"What do you think you are doing?"
The iciness of the whisper chilled her heart. She took a sharp breath. Wrong move. His scent travelled up her nose clouding her senses. She was trapped, pinned to the wall by him. They were in the corner of the hall where the pooja was taking place. The decorative curtains provided ample privacy away from the prying eyes of the family and guests. His hands were pressed to the wall on either sides of her face and his body hovered an inch away from her. The deliberate absence of contact made the air around them vibrate with intensity.
His eyes roamed her figure. She was wrapped in the red saree. The memory of her bare back was fresh in his mind. The way he felt powerless disarmed at the sight of her milky white skin. It angered him, the effect she still had on him, her power to make his heart melt. It angered him that despite her betrayal he still cannot help but love her. His eyes rested on her neck, on the reason of his outburst. The mangalsutra hung on her neck. The ornament which marked her as his, which marked her as a Suhagan. It was her who broke the ornament months ago. She was the one who declared they had no relation. She had a good reason too. But today she had worn it. His eyes blazed with the rage he felt.
Thapki stilled as Bihan's right hand trailed down her neck to the mangalsutra. She closed her eyes as he touched the pendant. She was glad that he noticed even if he was angry. She had worn the ornament for him, to symbolize his place in her life, in the hope that he would understand her gesture. She wanted to show him that she was his and he was bounded to her. And when she left their room she had taken the box of sindoor in her hands. She wanted him to fill her maang, to complete her.
"I never thought that you would fall to such standards."Thapki's eyes snapped open at the spite in Bihan's voice. Her confused eyes met his blazing ones. Bihan laughed humorlessly.
"But I never really knew you, did I chuk chuk gaadi? Don't you have any shame? How dare you play with my family's feelings? How dare you act as if you are fulfilling this relationship?" Thapki's eyes widened as he raised his voice steadily.
"Do you know how happy my family is because you...you are giving me a second chance? Do you even know the amount of hurt they will suffer when they come to know the truth? Oh I forgot, you don't care. You are a selfish, self centered girl who doesn't care about anyone's feelings."
"Bbihan...please- Thapki was crying uncontrollably but Bihan cut in.
"Why are you even here? You came to know the truth and you have known the truth. Why can't you just leave us alone? Get out of our lives. Get out of my life. Now leave. I cannot tolerate you anymore. You have no right to be in this house. And you have no right over this." Thapki's eyes widened as he held her Mangalsutra. She desperately held his wrist as she felt his intensions.
"Bbihan...No..Bihan please. Please don't do this." Her heart was breaking into a million little pieces as she struggled with his hands.
"Shut Up Thapki. You have played with emotions. My emotions, my family's emotions. But I won't let you insult the institution of marriage by letting you wear this. Yes I insulted the relationship when I married you by betrayal. But I had no options then. But I won't let you insult this relation." Tears pricked the back of his eyes as he looked into hers. His heart was burning in agony as he tightened the grip over the Mangalsutra. Everything felt wrong but the pain of her betrayal fueled him. A silent cry escaped her lips as the Mangalsutra broke off from her neck. It was as if a part of her soul was taken away from her. She slid down to the floor as her legs gave away by the pain she felt.
Bihan stared at Thapki and then the broken ornament in his hand with vacant eyes. Without taking his eyes off the ornament he stepped back and left.
PS- please dont kill me...
PPS- This is an OS...I might write a second part😆
