SS: Stealing Heart [Discontinued] - Page 6

A week had passed since they moved into her house. Rishabh grew more inquisitive, confident, and bold by the hour. From the eye of an outsider looking in, they were an ordinary couple still in the honeymoon phase. But Madhu just couldn't put her heart at rest. Every misstep, little arguments would make her wary, awakening her fears of making him angry. Though she tried not to show it, in her heart she knew the comfort she once shared with him was no longer possible. She was always on the lookout for a cue that would jog his memory and then he would shun her. Indeed, her fears came to life one day.

Rishabh woke up with a sharp headache and stared straight at her sleeping form with a disgusting look. She woke up from the noise and saw her worst nightmare taking shape in front of her.

"Oppa, is your memory back? Are you okay now?" She was turned back to a time when she was the mess of emotions wrapped around his fingertips. All he had to do was untangle her. He chose to cut the cord instead.

"Yes, I remembered everything. Your innocent act, I can see through it now. So let's stop. You don't need to pretend anymore, I know you're a thief".

She tried to appear composed. "Okay, we'll talk about this later. First, we'll drive to a hospital. Let's get you checked out".

"No. Absolutely not. That is not what we will do. Here's what will happen instead, I am going to make love to you. Then, I am going to let you go. And you're going to walk out that door quietly like the night thief that you are".

"No..n..no..no..no", she pleaded as he stepped closer and closer toward her, taking off his clothes as he went. "Please don't do this to me, please. Please!"

It was too late now. He caught the rim of her lip between his teeth and kissed her, slowly then forcefully. She realized she was putty in his hands, willing to be toyed with however he desired. She called it upon herself when she ran back barefooted with one ring of his phone. She deserved all of this pain because she was foolish woman who kept the same phone number in case he ever called, restocked the safe house in case he ever needed it, paid his credit card debts in secret because the police force doesn't pay well. She was his something to do during the lonely nights, she was his side job, and it was all her fault...

"This would be last time", she told herself but she was lying. Ten years later, she would still be the same Madhu who comes running at his beck and call. She deserved this so she would let him have his way once again. But even she didn't realize she her patience had reached its limit until it was out in the open. As soon as hand touched her hip, she felt sheer rage surging through her veins. She shrugged him off her with force as he stood still in shock. He lowered his head to her level to inspect if this was the same woman he met eight years ago. Where did this fierce temper arise from? But his amused expression didn't last long. She raised her hand and slapped him across his scruffy face. Each realized the other's reaction only on impact. His face grew beat red from the slap and hers from overwhelming shame. She breathed a long breath and left him alone to ponder.

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Madhu walked on and on until her feet gave in. It must have been an hour or two of aimless wandering when she dragged herself into a soccer pub and order a pint of beer. Though she had not a dime in her pocket, she didn't seem worried. She was a thief anyway so a diamond or a glass of bad liquor, it was all stolen anyway. He hated it all anyway and most of all, he hated her. As soon as her thoughts went back to the scene she left behind, the tears were inevitable. Many people noticed her hyperventilated crying but only one dared approach her. The patron had a muscle tee on, the name of his favourite soccer club sitting perfectly on his wide shoulders. Although his strong built arms massaging her back gave the impression of a sleazy man trying to score a night, she didn't seem to think so. Because he excused himself from a group of decent looking women to tend to her. Plus, even if he had those intentions, she would just mention her husband and that would be the end of it. Little did she know, life had other plans.

"Why are you crying miss?" his deep toned voice as soothing as his kind intentions.

"I...mm...had...a...fight with...my...h..h..us..band..."

"Well", he hesitated. "Did he do something to upset you?"

"Yes. I feel as though...in...our...marriage...my...feelings don't matter...I...don't...feel...important...Do I really have...to...to...walk on eggshells around him?"

He smiled a wide smile...in a manner she was sure was designed to take a woman's breath away.

"That's right. You should matter too".

"But what's worse is...I...slapped...him". She hung her head low in shame.

"He had it coming", he winked and that made her feel worse.

"No, that's not what I mean...I am not angry at him. Honestly, I can't believe myself. How could I ever be so cruel? I cannot begin to imagine how much he must be hurting right now. His wife of six years hurt him in a way that cannot be reversed and then walked out...I feel so heartless..."

She said a lot of other things but the man didn't seem to hear any of it. All he knew was that he wanted her. And not for the night, or the month he was in this town, he wanted her for life. Whoever the idiot was who could let such a precious woman pass could go f**k himself, he wasn't letting her go now. He simply smiled and nodded as poured her heart out to a stranger.