9

Mature and sensitive content ahead. Reader's discretion is advised.

***********

Khushi

"Now, be a good girl and take that blanket off your body," Arnav said, walking toward me with such a menacing look that I cowered in fear and dread of what would happen next.

I tried to take the blanket off my naked body, knowing how harsh the consequences would be if I didn't obey him. I raised my hand too, but I could not remove the blanket.

I could not bring myself to bare my body to the man who would forcefully claim me, no matter how many times he had already done it.

All those times he had taken me against my will has been etched in my mind, heart, and soul, and I do not think I will ever be able to erase those memories. They will continue to haunt me until the day I die.

I gasped when he suddenly yanked my hair back, looking at me with only anger marring his face.

"What did I tell you about obeying me without any question?" He asked me, and I looked at him tearily.

"Pp..lee...aasee, I... no... pl..eeass..eee," I croaked, begging him to spare me.

I didn't want him to see me bare. I didn't want him to touch me. I didn't want him to rape me. I didn't want to be the object of his punishment anymore.

But when has he ever listened to me?

I squeezed my eyes shut in shame when he pulled the blanket off my body. The pain of humiliation infused my body, even my soul when I felt his eyes over my naked body.

"So beautiful," he said, and a lone tear slid down my cheeks.

I didn't know what I had ever done to be humiliated this way by him. How can he rip my dignity off me in mere seconds when I have repeatedly pleaded with him not to?

Can he not hear my cries and pleas when he forces himself on me?

I fisted my hands when he twisted my nipples, my whole body shaking as he pinched them harder, deliberately trying to cause me pain.

"You know, Khushi, no matter how much I loathe you for being a characterless whore, I can see how those men fall for your charms. You do have a beautiful body, perfect to benefit a slut like you," he said, his voice laced with disgust for me.

My cheeks heated up at that humiliating comment, and my heart clenched painfully against my chest.

He continued to roam his hands on my body as he defiled me with his words.

"Noo..oo, Arn..." he slapped me hard, not letting me complete.

"Hadn't I been clear when I told you that slut like you do not deserve to call me by my name? Are you such a dumb whore that you could not remember that simple command?" His eyes were dark, looking at me with only rage in them.

"So..sorry, Ssir.." I hissed as he clutched my thighs, digging his nails into them.

"Now shut up and let me fuck you. After all, you are only good for that, aren't you, whore?" He spread my legs apart and covered my mouth to muffle my screams.

***********

Opening my eyes, I sit on the bed, my whole body shaking and sweaty due to the nightmare.

But it was not a nightmare. It was a painful memory that I relived.

Sobs wrack my body as I continue remembering that night.

I did not say a word back to defend myself that night. Not because I did not want to, but because I felt he did not deserve it anymore.

I was stupid enough to fall for Arnav. Stupid enough to think he also loved me.

Until our wedding night, he had my whole love. But that love got tainted when he raped me for the first time that night.

Even after that night, I still had lingering feelings for him, as I could not suddenly erase him from my heart. That is why I tried to prove my innocence to him every time he came to punish me. I tried to tell him the truth. I tried to defend myself.

But he never listened to me. He never gave me a chance to prove my innocence. Bit by bit, he trampled over my heart, crushing my feelings, my love for him.

Every time he hurt me, he broke my soul and my heart. Each time he took me against my will, he broke my spirit bit by bit. Every time he called me a whore, a slut, and hit me, he ingrained fear for him in my mind.

And now, I don't have any love left in my heart for him. He crushed my heart until there were no feelings left. Not only for him, but I don't feel anything for anyone anymore.

It was so easy for everyone to abandon me. So easy for them to think that I was the culprit and Niranjan was the victim.

Even my parents left me, cutting every tie with me. Yes, they had adopted me, but I used to think they loved me.

I was so naïve then, so trusting of everyone, but now I have realized what an emotional fool I was.

It was somehow my foolishness, too, that landed me in this situation.

I should have said something when I first saw Niranjan in the Rathore mansion, but...

I jolt out of my thoughts when I feel a hand on my shoulder.

Looking up, I notice it's Arnav. It is still dark to see his face clearly, but I know it is him.

I immediately move back to the corner of the bed, bending my knees and pulling it closer to my chest. "I.... I... ss...orryy. I cou..ldd nn..oot finish cc..lleanning."

"Khushi, how do you feel now? Do you need something?" He asks me, and I look at him in surprise.

Although I cannot see his face clearly due to the dim lights of the room, I can hear the concern in his voice for me.

No. That's not possible. Why would he feel concerned about a girl he treats like a slut?

"N...nnoo, Ss..irrr," I stutter, not wanting to keep him waiting for the answer. I don't want to get slapped.

As soon as I reply, he steps closer to the bed, and I move back in fear, trying to create as much distance as possible from him.

"Khushi, you can call me--" he begins, but I interrupt, feeling too scared to hear what he has to say.

"May I please sleep, Sir? I.... head...headache," I ask hesitantly, hoping he will spare me at least for tonight and not punish me for not completing the cleaning.

I hear him sigh deeply before he speaks. "Do you want to eat something first? I am sorry, Khushi. I forgot to order the groceries for you. The guard had called to inform me about it, but I was in an important meeting, and it slipped out of my mind. Please know that I didn't do it intentionally."

I am too stunned by what he says that I cannot properly process it. He called me Khushi, not slut or whore. And he apologized too.

Why is he doing this? Is he playing games with me?

"Khushi, do you want to eat something first?" He asks me again.

'Maybe he wants me to eat something first, so I would not faint again when he punishes me for not completing the cleaning chore.' My mind could only conjure that as a reasonable explanation.

My body shakes again, and I move further back to the corner. "I... I want to sleep, please, Sir."

I pray to be spared by him for tonight. I am too exhausted, both mentally and physically, to take his brutal punishment.

"I won't force you, Khushi, but I will bring you some fruits to eat. I will keep it here on the bedside table. The doctor has given you the injection for the fever, but he had also said that you need to eat because you fainted because of weakness," he says to me, and I am again shocked by how gently he is talking with me.

But his gentle voice creates more fear in my heart.

He is up to something. That is why he is behaving this way with me. I am sure he is planning to hurt me more.

"I know you will punish me soon, but please let me rest for some time, Sir. I... I feel so weak. Please," I sob, feeling pathetic for begging him this way, but I cannot help it. I am too afraid of him.

"Khushi, I won't pu--" he begins, but I don't let him complete.

"Please... give me one night... please," I plead and lie on the bed, covering my whole body, even my head, with the blanket.

I squeeze my eyes shut, my heart thumping furiously against my chest. I hope desperately that Arnav will not yank the blanket off me as he has done many times after that wedding night.

I clutch the blanket tightly, hoping against hope that he will walk away, my breathing coming in spurts as I listen for any movement from him.

Only when I hear him walk away, his steps fading into the distance, do I relax a bit.

I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I hope my fear of him will lessen one day.

I hope one day I will be strong enough to stand up against him and not cower and beg for mercy as I did tonight.

I hope one day I will find the strength to escape this monster and finally be free of him.