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Shruti was going to her department when someone called her from behind.
" Shruti mam?"
She turned around and smiled seeing one of her favourite students.
" Yes Neeti?"
" Mam, I want to clear my doubts."
" Okay, come to the department."
She said and Neeti nodded while following her to the political department. Shruti greeted the Head of the department. She sat on her chair and Neeti put the book on her desk.
" What do you want to know?"
Neeti turned the pages and pointed at the paragraph she was finding difficult to understand. Shruti nodded and took 10 minutes to clear her doubt.
" Thank You so much, mam," Neeti said and left the cabin.
" Shruti?"
" Yes mam?"
Shruti looked at the HOD, a woman in her middle age.
" As you know our university has come up with an idea to clear all the problems of students who are interested in entering the field of police. So, a team has been invited. Principal wants you to lead the function. You have to look after the guests and take care of their refreshments later."
Shruti nodded, " okay mam."
HOD forward the paper to her and said, "this is the list of guests who'll be coming. IPS, ACP and other officers are included in this."
She took the paper and read the names of guests. Her eyebrows knitted together seeing the very first name.
IPS Jaydev Chaudhary.
Pakhi's brother.
Tension grew in her mind because there were chances that he disliked her presence. She can't even refuse because it's the order of the principal.
" Is there any problem, Shruti?"
Another political professor, who was also present there, asked her.
Shruti shook her head at him, " no sir, everything's fine."
She reassured him and put the list aise. No discussion related to the guest happened between them after that.
Around 4 PM, Shruti departed for her home.
" Why is it getting difficult for you to get a job?"
Shruti asked her best friend who was sitting beside her on the passenger seat. He rubbed his face and sighed heavily, " I don't fucking know."
He was irritated.
" Do you want me to help you?"
She asked and he shook his head, " What will I do with the recommended job?"
" Why don't you start your own business?"
She suggested.
" Need money for that. My father does not want me to waste my time and trust me, it's so frustrating when my own family doesn't let me live in peace in the house."
" I can help you with money," she said.
He was silent for some seconds before saying,
" What if the business doesn't increase? How will I pay your money?"
Shruti frowned, " you always doubt your capabilities. However, business doesn't increase in full speed. You need to have patience."
" That's what I don't have. Only if I had studied harder in school."
She chuckled, " let bygones be bygones. Wanna have ice-cream by the way?"
" Sure," Keshav replied and she stopped the car in a secluded area. She was about to get out of the car when he stopped her.
" Ahan ahan! It's not like I don't have money to pay for ice-cream. You wait here and I'll bring it."
She nodded and he unfastened his seatbelt before going out of the car. Keshav, her best friend from school days. The man has huge interest in cooking and wanted to become a chef but his family doesn't support him with this decision.
They want him to get a decent job, not to cook for people. But she knows if he opens his own restaurant he'll rise so quickly. His hands have magic.
She smiled slightly which soon faded when her eyes landed on Pakhi's brother standing near the parlour of ice-cream and talking to the inspector.
His eyes suddenly moved to her car and he kept his gaze on her until he recognised her.
His attention moved to Keshav when he saw him coming to her. Shruti frowned, noticing a small smirk on his lips. He quickly looked away before she could make herself hundred percent sure that he thought something about her.
" Here," Keshav entered the car and forward one con of ice-cream. She took it from him.
" Hey, what about your sister-in-law? Is everything sorted?"
She shook her head, " she's angry."
" Well, she has every right to be angry. Who told your brother to marry her at gunpoint? That's such a terrifying thing for any girl."
She sighed and nodded.
" And her brother? Did he accept their marriage?"
At the mention of Pakhi's brother, Shruti's eyes landed on Jaydev still standing there.
" I don't think so he will."
" What is his profession by the way?" Keshav asked curiously
She licked off the cream and replied, " IPS."
" Fuck! He has more power than your brother then. Why is he not doing anything?"
Shruti shrugged her shoulders, " I don't know their matters."
She saw Jaydev leaving from there in his car. She was relieved because she felt like he was watching her, keeping eyes on her and Keshav.
" What if he did the same to you?"
She frowned, " like?"
" What if he marries you like your brother did with his sister."
Her eyes widened and she slapped his shoulder, " stop saying this. What if it gets manifested?"
He laughed, " don't worry. If it happens, I will save you. I will cut onions in front of his eyes."
She burst into laughter at his silly words.
" Sure, with your butter knife?"
" Very funny! Do you think I can't fight for you?"
She rolled her eyes, " no need to."
He chuckled, staring at her with sparkly eyes. After eating the ice-cream they drove away from there. Shruti dropped him at his friend's house before departing to her own home.
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Pakhi quietly came out of her bedroom and cautiously looked left and right. She licked her lower lip and felt her heartbeat accelerating in agitation.
She had already taken off her anklets so that they wouldn't create hurdles in her mission.
Mission:- to get the proof against her brother from her husband.
She looked upstairs and bit her lower lip. Aryan's room is right there and he surely has papers there. She gulped and wondered how she'd manage to get those papers. She overheard Shruti's conversation with her mother 2 hours ago and they mentioned that Aryan wouldn't be home tonight due to some work.
What if anyone catches her?
But it's 1AM and a sane person sleeps at this time. She tucked the loose strand of her behind the ear and lifted her foot to go upstairs.
She grabbed the edge of the railing while climbing the stairs, carefully looking around herself, not wanting to get caught red handed.
Her only motive is to run away from this house which wouldn't be possible without those papers. Aryan will use any tactic to ruin her brother's life. A huge war will emerge between them.
She placed her palm on her left chest, feeling her heart pumping inside her chest loudly. She stood outside his room and slowly raised her hand to touch the door.
Her eyebrows knitted together and she pushed the door opened. Luckily it was unlocked.
Once she entered, she quickly closed the door and locked it.
She touched her left chest and let out a deep exhale from her mouth. Only she knows what condition she is in after doing all this. Sneaking into someone's room when they are not there - seems like such a dirty thing.
She looked around the room. The light from outside was making it easy for her to see. The bed was empty. There was only silence in the room.
She gulped down her saliva and wiped the imaginary sweat from her head. She licked her lower lip and first walked toward the almirah opposite to her.
Although he isn't in the room, she can't help but to feel his presence. She grasped the handle of almirah and looked to her right then left.
She sighed softly and calmed herself before opening the almirah. The creaking sound echoed in the whole room as she opened the room. To her scared self, it was a bit terrifying.
She blinked, seeing piles of clothes and some hanging on the hanger. There were 2 lockers also. She searched for the desired thing under the piles of clothes because lockers were locked.
A deep sigh escaped her mouth when all she got was failure.
" Ye dhundh Rahi ho?"
( Are you looking for it?)
Her breath hitched, body stiffened and eyes widened hearing the familiar voice. She did not dare to turn around and felt her feet jammed on the ground.
She dropped her hands on either side and fisted her saree in fear. Her heart beat accelerated and the room suddenly felt too small.
Aryan clicked his tongue while leaning against the doorframe. She heard the sounds of his footsteps as he approached her. Every step he took, increased the intensity of fear inside her.
She could feel his presence just behind her.
" Were you looking for it?"
He brought a file in front of her face and she read the name on the cover.
Jaydev Chaudhary.
She became impatient to take that file but she soon dropped this plan because she cannot take the file as easily as she thinks.
He chuckled slightly and brought the file back to him and said,
" Don't you know that stealing is wrong? Didn't your brother even teach you this?"
She frowned, offended by the choice of his words but like always couldn't gather courage to talk back to him.
Aryan, however, closed his eyes and leaned his face close to her head. Fragrance of her hair hit his nostrils and he felt his nerves calming down.
Pakhi's heartbeat stopped for a second when she felt the electrifying touch of his fingers on her upper arm. She made no move, nor fought back.
Her eyebrows knitted together in worry when she felt his face near her ears and his fingers tracing a line down to her hands.
Her eyes closed automatically in fear. His hot breath caresses her earlobe and she immediately felt hypnotised by him.
The proximity with her felt like killing and many desires began to arise in his mind which he felt like fulfilling.
While his touch burned her skin. She could feel goosebumps spreading on her skin. He took one more step to her and ended the only distance between them.
His front part of the body touched her back. She felt weak on her knees as if he was no charge and she could never defeat him. She regretted coming into his room when she knew she couldn't even open her mouth in front of him.
She is scared of him.
Her bangles created sound, disturbing the silence between them when he touched her bangles and deliberately created jingling sound.
Her breathing turned heavier, feeling his lips just below her earlobe. The mere contact of his lips with her skin did so much to them. One ignited by the desires while water collected in the eyes of the other.
When Aryan felt her tensed, he stepped back and pinched the bridge of his nose. He needed to control himself around her.
Pakhi put her hand on her left chest and mentally thanked God for saving her. She wiped a little tears from her eyes and turned around when she heard-
" So what I was saying? Yes! didn't your IPS brother even teach you this?"
His voice came out mocking while mentioning her brother. He walked toward the nearby chair and sat on it.
He exhaled, leaning his back against the chair.
" Seems like my wife is in trouble, no?"
She blinked and stared at him silently.
" Kyu pareshan hain aap, biwi ji?"
( Why are you in trouble, wifey?)
He asked in a playful tone and she wasn't really in the mood of talking to him in this way. So, passing a loathing glance at him, she lifted her feet one by one to go outside the room.
" Are are, ye to le jao."
( Atleast, take it with you.)
She halted on her steps and furrowed. She was just a few inches away from the door.
She faced him confusedly and saw him waving the file at her. She tilted her head and a puzzled look appeared on her lips.
" Take it. I am not kidding."
She still did not move from her place, knowing he would not give it up easily. The file either doesn't contain any information or he's just playing with her.
" You came for this, right? Then take it. Trust me, I am not lying."
Trust him? She would never.
He chuckled, " seems like my wife has trust issues."
Yes, you got it right- she said to herself mentally and wished to say these words to him.
He took a deep breath and opened the file.
" Wanna know what information I have gathered?"
He asked while opening the file then read the first page.
" IPS Jaydev Chaudhary was once seen barging into the house of a suspect without warrant. Oh? It's such a small accusation. Let's move to the next."
He turned the pages and pretended to gasp.
" Oh my God! Jaydev helped smugglers to take their products cross the city-"
" He didn't," she defended her brother.
Aryan turned his gaze at her and passed her an impressed look when she spoke for her brother.
" I can add it, no? I know very well how to play with words, sweetheart."
He cleared his throat and read the next page.
" Shit! I didn't expect this. Jaydev was seen with a girl whom he touched-"
" He did not!"
Her voice raised this time and he closed the file. He aimed it at the bed and threw it there.
" Like I said, I can put several accusations on him like these. It's not like your brother is Saint. He has done many bad things in the past."
She fisted her hands in anger and couldn't control herself from asking, " why are you doing this to us?"
" What?"
He asked boringly and stood up from the chair.
" This... False accusations and troubling me. My Bhai won't leave you."
" Correction, honey. I won't leave your brother."
She walked backward as he took steps closer to her.
" W..what will you gain by doing this?"
" You," he replied.
Her back hit against the door while he stopped just a feet away from her. She shook her head at him.
" You won't ever get me. I.. can never be yours-"
" Shh!"
He interrupted her by placing his finger on her lips and leaning his body close to her. He put his palm on the door, beside her head and caged her.
His gaze fell on her lips and head tilted slightly. Something happened to her stomach when he caressed her lower lip gently with the pad of his thumb.
" I've been waiting for you for years. Neither you nor anyone can claim that you are not mine."
He looked into her eyes and surprisingly she did not break eye contact this time. He removed his thumb from her lips and cupped her cheeks.
" Tumhare prem par. Tumhari nafrat pe. Tumhari aatma pe. Tumhare jism pe... Tum par sirf mera haq hai."
( In your love. In your hate. In your soul. In your body... Only I have right over you.)
He sounded dreadful and so possessive. She fluttered her eyelashes down as he rested his forehead against her and closed his eyes.
Their noses brushed against each other which she knew he did deliberately.
" Tum sirf meri ho, Pakhi."
( You are only mine, Pakhi.)
She noticed a faint smile on his lips as he added,
" Aryan ki Pakhi."
( Aryan's Pakhi.)
She gulped and wanted to push him but at the same, she did not want to touch him anyhow. She did not want to initiate.
" Please..move."
So, she used the second method. He smirked and replied,
" No."
The audacity-
" Please move-"
Before she completed her sentence, he moved back and locked his hands behind her back.
" Don't you want the file back?"
She passed him a Judgemental look and turned her back at him. His eyes landed on the strings of her blouse and the view of pulling it open flashed in front of his eyes.
He rolled his tongue inside the mouth and saw her unlocking the door before exiting his bedroom.
He stood there until the sound of his wife's anklets rang in his ears. He grabbed the file of Jaydev and put it in the locker of almirah.
He knew he would never put him behind bars by putting false accusations on him but Pakhi has a lack of trust in him which helped him gaslighting her.
How bad he felt behaving like that with her.
That's how he was.
He loves her, intensely and possessively. She was only his.
He would pull any trick to keep her with himself.
He is cunning. Controlling. Dominant and vicious.
He lay on the bed and folded his hand under his head.
" You should put this thing inside your brain so that you can never escape me."
He turned his head to his left side and smiled, realising that she'll soon join him on the bed from tomorrow onwards. She will sleep here and he'll stare at her without any disturbance and restrictions.
Pakhi, on the other hand, touched her neck below her ear where he kissed her- pecked her.
The touch was still here. She could feel it and surely would never forget it. She closed her eyes and quickly opened it when the previous image of them standing close flashed before her eyes.
She sighed heavily and faced the window and pulled the duvet up to her shoulders. She does not trust him even an inch. She knows he can do anything to trouble her and her brother.
She sat up and got down from the bed. She grabbed the blanket and walked toward the balcony.
She sat on the couch which was on the balcony and wrapped the blanket around herself. She had slept much in the afternoon so she is not feeling much sleepy.
" What would bhai be doing at this time?"
She uttered and stared at the night sky. Not many stars were visible but a few looked very beautiful along with the moon. A small smile spread on her lips after so long.
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Pakhi's sleep was disturbed when Shruti woke her up by moving her shoulders.
" Pakhi? Wake up."
Pakhi slowly opened her eyes and got the vision of Shruti first. She blinked several times before sitting up. She fixed her hair and put the pallu on her shoulder which dropped on the ground when she was sleeping.
" Why were you sleeping here?"
Shruti asked.
" Uhm, I forgot to go inside."
" It's alright. You should freshen up. Breakfast is getting ready."
Pakhi nodded and Shruti smiled at her before leaving. Pakhi stretched her arms and stood up. She picked up the blanket and went to the bedroom.
Opening the suitcase, she took out a saree then went to the bathroom with a towel.
After freshening, she came out of the bathroom in just a petticoat and blouse. She quickly draped the saree around her and sat on the stool in front of the mirror.
She started doing her makeup and when it was the time of vermillion, she recalled yesterday's incident when he put it on her head.
She does not want to give him any chance to come close to her. So, in the end she decided to put the vermillion because ignoring all this would not make sense.
He already has married her in front of everyone and the mangalsutra around her neck is one of the proof of their marriage. She made a loose braid of her hair then stood up.
Just then, Shruti entered again.
" You are ready? Come."
" Di,"
" Yes?"
Pakhi awkwardly asked, " can I get breakfast here? I.. don't feel comfortable around him."
She looked down. Her last sentence was barely audible for Shruti who walked toward her.
" Bhai will not say anything to you in front of us. You can sit with us."
" But-"
Pakhi sighed and nodded as she did not find any suitable word to say for her defence.
Shruti took her out of the room and eventually to the dining room. Pakhi felt nervous seeing his parents already there.
Rajdeep smiled at her and tried ending the awkwardness between them,
" Come and sit, daughter."
Pakhi quietly sat down beside Ekta and took a breath of relief seeing no chair beside her. Shruti took a seat opposite her.
Maids came and served her food as well. She was about to have her first morsel when she heard-
" Yeah, I need Randhawa file on my desk. Make sure you don't leave a single evidence against him. I do not want to lose the damn case against that woman."
Aryan came to the dining room and talked to someone until he sat down on his chair beside Shruti.
Avoiding him as if he did not exist, Pakhi ate the first bite of the food. While chewing food, her eyes unconsciously fell on his forearm and she ended up coughing.
Aryan was quicker to react and brought a glass of water for her.
" Have it,"
He patted her back and made her drink the water. She took the glass from him and managed to calm down.
" Eat slowly. I know food is delicious," he teased her and went back to his chair.
" Is it spicy?"
Ekta asked and she shook her head.
Pakhi looked down to her plate and started making another morsel for her. She peeked at his left forearm again and saw her name tattooed there. The rolled up sleeves gave a clear view of the tattoo.
She did not expect this.
No matter how many times she tried avoiding the tattoo but failed and glanced there countless times. She was thankful that he was busy discussing the evening party with his father.
" Is the card sent to him?"
Aryan's question grabbed Pakhi's attention.
" Yes. The first card was sent to him in the early morning."
He nodded and glanced at his wife who hurriedly looked down.
" I do want people to wonder why my brother-in-law did not come."
So, he was really talking about bhai- Pakhi thought and sighed mentally.
She really doesn't want to attend the party. She has made up her mind only when her family members will come. This evening she only wants to meet her family, otherwise she can't stand with this man even for 5 minutes.
" I don't think it will be good, son."
Aryan sighed heavily.
" Everything is fine, maa."
" What if Jaydev does something?"
Aryan shrugged his shoulders, " he won't. His dear sister is with me."
Pakhi squeezed her eyes at him.
Look at him! How he's talking back to his parents and giving proof of his rowdyism.
Pakhi blinked when all of them looked at her and Aryan clicked his tongue before chuckling.
Did she again speak aloud?
Yes.
All of them chuckled at her while she chewed the corner of her lower and looked back at her plate. Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. She decided not to be involved in their conversation and hurriedly ate the food before leaving.
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