Torture! Torture!
Atharva dragged Maya into the pool room.
The large glass doors slammed shut behind them, echoing through the cold, silent space. The indoor pool stretched across the room, the water dark and still under the dim lights.
Without warning, Atharva yanked her forward and spun her around.
The force was so strong that Maya lost her balance and fell straight onto the cold floor.
Atharva crouched down in front of her, resting on the balls of his feet, his expression still burning with rage.
“You’ll stay in this pool the entire day,” he said coldly.
His voice carried no emotion now.
“No food. No light. Nothing.”
Maya looked up at him, tears rolling down her face.
Atharva watched her silently for a second.
“Those tears won’t have any impact on me anymore,” he said harshly. “Just like you can’t understand my feelings… I won’t try to understand yours either.”
He grabbed her arms and pulled her up roughly.
“So,” he said with a dark smile, “enjoy your birthday, biwi.”
And before she could react—
He shoved her straight into the pool.
Maya fell into the freezing water with a loud splash.
For a moment she struggled, then quickly stood up, the water reaching up to her chest. Her wet hair clung to her face as she gasped for breath.
Atharva had already turned away.
He began pulling the heavy curtains across the tall glass windows, sealing the room in darkness. Then he walked to the control panel on the wall and lowered the room’s temperature.
The air inside the pool room slowly grew colder and colder.
Cold water.
Cold air.
Everything designed to make it unbearable.
Maya stood there in the pool, trembling.
Tears mixed with the water dripping down her face.
She slowly closed her eyes and lowered her head, standing silently in the freezing water.
Atharva glanced at her one last time.
Then without another word, he walked out of the room.
---
Some time later, Atharva appeared in his study, now fully dressed and composed again.
But the storm inside him clearly hadn’t settled.
He picked up his phone and made a call.
The line connected.
“Why were there no bodyguards at the back gate last night?” Atharva asked coldly.
Rana’s nervous voice came from the other side.
“S–Sir… there were guards there. But at that moment they had stepped away.”
Atharva’s eyes hardened.
“Why?”
There was a pause.
“I… I’m sorry, sir. I’ll change the security immediately.”
Atharva leaned back slightly in his chair.
“Rana,” he said slowly, “I won’t repeat myself every time.”
His voice dropped dangerously.
“This is your last warning.”
He continued, each word sharp and controlled.
“There are three gates in this property. One main gate, one back gate, and one near the farmhouse.”
A brief pause.
“All three must have security cameras active twenty-four hours a day. I don’t want any risk.”
His tone turned ice cold.
“Not a single one.”
“Understood?”
Then he added quietly—
“And if there is another mistake…”
A deadly silence followed.
“I swear on Maya… your head will be separated from your body.”
On the other end, Rana’s voice trembled.
“Y… yes sir.”
Atharva cut the call in anger and stood near the window.
Outside, morning had already arrived. The storm from the night had passed, and warm sunlight spread across the vast lawn. Servants moved around the property, quietly doing their work as if nothing unusual had happened.
But inside the mansion… the tension still lingered.
Atharva sat down in his chair, unlocking his phone. After a moment, he opened the security camera feed.
The screen showed the pool room.
His gaze fixed on Maya.
She was trembling now.
The freezing water and the cold room temperature had started to take a severe toll on her body. Her lips quivered uncontrollably, her skin slowly turning pale and bluish. Her arms hung weakly by her sides.
Tears continued slipping from her eyes.
But she didn’t even try to warm herself.
She didn’t move her arms, didn’t rub her hands together, didn’t try to swim or create heat. It was as if she had stopped fighting completely… as if she had simply accepted whatever punishment came her way.
Atharva stared at the screen silently for several long moments.
Then suddenly, he stood up.
Without another thought, he walked toward the pool room.
---
Inside the pool, Maya was crying helplessly.
“Why, God… why?” she sobbed loudly. “Why me?”
Her voice echoed across the empty room.
“If this is what love looks like… then why did you give it to me?” she cried, her voice breaking. “What did I do wrong to deserve such punishment? What harm did I ever do to anyone?”
She had completely broken down.
Her cries became louder, more desperate, echoing against the cold walls of the pool room.
Her eyes were tightly shut, but her voice kept pouring out with raw pain.
She didn’t even realize when Atharva entered the room.
He had quietly walked in and sat down at the edge of the pool, watching her.
Maya continued crying.
“God please help me!” she shouted desperately. “Either take my life today… or take that monster’s!”
Atharva spoke calmly from the edge of the pool.
“What strange wishes you make, biwi,” he said lightly. “Even God wouldn’t be able to fulfill them.”
Maya’s eyes snapped open.
She turned sharply toward the voice.
Atharva sat there, looking at her with a faint smile.
But as his gaze traveled across her body, the smile slowly faded.
Her skin had turned almost white… tinged with blue. Her lips were completely blue now. Her eyelids drooped weakly, struggling to remain open.
She looked like she could collapse at any second.
Maya’s teeth chattered violently.
“Why don’t you just do one thing?” she said weakly.
Atharva stepped into the pool without a word.
Cold water rippled around him as he walked toward her.
“What thing?” he asked quietly.
Maya looked at him through half-closed eyes.
“Just kill me,” she whispered, shivering uncontrollably. “I can’t bear all this…”
Atharva stopped right in front of her.
He studied her carefully.
She could barely even stand upright anymore. Her balance wavered, her eyelids slowly closing again as her body swayed weakly.
“Come on,” Atharva said after a moment. “Get out of the pool.”
Maya shook her head faintly.
“Don’t… don’t touch me,” she murmured. “Just let me stay here… anyway, after some time… I’ll die.”
Atharva looked at her for a brief second.
Then he reached forward and grabbed her arm to pull her out—
But before he could move her—
Maya’s body suddenly went limp.
Her eyes closed completely.
Atharva’s expression changed instantly.
“Maya!”
He caught her quickly before she could sink into the water.
She had completely lost consciousness.
Without wasting another second, Atharva lifted her into his arms and rushed out of the pool.
He carried her straight into the closet attached to the bedroom.
Quickly switching on the heater, he laid her down and grabbed towels, wiping every inch of water from her body in frantic movements. He dried her hair, her arms, her legs… making sure not a single drop of water remained on her skin.
Then he quickly changed her clothes, dressing her in warm garments.
After that, he changed into dry clothes himself.
Lifting her again, he carried her into the bedroom and placed her gently on the bed.
Maya lay there completely unconscious.
Her lips and cheeks were still bluish. Her entire body felt frighteningly cold.
Atharva immediately wrapped thick blankets tightly around her and placed multiple heaters around the bed, trying to warm the room as quickly as possible.
A moment later, he ran into the bathroom.
He returned with a bucket filled with hot water and placed it beside the bed.
Dipping hand towels into the warm water, he carefully wrapped them around her feet and hands, repeatedly pressing them against her skin.
He worked quickly and desperately, trying every possible way to bring her body temperature back to normal.
Atharva was still pressing the warm towel against Maya’s cold hands when his gaze suddenly fell to her feet.
For a moment, he froze.
Tiny pieces of glass were still embedded in her skin — the ones she had stepped on the previous night. Thin streams of blood had dried around the wounds, but fresh drops were still slowly seeping out.
Atharva looked at her unconscious face for a brief second.
Then he immediately moved.
Carefully lifting her foot into his lap, he cleaned the wounds with quick but precise movements. One by one, he removed the tiny glass shards stuck in her skin. Maya stirred faintly but remained unconscious.
After cleaning the wounds properly, he wrapped bandages around her feet.
Then he noticed her hands.
The earlier bandages had loosened and were stained with blood.
Without wasting time, he changed those too, carefully wrapping fresh bandages around her palms and wrists.
After that, he continued warming her body.
Every few minutes, he dipped towels into the bucket of hot water and pressed them gently against her feet and palms, trying to restore circulation.
Time passed slowly.
Nearly two hours later—
A thin layer of sweat finally appeared across Maya’s forehead.
Atharva noticed it immediately.
Relief washed over his face.
For the first time since morning, he exhaled a long breath and leaned back slightly, staring up at the ceiling as if the weight pressing on his chest had finally lifted.
Then he quietly began removing the things he had used.
The bucket.
The towels.
The extra heaters.
He moved them aside before sitting down beside the bed.
Maya’s face had slowly begun regaining color. The bluish tint had disappeared, and her lips were turning soft pink again.
As her body temperature stabilized, Atharva gradually removed some of the thick blankets and switched off the heaters one by one.
After a while, he picked up his phone and called one of the servants.
“Send breakfast to my room,” he said simply before ending the call.
By now, the heaters around Maya had been removed completely.
The blankets had been pushed aside.
Her temperature was finally normal.
But her body was drenched in sweat.
Atharva moved to the couch near the bed and sat down quietly.
One leg crossed over the other, one hand resting against his chin.
His eyes remained fixed on Maya.
He watched her silently.
After some time, the heat in the room began to rise.
Because of the warmth, Maya’s eyes slowly fluttered open.
For a moment she simply stared at the ceiling, her mind still hazy. Then her gaze slowly moved around the room, trying to understand where she was.
And then she saw him.
Atharva was sitting on the couch across the room, watching her.
Maya slowly pushed herself up and sat on the bed. After glancing at him once, she looked down at herself.
Her clothes had been changed.
But they were damp with sweat.
The bandage on her hands had been replaced.
Maya lifted her gaze toward him.
“You said you wouldn’t show any mercy,” she said quietly. “Then why did you save me?”
Atharva didn’t move.
“Don’t make the mistake of calling it mercy, Maya,” he replied coldly. “The only reason I saved you… is so I can torture you again later.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“I didn’t show you care. And I never will.”
Maya gave a faint, bitter smile.
“You don’t have to,” she said calmly. “I’m not used to it anyway.”
Her voice held quiet exhaustion.
“You’ve tortured me so much that if you ever did show care… it would feel strange.”
Atharva’s expression didn’t change.
“Go and change yourself,” he said.
Maya silently got down from the bed and began walking toward the closet.
Halfway there, she noticed something.
Her feet.
Bandages were wrapped around them.
She paused for a second and glanced back at Atharva.
But he said nothing.
Without asking anything further, she walked into the closet.
A few minutes later she came out wearing loose baggy lowers and a simple T-shirt.
Atharva’s eyes moved over her from head to toe.
Just then—
A knock sounded on the door.
Atharva spoke without turning.
“That must be breakfast. Bring it in.”
Maya walked toward the door and opened it.
But the moment the door opened—
She froze.
Standing outside were not servants.
The entire family stood there, holding trays of breakfast.
“A… all of you?” Maya said in surprise.
Atharva glanced toward the door and then walked over, stopping behind Maya.
His gaze shifted to the others.
“Are there no servants in this house,” he said sharply, “that my family members have to serve my food themselves?”
Rajvendra answered calmly.
“We just came to see Maya.”
Atharva’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why?” he asked. “Don’t you trust me?”
Suman quickly spoke.
“That’s not the matter, beta. It’s just… today is her birthday. We only came to wish her.”
Before Maya could react, Atharva stepped forward and moved her slightly aside.
“Wish?” he said coldly.
“No one needs to wish her anything.”
Veer stepped forward hesitantly.
“But bhai… it’s her first birthday in this house. At least we can cut a cake together.”
Atharva let out a quiet laugh.
“Wow, Veer. Since when did you start caring so much?”
His eyes glinted.
“Oh… I see why you’re so concerned.”
Then his voice hardened.
“But don’t worry. I’m here for my wife.”
“I’ll take care of her.”
Dhruv and Nidhi spoke at the same time.
“Please, bhai… don’t trouble bhabhi anymore.”
Atharva’s expression darkened instantly.
“Everyone,” he said coldly, “disappear from my sight.”
“Right now.”
His voice dropped dangerously.
“Otherwise… yesterday’s farmhouse scene might repeat itself.”
The words were enough.
Everyone fell silent immediately.
Fear flickered across their faces.
Atharva pulled the breakfast tray toward himself.
Then, without another word—
He shut the door directly in front of them.
Outside, the family members looked at one another quietly.
No one said anything.
Slowly, they turned and walked away.
Inside the room, Maya stood there.
Her eyes burned with anger as she looked at Atharva.
But she didn’t say a word.
Atharva placed the breakfast tray on the table and began serving himself. Without saying a word, he started eating.
It was the first time he hadn’t asked anything about Maya.
Not even once.
Maya stood where she was, staring at him in quiet disbelief.
Atharva didn’t look at her even for a second. He behaved as if she wasn’t even in the room.
A few minutes later, he finished eating and placed the plate back on the table. Leaning back into the couch casually, he said,
“Now you can start from my plate.”
Maya frowned.
“Excuse me?”
Atharva tilted his head slightly, his tone calm but deliberate.
“Serve the food from my plate… and stand there while you eat.”
Maya’s gaze dropped to the plate.
There was still plenty of food left on it — almost as if Atharva had intentionally left it unfinished.
Her jaw tightened.
“You expect me to eat your leftovers?” she said, disbelief filling her voice. “How could you even think that?”
Atharva wiped his hands slowly with a napkin.
“Well,” he said lazily, “I already did think it.”
His eyes lifted toward her.
“And I will make it happen.”
His voice lowered slightly.
“You can either do it willingly… or I’ll use my own methods.”
For a few seconds, Maya simply stood there staring at him.
Then silently, she picked up the plate.
Instead of arguing further, she walked to the table, added a little more food onto the plate, and began eating while standing.
For her, the entire situation was humiliating.
Embarrassing.
But what choice did she have?
Her throat tightened.
Each bite felt heavy as she forced the food down, struggling to swallow. Tears welled up in her eyes despite her efforts to control them.
Still… she kept eating.
A few drops of tears fell onto the plate.
Atharva noticed immediately.
He gave a faint smirk.
“What’s this, biwi?” he said mockingly. “I’m giving you nutrients… and you’re drowning them in tears.”
He gestured toward her face.
“Wipe them.”
“And from now on, not a single tear should fall.”
Maya didn’t even look at him.
She silently wiped her face and continued eating.
Atharva leaned back deeper into the couch.
“Everything that’s left on that plate and on the tray,” he said casually, “you’re going to finish it.”
Maya’s eyes finally lifted toward him.
Atharva raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, you heard me correctly,” he said. “It’s not something to look so shocked about.”
Maya let out a bitter breath.
“What am I? An animal?” she snapped. “You expect me to eat all this in one go? I can’t do it.”
Atharva’s expression hardened.
“Why do you keep forgetting something, biwi?”
He leaned forward slightly.
“I give orders.”
“I don’t ask whether you can do it… whether you’re comfortable… whether you want to.”
His voice turned cold.
“I don’t care about your opinions.”
“Just finish everything.”
Maya shook her head faintly.
“I can’t… I don’t have that much appetite.”
Atharva’s lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile.
“Then start building one from today.”
His gaze darkened.
“Because what I want you to do after this… will require a lot of energy.”
He leaned back again.
“So swallow the food slowly… and finish every bit of it.”
Maya closed her eyes for a moment.
Then silently continued eating.
She had been standing for a long time now. Her feet had started hurting, especially with the fresh bandages wrapped around them.
And the amount of food was far more than she could normally eat.
Her stomach felt painfully full.
Still… she kept forcing each bite down.
Slowly.
Painfully.
But in the end—
After circling around the plate again and again…
She finished every last bit of food.
Atharva sat silently, his eyes fixed on Maya as she forced the last bite down.
Maya swallowed with difficulty, then slowly lifted her head.
“Hm… I finished it.”
Atharva watched her for a moment, then a faint smirk appeared on his face.
“Good girl.”
He stood up and walked a few steps ahead before speaking again.
“Come. Follow me.”
Maya didn’t argue. Without saying anything, she quietly followed him.
Atharva led her out of the room and up toward the terrace.
The moment they stepped outside, the harsh afternoon sun struck them.
It was blazing.
The light was so intense that even keeping their eyes open properly felt difficult.
Maya squinted, raising a hand slightly to block the sunlight.
“Why did we come here?” she asked.
Atharva glanced at her briefly before speaking in a calm tone.
“First… take off your slippers.”
Maya stared at him in disbelief.
“Can’t you see how strong the sun is?” she said. “My feet will burn.”
Atharva shrugged slightly.
“I don’t care, biwi.”
“Just do it.”
Maya looked at him for a moment, anger flickering in her eyes.
Then slowly, she slipped off her slippers.
Atharva raised his hand and pointed across the terrace.
“There,” he said. “See that white box?”
“Go stand near it.”
Maya closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath.
Then she stepped onto the terrace floor.
The moment her bare foot touched the scorching tiles—
She jerked back instinctively.
The heat was unbearable, as if the ground itself was burning.
A shiver ran through her body.
Her eyes immediately moved toward Atharva.
He was sitting comfortably on a chair under shadow, watching her.
Maya looked up at the sky for a moment, the sunlight stabbing into her eyes.
Then, without another word, she stepped forward again and slowly walked across the burning terrace until she reached the white box.
She stopped beside it.
The heat from the tiles burned through the bandages around her feet.
Every second standing there felt like torture.
Atharva suddenly called out loudly from behind her.
“It’s your birthday today, biwi.”
“Let’s celebrate it.”
Maya turned her head slightly to look at him. The sunlight was so harsh she could barely keep her eyes open.
Atharva gestured toward the box.
“Open it.”
Maya bent down and opened the lid.
The box was completely filled with colorful balloons.
Atharva’s voice followed calmly.
“Start filling them.”
“After all… it’s your birthday.”
Maya looked at him again, disbelief and anger mixing in her expression.
“You’re truly a devil, Atharva,” she said. “I can barely stand here in this heat… and you want me to fill balloons?”
Atharva calmly picked up a stopwatch and clicked it on.
“You have thirty minutes, biwi.”
“Do it.”
Then his voice sharpened slightly.
“And this time… don’t pretend to faint.”
Maya’s eyes flashed.
“I wasn’t pretending,” she shot back. “And if you thought it was drama, then why did you save me? You should’ve just let me drown in the pool.”
Atharva tilted his head slightly.
“Then who would I play these games with?” he said coolly.
His eyes hardened.
“Now shut your mouth and start working.”
“Because your time is running.”
Maya inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady herself.
Then she picked up the first balloon.
One by one, she began blowing air into them and tying them.
But even after barely ten balloons—
Her condition began to worsen.
The sun above was merciless.
The burning terrace under her bare feet.
Sweat soaked through her clothes.
And the effort of blowing air into the balloons drained what little strength she had left.
Everything together was becoming too much for her.
But in front of Atharva—
She had no choice.
Atharva leaned back comfortably in the chair, watching her.
Sometimes his eyes moved to her face… sometimes to her bare feet burning against the scorching terrace floor.
But his expression remained completely rigid.
As if none of it affected him.
Twenty-five minutes had already passed.
Yet only half the box of balloons was empty.
Maya’s face had turned deep red from the heat. Sweat soaked through her clothes, strands of hair sticking to her damp skin. Her cheeks had begun aching from the constant blowing, each breath heavier than the last.
Still… she didn’t look at Atharva even once.
She simply picked up another balloon and began filling it.
Then—
The timer rang.
Atharva’s voice cut sharply through the air.
“Stop, biwi.”
Maya’s hands froze.
She inhaled deeply, trying to steady her breathing, and slowly looked toward him.
Atharva stood up from his chair and walked over to her. Stopping just inches away, he studied her face for a moment.
Then he spoke casually.
“Alright… let’s go from here.”
“For the next punishment.”
Maya’s chest tightened.
“Atharva… please,” she said weakly. “Stop all this. It hurts… a lot.”
Atharva shrugged slightly.
“It always does.”
He looked straight into her eyes.
“Whether I have sex with you… or punish you… you always complain about pain.”
His tone was almost mocking.
“But if I start caring about your comfort in everything, biwi… how will things work?”
With that, he turned around.
“Come quickly.”
Maya followed him slowly, her steps unsteady.
They reached the staircase.
Atharva stopped beside it.
“Go down.”
Maya stared at the stairs in disbelief.
“Through the stairs?” she asked.
Atharva simply nodded.
Maya’s legs had already given up.
After standing so long under the scorching sun… now walking down from the fourth floor to the ground floor using stairs—
The thought alone made her soul tremble.
She could barely stand properly.
How was she supposed to walk?
Atharva’s voice came from behind.
“What are you waiting for, biwi?”
“Go on.”
Maya gripped the railing tightly.
Then slowly… painfully… she began stepping down.
One step at a time.
Atharva walked right behind her.
Maya’s feet were no longer capable of touching the ground properly. Every time her sole touched the stair, a sharp pain shot through her body.
Her eyes closed with almost every step.
Her grip on the railing tightened as if it were the only thing holding her up.
Whenever she stumbled—
Atharva caught her arm just enough to steady her.
But he never suggested taking the lift.
After what felt like forever—
They finally reached the hall downstairs.
Everyone was already there.
The moment they saw Atharva and Maya in that condition, they immediately stood up from the couches.
But just as Maya stepped down the final stair—
Her legs gave out.
She collapsed onto the floor.
Her body was drenched in sweat, her face burning red, breaths coming out heavy and uneven.
The sight was unbearable.
Everyone rushed toward her.
But before anyone could reach—
Atharva’s voice thundered through the hall.
“Don’t you dare touch my wife.”
The words froze everyone in place.
Atharva turned to one of the servants and said something quietly.
Then he walked over and sat calmly on the couch.
Maya remained on the floor, struggling to breathe.
Tears had already filled the eyes of everyone standing there.
No one could bear to see her like this.
Atharva glanced at her lazily.
“Biwi,” he said. “Get up.”
“Come here.”
Maya was still sitting on the floor, her head lowered.
Tears slid down her face, but she stayed quiet.
Perhaps she didn’t want anyone to see her crying.
Atharva was watching her when suddenly his phone rang.
He picked it up and walked toward a corner of the hall, facing the garden outside while answering the call.
In that moment—
Maya slowly tried to stand up.
But the moment she straightened, her balance slipped and she was about to fall again—
When Veer quickly grabbed her arm and steadied her.
Maya looked at him weakly.
“Ve… Veer… don’t. Otherwise—”
“I don’t care,” Veer interrupted firmly.
“Just come with me.”
Gently, he placed Maya’s arm over his shoulder and began helping her walk toward the couch.
Dhruv and Nidhi immediately moved closer, walking beside her carefully so she wouldn’t struggle while placing her feet.
Together, the three of them slowly guided Maya to the couch.
They helped her sit down.
Atharva was still on the phone.
His attention hadn’t shifted toward them yet.
Suman hurried toward Maya with a glass of water.
“Drink this, beta,” she said softly, holding it near her lips.
Maya’s hands trembled as she took the glass and drank a few small sips.
Meanwhile, Veer quickly knelt down in front of her.
Without hesitation, he gently lifted Maya’s feet and placed them on his lap.
The moment he saw them clearly—
His jaw tightened.
Blisters had formed all over her soles. Some of them had already burst, the skin red and raw from the scorching terrace. It was no wonder she could barely walk.
Before anyone else could react—
Atharva suddenly stormed forward.
“How dare you touch her!”
With a sharp shove, he pushed Veer away.
Veer stumbled backward and crashed against the table behind him.
Everyone in the hall stared at Atharva in shock.
“I told you to stay away from her!” Atharva snapped, his voice dangerously low. “Where did you get the courage to touch her again?”
Veer straightened slowly, anger flickering in his eyes.
“What else were we supposed to do?” he shot back. “You’re torturing her like this… we couldn’t just stand and watch.”
His voice hardened.
“So I helped her. And what will you do? Kill me?”
He lifted his chin slightly.
“Then do it.”
Atharva stepped toward him, fury flashing across his face.
But just then—
A servant rushed forward nervously.
“Sir… ice water and ointment.”
Everyone in the room exchanged confused glances.
Atharva stopped.
For a moment he looked at Veer… then turned toward the servant.
“Keep it near her.”
The servant quickly placed the bowl of ice water beside Maya.
Atharva took a slow breath, forcing his anger down.
Then he crouched beside Maya.
Without saying anything, he gently lifted her feet and placed them into the bowl of ice water.
The moment her burned soles touched the freezing water—
Maya’s eyes closed instantly.
A faint breath escaped her lips.
The relief was immediate.
As if someone had suddenly erased the burning pain from her body.
As if, for a moment, every bit of suffering had disappeared.
Everyone stood silently, watching the scene.
Atharva looked at Maya briefly… then began rubbing ice gently over her feet.
Maya gripped the edge of the couch tightly and kept her eyes shut, absorbing the coolness.
Veer muttered under his breath.
“First he does this to her…“And now he acts like he cares.”
Dhruv sighed quietly beside him.
“He really does care,” he said softly. “But his anger is so extreme that everything turns worse every time.”
Veer didn’t reply.
But for the first time, his eyes held real anger toward Atharva.
Atharva continued rubbing the ice slowly across Maya’s feet.
Gradually, the redness began fading. The burning skin cooled under the icy water.
After keeping them submerged for several minutes, Maya finally seemed to relax slightly.
Atharva lifted her feet from the bowl and placed them carefully on his lap.
He dried them gently with a towel before applying ointment over the blisters.
Maya watched him quietly for a moment.
Then she spoke.
“Why are you doing all this?”
Atharva didn’t look at her.
He simply placed her feet back onto the table carefully.
Maya’s voice followed again.
“Did you forget what you said, Atharva Raisinghani?”
She tilted her head slightly.
“No mercy at all.”
“And yet… this looks like something very different.”
Atharva sat down beside her.
Then he turned his head slowly and looked straight at her.
“Why?” he asked calmly. “Should I have let Veer do all this instead?”
The question stunned everyone.
Maya stared at him in disbelief.
So did the others.
“Your mind is filled with filth,” Maya said coldly. “And it will probably never be cleaned.”
Atharva raised an eyebrow.
“What did I say that was wrong?”
He leaned closer.
“When he helped you… you didn’t say ‘don’t touch me.’”
His voice lowered.
“But with me you’re saying all this.”
Then he bent closer until his face was inches from hers.
“So tell me something.”Am I your husband… or is he?”
For a moment Maya just looked at him.
Then her gaze moved across the room where everyone was standing.
A faint, sarcastic smile appeared on her lips.
“If I had known I was going to marry into this house,” she said calmly, “I would have married Veer instead of you.”
The words hit the room like a spark.
Atharva’s expression darkened instantly.
But the others… couldn’t help a faint smile.
They knew Maya had only said it to provoke him.
Only to anger him.
But Veer’s reaction was different.
Something genuine flickered in his eyes — feelings he had never fully hidden.
Atharva suddenly grabbed Maya by the back of her neck and pulled her close.
His grip was firm.
“What did you just say?” he growled. “Say it again.”
Maya looked straight into his eyes.
“Didn’t you hear me the first time?” she said quietly.
Then she repeated slowly,
“If the marriage had happened according to my wish… I wouldn’t have married you.I would marry....”
Just then Atharva cut her off, his voice sharp.
“I will kill you… and him… both.”
His eyes burned.
“If his name comes out of your mouth again.”
For a long moment, the room fell into complete silence.
Maya and Atharva looked at each other.
Neither of them spoke.
Atharva’s hand was still around the back of her neck, his grip firm but no longer tightening. His eyes burned with something dark and unreadable — anger, possession, something deeper that no one in the room could fully understand.
Maya didn’t look away.
Even with exhaustion written across her face… even with her body still weak… her gaze remained steady on his.
There was defiance in it.
And something else.
Something that refused to break.
The air between them felt heavy, almost suffocating.
No one in the room dared to interrupt.
Veer stood still, his jaw clenched.
Dhruv and Nidhi exchanged a quiet glance.
Suman’s fingers twisted nervously in the end of her saree.
But Maya and Atharva remained locked in that silent stare.
Two storms collide without a single word.
And for that brief moment—
Neither of them looked willing to lose.