53. Toxic Wife
DHWANI'S POV :-
I wear the blouse aand tied the strings loosely, just enough to keep it in place.
It had that cris-cross back design which looked pretty but it was a nightmare to handle alone.
After that, I draped the saree properly, It was easy to wear but difficult to survive in.
Exactwhat I expected, because it was heavy.
I pinned the end over my shoulder and opened the jewellery box Dhrithika gave me. My eyes got stuck on the necklace.
No doubt-Raizaadas have one of the best jewellery collections in the world.
So fucking perfect.
I picked it up and wore it, locking it in place, then the earrings.
Balancing myself carefully on one foot, I stood up and walked towards the vanity.
It was hard but not impossible. I just had to avoid putting pressure on my injured foot.
Making myself comfortable on stool, I combed my hair and secured half of it with a clutch. Then came my makeup. The hardest part was perfect winged eyeliner, obviously and I did that part pretty well.
Later applied mascara making sure my lashes don't feel insecure next to Yugant's naturally unfair advantage.
Mine aren't bad. But his?
Annoyingly better.
Huh. Still, I look prettier.
I was wearing my earrings when the door opened and Dhrithika walked inside. "OMG, guess who is looking breathtaking today?" she said, walking closer.
I blushed.
She's a proper girl's girl. Always supportive. And honestly, what else do we need? Just one woman hyping you up and life feels sorted. Men can go to hell.
Yeah... and you married one. My mind mocked.
Why is my mind so sarcastic? Shut up.
"Thank you..." I smiled. "Can you tie this blouse properly? Please." I pointed at my back.
She nodded and knelt behind me, fixing those criss-cross strings that ran from my waist to my back. The design was actually very pretty... just not made for self-service.
"Dadi did an amazing job with this blouse. I mean, I still can't believe she got it ready," I said, admiring it.
"Yeah... Dadi used to design Mumma's blouses too. Every single one, different. She loves when women look hot in desi clothes," Dhrithika said, standing up.
Wow. Baddie Dadi.
I stood up carefully, with her help.
"How's your foot now?" she asked.
"It's fine... we don't even need a doctor."
"That's great... but bhaiya already took the appointment, so you're going. But before that-rituals."
"Rituals?" I frowned.
"No idea. Let's find out."
I nodded. She held my arm like I might collapse any second. My foot was fine... but okay, princess treatment, I'll take it.
As we walked downstairs, I saw everyone in the living area. Dadi was busy giving instructions, Dadu was peacefully sipping tea.
Adhvait's wife... I mean vedika was sitting on the couch with Pihu in her lap. My chest tightened a little looking at her.
Then my eyes found Bhai walking back and forth near the window like a stressed manager.
"Bhai..." I called.
He turned after hearing my voice. His entire face brightened as he walked straight to me before pulling me into a tight hug.
I melted.
The way Yugant was acting, I thought he might have already shipped Bhai back to Rajasthan. But no.
Thankfully he was still here.
"Are you okay? Did Yugant behave properly? Did he hurt you? Did you take your medicine? Did you eat anything?" he fired questions non-stop.
"Breathe," I pulled back slightly. "And look at me. I'm absolutely fine."
He exhaled and looked at me properly, from head to toe and blinked then leaned in and kissed my hair softly.
"You're looking ethereal," he murmured. "Feels unreal... just yesterday I found you, and promised I won't let you go."
My eyes stung instantly, but I smiled.
"Why do you do this every time?" I asked softly.
"What did I even do now?" he asked, but his eyes were already wet.
He knows what I was talking about.
I narrowed my eyes. "Are you... crying?"
He let out a small laugh and rubbed his eyes quickly, turning his face away for a second.
I bit my lip. I know he is being emotional and it's the first time I am seeing him like this.
After a few seconds hn sniffed and looked back at me like nothing happened.
"Did Yugant behave properly?" he asked again, probably changing the topic.
I nodded. "He's the best. You know that."
"Excuse me?" he raised a brow. "You're saying this in front of me?"
"Of course." I accepted.
We both smiled. He flicked my forehead lightly. "Ungrateful."
"Ouch!" I frowned. "I just got married, at least respect your sister now."
He scoffed. "You were crying over him two days ago, now suddenly he's 'the best'?"
"Growth," I said proudly, though only I know the reality.
He shook his head before smiling then adjusted my pallu properly, fixing it on my shoulder.
"Stand straight, let me admire my silly girl," he muttered.
"You're acting like my mother."
"Someone has to. Clearly you don't have sense."
I rolled my eyes but didn't move away because no matter what his hand on my head...still felt like home.
"Dhwani... come here beta," Dadi's voice came from behind.
Bhai blinked at me once. "Go."
I nodded, then held his arm. "Come with me, my foot is injured."
He nodded and walked with me towards them.
I can walk but I need him close.
"Just make sure to bend and take Dadi and Dadu's blessings," Bhai whispered in my ear.
I looked at him. "Why?"
"Dhwani... that's how we take blessings."
"But Dhrithika never does that," I said, very logically.
"Dhwani..."
"Yes, Bhai?"
"Behave," he said strictly. "At least for today."
I exhaled. "Okay... just because you want it."
"Good girl."
As we reached closer, I bent to touch their feet-
But Dadi stopped me.
"Don't do this... daughters don't touch feet in our family," she said, holding me before I could bend.
I already knew that but of course, my brother had to act like my mother-in-law.
Dadi pulled me into a warm hug, patting my back softly before blessing me- "Stay forever married and blessed, always stay happy, keep smiling, may your and Yugant's bond remain strong and may every happiness come your way."
"Thanks for the blessings Dadi." I turned towards Dadu and he showered the blessings as well.
"Where is Yugant?" I finally asked, as everyone was there except him.
"Bhaiya is with Ishaan.... outside. I'll call them," Dhrithika said, already walking out. We waited for a few minutes then Yugant finally walked in and stood beside me.
"Let's go, we're getting late," he said, grabbing my wrist.
Before I could stop him, Dadi stepped ahead. "Where are you going now? Didn't I say we have to do some rituals?"
"Dadi... we have a doctor's appointment. We can't miss it," Yugant explained.
Urghh... why is he like this?
"Yugant... it's been too much now. I already told you about the rituals. You both didn't even do them last night."
"Sorry, Dadi... we're getting late. We'll talk later." He didn't listen, just tried to pull me with him.
"Yugant... I told you I'm fine. We don't need a doctor."
"Ohh yes, we do." Still not listening.
"Let's do the rituals first. Dadi has been waiting since last night," I tried again.
He sighed, clearly done, then bent and lifted me in his arms. "Sorry, Dadi... the appointment is important."
And just like that, he walked out with me.
I tried to stop him, but he ignored me completely.
As we reached outside, he made me sit inside the car, then got in and drove off without a word.
Why is he being so bossy?
I told him I'm fine, but no-he won't listen. He didn't even listen to Dadi once.
I looked out of the window, that same thought creeping back in.
Maybe... he still doesn't see me as his wife. Maybe that's why he's avoiding all the rituals.
I opened my fist and looked at the henna. My teeth clenched. I tried so hard to remove it last night, even scrubbed it like crazy.
But it's still there, same stained.
Why the fuck did I even apply it? Went through all that pain... for what?
I didn't even get to see what I wanted-that look. That care. That admiration.
Yugant didn't say a word the entire drive. Just sat there and drove and I stayed quiet too.
What's the point of talking when the one person I wanted to impress didn't even care enough to notice?
He parked the car in the hospital. I opened the door and stepped out.
Urghh... I wasn't even wearing slippers. Amazing.
He came towards me and lifted me again.
"Can you please stop carrying me like a baby?" I snapped this time.
He didn't answer at first. Just kept walking. "Ohh... I didn't know you see yourself as a baby," he said calmly, almost bored. "I thought I married a woman who knows the difference between care and control."
"but I don't need this kind of care where you're just trying to control everything." He stopped and looked down at me.
"This feels like control to you?" his tone wasn't loud... but it hit harder like I just accused him of something serious.
"Then what is it?" I snapped back. "You're doing whatever you want? Not listening to anyone? Acting like a jerk? Even hurting Dadi."
His jaw tightened.
"For once, stop twisting things," he said, voice low but sharp. "I'm not controlling you. I'm trying to make sure you don't make things worse for yourself."
"Oh really?" I laughed dryly. "Because it looks like you just enjoy ordering people around."
"And it looks like you enjoy hurting yourself to prove a point," he shot back instantly.
"So now it's my fault?" I narrowed my eyes. "Great. Perfect husband you are."
"And perfect wife you are, right?" he started walking, eyes fixed ahead. "Ignoring your injury, arguing for the sake of it, and then blaming me for caring."
"I didn't ask for your care!"
"Yeah, you don't ask," he snapped. "You just go ahead and hurt yourself and expect me to stand there and admire your carelessness."
Why the fuck he behaving as if this injury was my fault not his?
"Careless?" I repeated, disbelief clear. "You think I'm careless?"
Silence stretched for a second.
"You know what?" he exhaled, as he stopped walking again. "Let's just get your check-up done first. Because right now, the way you're talking... you're really testing my patience to just drop you here."
Wow.
"Then leave me," I said immediately.
He stared at me for a second too long then shook his head.
"Not happening," he muttered, adjusting his hold on me and walking inside again.
After a few seconds, we were inside the doctor's cabin. He examined my foot properly and said it was just a minor twist, nothing serious.
But of course Yugant didn't stop there. He insisted on an X-ray.
The doctor even tried to say it wasn't needed, but no... Mr. Overprotective had already decided.
So the X-ray was done.
And now we were sitting there, waiting for the reports silently. I didn't say anything.
At this point, what's even the point?
I know it's just a small twist. And now that we're already here, it's better he sees it himself instead of assuming the worst.
I leaned back slightly, exhaling.
I do love his care but not like this.
Not when it starts feeling like I don't even get a say in my own body.
Samarth bhai has always taken care of me. He was protective too... but never like this. Never to the point where I felt like I had no space to even speak. And maybe that's why somewhere, I was expecting the same from him.
After a few minutes, the reports finally came-and as expected, everything was normal.
I took a deep breath, silently thanking God.
Because if by any chance it wasn't normal... only God knows, he wouldn't have let me put my foot on the ground for a whole month.
The doctor prescribed a pain relief cream, a painkiller-which I clearly didn't need-and some home remedies.
By the time we were done, even the doctor was looking at me with pity... or maybe praying for himself. God knows.
Thankfully, Yugant let me walk this time.
Though his hand stayed firmly around my waist, practically carrying half my weight like I might collapse any second.
As we sat in the car again, he stayed quiet for a few minutes then he finally talked.
"Let's have breakfast outside."
My head snapped towards him.
"Seriously, Yugant? We already wasted one and a half hours here. Dadi must be waiting for us since morning for those rituals, and you're saying we should go out for breakfast?"
"We can do the rituals later," he said casually, like we were talking about rescheduling coffee, not something Dadi had been waiting for since last night.
I blinked, shocked.
I always thought I was the one who ignores people's feelings sometimes..... but clearly, he's on another level.
"How much later exactly?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "I mean... is there even a time? Or are you just avoiding it?"
"Avoiding?" he repeated, glancing at me once before looking back at the road.
"Of course avoiding, I think... you don't want to perform those rituals with me. You might have expected Olivia with you."
I shouldn't have said that last part but it slipped out anyway and the moment it did-I knew I messed up.
He parked the car roadside, and turned to me. "Where did Olivia come in between us suddenly?" he asked, clearly pissed.
"She was always between us... it's just that you never told me about her. Not even when we were getting physical."
"Oh wow... so we're playing the blame game now?" he let out a dry laugh. "Because I clearly remember someone saying it was just a physical bond we needed at that moment and was also ready to pay for my good service."
"I came back when I realized."
"Realized what?"
"Realized that I love you, dammit," my voice rose.
"I've been shouting it for days. I begged you not to marry her.
I accepted my mistake. I did everything...
and you still reached that pavilion, ready to marry her.
If I hadn't replaced her, she would be sitting here instead of me... sleeping on your bed... with you-"
I didn't even finish when his fingers wrapped around the back of my neck, pulling me closer and the next second-his lips crashed against mine.
Not soft. Not gentle. But hard.
It was anger. Frustration. Everything he wasn't saying-pressed into that kiss.
I froze then melted.
His hold tightened as he deepened it pushing his tongue inside my mouth, like he was trying to shut me up without using words. My breath hitched as he leaned in further, pushing me back against the seat, his presence overwhelming.
There was nothing calm about it. Nothing controlled.
It felt like punishment.
Like a question.
Like an answer.
All at once.
My fingers clenched against his shoulder as I tried to push him away for a second-but he didn't let me go easily. His grip stayed firm, his lips still moving against mine like he was trying to make me feel every ounce of what he couldn't say out loud.
And then suddenly he pulled back, both of us were breathing unevenly.
His forehead touching mine. Eyes dark. Burning.
"Don't," he said, voice low, rough. "Don't bring her between us. Not when you know damn well... there was never anyone there for me except you."
I punched his chest. "Then why are you being mean to me?"
"I am being mean?" he raised his brows.
I sniffed. "Yes, you're being mean. You're making me feel pathetic."
He exhaled, clearly done. "If I try to care, you call me controlling. If I get pissed, you blame me for making you feel pathetic. What do you even expect from me at this point?"
I pushed him back. He settled on his seat, waiting for my answer.
He knows what I expect. He knows I just confessed I love him, but instead of making me feel loved, feel his, he just kissed me, instead of saying he loves me too. Isn't that what makes someone feel pathetic? I'm not complaining about the kiss, I loved it, but saying it once wouldn't kill him.
"Let's go back home," I said, turning my face towards the window.
"Now you're avoiding the conversation?" he asked, reaching for my arm.
I shoved his hand away. "I'm tired. I want to change this saree and rest. What's the point of wearing it when you don't even want to perform those rituals?"
"Yeah... you're right. I don't want to perform those rituals. Happy now?" he snapped, his patience finally breaking.
I turned to look at him, my eyes filling instantly. I don't even know what those rituals mean, I don't know why Dadi wants them, but I wanted to do them because it's with him... and now he just said it like that.
"Why are you crying now? I just said what you were forcing me to say for the last fifteen minutes."
"I was forcing you?" I asked in disbelief.
"God... what kind of kaleshi wife did I get? Please save me."
"Yeah, I am kaleshi, toxic and everything... while my husband literally pulled off my nuptial chain when I was sleeping, probably thinking he made me wear it by mistake."
He went silent for a few seconds. Just stared at me, mouth slightly open like I just said something illegal.
"I took it off because it was for Olivia, not you."
See, he actually said that.
"Oh, so you finally said it?" I crossed my arms. "You must be dying to marry her."
He chuckled like I cracked a joke.
I glared at him.
He leaned closer, grabbing my chin lightly. "Dhwani... what happened to you suddenly? Why are you behaving like some toxic girlfriend who just caught her boyfriend with his ex and now won't let it go?"
He ran a hand through his hair, already done. "You're dragging her into every second sentence, as if you're obsessed with her."
"Oh wow, now I'm the obsessed one?" I scoffed. "Great. Next you'll say Olivia never existed."
"I wish she didn't at this point," he muttered under his breath.
"What did you just say?" I asked, frowning because I clearly missed the last sentence.
"Nothing..." he replied calmly. "Let's go back home. Dadi must be waiting for the rituals."
Before I could react, he placed my hand over the gear and covered it with his, starting the car.
"I'm not performing any rituals now," I said, turning my face towards the window and trying to pull my hand back but he didn't let go. His grip only tightened.
"We'll see, Mrs. Kaleshi Raizaada."