"You will not meet him", he hissed.
"Behave yourself, we are in the hall." Pallavi replied eyeing him.
I-
She moved away, leaving his one sided conversation midway,
ascending the upstairs, towards their room.
The lone bird back to her cage.
A jolt of breeze welcomed her into the space, she still hadn't become familiar with.
Her fingers instinctively brushed the mark on her left arm. Tears welled up in her eyes.
The hall was turned dimly lit if not completely dark for the dance.
The music was so soft ,that it made her flutter for his touch.
And when he did , her heartbeat sank and rose in chaos.
Like an effortlessly beautiful dream,
They danced in sync, the fervour unimaginable.
she wanted to rest her head on his shoulder and wander off to where tranquillity resides.
Until the reverie broke, as if it were cursed to be.
He grasped her hand , the grip tightening on her arm.His eyes boiling in cruelty.
The serenity turned to shock, anguish and then disgust in seconds.
"Raghav Rao would be offended if he didn't show his monstrous face."
She whispered softly in his ears, gulping back her emotions.
The memories of the evening ended but his imprint still burned on her skin.
For once, his proximity had begun to affect her, but he was too keen to proceed ahead and break that momentary trance. A possibility of them or a glimpse of someone she wanted to change her stance for.
It hurt like hell; she was softening despite everything he did to break her.
The forts around the heart were restrengthening again, built at the ruins of her crushed hopes; this time vowing to remain faithful.
For, she couldn't bear anymore.
Raghav occupied the seat behind his desk, a whiskey glass in his hand.
Dark thoughts looming in his head.
The party ended, but she didn't look at him for once. The car trips too went in ignorance.
"Am I plain unappealing ,or I simply don't exist for her?"
It was restlessness that grapled him at Pallavi's mere mention these days .
He had never felt his heart quiver for a woman.
And if ever, she had been his already.
His wife was that woman.
But impossible to attain, as he very well knew.
His Mansion was a different place altogether now, merrier, happier.
Brimming with energy and activity every now and then.
Amma and Keerti would spend time with him, affection and warmth growing for Raghav.
and the employees, they had never been so lively.
Pallavi brought back everything he missed, in his life.
But how could he unsee it?
He had caught her stealing glances at another man.
And as if his own presence was forcing her to, cage her desires.
The same man who dropped her home on late evenings.
The same man with whom she spent her whole day, possibly .
His insecurities had driven him to check her messages even.
His cheeks red at this embarrassing recall.
"I want my answers."
He gulped the last sip ,shrugging off the thoughts and headed towards his territory .
"Pals Baby" he smirked shutting the door behind him.
Pallavi averted her gaze, it was as if disappointment seeped it's way through her, seeing him in that state.
"Didn't anybody tell you, how good you look." He said stepping towards her.
She retreated in defense.
But he caught hold of her waist, and pulled her towards himself.
Pallavi stood stupefied, a tremor shooting down her body.
Before she could bring herself to react, he was inches away caressing her face
"Let go of me. "
"Behave yourself ,Raghav."
"I don't sleep for money like your girls ."
"No you don't, you sleep for attention."
"Your words do not affect me."
"Yes, somebody else does."
"You are having an affair. aren't you?"
His eyes bloodshot red, the wrath evident in his glare.
"Answer me, damn it."
It took her moments to recollect what he just accused her off.
"An affair", she laughed unabashedly.
"I wish I could."
He tightened his grip again, this time demanding authority over his wife.
She pushed him away wincing in pain.
"Do not dare , cross your limits again."
"I won't answer anything. "
The rage in Pallavi's voice rising.
"You are my husband on paper, it's just that, nothing more.
This marriage is torturous, but I will live with this truth for the rest of my life.
For your family and the world we will continue to act.
But nothing can replace the hatred in my heart for you, remember that.."
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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