Hey Everyone.
I can't believe I'm starting another one of these, but well, for better or worse, I am. So welcome to my world. 😉 Just a few things before I start:
1. All feedback and all kinds of feedback is welcomed. To be honest, as a writer there is nothing that makes me happier than my story forcing someone to think. So share your views and opinions about anything and everything even if, actually especially if, it's negative, as it is useful for me as a writer.
2. Concerning pms... Send a buddy request to the following account if you want to be on the pm list: ShlokAstha
Astha took deep calming breaths as her new mother-in-law led her to her new bedroom. They entered the freshly decorated room and Anjali motioned with her eyes for Astha to take a seat on the bed. She herself sat opposite to her and let out a sigh of irritation.
"What I am about to say shouldn't be new for you, or at least I hope your mom taught you something. But then considering your family values, or lack thereof, as your mother-in-law I consider it my duty to remind you of your patni dharam. Always remember that you don't live with your husband, but for your husband. It is your kartavya to serve him and fulfill all his needs even before he asks, whether they are mental or physical. Because without him, you have no existence. Forget society, even God will not respect a woman who goes against her husband's wishes and does not fulfill her duty in all senses. Aaj ki raat Shlok ka khaas dhyaan rakhna."
And with a final strict glare, Astha's mother-in-law left the bedroom. Astha was thankful that her face was covered with her heavy bridal dupatta so that Anjali did not see the many ways that she flinched and the muscles in her face clenched at hearing the short sermon on her wifely duties.
Noiseless tears slipped from her eyes as the reality of her situation sank in. There was hardly a word uttered by her mother-in-law that she did not have an objection to, but despite that, she could not undermine the importance of the sacred vows of marriage - she was brought up believing in their sanctity and strength. She remembered promising to herself that she would prove to be the perfect wife, the other half of her husband, his ardhangini. At present, even the thought of it made her close her eyes shut and shake her head in despair, as if trying to dispel it from her brain.
Just then, she heard footsteps in the hallway, getting louder and louder as they approached the bedroom. She panicked and looked pleadingly at the murti of Ganesh, while Anjali's words danced around her mind, torturing her soul.
As if on cue, her mother's words rang through her mind. Always remember Astha, that no matter what happens in your life, and what consequences you have to face - Never do or submit to anything that you know from the core of your body is wrong.
The words filled her up with much-needed strength. She looked through the drawers of the side-table beside the bed and found exactly what she needed. Thank you Bappa.
Shlok entered his room and saw Astha standing near the edge of the bed. Her head was uncovered and as he entered the room, he saw her stiffen up, as if on alert mode. Her tension was outlined by the creases in her forehead which deepened as he took deliberate steps toward her.
Her glance shifted uncomfortably from the opposing wall, then to him and back to the wall. He had reached their bed now. He smirked, after looking at her from close. She made a pretty bride, no denying that fact, pretty enough to make any man desire her. Too bad he didn't have a heart. But that didn't mean he couldn't tease his prey - oops - wife for a little fun.
He advanced a step towards her and as expected she jumped back.
"Don't you dare come near me!" She yelled at him, but in vain as he took two steps forward for every one step she took back, until she was trapped between the wall and him. His dark stare fixed down upon her and from the very core of her body, she felt the strongest wave of repulsion and disgust for the man in front of her.
No! She would never let herself become victimized by him!
She raised her head and looked him straight in the eye.
"Move away."
Her tone was so firm and steely that it surprised Shlok for a second. But even it was no match for the fire of the pure raw hatred in her eyes. Tear tracks glistened slightly on the smoothness of her face, but her eyes far from showed any sign of remorse of fear. They were only filled with fierce determination and a menace that he had never seen in them before. He felt something tug in his heart. Maybe the fact that it was weird seeing that look in her eye. I mean, this was the clumsy weakling Astha. The girl didn't know how to give dirty looks. Besides, being menacing was his department!
All he wanted to do now was knock some sense into the girl so she would go back to her usual self. He reached his hands forward and grasped her arms, but the second they made contact with her skin, she burst.
"Don't touch me!"
Shlok jumped a step back with surprise as she brought her hand forward with a pocket-knife held threateningly in her hand. He realized maybe his game of scaring her had gone a little too far if she was ready to resort to violence to protect herself.
"Astha! Pagal ho gayi ho tum!? Relax!" He shouted in alarm while staring at her in disbelief.
Tears were starting to fill in her eyes, but she blinked them back, ordering them to stop in their tracks.
"I said, stay away from me!" Astha yelled, keeping her voice firm although her body was starting to shake slightly.
The disbelief in his face faded away. Seeing the knife in her hand, poison ran through his veins and his face convulsed into a mask of pure raw anger.
"Choona bhi kaun chahata hai tumhe!" Shlok said through clenched teeth, his voice full of rage. And after shooting her one last look of disgust, he took long strides to his cupboard, grabbed his towel and slammed the door close of the washroom behind him. As soon as he disappeared Astha slid to the ground. Bitter tears slid from her eyes as memories flooded them.
The taunts thrown at her parents of her alleged though non-existent affair with her boss Shlok...Her tarnished reputation...His satisfied revenge...
And then the worse day of her life. The day Niranjan Agnihotri apologized for his son's mistake and to rectify it, put forth the proposal of her marriage to that rakshas. She accepted.
But something inside her died that day.
***
So ... how did you find the first chapter? 😊
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