-19-
The air was getting colder as the night got darker. The loud music from the farmhouse was making the environment alive, and the beautiful fairy lights looked magnificent, casting a magical glow over the scene.
Away from it, Jayasvi stepped out. It was like something was calling her out, like in those haunted movies.
Her logical side was telling her to go and see what was going on.
She never thought she would be this curious to go into the parking area.
If her mother found out about it, she would hear so much from her.
Her movement came to a halt as she found Rishabh standing there with Dhara.
She was confused as to why they were here together.
"Dhara baby, please stop this madness. Don't pull Jayu into this thing. I have told you so many times. She is too emotional. She'll not be able to handle the truth," Rishabh spoke, cupping Dhara's face, who pushed his hands away immediately.
"It's too late, Rishabh. And why do you think she'll be unhappy with Bhaiya? Didn't you see how happy she looked with him?" Dhara spoke, crossing her arms over her chest. Her voice was loud this time as she turned her back to Rishabh.
Rishabh held her elbow in a tight grip, forcing her to look at him.
"She is a freaking innocent, for God's sake. She doesn't know how to rightly judge a person. Your brother will stop acting one day and that day, she'll break down beyond repair," Rishabh scolded her, his face red with anger.
"Why are you acting like you weren't known to it?
Why don't you understand it, baby? Bhaiya can only help you with resources and clients after he establishes a relationship with you.
If Bhaiya marries her, it would also help Papa in elections.
It is advantageous for everyone. When Bhaiya isn't having any problems, why do you have to ruin everything? " Dhara screamed in irritation.
"Don't you understand, damn it? She is falling for him when she doesn't even know his real identity.
I know his real face. He isn't the well-mannered man she thinks he is.
He is the most aggressive and cruel man she could ever meet in her whole life.
He won't ever think before hurting her if it means he can have an advantage out of it," Rishabh spoke, pushing Dhara away from him.
"Why did you even want her to be his bride when it could've been Ankita? She wouldn't even care if there was no emotional stability, but Jayasvi is sensitive to it," Rishabh spoke in frustration. Dhara was silent for a long time, looking at the angry look on Rishabh's face.
"Since she was easy and already had a liking for Papa, it wouldn't be difficult to make her attracted to Bhaiya since she was already living in a house where there is an unhappy marriage.
A little bit of affection made her happy," Dhara confessed, looking at Rishabh in a shaky tone.
She herself was guilty about how things had turned out, but that was the ultimatum her father gave her to continue her relationship with Rishabh.
Once his business was established with the help of Raghav, they could get married.
It could be painted as an arranged marriage as her father wanted.
He wanted his image as the perfect Indian father in his community to not get ruined.
"So for your happiness, you are ready to destroy—" his words came to a halt when he heard something fall.
Jayasvi felt it was even difficult for her to breathe with the revelation.
Her face was wet with nonstop tears as all the memories with Raghav started flashing in front of her eyes.
Her legs gave up. She could feel herself falling, taking the support of a car parked beside her, but a brick just behind her feet fell back, making a loud sound in the serious atmosphere and pulling everyone's attention towards her.
Rishabh and Dhara looked taken aback, finding Jayasvi standing there with tears falling down her face.
She took steps back, tripping on the same brick and falling back, her left palm coming in contact with a broken glass bottle, cutting into her flesh.
She screamed in pain, but the pain she felt in her heart was something that was killing her.
Everything seemed like a dream at this moment.
"Jayu," Rishabh tried to approach her. She got up on her own, glaring at him with her teary eyes, her face looking helpless.
"Just don't. Don't come close to me. You all are cheaters.
You all just betrayed me. You all just—" she couldn't complete her sentence as she moved away from them, almost running, running away from the people she once trusted so much.
She couldn't enter inside the venue in this situation neither did she want to face anyone right now.
She was just running without any destination.
She didn't know how she would face everyone.
Rishabh and Dhara were stunned, unable to process what had just happened. Jayasvi's world had crumbled in an instant, and she was now running away from the painful truth. As she ran, the cool night air stung her tear-streaked face. She barely noticed the blood dripping from her palm.
Back at the farmhouse, Dhara quickly dialed her brother Raghav's number, her hands trembling. "Pick up, pick up," she muttered, praying he would answer.
"Hello?" Raghav's deep voice finally came through the line seeming casual as ever.
"Bhaiya, it's Bhabhi! She overheard everything and ran away. She's hurt. You need to find her, please," Dhara blurted out, her voice breaking.
Raghav's stayed silent for a moment. "Where are you?" he demanded, already heading towards the exit.
"We're near the parking lot," Dhara replied. "Please hurry, Bhaiya. I'm scared for her."
Raghav hung up as he moved towards them. His face turning hard with every step.
Jayasvi was running on the empty road, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
She didn't want to think about what could happen to her in an unknown place.
Her mind was numb, overwhelmed by the betrayal she had just uncovered.
Her feet were hurting from the nonstop running in her heels.
She fell to the ground, the impact driving the glass pieces in her palm deeper.
She sobbed, holding her bleeding palm. She could almost hear her father's voice, warning her of the heartbreak she would endure in a relationship.
God seemed to have heard him. She looked up at the sky, sobbing loudly.
"Why this much pain only for me? What wrong did I do in my life? It hurts so much. I just want to throw this heart out," she screamed, her voice echoing in the empty night before she broke down into loud, uncontrollable sobs.
"Why?" she screamed at no one in particular, pulling her knees close to her chest.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!" A loud scream tore from her throat as she felt her heart breaking into pieces, each piece causing her more pain with every passing moment. She slapped her face with her right palm hard.
"You knew you didn't deserve anything. How dare you think of being happy?
" she sobbed, slapping her face nonstop.
It was all dark around her. Only the light from the moon and the distant glow from the farmhouse helped her see anything.
She got up, wanting to just run away. Tears weren't stopping as she walked aimlessly.
Her mother and her dadi would break if they knew the truth.
All they had ever received from her was pain, no matter how hard she tried.
She was truly cursed. How would they bear this?
She was lost in her thoughts when a car drove past her before stopping in her way. She was scared and blank. The car door opened, and out stepped the man responsible for her every tear.
"Jayasvi, get inside," he spoke softly, coming towards her. She flinched at his words, taking a step back. New tears started falling down her face.
"Jayasvi, honey, you are hurt. Get inside," this time his tone was strained as he took faster steps towards her. She shook her head, already a sobbing mess.
"You are a liar," she stated, her vision blurred with tears. She felt him gripping her elbow, pulling her towards his car.
"I don't want to go anywhere with you. Leave me!
" she screamed, trying to pull her hands out of his grip.
Her once perfect look was destroyed. Her face was devoid of makeup, washed off by her tears.
Her beautifully curled hair was a mess from her continuous falls.
Her dress was covered in dry dust. She was trying to get away from him when he pushed her against the car, his hand gripping her neck harshly.
The necklace she wore dug into her soft flesh from the tight grip.
She looked scared, staring into his dark, terrifying eyes.
It was like she didn't know this person.
His jaw was clenched tightly, causing her pain.
"Bewakuf ladki, tum mein dimaag naam ki cheez hai ya nahi.
Tameez se tumse baat karu to dimaag mein kuch ghusta nahi hai kya?
" he sneered, his face close to hers. All she could see in his eyes at that moment was hatred and disgust as he dug his other hand's finger on her waist. (You stupid girl, do you have any brain up there?
If I talk to you nicely, nothing gets inside your brain?)
"Pagal banakar rakha hai. Drama kar rakha hai.
Aao sab mere drama dekho. Sab kaam chorkar tumhare piche ghumo.
Drama to aise kar rahi ho jaise mein tumse attracted feel nahi karta aisa tumne expect hi nahi kara tha," he said, his grip tightening around her throat, making it difficult for her to breathe.
The necklace was scratching her soft skin causing cuts at certain place(Made a fool out of everyone doing all this drama, asking for everyone's attention.
You are acting like you are actually taken aback to know I am not attracted to you.)
"Tum jaisi ladki mujhe aankh band karke bhi mil sakti thi.
Are tum to apne maa baap ki bhi pehli pasand nahi ho, to meri pasand kaise hi ban sakti ho.
You know what? Achha hua tumhe sab pata chal gaya.
Mein bhi thak gaya tha acting kar karke to be the perfect husband for you.
Chee," he sneered at his own words. (I could've found a better girl even with my eyes closed.
You aren't even the first choice of your parents and you want to be my first choice.
You know what? It's right that you got to know about everything, now I don't have to act anymore.)
Every word was filled with disrespect and contempt. She never imagined her dreamland could be destroyed in moments. The man she loved so much didn't even respect her. She felt paralyzed, unable to react.
She couldn't utter a word. Her tears were speaking volumes, but nobody was there to understand them. She stared into his eyes, once so soft and loving, now filled with disgust.
He grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly to the other side of the car, opening the passenger seat door, and throwing her inside without caring about her injury. He slammed the door shut and quickly got into the driver's seat.
"Please, Raghav, I can't do this. You can marry anyone, please leave me," Jayasvi pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Stop being less irritating right now. I'm done with this drama.
I don't want to hear your voice. Why don't you just stop opening your mouth in front of me?
It would be great to hear one-word replies from you," he shouted, banging his fist on the steering wheel.
She flinched at his tone, shivering at the way he treated her.
Why did he harbor so much hatred for her? What had she done to deserve this?
She couldn't speak. It wasn't because he asked her to stay silent, but because she was too shocked to say anything. She stared ahead blankly, unaware of where he was driving. All she knew was that she had ruined herself.
He stopped the car in front of one of his hotels. He pulled her out, taking her inside through the back entrance to avoid being seen. He pushed her into a room where several women were waiting.
"Help her with her look. I'm giving you half an hour," he ordered the women without looking in Jayasvi's direction.
Jayasvi stood there, feeling utterly defeated and broken. The women approached her, their faces filled with sympathy and pity. She didn't resist as they began to clean her up, her mind numb and her heart shattered.
The women worked swiftly and silently, their hands moving deftly as they cleaned the dirt from Jayasvi's face, her dress, tended to her wounds, and brushed out her tangled hair.
She stood there, passive, as they transformed her back into the image of the perfect beauty looking better than she did when she got ready before.
Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and despair, her heart heavy with the weight of betrayal.
She felt like a puppet, her strings pulled by forces beyond her control.
Once they were done, one of the women handed her a mirror.
Jayasvi stared at her reflection, barely recognizing the face that looked back at her.
The woman in the mirror looked composed, almost serene, but the emptiness in her eyes with unshed tears betrayed the turmoil within.
She set the mirror down, her hands trembling.
The door opened, and Raghav walked in, his expression unreadable.
Raghav moved closer to her making her flinch.
His hand reach up on her chin and tightened there painfully as he examined her makeup.
"I hope the makeup is waterproof," he stated, casting a cold glance at the women who had applied it.
They nodded their heads slowly, fear evident in their eyes.
He turned her face sharply from side to side, ensuring that her emotions were well concealed.
The roughness of his touch made her feel like a lifeless doll, void of any feelings.
He gave her one final scrutinizing look, then addressed the women curtly. "Leave us," he commanded. They quickly exited the room, leaving Jayasvi alone with him.
Raghav stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Much better," he said, his voice dripping with cold satisfaction. "Now, listen to me very carefully. You are going to walk out of here with me, and you are going to act like everything is perfectly fine. Do you understand?"
Jayasvi's heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to scream, to fight back, but she knew it was futile. She nodded slowly, her voice barely a whisper. "I understand."
He moved even closer, pushing her roughly against the nearest wall. His grip on her chin tightened painfully, forcing her to look up at him. Her breath came in quick, shallow gasps, the scent of his cologne overwhelming her senses.
"Agar vo ladka mujhe tumhare aas pass dobara dikha na.
I swear cheer ke rakh dunga usko and you can't even think what I will do to you," he threatened, his voice low and menacing.
She was confused. Who was he talking about?
(If I see that guy around you again, I'll tear him apart, and you can't even imagine what I will do to you.)
"Understand?" he barked louder, making her flinch as he slapped his hand on the wall.
She nodded immediately, fear coursing through her veins.
He smiled, but it was a terrifying smile, devoid of any warmth.
He cupped her face, moving closer until his lips captured hers in a soft kiss.
His fingers roamed around her bare waist, reaching her back.
He pulled her closer, digging his fingers into her flesh.
She whimpered in pain as he bit her lower lip before pulling away.
This kiss made her feel disgusted with herself.
She hated it. It was a stark reminder of the control he had over her and how he could treat her however he wanted.
"Good," he said, his tone suddenly softening as he patted her cheek before his hand reached down resting on her ass which made her breath heavily flinching. "Now, let's go. We have a party to attend."
He extended his hand, and she hesitated for a moment before taking it. His grip was firm, almost possessive, as he led her out of the room and back towards the car. The drive back to the farmhouse was silent, the tension between them palpable.
When they arrived, the music and laughter from the party filled the air. Raghav parked the car and turned to Jayasvi, his expression hardening. "Remember what I said. Behave yourself."
She saw Rishabh standing outside with Dhara, both looking worried. Rishabh was on his phone but immediately moved toward Jayasvi when he saw them.
"Jayu," he called, approaching her. Jayasvi wanted to be angry at him but at this moment, she just felt helpless. She threw herself into his arms and let the tears fall down her cheeks. Her body vibrated with sobs as she hugged him tightly, somehow feeling safe in her elder brother's arms.
"What happened?", Rishabh's tone turned hard as he looked at Raghav as he looked at her left hand which was bandaged properly. Even her fingers were bandaged. Dhara approached her brother with a questioning gaze.
"Think twice before using this tone on me. It's your mistake, your sister is in this situation. If you would've controlled your eyes and stayed away from my sister, everything would've been better", Raghav spoke casually leaning on his car.
Rishabh tightened his hold on Jayasvi, his face hardening with anger as he processed Raghav's words. "This is not her fault," he said through gritted teeth. "You have no right to treat her like this."
Raghav chuckled darkly, pushing himself off the car and taking a step closer. "And you have no right to interfere in my business. Your little sister needs to learn her place, and so do you. Now, take her inside your car. I don't want to see a single tear on her face when she returns."
Dhara glanced nervously between the two men, her eyes pleading with her brother to stand down. "Rishabh, please," she whispered, "let's just get Jayu inside. We'll figure this out."
Rishabh's eyes blazed with fury, but he knew confronting Raghav further would only make things worse and he didn't have any power in front of him.
He nodded reluctantly and led Jayasvi towards his car, Dhara following closely behind.
Jayasvi's legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but she drew strength from her brother's support.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????