Chapter 10

"On the other side of this darkness, a new day will slowly dawn."

It was the first day of Ayushi's married life. She woke up with a smile on her face and sent a prayer to God like she did every day.

She looked beside her and saw how cutely Payal was still snoring. She touched her hair lovingly and moved towards the washroom, she had to meet several relatives and guests today. It was going to be a long day.

Again the cuts, scratches by none other than Dhruv was burning so much when water touched her body. She wanted to talk to him badly, clearing the misunderstandings which he had for her but she knew she can only meet him at reception as he was out for the whole day today, Payal had informed her at night only. She sighed sadly and cleansed herself carefully wincing whenever the soap touched her scratches and bruises.

She wore a magenta-colored sari which was a gift from her sweet mother-in-law. She loved the beautiful embroidery of flowers on it. She combed her wet hair with her hands and applied vermilion in the partition of her forehead. She knew that Dhruv was her husband and the society in which she lived had only taught her that however bad your husband is, you should respect him and stand with him against all odds.

Her stepmother had warned her about it too, giving her strict instructions to be a good wife and a good daughter-in-law too. She cleared her mind and looked at her Mangalsutra, and touched it lovingly, she liked the feeling of a wife, a daughter-in-law. After applying the Bindi, she applied lotion on her hands and moisturizer on her face and she was ready to walk out of the room as there was a ritual in the mansion that every morning family members would assemble in the temple for morning prayer which was briefed by Payal only.

She shook Payal lightly and after a few more tries finally, she was up. After they shared a hug, Payal went inside the washroom to freshen up. Ayushi waited for her and till then she enjoyed the videos recorded by Payal of yesterday's night. All the time she was looking at one man and that was none other than her husband. She knew that he was not bad, he just had some big misunderstandings, that's why he behaved so monstrously towards her whenever they met. She vowed to herself that she'll make a place in his heart, at least as a friend. She believed that he can at least accept her friendship. She had forgotten that he had a girlfriend too because all the time she just wanted to prove to him her innocence that she was not a gold digger neither she was a whore as per him.

Meanwhile, Payal came out from the washroom and they rushed downstairs for the prayer.

Ayushi prayed to God to always keep her family members happy along with other people of the world and the last she prayed was for her husband's and her relationship.

****

Family members were busy getting ready as in an hour only the reception ceremony was going to start in the Leela Palace.

Ayushi had draped a beautiful red silk sari around herself and she was looking gorgeous in that with minimal makeup on her face, as the vermilion and the nuptial locket were enough to make her look the best. With a red lipstick tainted on her plump lips, she was ready for her reception ceremony.

Whereas her husband, Dhruv was dressed in a black Armani suit which was enhancing his features more and he was looking much taller in black. No doubt he was looking like a king, with the handsome face as well as an outstanding height.

They both were supposed to go in the same car and make entry together, so when they met outside their mansion near the car, they both were lost so much in each other's eyes that they didn't even realize that their relatives were looking at them adoringly.

"Bhaiya, you can look at Bhabhi all night but firstly attend the reception," it was Kabir, Dhruv's cousin who brought them both out of their staring competition. All the family members laughed at them teasingly and got inside their cars which were supposed to take them to the Leela Palace.

Dhruv just knew that he was behaving like a lovesick puppy around this girl who was supposed to be hated by him. She deserved only hate. He chanted in his mind and got seated inside the car and Ayushi too sat beside them. All the time they were silent. Ayushi was unknowingly falling for him, she had seen that even he had something for her, but every time he would replace that look with resentment and loath for her in his eyes. She calmed down her breaths and looked outside the window, enjoying the beautiful view of Udaipur city.

****

The reception was going on in its full swing, with Dhruv and Ayushi being the center of attraction as even media was allowed today and they all were busy in capturing the best pictures of this lovely couple who looked perfect with each other.

Guests were busy admiring the couple and sipping drinks while talking with each other, about business, politics, entertainment, and so on. They had already congratulated the couple and had blessed them with a beautiful married life ahead.

Relatives were busy in getting their pictures clicked with celebrities around, everything was going well when an announcement caught their attention. It was Kabir who was on the stage.

"Ceremonies, parties, receptions are a waste without dance, isn't it?" he cheered excitedly and the crowd hooted loudly.

"So why not start our function with the dance performance by none other than the beautiful and newly married couple themselves? Give a huge round of applause for them," Kabir encouraged the crowd to cheer for the couple.

Dhruv gritted his teeth. Now he had to dance in front of all these people. He knew Chandani will not like it, but he had to do it anyhow. He grabbed Ayushi's hands and then there started their beautiful dance performance. "Pehla Nasha" was playing making the guests do more hooting as this song was that one song which was just so beautiful which was loved by all the age groups. Moreover, it was suiting the newly-wed couple.

They were again lost in each other eyes and their bodies were swaying on their own with beautiful moves. Only their soul knew that they were meant to be one. Only their deepest point of heart knew that they loved each other. Only their eyes knew how much they adored each other.

His family along with the guests were looking at them both with adoration and pride in their eyes. They looked exceptionally beautiful with each other. They just wished for their happiness. They were dancing very gracefully, making the environment under the open sky more romantic and amorous.

At last, the song ended but they were still in each other arms lost in each other's eyes. Chandani was seething in anger. She couldn't believe that her boyfriend was already out of her hands now with the woman he married yesterday only. She wanted to rip him apart from that girl. How could she!

The loud hooting and clapping got their attention and they immediately left each other and smiled awkwardly. Dhruv cursed himself badly for always losing his sane mind whenever he was around her. Ayushi felt the same. He had two characters, one was this lovely side and the other was that monstrous side. They got down the stage and many dance performances by their relatives and friends were performed afterward.

Once the dance performances were over, dinner too was served and at that time Dhruv's eyes landed on Chandani who was looking at him so wistfully. He got why she was looking at him like that. He sighed ruggedly and looked towards Ayushi who was enjoying all the attention which she was getting from his friends and relatives. Everyone was just enchanted by her sweet nature which was just an act as per by Dhruv. He wanted to hurt her, as this girl was the reason why he was apart from his Chandani.

He excused himself and took Ayushi too along with him, as he wanted his business associates to meet his beloved wife. While dragging her towards them, he was intentionally piercing his nails inside her arms and she was trying to snatch her hands away from his but he was too strong. All the time when he was talking with his business associates, his nails were busy in scratching her waist under the drape of her sari which was hiding his heinous action from others and she was trying hard not to wince in pain, maintaining a fake smile on her face.

After his hands were done with bruising her on her waist, he moved towards the dance floor where couples were dancing now. While dancing, he pinched her wherever he wanted, he was smiling evilly looking at her, and Ayushi was all the time trying not to cry. Because of the people around her, she couldn't even shout at him. She was pleading him with her eyes but he was back to his beast mode again.

Chandani was enjoying all this while sitting on a chair, sipping whiskey.

"You deserve hate only, Ayushi," she whispered to herself and asked for one more whiskey.

****

After they returned to their mansion, Ayushi was escorted to a new room which was decorated so beautifully. And she immediately got why it was done so. It was her wedding night with her beast husband. She shivered when she looked at the bed which was decorated with rose petals forming a heart. She knew that today either her heart will explode or her body.

Her body was in immense pain after what Dhruv did to her. He was manhandling her in front of so many people and she just stayed quiet tolerating all these, because she didn't want to create a scene and insult her family.

Payal made her ready in an orange-colored lehenga and did some makeup on her flawless skin.

"You're looking so stunning Bhabhi. Bhai will not get enough of you today," Payal teased Ayushi who was staring blankly at the mirror, completely unaware that what Payal said.

"Already dreaming about him?" Dhruv's cousin's wife, Akshita asked Ayushi teasingly but Ayushi was lost somewhere else.

"I think we should go now, she needs her husband now," Akshita again said playfully which got Ayushi's attention.

She was sweating now, anticipating what Dhruv could do with her when they'll be alone in this room. Her hands started shaking, her lips were quivering now.

"Hey! don't be nervous Ayushi. I know the first time is a little painful but you can ask for some more time too, right?" Akshita tried to calm down Ayushi, who was just like her younger sister.

Ayushi nodded her head but still, she was sweating.

"Bhai is not so bad Bhabhi, he'll take care of you. Don't worry," Payal hugged Ayushi to comfort her, and Ayushi just closed her eyes, feeling safe in Payal's arms.

"Now now, Dhruv Bhaisa will not like it when he'll come to know that his wife is this much-feared of him, will he? So, Ayushi baby, calm down," Akshita kissed Ayushi's forehead and signaled Payal to move out of the room along with her.

"Bhabhi, don't be nervous now. Bhai would be coming at any moment so we should leave now. Enjoy," Payal winked at Ayushi and went away from the room, leaving the agonized and feared Ayushi behind, whose tears started to pour down on its own. She wanted someone to give her a shoulder to cry on but she was all alone in this room. She knew just for the sake of his parents and people around him, he was trying to act all good like they were so much in love with each other. She tried to stop her tears, but they were not going to stop today. His words and actions had humiliated and ruptured every part of her body. His tortures were reaching a new height every day. She cried mournfully, holding her waist tightly which was paining so much now.

Ayushi then heard some commotion outside her room which she knew was one of a ritual where the sisters of the groom ask for money from him to enter inside the room and spend his night with his newly-wedded wife. Dhruv was although not interested to see his wife, after giving some money to his sister and cousins, he was finally inside the room now. He closed the door and latched it. Now he was all alone with his beautiful bride. He could do anything with her now.

"Welcome to hell, Mrs. Ayushi Singh Rajput," he spoke out with an evil smirk on his face while opening up his Sherwani's buttons slowly. Ayushi looked at him dreadfully, trembling like a leaf.

The beast was awakened now, and the beauty was terrifyingly looking at him with tears pouring down her eyes, anticipating the worst that could happen with her.

"See Dhruv, I know there's some misunderstanding between us, that's why you think so low about me. Please at least clear it out," she stuttered out slowly while moving back towards the end of the bed as he was approaching towards her like a predator.

He chuckled humorlessly and glared at her resentfully.

"What misunderstanding? I think I'm the first man in your whole "Gold-digging career" who understands you very well," he sneered at her, and Ayushi just shook her head sadly. She didn't know what mistake she did that he was doing all these things with her. Treating her like she was some plague.

"I'm a gold digger just because I didn't say no to this marriage proposal, isn't it?" she asked him and now he was face to face with her. Both were staring straight at each other, questioning many things whose answers were still unknown.

"Just shut your mouth, I don't want to hear anything," he replied harshly and grabbed her chin tightly in his hand.

Ayushi looked at him in pain, he was holding her chin too tightly.

"Leave me, you're hurting me," she pushed his hands away and stood up from the bed.

"Come here you bitch," Dhruv got angry when he heard her reply to his tortures.

"See Dhruv, even I had some restrictions to say yes to this marriage proposal. Please try to understand. I didn't marry you because of your money, I..." before she could complete her sentence, Dhruv pushed her harshly against the wall and Ayushi yelped in pain, already her shoulder was paining because of lots of jewelry and now this new pain.

"So, why did you marry me? Tell me. Just tell me, even I want to know," he shouted at her face and she just flinched at his loud voice.

She knew that it would be her insult only when she would tell him about her family's greedy nature that how low they can stoop for some money. But other than that she didn't have any reason to tell him that why did she agree for this marriage.

"No answer?" he laughed tauntingly and continued, "I'll tell you then. You married me because I'm rich, you allured my family in your false trap and did all the drama, just to get into my pockets, a filthy whore you are. Girls like you are meant to be in some brothel and not as a member of a beautiful family. You're a slut," he spat at her venomously and Ayushi just stood there looking at him with tears flowing down her eyes.

She didn't know how to answer back to someone, it wasn't in her. She was a very innocent and simple girl, who was suppressed, mutilated whenever she even used to answer back for petty things. She had a fear that was inbuilt in her, that whenever she would answer back, she'll be ruthlessly mutilated, her family had shown her this every time she tried to open her mouth against their brutality and at last, finally, she had gotten tired of all this, she had decided that she'll just do her work silently without disturbing anyone and from then on, answering back was a long-gone case for her. And now, she didn't know how to defend herself because even her stepmother had warned her about sending her to a brothel.

"I'm not a whore," she replied while sobbing silently, trying to wipe her tears with her injured hand.

"Leave about that, dress into some simple clothes," he rolled his eyes and moved away from her and she just looked at his back while wiping her tears.

"I too was forced into this marriage, Dhruv, I'm not a..." before she could speak more, her neck was throttled by Dhruv harshly, pushing her tightly on their beautifully decorated bed. She was trying to make him lose his hold on her but he was just strangling her, her all muffled cries were falling on deaf ears. She was trying to push him away but he was too big for her. He was too strong for her, he was too harsh on her.

"Just stop your false drama, you get that. Just stop it and from now on, my name should not be on your filthy mouth. You'll not call me by my name, I'm your master, call me with "Sir". Do you get that? Tell me?" he shouted and strangled her with more force and she was gasping for air, she needed air anyhow, she felt like she would pass out any moment. She nodded her head weakly and then Dhruv left her neck and moved away from her.

She touched her neck and started breathing heavily, taking as much air as possible with tears flowing out her eyes. She knew that it was the same hell he was talking about. That time when he was strangling her, she felt like it was the last day of her life. She was afraid, afraid that he could do anything with her, that much he despised her. She immediately rushed towards the closet which Payal had shown her earlier and after grabbing some pair of simple clothes, she immediately rushed inside the washroom and after undressing herself, she opened the shower and stood under it, while sobbing out loudly.

Her every sob was heard by Dhruv who was reading some of the emails on his phone. But he paid no heed to that. He knew that she deserved much more. Because of her, he was away from Chandani, his love.

Whereas, Ayushi was crying uncontrollably thinking about what crimes did she do that she had to face all these miseries in her life. Her whole life was a mess, starting from her birth only. She had dreamed that she will get a good husband, but all this was good in romantic novels only, real life was too hard to survive in this cruel world. She had dreamed that her husband would take her out of hell which was her house, but now her husband had taken her to a much worse hell, where even breathing was a hardship. He despised her so much. What was her fault in all these? Just that she was lying in his arms when she was unconscious. That day was the worse day of her life. But she knew worst was waiting for her now. She knew that she can't escape now.

The water was washing away all the dried blood which was present on her body because of Dhruv's nails piercing her skin earlier. That was paining her a lot, like again some gush of blood was flowing out her body. Her neck had become sore because of what Dhruv did a few minutes ago. Her shoulder was paining a lot, she wanted nothing but to just shut this all out, and close her eyes forever. She wanted to die, at least that would be better than this hell.

"Will you come out or not?" in between all her thoughts she had forgotten the trail of time. Dhruv was banging on the door and shouting out loud at her.

She immediately closed the shower and after wearing a cotton Kurti and Patiala, she moved out the washroom and Dhruv checked her out shamelessly.

"Come let's go," he spoke and took her hand in his as nothing happened and moved out of the room.

"Where are you taking me to?" Ayushi asked in a panicked tone, she knew he was dangerous.

"Just shut your mouth and follow me," he spoke nonchalantly and just dragged her towards the entry of this mansion where a car was waiting for them. The security and watchmen saluted him and he just nodded at them.

He opened the passenger seat door and pushed her inside harshly like she was some dump. Ayushi was just mum. But from inside her heart was galloping, anticipating that what would he do now with her.

After instructing his bodyguards not to follow him, he got in his seat and drove away towards an unknown destination. Ayushi was all the time praying to God not to let anything bad happen with her now. She was already tired so much to handle another torture session of Dhruv.

Finally, they reached a one-way road where another car was waiting for them. Ayushi was tensed now. She didn't know why her husband bought her here this late at night. Dhruv got down and eventually, Ayushi too got down from the car. Her heart was racing, she was getting a foul feeling in her guts that something bad was going to happen.

The door of another car opened and from there emerged out a girl, a beautiful girl who was decked up in a beautiful knee-length dress. Ayushi frowned that why Dhruv brought her here, to this girl.

"So, my dear wife. Meet my girlfriend, Chandani and Chandani, please meet my slut wife," he chuckled humorlessly and even Chandani joined him.

Ayushi was shocked when she got to know who this girl was actually. She was her husband's girlfriend.

"You know you resemble someone I know," Chandani said in a serious tone.

"Yeah, one of my maids just looks like you," Chandani spoke out venomously while laughing out loud and Dhruv joined her too.

Ayushi felt so much insulted and humiliated, she couldn't believe her eyes that her husband was doing all this with her on their wedding night.

"And you know how you look like? A girl whose everything is too fake, from the shape of her nose to her lips and even her assets," Ayushi's sharp comment was enough for them to be enraged.

"How dare you!" Chandani rushed towards her to slap Ayushi but on time, Ayushi stopped her hand.

"I don't know what you saw in a girl like her. I pity your choice sir," Ayushi spoke looking at the enraged Dhruv but before she could continue, she was on the ground, clutching her right cheek tightly as Dhruv had slapped her hard across her cheek.

A burning sensation was there on her cheek, his hand was large enough to even injure her eyes. She couldn't see anything. His hand was too big, the impact was on her cheeks as well as her right eyes. A gush of tears was flowing out her eyes, which was paining so much now like someone added red chilly in it. She couldn't even open her left eyes because of the immense pain in the right one.

*Play "Judaai" of Badlapur*

"Aah, I cannot see anything," she cried out loudly in pain, sobbing uncontrollably, putting her hand on her right eye.

"Better for you, you bitch, at least then you will not eye rich men and seduce them. Come, baby, we need a lot to catch up," Chandani spoke out bitterly while dragging Dhruv towards her car, leaving Ayushi behind who was just so helpless, to even see anything. She tried to open her eyes, but it was just too much injured to be opened.

"Yeah, it had been so many days that we were apart from each other," Dhruv spoke in a happy tone and drove away with Chandani towards an unknown destination.

"Aah, Maa, I cannot see anything Maa, its paining," Ayushi wailed out loudly holding her eyes, kneeling on that deserted road which was surrounded by forest all around in a moonless night.

She could hear dogs barking, crickets making creepy noises but all she could do was cry, cry, and cry. Her eyelids were shut, she cannot open them, she tried hard, but it was not opening.

She threw her hands on the hard concrete road in frustration and agony, injuring her hands in the process. She was wailing out loudly but no one was there to help her, no one.

Her husband left her to die in the hands of some animals or some animalistic humans on this deserted road.

~**•**~

Please don't forget to leave your comment and voting is your birthright!