Ekansh dragged Samyuktika to the bedroom, his grip unyielding. He slammed the door shut behind them, the sound echoing through the room.
Samyuktika's heart racing, she tried to break free, but Ekansh's hold was too strong.
With a swift motion, he tossed her onto the bed. She landed with a soft thud, her breath caught in her throat.
Ekansh towered over her, his eyes blazing with intensity. Samyuktika cowered, her hands raised in defense.
"No, Mr. Rai! Please!" she begged, her voice trembling.
Ekansh's face twisted, his jaw clenched.
The room seemed to shrink, trapping Samyuktika in a nightmare.
Samyuktika screamed at the top of her lungs, but Ekansh's words sent chills down her spine.
"Scream, no one will hear you outside this soundproof room," he sneered.
With a swift motion, he leaned in to capture her lips. Samyuktika twisted her head, avoiding his kiss.
She tried to free herself from his grip, but Ekansh's hands held her firm.
"Let me go, Mr. Rai!" she demanded, struggling.
Ekansh's eyes flashed with anger, his breath hot against her skin.
"You're my wife. You'll obey me," he growled.
Samyuktika's determination intensified.
"I won't give in. You can't force me," she spat.
Ekansh's gaze narrowed, his lips curling into a snarl.
Samyuktika's eyes widened as Ekansh removed his blazer and shirt, revealing his chiseled physique.
His abs seemed to ripple in the dim light, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe.
But reality slapped her back into awareness.
Ekansh grasped the shoulder of her anarkali and tore it, exposing her skin partially.
Samyuktika's tears fell harder as Ekansh's lips brushed against her neck.
She tried to push him away, but he held her firm.
"Just a trailer," he whispered, his breath sending shivers down her spine.
Ekansh stopped abruptly and backed off. "A lot can happen beyond this," he warned.
With those ominous words, Ekansh turned and left the room. Samyuktika collapsed onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
She clutched the dupatta to her chest, trying to cover herself. As she wept, she realized she had to escape.
Samyuktika's thoughts racing, she contemplated escape. But reality crushed her hopes.
The mansion's isolation, surrounded by the forbidden forest, made fleeing impossible.
And then there were the guards, loyal only to Ekansh.
She felt trapped, suffocating under the weight of her circumstances.
But Samyuktika's resolve strengthened as she thought of her grandmother.
Hospitalized and battling cancer, her grandmother's only comfort was Samyuktika's marriage to Ekansh.
The price of her grandmother's life was Samyuktika's freedom.
Tears streaming down her face, Samyuktika accepted her fate.
She would endure this toxic marriage, protecting her grandmother's fragile hope.
For now, escape was a luxury she couldn't afford.
Samyuktika bolted to her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
She rushed to the bathroom, seeking refuge.
Under the shower's warm cascade, she collapsed onto the floor.
Tears streamed down her face as she rubbed her palms over her hands and shoulder.
She scrubbed the spots where Ekansh's touch lingered.
As if washing away the memories.
Her sobs echoed off the bathroom tiles.
"Why did this happen to me?" she whispered.
Her mind replayed the events, each moment etched in her memory.
Samyuktika's hands trembled, her heart heavy.
She felt violated, vulnerable.
The shower's warmth couldn't chase away the chill within.
Ekansh stood alone in the bar area, the mansion's opulence mocking his turmoil.
He poured himself a glass of expensive champagne, the crystal goblet reflecting his twisted thoughts.
As he drank, his mind wandered to Samyuktika's tears.
Why did her anguish affect him so profoundly?
He had intended to assert dominance, yet her vulnerability unsettled him.
Ekansh's gaze narrowed, self-loathing simmering beneath the surface.
He was a master of control, yet Samyuktika's tears pierced his armor.
"Damn her," he muttered, downing the champagne.
The alcohol burned, but couldn't numb his conscience.
Ekansh's thoughts swirled, memories resurfacing:
His troubled past.
His father's cruelty.
His mother's silence.
The champagne bottle emptied, Ekansh's emotions remained unsettled.
Ekansh stumbled into Samyuktika's room, midnight darkness enveloping him.
Three bottles of champagne coursed through his veins, his senses blurred.
He approached her bed, gazing at her peaceful form.
Dried tears on her cheeks gleamed in the faint moonlight.
Ekansh's intoxicated mind struggled to process his emotions.
He leaned in, studying her features:
Her elegant nose,
Her long eyelashes,
Her porcelain skin.
His gaze lingered on her lips, inviting and tender. Something stirred within him, unfamiliar and unsettling.
Ekansh's breath hitched, his chest tightening. For a moment, he forgot his anger, his dominance.
He saw Samyuktika, not as a possession, but as a woman. Beautiful. Vulnerable. Intoxicating. His fingers twitched, longing to touch her.
Time stood still as Ekansh gazed at Samyuktika. His thoughts swirled, a mix of emotions:
Possessiveness.
Curiosity.
Unexpected tenderness.
His eyes lingered on her lips, and he felt an overwhelming urge. To protect. To cherish.To love.
Ekansh's breath caught. Love? No, he shook his head. Impossible. He was Ekansh Rai, ruthless and cold.
Yet, Samyuktika's peaceful form chipped away at his defenses. He reached out, hesitated, and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
Samyuktika stirred, her face relaxing further. Ekansh's touch didn't wake her, but his heart skipped a beat.
He felt... human. For the first time in years. Ekansh's gaze lingered, drinking in her beauty.
Ekansh's fingers lingered on Samyuktika's ear, the gentle touch sparking a foreign sensation within him.
Tenderness.
He withdrew his hand, startled by the emotion. What was happening to him?
Ekansh turned to leave, but paused. He glanced back at Samyuktika, her serene face illuminated by moonlight.
Without thinking, he slid onto the bed beside her. Not touching, just near.
The silence enveloped them, a strange comfort.
Ekansh's eyelids grew heavy, champagne's haze and exhaustion taking over.
He succumbed to sleep, his chest rising and falling in sync with Samyuktika's.
For the first time in years, Ekansh Rai slept peacefully. Beside the woman he had claimed as his.
Samyuktika's subconscious stirred, sensing Ekansh's proximity.
Her dreams shifted, visions of turmoil replaced by an unfamiliar calm.
In her dream, she stood in a serene garden, surrounded by vibrant flowers.
A gentle breeze carried Ekansh's voice, soft and soothing.
"You're safe."
Samyuktika's dream-self turned, searching for the source.
Ekansh stood beside her, his eyes warm and protective.
For a moment, her fear and anger dissolved.
She felt... sheltered.
Her dream-self reached out, and Ekansh's hand enveloped hers.
Warmth spread through her, a sense of belonging.
Samyuktika's subconscious whispered:
"Maybe... maybe he's not the monster I thought."
Her dream faded, replaced by the gentle rise and fall of Ekansh's chest.