The Fourth Man
Arnav leaned against the pillar, his arms crossed at his chest, his eyes trained on her form as she sat on the cotton sheet, her hand outstretched, a wide smile gracing her face lighting up her features as her eyes twinkled around in joy.
He felt a pang in his chest at having deprived her of all these traditions she held so dear and unconsciously fisted up his hands in guilt as the memories resurfaced again. He forcefully pushed them back, and opened his eyes again, looking at her as she leaned over to talk to Payal, giggling and biting her lip a small blush gracing her cheeks and nose.
He smirked and let out a small sigh, contentment filling his insides, watching her laugh and smile, watching her become his.
He took in her attire, his eyes appreciatively taking in the snug blouse, the bare midriff and the back, while the dupatta collected at her side, pinned to her shoulder the warm colours highlighting the reds of her cheeks, the dark eyes, the long lashes and the bow-shaped mouth which he had found himself to be quite fixated over.
His throat dried up as he saw her talk, her lips curling into a small smile, before stretching back, opening and a laugh tinkling out, making him want to go over, scoop her in his arms and hide her away.
He sighed and closed his eyes again, shaking his head trying to get a grip on himself.
She would be his wife soon anyway. He would have plenty of time to stare at her then.
His eyes opened and flickered around the decorated hall, the gold, red and white cloths hanging and twisting off the giant pillars on the side of the living room, the fairy lights lighting up the entire place, the seats pulled out, and filled with guests as they giggled and laughed, attending the ceremony, a small group of dhol people on the side adding their own spice into the atmosphere, and the caterers setting up the food near the dining hall the delicious smell wafting over the entire house making him hungry.
He smiled as he saw his whole family laughing and participating and felt warmth settle in his chest. She had once again, unknowingly brought the smiles back into his family.
He frowned as something registered in the back of his mind, and his eyes flickered over to the dhol people again. A frown settled on his forehead as he saw the four men performing near the door. The three men were going in circles, letting the guests participate in the dancing, but the fourth man was standing still, his arms moving fast to the beat of the rhythm, his body stiff, and his eyes gazing in one direction.
Arnav followed his gaze and felt his breath hitch as he saw it ended on Khushi's bare back.
His hands fisted up, and his head snapped to the side, his temper rising by the second as he itched to go to Khushi and cover her up, or go to the man and beat him up for staring.
His eyes hardened to chips, and he stepped away from the pillar, his elbows bent, hands fisted up, and his mouth settling into thin line as he gnashed his jaw together to control his fury.
He felt her gaze on him, and could feel the concern radiating off from her. He saw her get up from his peripheral vision, but his gaze was fixated on the man who was continuing to stare at Khushi, his beard and moustache covering half his face, but his eyes betraying the lustful thoughts brewing in his head.
Arnav advanced towards, him, the rage building slowly, the jealousy starting to gnaw at his insides, as he felt the need to hit something increase till it slowly consumed him. He distantly heard someone ask Khushi to go to Anjali's room to get her medicines, however he did not stop.
He saw as the Dhol person's eyes wandered over Khushi's figure, and he clenched his jaw, as he breathed harshly, his steps quickening.
As Khushi ran up the stairs, finally the dhol person tore his gaze away from Khushi and looked at Arnav, surprised. He saw the shock flicker in the man's eyes, before recognition, uncertainty and finally fear settled in them.
He narrowed his eyes, and raised his arm to grab a hold of the man's collar, when a piercing scream broke him from the haze of anger, and a chillingly cold fear gripped his insides, almost making his knees buckle in weakness.
He spun around, his mouth falling open in shock, and he knew who had screamed. He knew that voice.
He ran up the stairs, forgetting about the man, the fear taking over the mind, as he raced up, taking two steps at a time, hardly conscious of his family that were rushing up after him.
He saw his sister's door half-open at the end of the hall, and ran down, his eyes wide, his breath shallow and fast as adrenaline and fear coursed through his veins, making his heart stop, the noise to diminish around him, the only noise he heard was Khushi's whimpers from Anjali's room.
He came to halt at the door, his body banging against the wall, and he stared down in horror, as Khushi was lying at the floor, her hands clutching onto both her feet where glass had pricked her, a few superficially clinging onto her skin, while others had penetrated deeply, and blood trickled down, staining the previously white carpet.
"Call the doctor!" His voice sounded strangely hoarse to his own ears, the panic and fear evident, the tears stinging around the corner of his eyes as he quickly bent down to loop an arm under her knees and shoulders to support her as he picked her up. He heard the crunch of the glass under his shoes as he laid her down on Anjali's bed, his eyes flickering over her teary and pained face, his heart clenching in his chest, as he grabbed a hold of her hand and held it close to his heart, close to himself.
She slowly opened her eyes and another tear trickled down, before whimpering and biting down on her lip.
"Find out who left the glass lying around" Arnav said harshly, in barely controlled rage, at the carelessness of someone to leave shards of glass lying around.
His eyes widened as he remembered the events of the morning, the unknown repairman, Anjali's room and the Dhol person.
He quickly got up from the bed, unwillingly letting go of Khushi's hand and ran down the stairs in search of the fourth member.
He saw the three Dhol people standing there, looking around concerned at the now tense atmosphere of the house, but the fourth man was no where to be seen.
"Where is the other man?" Arnav asked in a low controlled voice, already knowing the answer, his hands automatically fisting up as he realized he had made a grave mistake of letting the man go.
"We don't know sahib"
Arnav's eyes narrowed and his fists clenched, his eyes settling on the door that was half-open, knowing that the man had disappeared but vowing to find him and make him pay.
CID
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