6

She's strong but

She is exhausted.

The family went to a small trip for few days except Reyansh and Aradhya.

Reyansh refused to join them so Aradhya also had to stay back.

It was late at night, and the house was eerily quiet. Aradhya was in the kitchen, cleaning up after dinner. She moved methodically, her mind numb from the routine. Suddenly, she heard the front door slam, and she knew Reyansh was home. The tension in the air was palpable.

Reyansh stormed into the kitchen, his face twisted with anger. "Where is my report?" he demanded, his voice cold and menacing.

Aradhya looked up, confused. "What report?" she asked softly, trying to keep her voice steady.

"The one I asked you to keep on my table for my meeting tomorrow!" he shouted, stepping closer to her. "Don't play dumb with me, Aradhya."

Aradhya's heart sank. She had no recollection of him asking for any report. "I... I don't remember you mentioning it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Reyansh's eyes flashed with fury. "You never listen, do you?" he snarled, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her towards the living room. "You're useless!"

He shoved her onto the couch, and Aradhya landed hard, the impact jarring her bones. She remained silent, her eyes fixed on the floor. Reyansh's words washed over her, each one a dagger to her heart, but she had learned to endure.

Reyansh paced back and forth, his anger growing with each step. "You think you can just ignore me? Do you even care about anything?" he yelled, his voice echoing through the room.

Aradhya didn't respond. She sat there, her body still and her mind detached. She had built a wall around herself, a barrier to protect her from the relentless abuse. Reyansh's words and actions couldn't penetrate the numbness she had cultivated.

Frustrated by her lack of reaction, Reyansh grabbed a vase from the table and hurled it against the wall. The sound of shattering glass filled the room, but Aradhya didn't flinch. She remained motionless, her face expressionless.

Reyansh's rage reached a boiling point. He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her violently. "Why don't you ever react? Do you even feel anything?" he shouted, his grip tightening.

But Aradhya's eyes remained distant, her body limp in his grasp. She had learned that reacting only made things worse. Her silence was her shield, a way to survive the storm of his abuse.

Reyansh finally released her, his frustration evident.But he couldn't help but feel guilt everytime he yelled at her,why the hell can't he control his anger?

He stormed out of the room, leaving Aradhya alone in the wreckage. She sat there, her body aching and her mind numb. The physical pain was temporary, but the emotional scars ran deep.

As the night wore on, Aradhya remained on the couch, her thoughts a whirlwind of pain and resignation. She knew that this was not the life she deserved, but for now, all she could do was endure.

__________________________________

Aradhya had always found solace in the small park near their home. It was her sanctuary, a place where she could escape the suffocating atmosphere of her life with Reyansh. The park's serene environment, with its lush greenery and gentle breeze, provided a brief respite from the turmoil she faced daily.

One afternoon, feeling particularly overwhelmed, Aradhya decided to visit the park. She needed a moment to breathe, to gather her thoughts and find some semblance of peace. As she walked along the familiar path, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. The chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves were a soothing balm to her frayed nerves.

Unbeknownst to Aradhya, Reyansh had followed her. He had noticed her frequent visits to the park and, driven by a mix of curiosity and suspicion, decided to see where she went. As he watched her from a distance, he saw a side of Aradhya that he rarely witnessed at home-a woman seeking solace and peace.

Aradhya found her favorite bench under a large oak tree and sat down, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She allowed herself to relax, if only for a moment, letting the tranquility of the park envelop her. It was in these moments that she felt a glimmer of hope, a reminder that there was still beauty and peace in the world.

Reyansh approached quietly, his footsteps muffled by the soft grass. He stood a few feet away, observing her. For the first time, he saw the toll his actions had taken on her. The lines of stress and exhaustion on her face, the way her shoulders slumped with the weight of her burdens-it was a stark contrast to the vibrant woman he had once known.

The tears rolled down her eyes which had been buried as emotions inside her heart.

It's been long that he hadn't seen her crying or even any emotion on her face.

Her heart becoming heavier with each year dropping from her eyes.

"God,why me?"She sobbed.

Her question left him thinking that does even god exist?if he existed then where does he go at the lowest moments?

"Why does everyone hate me?Mumma papa,Reyansh  they all hate me,noone loves me"she cried out looking at the evening sky.

'her parents hate her!'this new piece of information shocked him and a question strucked in his mind'why?'

"Am i really a bad omen like they say?why was I even born?why?why did I deserve this suffering?"Her voice breaking.

As she cried,her words became a desperate plea"why God?why? please i can't handle it anymore.I can't live like this anymore.i am tired of all this."Her chest ached,and she clutched it as If trying to hold her shattered heart together.

He stood behind a tree, hidden in the shadows listening to her raw anguish.

His heart usually cold and unyielding, softened as he heard her pain.

Aradhya continued,her voice trembling"I do not deserve happiness god,but please i can't endure this pain too.

I didn't deserve to be treated this badly.i don't deserve parents like them it would have been better if i was born an orphan.

I don't deserve a husband like him who calls his own wife with bad names,abuses her"

Her words were a bitter revelation, a confession of  the torment she endured daily.