36
I slowly got down from Dattatriya's lap, my body still aching for that one kiss we almost shared-almost-but now replaced with cold dread. My phone kept buzzing in my hand as I walked out to the balcony, making sure to close the door softly behind me.
It better be good news, I whispered to myself and picked up the call.
The moment I heard the guard's trembling voice, my stomach twisted.
"Ma-ma'am... we... we couldn't find him," he stuttered.
I clenched my jaw so tightly it hurt. My hand tightened around the phone. I couldn't scream-I couldn't lose it like before. Dattatriya was still inside the room. He'd hear me.
So I kept my voice low. Cold. Lethal.
"Do you have any idea what kind of hell I'll unleash if you don't find him?"
"Ma'am w-we're trying-"
"TRYING ISN'T ENOUGH!" I growled. "You idiots let Gowtham Chadda escape. And now, thanks to your trying, my entire life is hanging by a thread. My marriage, my family, everything I fought for!"
"Ma'am please-"
"No! I don't want pleas! I want RESULTS! Find him. Drag him by his throat if needed. Inject him with enough tranquilizer to knock out a rhino, I don't care! He better be back in that dungeon within 24 hours or I swear, I'll bury all of you in a place even God won't find."
They were silent. I could feel them shivering through the phone.
"Do you hear me?" I hissed, deadly calm now. "One word-if one word about what happened reaches my husband, or my family, I'll ruin every last one of you."
"Y-yes ma'am," he whispered.
I hung up.
I stood there for a few more seconds, pressing the phone against my forehead. My heart was racing. My palms were sweaty. I couldn't let Gowtham ruin this. Not now. Not when Dattatriya was finally becoming mine.
I took a deep breath, composed my expression, and walked back into the room like nothing had happened.
Dattatriya was sitting exactly where I'd left him-one leg over the other, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, eyes following my every move.
I forced a smile. "Everything okay," I said lightly.
But he didn't smile back.
He just looked at me. Really looked.
"Your fake smile is getting worse, sunshine," he said softly.
My throat tightened.
He knew. Not the truth-yet-but he knew something was off.
And I had no idea how long I could keep pretending.
I didn't say anything.
I just walked to the bed silently, my chest tightening with every step, and lay down... facing my back to him. I couldn't let him see my face-he'd read right through me again.
I heard him sigh.
A few seconds later, I felt the bed dip slightly behind me. Then his arm slowly wrapped around my waist, firm and warm, and gently pulled me back-until my spine was flush against his chest.
His touch was grounding, but I still felt like I was drowning.
"I don't know what you're hiding, sunshine..." he whispered, his voice laced with concern. "But I can't see you like this-so stressed. It's eating you up inside."
He pressed a soft kiss on my head. Then another. And another.
I closed my eyes, holding my breath for a moment, pretending to melt into the comfort of his arms.
But my mind... my mind was a battlefield.
What if Gowtham shows up tomorrow?
What if he tells Dattatriya everything?
What if Dattatriya walks away from me the second he knows I manipulated him?
What if he thinks I'm a monster?
What if my family starts seeing me differently?
What if I lose him... forever?
My stomach twisted. My pulse pounded in my ears.
You're a liar, Katha.
You're selfish.
You kidnapped a man and manipulated your way into marriage.
You don't deserve happiness.
You don't deserve Dattatriya.
His warmth wrapped around me like a safety net I didn't deserve, and yet I clung to it like a lifeline.
Slowly... slowly... despite the war inside me, my exhaustion took over.
And I drifted off to sleep.
Still in his arms.
Still terrified.
Still hoping that maybe, just maybe, the morning wouldn't bring ruin.
____
The room was dark.
My hands trembled as I stood in front of everyone - my entire family and... Gowtham.
He was standing confidently beside Bhairava bhaiya, his face smug, victorious.
I couldn't look away from anyone's expressions. Papa's face was pale, Bhairava bhaiya's jaw was clenched like stone, Gyan and Dyan bhaiya's eyes were filled with disbelief, and Arya bhabhi... she was crying beside me. Because she knew what was coming.
Then Gowtham spoke.
"You all deserve to know the truth," he began, his tone cool.
"Katha didn't marry Dattatriya out of some twist of fate.
She kidnapped me. The night before the wedding.
She drugged me and locked me away in a dungeon.
She made it seem like I ran away... but I didn't. She planned everything. She manipulated everyone."
He turned toward Dattatriya now.
"And she tricked you the most."
Silence. Thick. Suffocating.
I could feel the world crumbling beneath my feet. My heart raced so fast it hurt.
I looked at everyone. And every face held shock, betrayal, and rage. Even Papa-who never raised his voice-looked like he didn't know who I was anymore.
I turned slowly to face Dattatriya.
He stood still. His jaw tight. His eyes hard.
"Datta..." I whispered.
But his eyes... oh god, those eyes that used to look at me with so much love, now held nothing but hatred.
"You lied to me," he said, voice cold. Dead. "You played with my emotions. You made me believe you were a victim... when all along, you were the villain."
"No, please... I had reasons-"
"I don't care about your reasons!" he roared. "You used me. You broke every single thread of trust. And now? I don't even recognize the woman I married."
"Datta, please-don't leave-!"
But he turned.
"No! Datta, please! Don't go!"
I tried to run to him. My voice cracked. My throat burned.
"Datta-!"
"DA-!"
I jolted up with a gasp.
Panting.
Heart racing.
Chest heaving.
I looked around-my room. Dimly lit. Familiar. Safe. And...
His arms.
I looked to my side and saw Dattatriya lying beside me, peacefully asleep, holding me in his arms like always. His hand resting protectively on my waist.
It was a dream.
Oh god-it was just a dream.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm my racing heartbeat.
But it had felt so real.
His voice. His eyes. That hatred.
I turned slowly toward him and buried my face gently in his chest, gripping his shirt like it was the only thing anchoring me to this moment.
"I can't lose you," I whispered softly, so softly he wouldn't wake up. "I won't let that nightmare become real."
Tears welled in my eyes.
But somewhere deep down... the fear lingered.
Because dreams... have a way of showing us the truths we try hardest to avoid.
The sun had barely risen when I opened my eyes, my head pounding and eyes burning with the weight of last night's dream.
I felt drained-mentally, physically, emotionally.
My heart was heavy, my thoughts scattered.
And yet, somehow, I was still wrapped securely in Dattatriya's arms, like my subconscious clung to him in desperation.
I carefully slipped out of his hold, not wanting to wake him. He looked so peaceful-his sharp features relaxed, his breath calm. I kissed his forehead lightly, whispering a silent prayer that the dream never turns real.
Dragging myself to the bathroom, I looked at my reflection and winced.
Swollen eyes. Pale skin. Broken smile.
I washed my face, splashed cold water, and tied my hair messily. I didn't feel like dressing up-so I grabbed one of Dattatriya's hoodies, slipped into my black shorts, and stepped out. Comfort. I needed comfort.
I made my way to Sheraa, who was already awake, sitting like the little prince he was. His tail wagged slightly when he saw me, but the moment he looked at my face, his mood shifted.
"Hey, my baby," I whispered, kneeling beside him with his plate of meat and a bowl of milk. "Look, your favorite... goat liver with some beef pieces. Eat, na?"
But instead of pouncing on the food like usual, he nuzzled into my lap, letting out a soft whine.
Even he could sense it.
"Sheraa... even you know Mama's broken?" I murmured, stroking his fur. "What if... what if everything falls apart, hmm? What if I lose him, my whole family..."
He licked my hand gently, his way of telling me he's here.
Just then, I felt a presence behind me. I turned and saw Dattatriya, fresh and dressed in a black shirt and joggers, standing still as he scanned my face carefully.
"Sunshine..." he whispered and stepped closer, cupping my face. His thumbs gently caressed beneath my eyes.
"What happened?" he asked, voice barely audible. "Why are you so distressed? Your eyes... they're red... swollen. You look pale."
"I... I'm fine, Datta," I tried to smile, but he wasn't buying it.
He didn't speak. Instead, he pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around me. I clung to him, gripping his back, burying my face into his warmth.
He didn't press me for answers. He just held me.
A few minutes later, the main doors opened-and the Choudhury army arrived.
"DIiiiiiiiii!!!" Utsav ran straight to me, tackling me in a warm hug. I smiled and lifted him slightly in my arms.
"My hacker ladlaa," I whispered.
Then came Bhairava bhaiya, pulling me into his classic overprotective hug.
"You look like shit, choti. What's wrong?" he asked, voice laced with concern.
"Didn't sleep well," I lied.
Gyan bhaiya came next, squinting at me. "Or did someone annoy you? Should I beat them up?"
Then Dyan bhaiya, quiet but sharp-eyed, just hugged me tightly.
And then Papa, who placed a kiss on my head. "You okay, princess?"
"I'm okay, papa," I said, smiling... again, fake.
Finally, Arya bhabhi hugged me-and while her embrace was warm, I could feel her trembling too. She whispered in my ear softly.
"He won't come here. Even if he does, we won't let him say anything, okay?"
I nodded, but it was hollow.
We all moved to the dining table, where the mood lightened a bit as Papa brought up a family trip.
"I was thinking we all need a break," he said, serving himself some poha. "Somewhere peaceful. Maybe a private beach villa in the Maldives?"
"Ooo Maldives!" Utsav cheered. "I'll hack the resort playlist!"
Gyan bhaiya rolled his eyes. "I just want a place where I can drink in peace and not babysit you."
"I'll bring board games!" Arya said excitedly.
Dattatriya smiled slightly beside me. "Sunshine could use a change of air too."
I nodded, trying to stay present in the moment. Trying to not let the shadow in my mind ruin this morning.
But just as I was about to take a sip of my coffee...
CRASH!
The sound of a car door slamming echoed through the mansion gates.
The butler rushed in. "Ma'am... there's someone outside..."
We all stood.
I moved slowly to the main entrance with Arya bhabhi beside me.
We opened the doors.
And there he was.
Gowtham Chadda.
Standing confidently at the gates of my and Dattatriya's mansion.
Alive. Calm. Smirking.
Bhairava bhaiya, Gyan, Dyan, Papa, all of them stepped forward in fury, ready to pounce. Their faces burned with rage.
But I?
I froze.
So did Arya bhabhi.
Both of us pale, blood drained from our faces.
Our worst fear had come true.
But it was Dattatriya's face that broke me most.
His eyes were wide. A fear, foreign and deep, shone in them.
As if... he'd already sensed it.
As if he feared...
He might lose me.
And I?
I just kept whispering in my head-
Please don't let this be the beginning of the end.
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