ARHI SS : Trapped-Thread 1 - Page 14

He knew he had to go home., he had the unwanted responsibility of his newly wedded wife. Anger coursed through him again, as he thought of her. But , he was too exhausted with all the anger and emotional trauma.

Flashbacks of the past week had been haunting him and he still could not believe he was married and that too threatened into it.

He still could not believe the girl he had begun to like had let him down and lied to marry him.

Memories of that traumatic confrontation with her father came to his mind.

'You took advantage of my daughter in Simla,' her father had said in a heated voice.

'I did not sir. I would know if I had,' he said.

'You were drunk. How would you know?' he said scathingly.

'But your daughter was not. So, ask her,' he said.

'I have already asked. Why do you think she refuses to marry the man I chose and harps on about you. Something must have happened there,' her father insisted.

'May be she still has that childish crush over me? I had already refused to marry her when she confessed she loved me, after you announced her engagement. I had told her then that she just has a crush and I advised her to marry Rohan. Looks like, she did not move on,' Arnav had accused.

'I don't care for her feelings or yours anymore. If my daughter has lost her virtue to you, I want you to marry her and that is that. If you fail, I will slap a case against you for sexual harassment of your employee,' her father had said brutally.

Khushi had cried then, flinging herself at her father----

False tears, Arnav thought now. For some time, he had almost believed them to be true. But, the way things unfolded after that, had ensured that he looked guilty.

He would not have cared for a case, but he knew it would bring unnecessary controversy in the media about him and of course her.

He did not care for himself, but his Di did, And funnily he knew Khushi's reputation would be ruined, a fact that her father seemed too stubborn to acknowledge.

Like a fool, even then he had thought of a way out of the mess without harming her, But, perhaps she had never wanted out ---which was why things had moved with such speed and here he was trapped in a marriage of hate with her.

Turning the car around, he headed back home. There was no one at home, except her. His Di had gone to Lucknow for a couple of days to give him privacy after marriage. Anjali Di had been surprised at his sudden marriage and suspected something was wrong. She had tried to ask him the reasons for the sudden marriage.

'Why Chote. You never mentioned her to me,' she said.

'I am grown up Di, I don't have to mention all the things I do,' he had answered flippantly.

'But if you want to marry her, she must be important. And you never thought I should meet her?' she had asked, hurt that her brother had not even bothered to tell her about his special girl.

'Di. I would have introduced her. But, I never had the time. And then with her Dad trying to get her married off somewhere else, I decided to marry her immediately.' He felt relieved. He had told half the truth at least.

Anjali had been appeased with that explanation and had done everything she could to organize the bridal gifts and ceremonies required from the groom's side.

Romantic fool! He thought to himself, wondering how his sister was so nave despite a failed marriage to a cheat and the terrible marriage of her parents as an example. Well, it was good to live in a fool's paradise. Less heartache, less pain.

He headed back home, driving like a man possessed, Home was not a word he relished now or ever. Home always meant hurt. That is why he had learned to live alone, avoiding family ties except with his sister and her little son. For some time he had peace in life. It was gone again---thanks to her---

When he let himself into his house, it had an eerie silence. She must be sleeping peacefully, having ruined his life, he thought bitterly.

When he stepped into the bedroom, it was dark. He hated the thought of her in his bed, as a wife he had never given the rights to.

When he switched on the light, his eyes moved to the bed,

It was empty.

Shocked, his eyes moved to the bathroom door. That was open,

His eyes traveled to the dressing table.

Her jewels rested there.

Tense, he looked all around the house and all the rooms.

She couldn't have left the house he knew, because the door had been locked when he came in.

Beads of perspiration began to form on his forehead.

Had he been too harsh.

Had she harmed herself?

He did not understand why his heart constricted at the thought.

She deserved it, didn't she?

Yet, he did not realize what made him search for her like a man possessed.

Basic human courtesy, he told himself.

Finally, unable to find her anywhere, he stepped into the poolside, the only place where he found solace,

And there she slept.

She was almost doubled up in the cold.

A lock of hair fell across her forehead.

Her cheeks had the faint traces of dried tears,

But she looked peaceful in sleep.

He stared at her for, he did not know how long.

How could a face so innocent, hide such a scheming mind?

How could someone so beautiful, have such a vicious heart as to trick him?

Whatever little sympathy he felt, he crushed.

She deserved all this and good that she realized this was her rightful place.

She had to lie in the bed of thorns that she had built for herself----

He turned around and headed towards his bed.

Yet, no matter how long he lay there, sleep eluded him.

Thoughts of her cold shivering body kept flashing in his mind,

And despite the comfort of his warm bed, he felt the chill in his heart---

Precap

'I don't care where you go and what you do. I am going to work and you are welcome to do as you like, go where you want. Just don't try to call me or reach me.

I don't want my day spoiled by you,' he ground out viciously before turning around and leaving