-14-
The weather was humid with the rain, white clouds dotting the blue sky.
It was a beautiful, almost melancholic day.
Jayasvi sat on a chair in her balcony, scrolling through different reels on her phone.
Her lips had healed, and the bruise had disappeared, but she still felt the weight of the recent events pressing down on her.
She had been trying her best to keep to herself, avoiding conversations and interactions.
It had been five days since she last spoke to Raghav, and doubt had started to creep into her mind.
"Why does this always happen to me?" she thought, staring at the sky. She felt isolated, with no friends, a strained relationship with her family, a father who wouldn't hesitate to hit her, and a mother who always blamed her. Maybe they were right. Maybe she was arrogant and rude.
Jayasvi let out a deep breath and put her phone aside.
Her emotional health was deteriorating with each passing moment.
Fresh tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled the scene at her grandparents' house.
It wasn't the slap that hurt the most, but the fact that she wasn't even given a chance to explain herself.
She sniffed lightly, biting her lips to stop herself from sobbing.
The last thing she wanted was for her neighbors to see her like this and start spreading rumors about her being depressed.
She sighed and picked up her phone again, watching reels to distract herself.
Suddenly, a reel popped up featuring her father-in-law, Gajraaj Hooda.
He was waving at the camera, a small smile on his lips, with the text stating, "Yes, he does look good.
"
Then, the song changed to a faster track as Raghav entered the frame, waving at the media and joining his hands respectfully while standing beside his father.
The text changed to: "But he looks better as my sasur ji(father-in-law).
" Jayasvi glared at the reel, knowing how this trend always played out whenever a good-looking guy from an influential family appeared on camera.
She searched to find the source of the reel.
It was from the marriage of the daughter of a big businessman, Kunal Rajput.
Raghav and his father had attended the wedding, and the media had captured them.
Raghav was dressed in a black three-piece suit, while his father wore a long dark black coat and matching pants.
The media was abuzz with how Raghav had turned into a national crush with just one appearance on camera.
Feeling a mix of emotions, Jayasvi decided to call Raghav. She missed him and needed someone to talk to. After a few rings, he answered, and his face appeared on the screen, looking as handsome as ever.
"Hey," she said, her voice a bit shaky.
"Hey, Jayasvi. How are you?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"I'm... I'm okay," she replied, trying to sound cheerful.
"You don't sound okay. What's going on?" he pressed gently.
She took a deep breath, deciding to tease him a bit to lighten the mood. "So, I saw this reel of you and your father at that wedding. Seems like you've become quite the national crush," she said, trying to smile.
Raghav chuckled. "Oh, that. It's just media hype. You know how they are."
"Sure, Mr. National Crush. Must be getting a lot of attention, huh?" she teased.
He smirked. "Are you jealous, Jayasvi?"
She rolled her eyes, though she couldn't deny the slight pang of jealousy she felt. "Maybe a little. You're getting all this attention while I'm just here, feeling miserable."
Raghav's expression softened. "Hey, don't say that. You're the only one who matters to me."
Her heart fluttered at his words, but she quickly masked her feelings. "You say that now, but who knows? Maybe you'll find someone better with all that media attention."
Raghav's eyes narrowed playfully. "You're seriously jealous, aren't you?"
Jayasvi rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Please, you're not that special."
"Oh, really?" he teased back. "Because the comments on that reel say otherwise."
"Well, maybe I'm just immune to your charms," she shot back, feeling a bit more like herself.
"Is that so?" Raghav said, his tone playful. "You sure you're okay? You've been quiet these past few days."
Jayasvi hesitated, the weight of her recent experiences pressing down on her. "It's nothing, just some family stuff."
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked gently.
She took a deep breath. "Not right now. I just... need some time."
"Okay," Raghav said softly. "But you know I'm here for you, right?"
"Yeah, I know," she replied, feeling a warmth spread through her. "Thanks."
They talked for a while longer, Raghav's playful teasing helping to lift her spirits. As they said their goodbyes, Jayasvi felt a little lighter, though the shadows of her recent experiences still lingered.
As the days passed, he was present in almost all the reels with different girls imagining him as their future spouse, some already calling his father, their father-in-law. Jayasvi couldn't help but pout at another such reel. She just wants him to come back soon.
She stared at his ring, its pearls gleaming under the soft light.
After a few moments, she couldn't help but kiss the pearls, smiling softly.
It wasn't his fault that everyone found him so charming.
It was the undeniable truth. He was handsome, hot, sexy, dashing, and all the other words that could barely capture his allure.
With the amount of unrest she had been feeling over the past few days, she took her grandmother's permission to visit the nearby Krishna temple after college.
Fortunately, she received the approval. Everything around her seemed so depressing.
At night, she would feel her mother cupping her face to check on her lip and then kiss her forehead.
It would just make her cry silently. She was breaking inside.
Why would her mother put someone else above her? She was her daughter, not them.
As she entered the temple, she felt a sense of calmness wash over her. The trees surrounding the magnificent temple and the fragrance of incense sticks brought her mind to peace. She took a deep breath, moving inside the temple and raising her hands to ring the brass bell.
For once, she felt weak yet protected. This wasn't something she could explain in words.
All the layers she had put up around her were starting to fall away as she stood before her god, her Kanha, holding his flute and smiling sweetly at her.
All the tears she had held back came undone.
She just stared at his smile while the tears streamed down her face.
She knew that even if nobody in the world liked her, her Kanha, her Krishna, wouldn't stop caring about her.
The warmth she felt in her body, as if someone hugged her close and asked her to let go of all her difficulties and trust in him, was overwhelming.
She sat in a corner, closing her eyes and feeling the warmth enveloping her.
She didn't care if someone saw her like this and thought she was crazy; she just wanted to be vulnerable to someone she knew would understand her emotions, no matter how complex they were.
Jayasvi knew that sometimes life wasn't as difficult as we made it with our decisions.
She also knew she was overreacting to certain things, but she was tired of being the last one in everyone's life.
All she wanted was for someone to treat her as their first choice.
Was she asking for too much? Was she that bad that she didn't deserve this small thing?
After hours of letting out her tears and moments of sobbing, she felt calm. It was like she had a long conversation with the Almighty, who wiped her tears clean. She knew she would get everything she deserved, be it good or bad, and her god would always be with her in all situations.
She smiled lightly, knowing that if someone did something wrong to her, maybe she would forget it, but her Kanha wouldn't. She had observed this in her life.
All she had to do was let go of any grief inside her and surrender herself to him.
She swore she felt a soft touch on her head, which made her smile brighter.
It was a matter of belief, and even if she was just feeling things out of nowhere, it was what she needed at the moment to feel safe.
With a newfound energy inside her, she left the temple.
She decided to start talking to her mother normally again.
She understood how difficult it was for her mother to choose between her and her family.
She knew her grandmother was a traditional woman who never liked a vocal woman and always considered Jayasvi wrong for being so bold and outspoken.
Ankita, on the other hand, was more vocal than her but knew how to use tears to divert the flow of the conversation and be painted as the victim.
It wasn't the first time, and it most likely wouldn't be the last.
Anjali, on the other hand, was over the moon to see her daughter back to her normal self. She had felt so helpless seeing Jayasvi's dull face, but now things were better.
The monsoon season was in full swing, with dark clouds blanketing the sky and a gentle drizzle falling continuously.
The air was thick with humidity, making the lush green surroundings of the city look even more vibrant.
The rhythmic patter of raindrops against the windowpanes created a soothing symphony as Jayasvi stood in front of her mirror, applying the finishing touches to her makeup.
She had missed Raghav terribly during his trip to London, where he had been attending a series of important business meetings.
Now that he was back, she was eager to see him, hoping to surprise him at his office.
She had chosen a long black dress that hugged her curves, accentuating her figure.
The dress was a bit tight around her bosom, which made her slightly uncomfortable, but she loved the way it looked on her.
She had also decided to wear colored contact lenses since one needs to get used to them before wearing them for longer time and she wished to wear them at any upcoming celebration, opting for a emerald green that complemented her skin tone.
She felt a bit nervous about the lenses, but she hoped Raghav would like them.
Ankita's words somehow made her self-conscious. She wanted to look her best for Raghav.
With her makeup done and her hair styled, she took a deep breath and headed out into the rain, carefully shielding herself with an umbrella.
The city streets were busy, with people hurrying along under umbrellas, trying to avoid getting drenched.
The air smelled fresh, with the earthy scent of rain mixing with the aroma of street food from nearby vendors.
As she arrived at Raghav's office building, her heart raced with anticipation. She stood outside for a moment, gathering her thoughts and taking a deep breath. Then she dialed his number, waiting for him to pick up.
"Hey," Raghav's voice came through the phone, sounding a bit tired but familiar.
"Hey, I'm outside your office. Can I come up?" Jayasvi asked, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.
There was a brief pause before he responded, "Sure, come on up."
As she made her way to Raghav's office, she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. His office building was a sleek, modern structure, all glass and steel, with a bustling lobby filled with professionals. She was greeted by his assistant, who led her up to the top floor.
"Sir is expecting you," the assistant said with a polite smile, opening the door to Raghav's office.
Jayasvi entered, her heart pounding. The office was as impressive as she remembered, with its expansive view of the city and elegant furnishings. Raghav was standing by the window, his back to her. He turned when he heard her enter, a smile forming on his lips.
"Jayasvi, you look stunning," he said, moving towards her.
"Thank you," she replied, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. "I wanted to look nice for you."
As he approached, he reached out to take her hands, but then his eyes locked onto hers. The smile on his face faded, replaced by a look of confusion and something darker.
"Your eyes," he said, his voice dropping. "What have you done to them?"
Jayasvi felt a jolt of fear. "I... I tried colored lenses. I thought I should get used to them if I wanted to wear them in future."
Raghav's grip on her hands tightened, his expression hardening. "Why would you change your eyes? Your natural eyes are beautiful. These... these lenses make you look like someone else."
His reaction shocked her. She had never seen him this aggressive or possessive. "I thought you might like them," she said softly, trying to understand his anger.
"I don't like them," he snapped, his eyes flashing. "I want you, Jayasvi, just as you are. Not some version of you with fake eyes."
Jayasvi's heart sank. She had thought the lenses would please him, make her look more attractive. She hadn't expected this reaction. "I'm sorry," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
He held her wrist pulling her towards him roughly.
A gasp left her lips as she found herself close to him.
She felt fear taking over her body looking at the anger in his eyes.
It felt like his eyes were turning darker with every passing moment.
He held her jaw in a tight grip making her wince in pain.
"Was it just about looking good for me or something else?", he questioned his face dangerously close to hers. She couldn't believe this was the same guy she was used to talking. This was the same guy she felt safe with because right now the only emotion she could feel was fear.
"Or maybe you like attention," he concluded. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to register his words, with his right arm wrapped around her waist getting tighter. It was painful for her. She tried to push him away, feeling tears pooling in her eyes.
He turned her in his arms with her back resting on his chest, pulling her towards a mirror in the room, forcing her to see his cold expressions.
His arms wrapped possessively around her waist, her face turning red with embarrassment and fear of the unknown.
She gulped down as he forced her to look at the mirror with his hold on her neck from the front.
This position was just so overwhelming for Jayasvi as she gulped down.
"Jayasvi, look how we look together. Do you think there is something we are lacking?" he spoke, his words whispering in her ears, making her shiver. His grip tightened around her waist and neck as she tried to squirm out of his hold.
"Answer me," he growled, biting her earlobe, which made her freeze in place.
"No," she whispered shakily. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt his hand sneaking up and resting on her breast. She looked at him with nervousness and anxiousness evident in her eyes when she felt a rough squeeze, which made her gasp in pain.
"You know I don't like it when somebody looks at you.
And you looking like this would make it impossible for anyone to look away," he spoke, his voice still a mere whisper in her ear, giving another squeeze to her breast which made her moan louder.
She never thought she could make such sounds.
She felt terrible at the thought of being in this situation and acting like a shivering mess.
He turned her in his arms, her palms resting on his chest as she stared at him with uncertainty. Somewhere in her heart, she was telling herself not to be scared, that he wouldn't hurt her, judging by his past behavior. But he had never behaved this way with her before.
He picked her up in his arms, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to stop herself from falling.
She felt like she didn't have the power to even look into his eyes.
She knew she was submissive by nature, but this was a different situation.
Right? She couldn't just let him treat her however he wanted.
But the past days with her father had left her so scared to say anything. She couldn't forget that slap. He sat on the leather sofa in his cabin with her in his lap sideways. She was a shivering mess at this point.
He cupped her neck from one side, peppering kisses on the other side to have more access to her soft skin while she held his shirt in a tight grip.
"Raghav, please," she whispered, gasping for air as her chest rose, catching his attention. He could see a bit of her cleavage having her so close. She felt his fingers rubbing the skin of her neck with his thumb making her shiver.
She didn't know what was happening, but the whole situation was turning hot somehow.
She felt heat pooling between her legs as his lips moved downward, kissing her shoulders above the dress.
He slowly made her straddle him as he pushed the sleeves of her dress from her shoulders.
Her hands were shivering more with every passing second.
She could feel his rough, manly touch on her bare shoulder where her bra strap was visible. Her mind was too hazy to think clearly.
The intensity of his actions and the heat between them were confusing. Was this love, possession, or something else entirely?
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