Chapter 9

“Oh wow,” I breathed out as I looked at the tall landscaper. It had floors and floors and floors, the most I had seen in my town was 5 and this building was stacked with at least 50.

It was tall, as you might have guessed, but contrasting to the massive figure, it was welcoming too. Trees and shrubs were strategically placed, and a small park was just beside it with kids running around throwing sand at each other.

The car rolled inside, and the background shifted from glass and white into dark, cement colors as we moved underground. How fitting, I chuckled. From happy and dandy to bland and sad.

We moved towards the elevator, that is to say, Singhaniya Sahab (Sir in Hindi) walked like a freight train and I followed. Our reflections greeted us and after a long internal debate, I had to admit with Shanaya’s words, he was handsome.

Not in the way Dev was - warm, sunshine and home (menacing to strangers) - but in a cold, granite way. His features were impeccable. Confidence and authority oozed out of him in gamma waves. It was like watching success.

Dev felt like chocolate melting in your mouth, and Aarav felt like ice. A beautiful cube of ice in ice-cold water found in the burning desert.

“23,” the electronic voice announced as the elevator stopped and we stepped out.

“How many rooms do you have? Can I have one for myself?” I asked as he led the way. I wasn’t going to share a room with him, no way in hell. But before making a demand, I decided I would be a kind, well-bred lady and ask sweetly.

“We have three, you can use one,” he slid the card and unlocked the door. He took a step forward when I piped, “Wait!”

“What about all the rituals that take place when a bride enters her husband’s house for the first time?” I asked, curious and a little flabbergasted. He was old-school and religious, right?

“There is no need,” he shrugged.

“Huh? What about your parents? Shouldn’t they welcome me, us, whatever?”

“I lost them in an accident years ago”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I stuttered in embarrassment because I didn’t know what else to say. How do you react to someone randomly mentioning that their parents were dead? How do you console them? Do you even console them?

I was a hopeless case. Why couldn’t I research beforehand? But before I could belittle me anymore, he started rattling words—they sounded more like orders—on top of my head.

“This is my room,” he pointed to his right, “Besides it, is yours. And the last one is a guest bedroom. A maid, Kamala, stays in 24/7, she cooks and cleans. You can tell her your preferences—how you like your room cleaned, how you like your food, and anything else if you have any.

I don’t have any rules here, just don’t disturb me, especially when I’m working in my study room,” he pointed at a door to his left, and handed me a card, “If you have any expenses, you can use my card. Any questions?”

“Can I get a tour?” I asked, as I looked around at the white and brown expanse of modern, minimal and spacious house.

“It’s not a large house, you can help yourself,” he replied and retired to his… study room?

Was he going to work right off the bat? When he just landed? Boring! I rolled my eyes.

I picked up my phone and video called all my friends.

“Hellllllo!” I sang as everyone connected.

“Hey” cooed Shanaya, smiled Liam, cheered Manoj, and said Krish.

“Good flight?” asked Liam.

“Yes,” I panned the video over my body, “Safe and Sound. We reached his home and now I’m going to give y’all and myself a tour of this apartment”

After a long tour, I settled on the soft beige sofa.

“Small house, my foot! It’s almost as big as ours, and we have two floors. This seems too vast,” I said.

“True. Did you win any games though? Tell me all about your bridal entry,” Shanaya cheered.

“We didn’t have any welcoming ceremony”

“Why not?”

“His parents are dead,” I whispered, not sure if I should share this information with them.

“Oh. That’s so sad, I’m sorry for him,” offered Liam and others gave their condolences as well which I had no idea what to do with.

A short pause later, Shanaya said, “I’m sorry that you missed the only good part of the wedding. The games are so fun”

Before I could reply though, Krish snapped, “I would say the good part was that Aarav is a decent human and didn’t force himself on her. If I may kindly remind you, in the books of Indian government there is no such thing as nonconsensual sex in a marriage. So Shanaya, I don’t care if she doesn’t have any good games, I am just glad she has a room of her own and a half-decent husband.”

Silence.

Absolute silence on the outside, but my insides were screaming.

It was the first time this concept crossed my mind, but now that it had, I couldn’t stop the images in my head. They were cruel, gruesome, and what in the world would I do if this happened?

My breathing slowed and a painful chill spread in my toes and finger. I could hear my heart beating. The images kept coming. Me crying and screaming as he forced himself. Me helpless and violated after he was done with me.

The images kept flashing, one more painful that the other, it wouldn’t stop. My ears were ringing with pleas and screams of pain. I was begging him to stop, but he didn’t. I kept begging but he didn’t listen.

I couldn’t breathe.

He was choking me.

I couldn’t scream.

He pushed himself in my mouth.

I wept silent tears as he pushed and pulled my face around him.

My vision was blackening. I was fainting with him still in my mouth, but he continued thrusting. He didn’t stop.

I pushed him away, but he pulled me back stronger.

I was losing the feeling in my body now. I couldn’t scream, but screams were ringing in my ear.

“Riya!” I heard someone call softly.

He didn’t let me look around and no one stopped him. He was still in my mouth, moaning and laughing at my pathetic state.

“Riya! Look at me,” the voice called me again softly.

Why were they calling me, they should help me! Why was no one helping me?

A deep helpless fear settled in my bones; I couldn’t do anything anymore.

“Riya, this isn’t real,” the voice whispered again.

I looked around; he wasn’t in my mouth. I could close my lips again. I did.

I looked around; he wasn’t anywhere. He vanished.

I slithered on the ground, hiding from him, in case he comes back again.

“This isn’t real,” the voice told me softly.

“What is not real?” I asked. I couldn’t see anyone, who was talking to me? What wasn’t real?

“This, all of this, it’s is not real. You are safe, no one is going to harm you.”

“But…but…he…,” I gulped, it was frightening to think of it again.

“You are safe. No one is going to harm you.”

A sudden warmth wrapped around me, no one was going to harm me. But what if he was lying?

“Who…who are you?” I asked.

“Your husband; and I will never do this to you. You are safe,” I heard Aarav say before I passed out in his arms.