here's link to chapter 55
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3760768
Pratigya smoothed her hair n wiped her face n neck thoroughly as the cab neared malini's house... she got out n requested to the driver to wait n went inside the compound... to her good fortune, malini was at home...'pratigya!!!!' she exclaimed as she saw pratigya at her door n hugged her tightly , smiling from ear to ear...'OH My ! saree!...u look stunning!' malini squealed in delight... her smile flattered as she saw pratigya's sore cheek ... 'what..what happened?...' she asked frantically ... 'I...i will explain... could u pls give the cab rent...i ...i lost my purse...' pratigya said , trying to sound normal...' oh! Ok...come inside...' smiled malini ...
Pratigya looked around the hall, sitting tensed on one of the sofa... malini closed the door n sat down next to her , her face curious ... 'u surprised us all, pratigya...!' she said , looking at pratigya... 'yeah...I should have called u before coming here, bit...I lost my phone too...' pratigya stammered , fighting her tears... why r u lying? ... nobody needs to know about her misfortune...no one!!... n knowing him n her father, her friends could be in danger!... she thought ... 'oh no! I was talking about ur marriage...' said malini, her eyes taking in pratigya's mangal sutra n sindoor in curiosity... 'we have talked about this thing a lot...u said u hated men!... u vowed u would never marry! N what about ur career ? u r just 22!!!... What happened? That man u married is rumoured to be a Casanova... That guy swept u off ur feet?' laughed malini in confusion n eagerness... Pratigya looked at her in shock... whatever malini said , it aptly described the feeling she felt when he looks at her...! no!...
' tell me how u got injured n lost ur purse...did u inform police? Oh goodness, I totally forgot, why r u here? In mumbai I mean!!! Honeymoon?'... she began excitedly ... 'oh no...what a fool I am... there the bathroom is along that corridor to the left...' said malini as pratigya's face looked tired ...'first u freshen up... then we will talk... BTW, did ur husband know u r here...?' she asked as pratigya stood up n started walking towards the bathroom... pratigya shook her head clumsily ... all she could think was how to borrow malini's phone without arousing suspicion so that she could phone her mother... 'yeah, I will need ur phone pls... I need to inform him...u know...' pratigya said, hoping to speak to her mother fast... 'yeah...all in good time... first u go wash ur face...u look really tired...' said malini affectionately ... pratigya nodded ...'er...where r ur parents...? she asked , looking around...'oh! they went to see some movie...n then shopping...u know I hate it so stayed behind...' said malini, smiling at her...pratigya nodded again n went to the bathroom... she closed the door n let out a sigh... so far she has managed to do well... she must speak to her mother! Or else she will die!!!... the pain was becoming unbearable... she wanted to hear her mother's voice , to see that she is alright!... To hear her voice n feel that she is not alone!!! To hear her voice so that she could soothe her own pain!! Caused by him!!! No! Don't think about him!!!...
she ran to the sink n opened the tap , silently crying ... she splashed water over her face n winced in pain... she looked up at the mirror n saw that her cheek was indeed sore...badly... no wonder malini saw it so quickly... she gathered water in her palm n slowly washed her mouth... when she spat the first mouthful she was shocked to find blood in it... the inside of her cheek must have injured , she thought, wincing in pain again... how could he be so cruel! Doesn't he care even a bit for her!!!... she closed her eyes as pain seemed to claw at her chest... what's happening to u pratigya? That devil manhandled u, tried to kill u , humiliated u...n u r wondering whether he cares for u? !!!... u r insane!!!... why do u want him to care for u? I don't know!!!... she wanted to scream!!!... she vaguely remembered that she hasn't eaten anything since morning ... she sagged down to the floor , feeling really, really tired ... she found his warm hands circling her n she looked up at him, too shocked n tired to protest... she found that she had sat down on his lap, sideways ...n his arms held her close to his chest , her head resting on his right shoulder, her face in the crook of his neck... so that his mouth was directly over her sore cheek... she realised with a jolt that she was feeling relaxed... no! Its him! How could u feel relaxed? She tried to get up... fighting off his arms...'get ur filthy hands off me!...'she shouted feebly ...why do u want to get away from his arms? Its so good here...no! ...'shhh...don't...' she heard him say...his voice was laced with so much pain n she felt a drop of hot water hit her cheek...she looked up n found that there were tears in his eyes... his eyes looked red in grief ... he gazed down at her, his eyes pleading... 'pls don't shove me away... I am so sorry I hurt u...' she heard him say , his left palm tenderly caressing her sore cheek... she marvelled at his ability to say sorry just like that after hurting her so much... n she marvelled at her ability to accept his silly apology just like that... too... she found herself sobbing but feeling happy that he apologised, atleast... her heart was feeling a lot lighter... as slowly happiness started filling in... no don't ! pratigya! He will hurt u again...! don't fall for his tricks!... 'u r lying...' she managed to say, closing her eyes n turning her face away from him... don't look into his eyes! He is trying to trick u again!... he just doesn't care for u...! he just wants ur body, remember? He just want to humiliate u!...
'pratigya...' she heard him call her name n she couldn't help but gaze at him ...his voice sounded so sad n anguished n his face seemed as though withering in pain...she found that she didn't like it...his pain was causing her even more deeper pain! ...pain? why would he be feeling pain? ... the realisation hit her as she remembered the hurtful words she hurled at him about his mother... she eyes twitched as she framed his face in her palms , guilt wrenching her...oh! how could she have said such hurtful words about his mother!! ... he seemed to like her hands on his cheeks as she felt him snuggle his face into her palms , his eyes losing some of the sadness...she found that she liked it too...'forgive me...' he whispered , his eyes pleading... she found herself nodding, accepting his apology, tears brimming in her eyes... he smiled at her in obvious relief n she felt him hold her head n lean forward to kiss her forehead...happiness erupted inside her like never before...his lips were so soft as they pressed against her skin, trying to explain his apology without words... she clung to his shoulders , tears of happiness flowing down her cheeks, her eyes closed... 'forgive me too...' she said, snuggling into his neck, sobbing... 'i shouldn't have talked about ur mother like that...' she felt him sigh in happiness , his grip along her head tightening ...she felt her heart lightening wholly , the pain receding magically...she felt him kiss her forehead again n felt him pull his chin up , their eyes meeting...
she saw his eyes scrutinizing her cheek, his eyes twitching in horror at the kind of brutality he had done...she saw shame creeping in his eyes , self loathing brimming in them... 'don't...' she found herself saying as she leaned in to kiss his right cheek lightly, blushing furiously... she could feel her lips burn, his stubble pricking at them...'I am alright...' she said to him , framing his face in her palms...he looked surprised , but happy, a slight twinkle in his eyes...she could feel her heart skipping n yet brimming in happiness as she saw him smile... 'Pratigya? R u alright? Open the door!...' came malini's concerned voice as though through some fog ... pratigya blinked , standing up in shock... there u go again!! ... u didn't sleep all night in fear of him coming in ur dreams n now ur day dreaming about him!!... how could u be so pathetic! ... u n kissed! Kissed that devil!!!... pratigya shook her head to get rid of the images ... after he tried to kill u, humiliated u in all manners, n u r busy trying to cheer him up!!!...
'I am alright...coming...' called pratigya, drying her face... 'what do u mean u r alright? U certainly isn't...! I have been knocking at the door for the past 15 minutes...!!!' exclaimed malini as pratigya stepped into the hall... I...I was just too tired ...' mumbled pratigya, hiding her face in the pretext of brushing away her locks... 'did u have lunch?' malini asked, concerned... 'no..' pratigya said , looking up... malini sighed... 'come, eat something... u r going to explain to us what's going on... from the beginning!...' ... 'us?' pratigya asked confused... 'yeah , us friends ... what do u think? I have called all our friends n informed them that u r here... come on! We all want to know what's going on!!!... How come u ended up marrying , n that too such a vague personality... I mean he is bloody rich n all that , but ... he is a bit mysterious , from what I gathered from medias... come , eat... n then u must tell me how u got injured... I have my theories, but I want u to tell us...' Malini said, her tone making it final...
Pratigya gulped in dread... she don't want her friends in danger... she had seen how he can be! ...hell! she had seen him kill a person in cold blood in front of her eyes!...if she tells the truth , her friends would try to save her, n he or her father won't take it lightly...no! she can't let her friends be in danger! ... but first she need to eat something , gather energy ...it's nearing 7 n probably he must have realised by now that she is missing! ... n she need to talk to her mother... she nodded at malini ... 'malini...I will tell u everything...but...but now pls give me ur phone... i need to call my mo... him... he will be upset if he won't see me... pls...' pratigya said, trying to keep her voice steady... malini looked at her in suspicion n curiosity n gave her the phone... 'ok u phone him... i will arrange ur dinner...' malini said n went to the kitchen... pratigya ran towards the windows, breathless n tensed... she dialled her house number , her fingers trembling... ramu chacha picked up the phone n pratigya sighed in relief , her voice cracking ...'ramu chacha...! how's my ma? ...' she sobbed into the phone... ramu chacha looked around in tension , happy n tensed ...'beti!... they r not letting me inside malkin's room other than to give her lunch this after noon... she' ... his eyes moistened ... 'I can't lie to u beti...she is really weak... she calls ur name all the time in her sleep...when r u n daamaadji coming to visit here?... u will be coming for the remaining rasams na?.' said ramu chacha in to the phone...
pratigya clutched at the curtains for support ...tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried not to cry loudly... no! her mother ! weak!... no! she has to see her somehow !!!... rasams! Yes! ... wasn't there a rasam in which the married girl will be going to her house after 2 days !!! yes!... surely they will follow the rasams...to show the society !!!... yes! She could see her mother in 2 days!!... but...but...her eyes widened in fear as she remembered the condition...2 days! That's why they told her to get into his room in 2 days...! so that they could make sure she follow their plan before she even saw her mother again!!!...but ... before that she should present herself to that devil!!... she would be seeing her mother again only after destroying her honor! Herself!... anything for her mother! ... pratigya took a deep shuddering breath... 'I will come ramu chacha... for pagphere rasam... I will come...' she managed to say through painful sobs...she cut the phone, her legs feeling like giving away ... no! ...she clutched at the nearby couch n sat down , rubbing her forehead to keep from passing out... she saw malini arranging the dinner on the table in the dining hall n she forced herself to stand up n walk towards her, wiping her tears...she would need energy to withstand questions from her friends , face his anger n subject herself to further humiliation ... n then the ultimate destruction!...
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Krishna sat silently as vikram manoeuvred the rover through the heavy traffic... how dare she go outside of his apartment ! she is going to pay for her stupidity! He thought in anger... just then his phone rang ...it was chandu ... he answered it ...'yes chandu?' ...'what happened Krishna? Who was it...? r u hurt?' came chandu's frantic voice from the other end ... Krishna glared at vikram through the mirror...'u told chandu' he snapped at him... it was not a question ...vikram nodded , feeling tensed ... 'here , bauji wants to talk to u...' said chandu into the phone n Krishna groaned ... 'krishna?' sajjan called affectionately ... 'it was nothing , bauji... that dayal's man tried to get revenge ...that's all!' Krishna said... 'hmmm... I know u will be alright... i didn't phone u bec of that...' said sajjan sighing ... 'then?' Krishna asked in confusion ... 'chandu here told me that vikram told him u behaved a bit ...rash... with that girl, pratigya...' said sajjan ...Krishna's eyes blazed at vikram... 'remember what I told u, Krishna ... i don't care how u treat that girl in private... but we r in the middle of clinging a good deal... she n her father r trying to spoil our reputation ...so don't let that girl win in her game... treat her as the bride of our house in public... don't give her n that dog shailendra any chance to get back at us...!' sajjan said, his voice hard ... Krishna mashed his teeth together ...'right, bauji..'... he snapped the phone shut , his eyes starting daggers at vikram... 'who told u to call up chandu ?' snapped Krishna at vikram , irritated ...'sorry , sir... but ... someone tried to kill u... i just thought chandu bhaiyya should know about it'...' right! Who told u to utter a word about how I treat my wife?' said Krishna , his tone dangerous ... vikram gulped , feeling guilty ...'sorry sir,...I ...it just slipped from my mouth... chandu bhaiyya asked me whether the girl was safe n i thought he referred to ...u know... that Mexican girl ...n i said no she died ...n he was really upset ... then i understood he meant ur wife, I mean... pratigya ji ... n so he asked where was she at that time n i had to explain... i ...'... 'enough!' barked Krishna , irritated n angry ... he gazed outside , fisting his hands ... bec now his mind was filled with the same dread he felt when he thought something happened to her! That she had died ! ... not seeing her, not having her near him, not knowing where was she , it was the most horrible feeling he had ever had...! not to mention the other horrible feeling in his chest when her injured face came into his mind again! ... he could feel a completely new feeling of self anger...self loathing! ...u did that to her!... he shook his head in frustration ...he could feel a heavy feeling in his chest...n he realised with a jolt that it won't go away until he see her again! ... he can't wait to see her again...
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Pratigya barely finished washing her hands after food , sitting alone in the dining hall when she heard squeals of laughter coming from the hall ... the sound oddly calmed her down... it seemed ages since she heard pure laughter , that too of friends... she was greeted with squeals of delight as one of her friends akaash shouted...' saree! I told u all she will look stunning in it!' ... n another girl maya shouted...' how dare u didn't invite us for ur wedding? ' ...pratigya couldn't help but smile at them, seeing their faces again which she never thought was possible...'forget wedding ! she hid things about that thakur guy n her all these years , fooling us!' exclaimed another girl, reshmi , a bit cross , but smiling as she hugged pratigya...'how are u?' she asked pratigya smiling , which turned into gasps of concern as they all took in her red cheek... 'oh! What happened? asked janet , concerned... 'I ...i fell down... stuttered pratigya'... 'how...? malini told us u lost ur purse n phone too...n also u didn't have lunch! ...where is ur husband ? ... what happened exactly? ' another guy, anwar asked her , his tone suspicious ... 'nothing...nothing actually... I... he... he is busy with some meeting n stuff... so I was feeling bored...u know, sitting alone... so...so just thought of...buying some present for him...' pratigya stammered , surprised at herself how easily she was lying ... she will do anything to keep her friends out of the hell she is in...! ... 'so i called this cab n went out for shopping...n i don't know..some guy stole my purse n ran across the mall... i tried to get help but ... n I ran behind him n slipped ... then I don't exactly remember... some people helped me at the mall, rinse my wound ...u know... I couldn't go back to his...our apartment like this... so I came here to malini...' pratigya finished lamely , sitting on the couch n looking up at her friends ... they were all looking at her in varying degrees of disbelief n incredulousness...
' since when did u start to go for shopping? U hate it!' exclaimed malini, looking at pratigya...'u actually thought of gifting him ! some guy that is...!' said anwar , whistling ...' n the pratigya I knew would have gone to police directly to report the theft...!' said anwar, his eyes disbelieving ... 'I told u... he is in some meeting... I don't want unnecessary complications between...' pratigya began, averting her eyes... 'Ok...! so did u call him?...now does he know that u r here n what happened?' asked maya, coming n sitting next to pratigya... 'yes...' said pratigya in relief...'what kind of meeting he is in ! that he can't even spare a thought to his wife , that too just a day after marriage?' exclaimed reshmi ...pratigya felt heat of disgust rising in her as she remembered the dusky girl she saw in his hall... 'so!'... said akaash...' let's talk about the him' n u!...' he continued as he came n sat next to maya... laughter n giggles broke out as all joined pratigya on the couch, janet n anwar on the floor n malini next to her ... 'start ! from the beginning! When n how n where?' squealed janet, shaking pratigya's legs... 'what?' pratigya looked at her in confusion... 'come on pratigya! We r ur friends!... just tell us! All this i hate men stuff was a lot of hogwash right...? u just told so that we don't try our chance with u ! bec u were already taken!' shouted akaash to peels of laughter ... pratigya tensed , stiffening... akaash n anwar were her friends , n she never saw them as men... they were just friends ... n friends r just friends...no matter male or female... n they knew she had her reservations!...'I can't believe she fooled us all these years!' said maya, shaking her head in mock disbelief n dejection...' yeah, come on pratigya...that's not fair at all... tell us... u fooled us all along ... u could have just told us u n this guy r seeing each other n we would have believed u n left u alone! Why all this I hate men, I won't marry...bla bla...' laughed reshmi... 'no! i didn't lie to u ...' began pratigya heatedly but malini cut her short...'oooh...i got it... guys ! she never lied to us... she never wanted to marry , true...but this guy changed her conception about men n marriage , am I right pratigya?... what do they say? Yeah, her world turned upside down, everything changed , the moment she saw him...!right?...' giggled malini to more peels of laughter...
Pratigya kept her head down , her heart thundering ... her friends didn't know how close they were to the truth ...her world did turn upside down , when he entered n toppled it ... n she was hanging precariously down , her hand slipping from the tiny straw of hope to which she desperate held on... she felt a tremor pass down her spine as she realised that the urge to let go was strong... not just bec of her mother ...but for herself... to feel that unending fall into eternity...into him!... No!... she shivered ...what was she thinking!! ...!no!... 'oh my god, look at her blushing...!' screeched maya , to more laughter n wolf whistles from akaash n anwar... pratigya looked around shocked , her hands flying to cover her cheeks...why the hell r u blushing, stupid!... 'pls...pls...tell us, pratigya! When did u meet?...how?...' goaded janet... 'the media was all on about some spice garden tour...is there any truth in it?' exclaimed reshmi, excitedly ... 'no...I mean..yes...' stuttered pratigya... 'n there were rumours that he raped u ...?' asked akaash , his tone serious...the atmosphere in the room changed suddenly...all eyes were on pratigya ...it was as though they were expecting someone to ask this question ... 'pls tell us that its all lies...' said malini , her tone concerned ... 'no!...he didn't do... they r just rumours!...' stammered pratigya , her face strained as she remembered the events of last night n the whole day... what she was undergoing was something similar torture, she thought , pain clawing at her heart again... but she felt relief as she saw her friends relaxed faces n smiles... 'gr8... we were so worried u know! These disgusting media !' sighed malini , hugging pratigya...'n trust us, we would have chopped him if he had done something like that n forced u to marry him!' said anwar , his tone half playful... pratigya looked shocked at him... They just don't know him!! ...'tell me , how is ur mother? She would be very sad na? 'said maya, looking up at pratigya...'yes!...she ...she is alright' said , pratigya, trying not to cry...malini hugged her again...'yeah, it will be hard for mothers ...we can understand' ...'how?' piped up akaash ...when did u become mother? Jeez , don't tell us that u too had a secret boyfriend!' all laughed , as malini hit akaash playfully n pratigya couldn't help but smile a bit... pratigya felt relaxed again , her heart brimming at her fortune of having such good friends...
'so what kind of a guy is mr . thakur sahib? I am sure he won't be like me or akash!' laughed anwar, winking at akaash ... pratigya looked at them , a shocked shiver passing up her spine... she can't even imagine them like him!!... 'yes! U r right ... he is not like u ...' she said, her voice strong ... but the effect was opposite ... they oohed n aahed ...giggling n winking at each other ...'hmmm not like us she says!! ! tell us how's he like?' asked akaash in a mock hurt tone... 'hey guys!' said malini gripping pratigya's hand , giggling...' remember she asked me to look for a house here for rent? So u were planning to settle here right ? all along!!!...but...but... wait a minute... he owns an apartment here! Why do u want to rent one house then?' she looked at pratigya in confusion ... pratigya looked around in shock... all were looking at her expecting her to explain the mystery ... 'er...I...at that time i didn't know... that he...has an apartment here...' she stammered ... 'ahem...at what time? asked janet , her tone curious ... pratigya looked down, not knowing what to say... she was slowly feeling the dread... it was really late , going to be 7.30 n he must be looking for her in the whole Mumbai... 'ok full n final' janet stood up n looked at pratigya in mock indignation...'r u going to tell us how n when u met or not? she said, her hands over her hips as the others nodded fervently ...pratigya looked down again, her cheeks flushing again...what would she say to them.? That she saw him for the first time in a revelling club !! ... That they met for the first time when he came to kidnap her!!!...
she heard janet clicking her tongue in impatience n suppressed giggles around her... 'ok...if u don't want to say , don't ... I am guessing it involved some unmentionable things then , which u don't want to say in front these guys!' giggled janet , looking at pratigya for a reaction ... all laughed as pratigya blushed again , remembering the sensation of his warm breath come on the back of her neck that day...n the day after , the feel of his mouth along her neck...no! don't ! ...she closed her eyes ... 'don't worry , we r soon going to have an all girls meeting at malini's bedroom...we r not going to leave u just like that!' continued janet to more laughter...pratigya opened her eyes in shock...no! she needed to go from here soon... she is danger to her friends every sec she stayed there...she stood up abruptly ...'I ...I need to go...he will be ang...worried ...if I am late...its already getting late' she said , as her friends looked at her in surprise ...'oh! come on ,Pratigya...u told him that u r here! Let him come n pick u up after his busy meetings!!!...or we would drop u there... we all know that he is a bloody rich guy...!...I have never been to any presidential suite... yeah, u can show us ur apartment! Introduce us to mr, Krishna singh thakur!! ' said maya...'yeah we need to meet ur thakur sahib ...pretty vague n mysterious guy, as per the media ...what is he really like?...there r rumours that he is a Casanova...atleast tell us about it, is it true? asked reshmi, curious ... just then the door bell rang ... 'the movie won't be over by now...who will it be...? muttered malini as anwar got up n went to answer the door...'hey u sit down there, u r not going anywhere...' said malini to pratigya , pulling her down to the couch... 'ha! ...talk of the devil n here he is...!' exclaimed anwar , laughing ... pratigya stood up in utter shock, a shiver running through her system , as she looked up to meet his intense stare , as Krishna stepped into the hall...
Hope u liked it 😳
part 2 coming soon ...
Cricket
Indian Mythology
