"Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Still kneeling on the ground, Ayushi was wailing out loudly, trying to open her eyelids but they just wanted to be closed. Her past was again resurfacing her mind which she had buried in her heart long ago. Her sobs intensified, the clouds too were like her, they too wanted to shed their tears seeing Ayushi's agony and pain. She never got love in her life, and when her body was undergoing several changes, she somehow wanted to be loved by someone, adored by someone, and most of all, cared for by someone. And then a boy came into her life like a storm. About six years back, when she was in her first year of engineering, just a seventeen-year-old teen, a boy named Arjun proposed to her. At first, she didn't accept him because she was afraid of what her father would do to her when he'd come to know about this, but after seeing Arjun's persistence and pleading for at least a thousand times, she said yes to him and that was the start of something brutal. She had thought that he loved her. For one month everything was going normal, she was at bliss, she had never felt this giddy and happy, but her happiness didn't last long. His true colours were out in front of her, who was nothing but a possessive freak, who would hit Ayushi whenever she'd talk with some boy even for some academic work. She was horrified when he had slapped her when she had just asked for notes from a boy who happened to be Arjun's friend. He was so much enraged that if not stopped by his friends, he'd have surely killed her. That much was his psychotic love for her. She realized her mistake and cut all the ties with him, but he didn't stop at that. He pleaded with her, begged her to come back in his life again but every time she'd say no. She was fed up with all this violence and hate in her life. Her house was enough for her to be tortured, she didn't want physical harm and violence outside her house too. And then something happened that she could never forget. He had posted their private moment on all the social media platforms, where he was kissing her cheeks. She never allowed him anything beyond a cheek kiss, because she was still new to all this. And this was their first and last kiss. Although there was nothing wrong in kissing the cheek of your girlfriend, posting it for the whole world to see with a caption, "First-year with my slut girlfriend" was nothing but a heinous deed. Her dignity was shattered, the whole college was shaming her, his friends were calling her with names and whatnot. And one fine day, in front of the whole college, Arjun slapped her hard across her cheeks as she was crying in front of him, begging him to delete that post. She still remembers those words that he said to her. "Delete that post? Why? Let the whole world see how innocent you are. Slut," were his exact words. That time too, her condition was like today. Her eyes were injured at that time too, because of the impact of his hard hand on her face. She had cried so miserably that day but he along with his dogs had gone away, leaving her in that state. Her friends took her immediately inside the medical room and the nurse treated her with utmost care. Her cheeks had turned purple and her eyes red. Arjun was detained for one whole year when the respective faculties came to know about this incident. All the proofs were against him and he was debarred from attending the college for one whole year and eventually, he had to shift to some other city. No police complaint was lodged because of the University's reputation. She was miserable at that time, luckily her family didn't come to know about this incident, otherwise, they'd have killed her literally. Her state was miserable but now her state was a thousand times much worse than that. There was no one to help her today on this deserted road, only the creeping sound of crickets and the howling of wild dogs could be heard along with the thundering of the clouds. She was trembling because her sobs never stopped, it intensified only. Her eyes were feeling like someone had thrown red chilli powder in it. She somehow stood up and was trying to find the car in which she had come. Her hands were in front moving in all the directions to find the car, to touch it, and somehow sit inside it because she knew how dangerous it was outside. A blind she had become because of her husband. Finally, she found the car and opened it carefully. Her hand immediately reached for the backseat where she had seen a bottle earlier. She took that out and opened it hurriedly while trying not to cry again. But again, and again her tears were coming out from her closed eyes. She opened the cap of the bottle and took the water in her right palm and splashed it on her eyes. After five-six more splashes, finally, her eyes were open now but she closed it immediately because of sudden street light falling on her eyes. But it had turned so small because of the injury, it was bloodshot red, showing the red veins so clearly. She tried to blink her eyes many times to make it accustomed to the light. After her eyes became normal with the light, she moved towards the car and saw her reflection in the side mirror. The mirror reflected the bloodshot and pained eyes of hers which made her cry more. "You're no different than my parents, Dhruv. It's not misunderstandings only, it's the venom that you have grown against me. But try everything you want, I'm not going to back down. Now it's my family too and I'll not leave them. I'll not," she started sobbing again remembering how loving his family was towards her, how much they adored her, loved her like she was their daughter. "For my family, for their happiness even if you'll kill me Dhruv, I'd still wish to die in their arms," she was driving the car now back to the mansion trying to focus on the dark road as there was no streetlight around this particular area & also it was raining cats and dogs. Thankfully, she was very good at remembering routes, so it wasn't hard for her to track back to her house. After reaching the main gate, the security guard immediately opened the gate but frowned when he didn't find his Master inside the car but let it go. Ayushi drove the car towards the garage where many cars were already present. She moved towards the mansion and after the security guards opened the door for her, she moved inside and latched the door and immediately climbed up the stairs and rushed inside her room. She took out the antiseptic cream which she always carried with her. In the full-length mirror, she saw her reflection. It was so miserable and painful, she even moved her face away from the mirror because it was reflecting how broken and mutilated she was today. Her purple cheek was looking so bad along with her eyes injured so brutally. Her gush of tears was again flowing down her eyes. She moved inside the washroom and splashed water on her eyes as well as the tormented face. She was tired, agonized, pained, mutilated, and broken. As the rain had stopped now, she slept under the open sky with the sound of her cries as her lullaby on a hard mattress. **** "If that girl wouldn't have come in our lives, then I'd have talked about us to our parents," Dhruv spoke while holding Chandani in his arms. She was busy shedding crocodile tears because she was eventually hurt by what Ayushi had commented about her fake assets and all. "I hate her so much, you don't know how bad I was feeling when you were dancing with her, it was like you are going so far away from me," she cried more and Dhruv just closed his eyes. He didn't want Chandani to cry ever, her tears were something he disliked the most in her. "Shh. I'm with you now, right? I love you Chandani and only you. No girl can take your place. Now quiet down. Let's grab some food, I know you'd not have eaten anything," he carried her towards her bed and put her down. They were currently in the hotel room where Chandani was staying, Dhruv, as usual, had to hide his identity so he used his fake beard and moustache and arrived here with Chandani. "That girl is seriously so fake, Dhruv. The more I'm digging about her, the more I'm getting to know about her slutty nature. Did you see how happy she was when that guy was kissing her in that pic? One of her big fish must have been," Chandani was talking about the same post whose screenshot she took and sent to Dhruv after cropping it that had the photo of Arjun kissing Ayushi on her cheeks. Dhruv clenched his jaws and his fist tightened. "I was angered so much after seeing that pic. I don't know why my family rushed our marriage. I wish they'd have at least searched about her and her scandals. First that Aryan guy, now this guy and don't know how many more. It's like daily I'm seeing a new guy with her. I'm so disgusted with her presence but just for the sake of my family, I'm still tolerating because firstly I want to show her real face in front of my whole family and then only, I'll kick her out of my house," Dhruv venomous words against Ayushi was soothing the cunning woman beside him. "Don't worry. We'll do that shortly. Let's just not spoil our night," she kissed him seductively on his neck and that was the hint which Dhruv needed which resulted in a heavy make-out session. He was loving someone else on his wedding night with another girl, who was sleeping under the open sky, shivering due to the cold. **** The next morning the sun rose again and removed the darkness around the world. Ayushi felt a bright light falling on her face and she opened her eyes, her right eye was sore now along with her right cheek. But like every day, she sent a prayer to God and joined her hands in front of the sun, asking for his blessing to brighten her life too. After freshening up, she looked at herself in the full-length mirror. The reflection of a purple cheek along with small red eyes met hers. Tears were again going to rush out her eyes, but she somehow controlled it. She had a major task in her hand now. She had to now lie about her purple cheeks and small eyes to her family. She sighed sadly and then she noticed the concealer which was placed on the dressing table. She didn't know how to apply that but she for sure knew that it'll help to conceal her bruised face. She opened a tutorial on YouTube and after trying to two-three times, finally, she was satisfied with this new look. After she was done, she moved downstairs for the morning prayer but in the midway she met with Dhruv who was jogging up the stairs in a tracksuit, looking like he had returned from the gym or something. She avoided him and moved out of his way and immediately rushed down. She didn't want another hateful encounter with him where only she'd have to suffer. He just glared at her and moved away. After the prayer was done, Pratibha took Ayushi inside the kitchen and asked her lovingly to make some sweet dish as it was a ritual performed by a newly wedded bride to start her married life journey with some sweetness. Ayushi obliged her mother-in-law and with the help of her many sweet sisters-in-law, she made Kheer. All of them teased her about yesterday night, but Ayushi just maintained a pained smile on her face, not saying anything about that. Payal too was busy teasing her Bhabhi but Ayushi didn't say anything. Everyone loved the Kheer and complemented Ayushi for her culinary skills and gifted her many beautiful pieces of jewellery at which Dhruv snorted in disgust. After their breakfast was done, it was decided that they'd leave for Bhopal in the evening as every ritual was done except for the ritual where the newlywed groom and bride visits the ancestral temple of Rajput family. A Yagya too was to be performed today for the happiness and love for the newly wedded couple. "We all will leave for the temple in an hour, Akshita, make Bahu wear the traditional clothes," Dhruv's Dadi spoke in a commanding tone and everyone went to their respective rooms to get ready for the Pooja. After making Ayushi ready in a traditional yellow lehenga and some beautiful, ancestral ornaments, Akshita left the room as she too had to get ready. Ayushi just sat there in front of the dressing table, looking at her small eyes which were still red now. Everyone bought the lie that she told them that why her eyes were so red. She had lied to them that some dust particles had entered inside her eyes and due to rubbing, her eyes were red & small. She wanted to cry out loud but she couldn't. Her eyes had become sore and swollen because of so much crying which she had hidden with a thick layer of eyeliner and mascara. She was hiding so many things from them. She was hiding the fact that her husband was nothing but a monster from their family. She was hiding her beautiful swollen eyes with the thick layer of liner on it. She was hiding her purple cheek behind the concealer. She was hiding the immense pain and agony which was eating her from inside with a smile. She was hiding her tears which were just trying to pour out her eyes. Her thoughts were making her feel more miserable and agonizing. In between her inner turmoil, she received a call from her father. "Ayushi. How are you, my child? I called you as you know, we needed some help from you, beta. One or two lakhs will do. Ask from Dhruv," hearing her father's sugary words, Ayushi was so disgusted by his greedy nature. "I'm married for one day only and you're asking me to ask for money from Dhruv? Are you really out of your mind or what?" She vented out all her anger on her so-called father and it was all heard by Dhruv who entered at that time only. What he understood from her words was not what Ayushi meant actually. He gritted his teeth and looked at her reflection in the mirror with just resentment and loath. After she cut the call, she realized that Dhruv was busy killing her with his eyes. She looked at him in panic and stood up from the chair in front of the dressing table. "Where do you think you're going? I heard what you just said to your father. A gold digger you are really. Today you cannot ask for money from me, but surely after a few days of marriage? Isn't it?" he looked at her with distaste and anger and Ayushi just looked at him sadly. She didn't want any of the things to happen again which happened yesterday. "Think whatever you want to," she was going to open the door when she was pulled by Dhruv harshly against his chest. "When I'm talking with you, you're supposed to answer me when I ask. And don't you dare use that tone on me again," he clutched her hair harshly and pulled it until he heard the yelp from Ayushi. "Leave me, you're hurting me," she spoke cryingly trying to get out of his tight grip. "Ohh, so you don't like it when your husband touches you but you'll surely love to be kissed by some strange man? Isn't it? How ironic!" he gritted out distastefully and pushed her hard on the floor, gaining a loud yelp of pain from Ayushi. He kneeled at her level and clawed on her already bruised right cheek harshly. "This is where he kissed you, right? This is where his fucking lips touched you, isn't it?" he was piercing Ayushi's cheeks with his nails with so much hate and abhorrence within him. Ayushi was crying and trying to remove his hands away from her but he was too strong to fight with. "Aah. Please leave me, it's hurting. Please Dhruv aah," she cried out in pain but he was deaf to all her cries. "You know I just want to kill you so badly, but no, I want your death to be slow and much more painful. Every day I'll kill one part of your body. You made my life hell by saying yes for this marriage and now it's payback time for you," he kicked her on her legs and stood up, going towards the washroom to clean up his hands as it had the bloodstains from her cheeks. Ayushi felt like her skin was burning. Why was he so cruel to her and how did he get to know about that pic which was deleted so long ago. Sobbing loudly, she didn't know when her eyes closed on its own and she entered into a different world where she could see Arjun, Aryan, and Dhruv. They all were ready to hurt her, mutilate her. Even her unconscious self was afraid of the three abusers of her life whom she had thought of as her life partners at the different-different point of time. ~**~•~**~ Please don't forget to leave your comment and voting is your birthright!