Chapter 2

Sakshi's POV:

I sat on a chair. Randhir had left me there. I couldn't find him, and I was tired. What I need was a restful night's sleep. However, I couldn't leave without informing Randhir because if I did so, he would surely end me. Randhir appeared with two glasses of wine. He held one out to me.

"Drink it. I brought it for you," Randhir said, shocking me.

"I don't drink wine," I said.

"Is that so, Mrs. Randhir? Did you quit drinking before our marriage or after? I know well how much you love wine. Stop faking and drink up. I'm not going to stop you," Randhir said.

I remembered when I used to love drinking wine and how many times Randhir asked me to stop because I always lost control of myself.

"I stopped drinking before our marriage," I said.

"Fine. No problem. You can restart now. I know how much you love parties like this. Do whatever you want, baby. Let loose. Go wild. Enjoy yourself. I know that you find no happiness in my company. So, at least be happy here," Randhir said.

I remembered the harsh words I said to Randhir so long ago. I began to reply to him, but a girl came over to ask him to dance. Randhir agreed and started dancing with her. I felt jealous watching them dance. Randhir didn't like parties; his priority had always been me, then his business. However, he never stopped me from partying. He just warned me to be cautious. He used to care a lot about me and my safety. My eyes were about overflow, but they suddenly dried up when I heard someone's voice.

"May I have this seat, Mrs. Randhir? I'm Nandagopal by the way, Randhir's former business partner. You can call me Nandu."

"Hello," I said.

My eyes were on Randhir, who still managed to watch me with anger while dancing with that girl. I was frightened, but I didn't know what to do. I knew he hated when I talked to other guys, whoever they were. Randhir stopped dancing and came over to me.

"We're leaving," Randhir said.

"So early? After all, it's your wedding celebration, Mr. Randhir," Nanda said.

Randhir gave him a death glare and then caught my hand, dragging me to the car. We reached his home, and he dragged me into the bedroom, throwing me on the floor.

"You haven't changed. If I leave you alone for a second, you start flirting with another guy. How dare you do that, especially after I warned you to be on your best behavior!"

"I'm sorry, but I didn't flirt with him. He just came over and introduced himself. Please, trust me," I said.

"Shut up! I'm never going to trust you. I will punish you so that you never do this again. Come with me," Randhir said.

I followed him silently, praying to God to save me. He took me to the kitchen, walked straight to the stove, and turned on the burner. I didn't understand what he was doing. He grabbed a steel spatula and held it over the flames.

"Open your mouth," Randhir ordered, and I shivered at his harsh tone. I tried to step back, but he grabbed my hand and squeezed it hard, making me cry out in fear. I closed my eyes, preparing myself for his punishment, but then I heard the sound of the spatula hitting the floor. Randhir had thrown it down, sending it skittering across the kitchen tiles.

"This is your last warning. The next time I see you talking with another man, you will face the harshest of punishments. Now pull yourself together and get in the bed."

I nodded slowly and did as he said. He joined me, covering my body with his own, and began to kiss and caress me like he did the night before. Desire pooled within me at his touch. It was a bittersweet kind of torture as I could not forget his harsh words. The memory of his non-stop accusations about my character brought even more tears to my eyes.

He left me when we were finished. I tried to get up and follow, but I was weak from not having eaten properly all day—which he hadn’t even noticed. He went downstairs, and after a little while, I heard his car, signaling that he was going out.

I cried the whole night. In the morning, I got up slowly. One hand on the wall for support, I shuffled to the washroom and took a hot shower. I was dizzy, but I searched for Randhir throughout the house. I didn't know where he was. Maybe he didn't return to the house last night. I tried calling Randhir, but his mobile was switched off.

Two days passed, but he still didn't come home. I called his office, but they said they didn't have any information. I finally filed a police report, praying that Randhir was safe.

I got a call from the police, and I went to the hospital address they gave me. I saw him there. His legs and head were covered in bandages.

"Someone admitted him after he got into an accident. We recognized him as the great entrepreneur Mr. Randhir. We asked him whom we should inform about his accident, but he told us that he had no one to care for him. So we appointed a nurse to take care of him," the doctor said to me and the police.

"Doctor, please discharge him. I am his wife. I will take care of him. You can administer any further treatment at our home," I said.

"Ok, Mrs. Randhir. If you need a nurse, just let us know."

"No, doctor. It's time for me to pay back what he gave to me, his love, his care, and his affection. It's time for me to show him how I feel. I will take care of him."

I went to Randhir and saw that he was sleeping. My eyes filled with tears, and I caressed his hair, placing a kiss on his forehead. He opened his eyes and saw me. Immediately, he became angry.

"Why did you come here? Who told you that I was here? Get lost," Randhir said.

"Why didn't you inform me? I am your wife, and I should take care of you," I said.

"You? Care for me? If I recall, you left me when I needed you the most. Don't assume this act will make me trust you again, will change how I treat you. That will never happen. I will continue to torture you every day for your betrayal."

I didn't answer him. I left the room and asked the doctor to discharge him. I brought him back home. I tried to feed him, but he pushed my hand away and the plate fell.

"Randhir, please listen. You are not well. You need someone's help. Please accept my help."

"Call the hospital and inform them that I need a nurse," Randhir said.

"Nurses can't do everything that a wife can do. Why don't you understand that? Let me help you recover quickly. I am not asking you to trust me or forgive me. But please let me help you."

Randhir calmed, listening to me. I lifted the food again and slowly fed him. Then I gave him his medicine. In the middle of the night, Randhir started coughing non-stop. I woke up immediately.

"Randhir, what's going on? Please take this water."

I helped him drink the water and made him sleep again. For one month, I treated him like a baby, with the utmost care and love. He recovered completely and started walking. The doctor came to test him.

"You've recovered completely, Mr. Randhir. You are very lucky to have a wife like Mrs. Sakshi. She is the only reason you healed so quickly," the doctor left after saying this.

"Sakshi, come here and sit near me. I want to talk to you," Randhir said.

I went to him fearfully and sat down.

"Thank you for helping me recover so quickly. Do you really love me, or did you do all this only to pay me back?" Randhir said.

"I did everything to repay you, and as your wife, it's my responsibility to take care of you. That's it. I don't love you."

Randhir laughed, the sound filled with his pain and hopelessness. I controlled my tears as I didn't want him to see.

"I know, you don't love me, and that will never change. How many times are you going to hurt me by saying that you don't love me? I won't stop until the truth comes out. However, whether you love me or not, you must stay with me forever. Don't forget that," he said and I immediately fled to another room. I sat on the floor, crying.

Randhir's POV:

I love you, Sakshi. I love you so much. Why can't you understand that? Why do you always hurt me by saying that you don't love me? Your eyes show your love for me, so why don't you accept it? I just want to know the truth behind why you left me. If you love Ajay, then why didn't you marry him? Where is Ajay? Why did you agree to marry me? Is Ajay alive or dead? Did he betray you?