for business meetings.

As time passed, I became dull and silent, unsure of what to do or who I should reach out to save me . I considered getting a divorce so confided in my mother, but she advised me to endure the pain, citing that such things are common in the beginning of arranged marriages. Gradually, things will settle down," she said.

A month after our marriage, I discovered I was pregnant with his child. But Gautam asked me to abort the baby, claiming he wasn't ready for an unplanned pregnancy. For the first time, I protested and took a stand for someone in my life – my unborn child.

Gautam's response surprised me. He told me he wanted to give us our marriage a time . He was worried about his work for which he gave us sufficient time . He expressed a desire to cunage himself, to be a better husband and father. For a moment, I saw a glimmer of hope, a different man within him. I saw the love in his eyes.

He took me on a vacation to Kashmir, for four days and nights, we reconnected. Those few days were like a dream, a respite from the reality of our marriage. But when we returned to Mumbai, Gautam gradually became busy with his work again.

His mother and father were preoccupied with Ashram work; his two sisters were already married. His elder brother and sister-in-law live in the USA. I used to be left alone in that empty house.

One day, I asked him if I could work at a school, as I have a great fondness for teaching children. But he was angry , refusing to consider my request . But It was then I turned to his parents, although they weren't happy but gradually agreed. They warned me to return home by 6 pm and sent their driver to escort me.

Those little moments of freedom were exhilarating for me, a respite from the suffocating confines of my marriage . I wanted to savour every second, relishing the sense of independence and autonomy. For the first time in my life I was doing something for myself. It may have seemed insignificant in the eyes of others , but to me, it was a triumph.

However , my happiness was short-lived . One day while Gautam was sleeping, his mobile buzzed with a notification . Curiosity got me better , so I scrolled through his browser history , only to be met with a disturbing revelation: adult videos. How many times he watched them when he was staying away from me .His chatbox was also occupied with loads of illicit messages. The frequency and recency of his views made it clear he was dating women outside connections outside our marriage.

My body burned with rage and hatred as the realisation hit me hard . We had a very tough argument that day.

I called out everyone by name, but nobody came to my rescue . It was then his mother arrived, but she supported her son claiming I failed being a wife. I couldn't make her son happy, unless I'd have given a child to him ..I stared at Gautam it was he who hid the news of baby abortion from everyone. He seemed to like camouflage . But I knew the truth – that he was a master of manipulation, with two faces: one for his parents, and another, darker one, that he reserved for me.

He left the house for the entire day , only to return at night. I was sleeping on the bed. I am not ashamed to accept the truth, I was relieved when my husband didn't have a presence around me.

Suddenly I felt his presence like a horrible nightmare, alcohol smell clogged through my nostril . He beat me that night and forced himself on me . His sharp teeth seemed to bite my flesh, excruciating my pain . That night I felt as if my heart would burst out of my chest with pain”

Aayesha took a deep breath as her words spilled out in a torrent. “ The next morning , I went through tremendous pain ,struggling to stand on my legs “

One week later I continued to go to school. It was there, at a function, that I was startled to see Satish . He came from a NGO. Satish was my senior. At college..I was aware of his feelings . When love comes, it brings all those beautiful feelings which you had never experienced before. You give birth to a new person. And you can’t believe that the same person did exist within you all those years. You learn to cry, you start understanding the language of eyes, and you start hearing your heart talk.

I too washed over this beautiful phase . But I already told you officer, happiness is transient in my life.

Whatever life brought my way, I couldn't muster the courage to take a step forward and reveal my true feelings to the person who is standing before, unfolding his heart to me . I can't accept him. I was a coward..I didn't have the dare to float in the turbulent wave of love. My conservative upbringing had taught me to suppress my emotions, where there is no place for love. "

But life seemed , had other plans. Fate, the ultimate gambler, had already reshuffled the cards,bringing our paths cross once again , Satish approached me. I hesitated , unsure how to confront the feelings that had been residing at a corner of my heart .

However, I don't know what drove me to take the risk , maybe it was greed of my heart , yearning to experience those forbidden feelings. We met outside. secretly. As I already told you, the driver used to drop me off at school early in the morning. And what happened after that none would ask , or doubt knew..

I met Satish outside.