Chapter 4: His Rules for his Wife

Khushi's POV:

I sat on the bed thinking what to do. In the evening, someone knocked on the door. I opened the door.

"Madam, sir asked us to decorate the room for..." the maid said.

"Ok, come in."

The maids decorated the bed with the red rose petals in the heart shape. They tied the garlands to the bed. The candles were lighted bringing the new glow to the room. The fragrance of the flowers soothed my mind to some extent.

"Madam, sir told to help you to get ready."

I nodded. They brought a sari sent by Shajan. It was a red and gold sari that was very heavy. The jewelry alone would cost so much money. I didn't understand why he would send all this when he wanted to treat me as a maid. The beautician too came and helped me to wear sari stylishly. She kept minimal make up as Shajan hates make up.

Now, Shajan has all rights over me and he doesn’t need my consent for anything. What kind of a person he is! How can I bear this? Though he married me, we don't love each other. Without love how can I agree for making love to me? However, I have no option. I can’t say no because my no cost the lives of people I love.

Shajan returned home and then, the maid left from there. He looked at me and then, went to fresh up. He got ready and came to me. I was frightened and my heartbeat is audible to him. Shajan tried to touch me and I closed my eyes with unknown fear.

"Khushi, I married you to satisfy my ego. Now I am happy. I never touched any woman without her acceptance. Though you are my wife, I would never touch you agree for love making. However, remember that it doesn’t mean you are free from my clutches.

Wow! Great! Even in taking revenge, he has principles. Very strange! Whatever I am thankful to the God for saving me.

"No one can save you from me unless I show mercy at you," Shajan said.

Shajan caught my lips tightly giving me pain.

"Now, I will tell you the rules you need to follow as my wife.

1. You should wear the designer sarees and jewelry representing my status.

2. You should never go out of this room.

3. You shouldn't call, talk to, or meet with anyone, including your family, without my permission.

4. Don't cry in front of me. I hate tears, however I accept the truth that seeing you in tears because of me is giving new happiness to me.

5. Give up on all your likes and dislikes. Act according to my wish.

5. Don't question me. In fact, you should never speak to me. You have no right to. You have only one option: to accept my every word. So, there's no need to talk.

Understand?" Shajan shouted at me.

I was frightened and nodded. He left the hold over my lips.

"If you didn't follow my rules, you will face the punishment which you can never imagine. Anyhow, seeing Khushi, who stood for justice and was courageous, frightened of me and silent before me made me happy and satisfied.

This is the perfect punishment for rejecting my love in the past. One more thing: To the world, you are my so-called wife, but to me, you are only a maid. Behave like a maid and never dare to be a wife to me," Shajan said.

After that, Shajan took the wine bottles and started drinking. He took three bottles and didn't stop yet.

"Shajan, drinking too much is not good for the health. Please stop it," I said.

Shajan laughed sarcastically.

"Do you have concern for me?" Shajan said.

"Would you believe me if I said yes?" I said.

"For many nights, I took this wine to forget the pain in my heart given by you. Every single night, I thought of crushing your happiness and killing your pride," Shajan said.

I looked at him with tears.

"But today, when I can do anything to you and make you beg for mercy, my heart stopped me from forcing you. I don't know whether I stopped the wedding for revenge or because of my love for you. I want to make you cry, but when you are in tears, it's hurting me more than your rejection," Shajan said.

"But don't think I will leave you easily. I will show you the hell because that's what you deserve," Shajan said and held my hairs. He pulled the hair making me scream.

"I hate you for loving Abhi. From now, I should never see you talking to Abhi. Even your heart shouldn't think about Abhi. You are mine and only mine forever," Shajan said.

I didn't reply because he was in a rage and the wine had made him even more crazy. Whatever I said would increase his temper. Nothing would make him realize the truth. He let go of my hair and fell on the bed. I made him sleep properly and covered with a blanket.

I wish I could change the past a bit to make Shajan understand the truth. Misunderstanding can kill any relationship and make the person hate anyone. Assuming the things and thinking that they have the power to read and understand one's mind and intentions is a disease which has no cure and destroys their peace and others too. Unfortunately, many people we meet in life are suffering from this disease and they don't even know that and for them they are right and too intelligent to guess what's up in other's mind.

I felt tired thinking about all this mess and slept on the bed, leaving the issue. I couldn't be a girl who cursed fate and cried forever. I knew what I needed to do to regain my happiness.