Sakshi:

I remembered Randhir's words asking me whether I love him or not.

Randhir, I love you. I love you so much. But I know even if I say that you won't trust me. I left you when you needed me the most and that was my biggest mistake. Please, forgive me once. I need just one chance.

I heard the sound of the drizzling and went out to the garden. Randhir stood on the balcony and seeing me from there. Rain drops fell all over me as if to comfort me from my sorrow. I closed my eyes and raised the head feeling that these rain drops cleanses my heart forever. My tears mixed with the rain and started flowing down. I sat on my knees and palmed my face crying. I cried heart fully I am holding these tears from a very long time.

Suddenly, I felt everything blank before me and fell unconscious.

Randhir:

I immediately went to Sakshi seeing her falling unconscious while crying in the rain. I brought her to the room and placed her on the bed. I tried to wake her up and she came into conscious after sometime. But, she looked at me with fear.

"Please, I am so tired. Please give me rest for today. I beg you," Sakshi said

She pleaded me with tears. I got angry but felt pity too at the sametime. What happened to me? Why did I become that worst where my wife fears for me even if I care for her?

"You are drenched in the rain. Change your dress. Otherwise you will fall sick. I woke you up for that," I said.

I noticed a small smile appearing on her lips.

"Didn't you hear me?" I said, raising my voice.

"Yes, I am going. I am sorry."

Sakshi said and went to change her dress.

Am I really that harsh towards her? She frightened seeing me. She is fearing with my touch. I didn't wake her up to fulfill my wish. But she thought that I am going to force myself on her. No, How can I do this to her? But no. She deserves the treatment I am giving to her. She is the one who changed me into a rude and cold hearted person. Hence, she is the one who has to face the consequences of my transformation.

Silent tears dropped from my eyes. Seeing her coming to the room, I turned another side.

"I will prepare the dinner for you," Sakshi said, but I pulled her towards me by holding her wrist.

"Why did you faint? I didn't even touch you all these days as I am on thebed. So it is not because of my torture. Then why did you faint? Are you not having food properly?" I said.

She didn't respond to me and tried to get free from my hold. I tightened the hold and pinned her to the nearby wall.

"Answer me, baby "

She frightened with the change in my voice and calling. I understood that she remembered that I calls her as baby only when I get angry with her.

I moved my finger from her forehead to the lips touching her cheeks and nose.

"I...am...on...fasting.."

"Today?" I said.

She didn't reply. I pressed myself towards her. There is no gap between me and Sakshi. She is breathing hardly as I placed my whole weight on her. She bent her head to avoid the eye contact with me. I made her to see me. I grasped her lips and started kissing it. I licked her lips and Sakshi clutched her fist. Though I hurt her with my touch but I still feel that she loves my touch as she feels my love rather than anger. I bent towards her neck and started kissing her all over the neck.

"Why are you on fast?"

I took the pin of her sari and took it from her blouse. She unknowingly answered me.

"For u. I prayed that I will be on fast for one month taking only liquids if you recover fast".

I looked at her. Her eyes were closed and her hands were on my shirt holding my collar tight. I pinned her sari to the blouse again and left her.

"I got my answer."

She came into this world and released what she said just before. Actually how I made her to say the truth. She is looking at me

"Do you love me?"

Sakshi nodded in no. I smiled at her. She didn't understand why am I smiling instead of being angry at her answer. I again went near to her and started kissing her on the forehead, eyes and cheeks.

"Ple....please...lea...leave....me.."

I kept finger on her lips. I then turned her back and touched her back slowly with my fingers. She clutched her fist again. I kissed her.

"Do you love me, darling"?

I licked her back and placed kisses in between and caught her by placing my hand on her bare belly removing sari aside. I pinched it a bit romantically but not to hurt her.

"I love you so much. I can't live without you. Forgive me, please."

She said in a trance created by me by touching her romantically. I hugged her tightly from the back.

"This is what I want to hear from you. Why did you lie to me saying you don't love me? Answer me, Sakshi."

Due to my shouting, she opened her eyes and pushed me away. She went to the washroom and locked it.

I sat on a sofa remembering what she said just before and smiled for her confession. After sometime, I went to the room with a glass of milk for her. She is on the bed and looked at me.

"Have it. This is the milk with turmeric powder. You won't catch with cold. Fasting for one month and taking only liquids is really a bit too much of loving a person. Thank you. I love you too," I said.

I gave milk to her. She drank it in one go.

"Hey, it is hot. How could you drink like that? Falling in love with the one whom you loved once is strange yet a good feeling because he is none other than your husband. Today I understood how to make you confess the truth. Don't worry. Soon I will know the whole truth."

I placed a kiss on her forehead and laid beside her. She looked at me with surprise and shock.

"Won't you sleep, cutie?"

Sakshi immediately laid on the bed beside him and closed her eyes. She turned other side to hide her smile. I smiled and placed my hand on her and went close to her. I started breathing deeply near her back. I made shapes with my finger on her back. Sakshi shivered and clutched the fist. I kissed on her back.

"Good night, dear."

I left her and slept in my place. Sakshi smiled unknowingly.

"Good night."

"Tell me the truth, Sakshi. Why did you leave me?"

She didn't reply and I found her sleeping. I slept quietly.

"I know that you are not sleeping, Sakshi. I even know the reason behind you leaving me without even informing me. I can't trust you and never forgive you. You are not the one whom I loved. If I know your true colours before, I would never waste my love and emotions for you.

But whatever I want you and I just made you mine. Even if you beg me I won't forgive you. But it's true that I love you and now you love me too. Whatever, you can never fix a broken heart. Though you try, you will find only heart with cracks."

Next day, I got ready to the office. Sakshi came to me.

"Did you come to call me for the breakfast?"

"Ye...Yes."

"Don't you dare to lie to me, Sakshi. I know you didn't come for that."

"I..I..want to.....go out...to meet a friend. I will come soon."

"Ok. You can go. But only after completing all the household chores. Don't use the car. Give me your wallet."

She gave her wallet to me. I took all the money and cards from that wallet.

"Take this hundred rupees and go," I said.

"What?"

"You will understand the value of everything in life and the behaviour of your circle too when you have no money," I said.

She took the money calmly. I left to the office after having the breakfast. I didn't say anything to her and had it silently. Sakshi went out to meet her friend. I was going in my car and saw Sakshi near a ice cream parlour with Ajay. Ajay held her hands and both are talking and smiling. I clenched my fist and went to the home. I waited for her to come home from the afternoon. She came home at 8 PM. She was scared of me.

"You came so early?" I said.

"Tell me, dear. Did you meet your beloved friend? Do you mean that this is reaching home soon?"

"I...am...sorry."

"Shut up. Tell me where did you go? Who is your friend?"

"She is my childhood friend. Her name is Pinky," Sakshi said.

I smiled seeing her and kissed her on the forehead. She stood startled.

"Come, let's go to our room. I need to discuss a lot with you today, baby."

Her body started sweating but she silently followed me to the room.

Sakshi:

I went to our room following Randhir. I stood almost shivering. Randhir stood leaning to the wall keeping one leg on the wall. I didn't understand what would happen to me today.

"Come on. Tell me, darling. Where did you go? Whom did you meet?"

I stood silent because I already understood that he knew whom I met.

"Sakshi, don't make me angry. It's not that good for you. You know well that as you are my possession, I can do anything to you. You have no one here to save you from me."

Randhir came to me and twisted my hands turning them back and clutched them tightly.

"Please, leave me. It's hurting," I said.

"Exactly. Your behaviour is hurting me. Just tell me the truth, baby."

His nails grazed into my skin and blood oozed out. He further tightened his grip on my wrist. I shouted with pain as he squeezed the wounded wrist.

"Forgive me, please."

"I will forgive you only when you change your behaviour and when I feel I can trust you. Tell me where did you go for the whole day? I am waiting for you from the afternoon," Randhir said.

I bit my lip to bear the pain. He caught my hairs and pulled it hard.

"Answer me," Randhir said.

"Ok, so you are not going to answer me. I thought I am being so harsh to you. So, I controlled my anger until now. But you crossed the limits."

Randhir took a knife from the the table and held my hand. He kept the knife near to my wrist.

"Final chance to you, Sakshi. Tell me the truth or I hope you understood what would I do to you."

I closed my eyes staying dumb. However, he threw the knife away. He threw me on the bed and slept beside her. He started kissing me on my face. He kissed my lips. I didn't understand what he is doing. He hugged me in the way where I am on top of him. He saw my hand still bleeding as he grazed it. He cluctched it again making me shout. He caught both my hands and pinned them to the back.

"Now if you don't answer me, I will make you unable to walk for a week. You won't be able to get up from the bed too."

"Ok, so you are not going to tell me. Then I will do what I said."

"I met my friend Pinky and then, I met Ajay. I went to meet my family. So, I am late to home," I said.

Randhir left the hold and made me to sleep on the bed.

"I saw you talking with Ajay in a ice cream parlour," Randhir said.

"My dear beloved wife, I remember you taking permission from me only to meet your friend but not Ajay or your family. So, who gave you the permission to meet them? If I allow you to go out, it doesn’t mean you can roam as you like. I accepted to send you to meet your friend only to test your behavior and you proved me right that I shouldn't give your freedom," Randhir said.

"I didn't meet Ajay intentionally. He came to the same place where I met my friend. So, I just talked to him. I am sorry. I would never do it again," I said.

"Don't worry, darling. I won't allow you to do it again. Now I am going to punish you for your mistakes and of course, after that you would never dare to do as you like," Randhir said and I was frightened of his anger.

"Randhir, please excuse me for once," I said.

"The punishment for meeting Ajay- from today you are not allowed to go out alone. You should never open your mouth to ask me saying that you should go out. If I think it's necessary, I will take you out either to your family or friends. You are completely confined to our house from now," Randhir said and I nodded.

"The next punishment for meeting your family is you should stand under the cold shower for one hour now. Only after one hour you can come out. You should stand under the shower without moving for one hour. Go and stand there," Randhir said.

"Randhir, it's too cold outside and I can't do this," I said and his eyes turned fiery.

Randhir held my hand, dragging me to the shower and turned the shower on.

"Stand here for one hour. Don't dare to come out whatever happens to you in this one hour. Or I will tie you here under the shower for the entire night. I don't care even if you die," Randhir said and his words hurt me more than this cold shower.

I felt chilled water falling over my body. I couldn't stand as my hands and legs started freezing. I leaned back to take the support of the wall.

"Stand straight, Sakshi. Otherwise whole nite you will stay under the shower," Randhir said.

I saw him observing me sitting on the bed. I stood straight again. I closed the lips tightly bearing the chilledness of water. I fell on my knees as my legs lost the grip to stand.

"Stand up, Sakshi. You are not allowed to sit on your knees."

I stood up hardly and pinned my toe to the ground shivering. I started biting my lips hard because of the cold water and blood came out. I looked at Randhir pleading him to show mercy at me.

"You deserve it, baby. I am not going to allow you to come out before one hour. No matter how hard it is, you are going to bear it," Randhir said.

Tears came out of my eyes. I clutched and by now I am totally wet from the head to toe. My sari stuck to my body. I shivered badly and Randhir closed his eyes to hide his tears.

Randhir PoV:

I am not punishing you for meeting your parents. I don't have any prblm if you meet your family. But I hate you meeting and talking to Ajay. I won't spare you for lying to me. As long as you are truthful to me and stays away from Ajay, I would not hurt you. However, today I realized that still you didn't change and behaving as you want. If you don't obey me, I know well how to make you obey me.

I looked at her and she is in very bad state. As one hour was completed, Sakshi tried to come out.

"Wait. Sit on your knees under the shower for more half an hour for lying to me."

Sakshi didn't argue with me and sat on her knees.

I remembered my love for her in the past. How I fought with her family just for scolding her. I remembered how I left everything for her and how she left me and betrayed me.

I heard Sakshi's crying and went off from the room. After half an hour, I permitted her to come out. Sakshi came out.

"Wait," I said and she saw me with weak eyes. I threw clothes at her face.

"Change your clothes and come out. Wipe your hairs."

She changed her clothes and came out.

"Drink this hot water. You will feel better. I don't like to punish you. I never have any intention to hurt you but you are forcing me to punish you.

Let me clear you, Sakshi. I won't punish or hurt you unless you cross your limits and make me feel that you disobeyed me. If you obey me and quit doing those things which I don't like, I would never hurt you even a little bit. Keep this in your mind. If you want to be happy and safe, just stop meeting people I hate, talking to such people and lying to me unnecessarily. Decide yourself," I said and gave a tablet to her.

"Have it and take rest. You would not get fever. However, even if you get fever, I won't allow you to take rest without doing household works," I warned her though somewhere my heart worried for her health.

Sakshi slept and in the mid night she started shivering.

"Sakshi, are you ok?"

She tried to reply but she couldn't speak. I covered her with a blanket but still she is shivering. I hugged her tightly and kept her face near my neck. Feeling my warmth, she slowly went into sleep. I kissed her on the forehead.

I woke up in the morning and heard her groaning. I took her onto my lap and slowly woke her up.

"Sakshi, what happened to you?"

She opened her eyes but didn't reply me. I touched her forehead and understood that she got fever. I remembered making her to stay under shower for a long time. My eyes filled with tears and Sakshi saw tears in my eyes.

"I am sorry, Randhir," Sakshi said looking at my eyes.

I unknowingly kissed her on the forehead. She held my hands tightly. I tried to get up.

"Please, don't go leaving me."

"I won't go anywhere. Let me call the doctor," I said.

The doctor checked her and went prescribing the medicines. I brought food for her. I took her onto my lap and then made her to sit by leaning on me.

"Have it. You hav to take the tablets."

"No. Just give me milk. I am on fast for one month," Sakshi said.

"Enough, Sakshi. Don't argue with me. Have it calmly," I said, raising my tone.

"Please," Sakshi said and her face became pale and weak.

"Ok. I will stay on fast instead of you or continue it after your recovery," I said.

Sakshi nodded and had the food. I fed her slowly and gave medicine to her.

"Sleep, I will be here," I said.

Sakshi slept and I covered her with a blanket. I placed a kiss on her forehead and Sakshi looked at my eyes.

"I am sorry for making you to stand under the shower for a long time. I think you fell sick because of that."

"It's ok. It is so small if I compare with what I did to you."

"Just tell me that you love me and never leave me. I will stop all this. Let's start a new life. Just tell me you forgot Ajay."

"I can't forget him," Sakshi said.

"Damn it. Why are you lying? You said you are loving me. Then how can you love Ajay?"

"I don't love you. I love Ajay," Sakshi said.

I clenched my fist.

"Take rest. If you want anything call me," I said and left the room as I couldn't bear her words. In the afternoon, I went to Sakshi and sat beside her on the bed.

I don't know why you are behaving like this. Still my heart says you love only me and no one else. But why are you lying that you love Ajay? Just once promise me that you will stay with me forever. From then you will be my queen. I don't want to suffer you, Sakshi. When are you going to understand this?

As tear drop from my eyes fell on her, she woke up.

"You have to take the medicine, get up."

"Medicine again?" Sakshi said pouting.

"Yes. I will bring the lunch for you."

I made her to eat and gave medicines to her. Within three days she recovered. I woke up and didn't find her. I searched for her and saw her in the kitchen.

"What are you doing?"

Sakshi saw me standing near the door of the kitchen.

"I am ok now. So, I am preparing the breakfast for you."

"Did I ask you to do? Don't do anything which I didn't say. Just go to our room and take a rest. You no need to do all this till I feel you are fine. Now go to the room," I said.

"I am really fine."

"Shup up. I said go. Just do what I say."

She left calmly from there. I brought the breakfast for her. She had it calmly.

"Are you not going to the office"?

"Why? Do you want to call anyone here if I go?" I said.

Sakshi PoV:

"Are you not going to the office?" I asked Randhir.

"Why? Do you want to call anyone here if I go?" Randhir said.

I don't understand why he always talks this way. I think he would not say anything only if either of us falls sick. I should leave him soon. I shouldn't react to his words. I should pretend as if I love Ajay and shouldn't tell him the truth that I love only him.

Suddenly my phone rang and Randhir took the mobile as it's on the table. He saw the name on the display and fumed at me.

"Who is that?" I said.

"Your lover," Randhir said.

"What?"

The ring was stopped and a message came to the mobile. Randhir threw the mobile at me seeing the message. I didn't understand what happened to him. I went to Randhir and kept my hand on his shoulder to talk.

"Is everything ok?" I said.

"You never allow me to be at peace. You are the major problem in my life. Even after the marriage, you didn't change your way and continuing the affair with Ajay," Randhir said.

"Stop it, Randhir. Don't say one more word. Otherwise I don't know what would I do," I said and Randhir caught my hairs.

"Otherwise what would you do?? I didn't say anything wrong. You are such a bitch who seduces men."

I slapped Randhir and he looked at me in shock. He pulled my hairs harder.

"Randhir, leave me," I said.

"How dare you to slap me? I will make you realise the result of your slap," Randhir said.

"This is enough, Randhir. I am not going to tolerate it anymore. Now leave and let me go off. I didn't do anything wrong and don't understand why are you angry with me."

"Now you want the reason behind my anger. Your lover is the one who called you and messaged you enquiring about your health. How did he know that you are sick if you didn't tell him? Answer me."

"All these days you are with me day and night. Did I talk or message anyone till now? Did I touch my phone all these days? I don't know how Ajay came to know my health. But surely it's not me who informed him."

Randhir left the hold on my hairs and went off from the room. Randhir came to me after sometime. I sat on the bed thinking and Randhir threw a box onto her lap. I came out of my thoughts and looked at him.

"It is for you," Randhir said.

I opened the box and it's a beautiful diamond necklace.

"Is it the way to give a gift?" I said.

"Who said it is a gift? I just gave it to you to wear tonight in the party."

"Party? But you didn't say anything to me about the party."

"You are not worth sharing my happiness," Randhir said.

"I think I am not worth to accompany you to the party too. After all you will feel ashamed in the party as your wife seduces the men there," I said with tears in my eyes and those words effected Randhir to the core.

"SAKSHI," Randhir shouted at me and his voice and eyes are in full rage. He came near to me and I closed my eyes expecting the worst to come from him now.

"Open your eyes," Randhir said.

I opened my eyes but I am hell scared of him. Randhir caught my hairs and made me stand on the floor.

"I know that you repeated the words which I said to you earlier. But, remember that I won't regret for saying those words to you. I just mean it, Sakshi. You know well why I am talking like that to you.

Never raise your voice again before me. Now wear this dress and that necklace. I know how to treat you and put you in my control. For me, you are just an object which I owned with my wealth and not even a human being. Now get ready to accompany me to the party."

He threw a dress at my face and went off from there. I wiped her tears and got ready. He opened the door and lost himself seeing me. I wore the white full length netted dress with full sleeves given by him. I saw him and lowered my gaze blushing at his looks. He came near to her.

"I am ready, Shall we go?"

He didn't respond to my words and held me by waist to pull me towards him. He caged me in his tight hug and slowly captured my lips which are shivering by this time with his touch. He kissed me hard and bit my lips. He left me hearing me moaning his name and I tried to move away. But Randhir spinned me and kissed my back without moving his hands from my waist. He again turned me and kissed on the neck giving leaving a few hickeys over there. I moaned but shed tears too.

"Be silent, my beloved wife. They are the marks given by your husband with love. The duty of a wife is to take whatever husband gives with love. Be a good wife and if you don't know that, I will never hesitate to teach you how a good wife and bed warmer should behave. Now don't upset me by moving away because it's more dangerous for you."

He unzipped my dress and slowly he removed it. I was in shock with his act and then, he left me.

"Wear another dress. You shouldn't look this beautiful to anyone except me."

I nodded and changed the dress. I bent down to take the dress from the floor but he snatched it from me and burnt it.

"Anything you like will not be your's unless I approve it. I saw you liking this dress before our marriage. I bought it for yo, but not to gift you. If anything we like comes to us, we will be so happy. But the moment we think it's all our's, but it goes off from us, it will be very painful. This is the same feeling I felt when you left me when I thought you are all mine."

I looked at the floor with tears. Not for the dress, but for his words.

"Wipe your tears and apply make up to cover the marks. No one should see those hickeys. Make it fast. We are already late."

I wiped my tears and got ready as soon as possible. He took me to the party. I sat away from everyone as Randhir ordered me to isolate myself from them. Finally the award was announced and Randhir went onto the stage looking at me.

I was surprised and happy knowing that Randhir won the best entrepreneur award. I stopped smiling as Randhir looked at me. I lowered my gaze remembering the past. Everyone asked Randhir to speak and share the reason behind his success. He took the mike and looked at me again.

"Good evening,

I dedicate this award to my staff without whom this success is impossible. Thank you to everyone who helped me to reach this position.

I would like to mention the name of one special person who is the sole reason behind this great achievement. It's none other than my beloved wife, Mrs. Sakshi Randhir."

I couldn't understand his words and why he mentioned me as the reason for his victory.

"It is well said that we would know who truly loves us only in our hardtimes. Sakshi proved her love by being with me in my tough times. She advised, motivated and never left my hand even when I had nothing. She is with me whenever I need someone to help me to cope with the situations. Thank you for everything, Sakshi and I love you."

I don't know what Randhir said. I left him in his tough times and thought of marrying Ajay. I didn't even care for him once at that time. But now he praised her by attributing the things which I never did for him.

I came out of my thoughts with the applause of the people around. When I raised my head, I found Randhir in front of me.

"Let's dance," Randhir smirked.

I understood his command hidden behind his smile. Even if I say no, he would never listen. So, I gave my hand to him. He took me to the stage and started dancing. He is dancing but slowly he tightened his hold on my back. I screamed but it mixed with the loud music to which everyone are dancing.

"Randhir, it's hurting. I can't dance."

"You must dance, my love. Did you get doubt that why did I say exactly the opposite to what you did? Just to make you know what love is and how a wife should behave."

He slowly moved his hand under my dress at the back touching my skin. His nails grazed into my skin and I felt blood coming out. I bit my lip and caught his blazer tightly to control the pain. Throughout the song, he tortured me in one or the other way.

While dancing he stepped on my feet intentionally and made me scream. He kept his shoe on my toe throughout the dance which crushed it. The song was finished and I felt relaxed. He pulled me close to him and whispered.

"Get lost from the party and sit in the car. No one should see your face in the party. At the sametime, you shouldn't leave to the home. Wait in the car until I return," Randhir said.

Randhir placed a kiss on the forehead in front of everyone and left me with a smile. He signalled me to smile and I tried hard to smile controlling the tears but it became impossible for me. I bent my head and went out from the party. My back where he grazed is paining and my toe became red and burning with pain. I sat in the car and locked the door.

I heard the sound of someone knocking on the car door. I slid glass of the door and saw Ajay standing there. I composed myself and smiled at hi..

"Hi, Ajay," I said.

"Hi, Sakshi. How is everything going on?"

"Perfect," I said.

He saw into my eyes and I turned my face.

"How long are you going to take the blame, Sakshi? Why don't you tell Randhir, the truth? He will understand and forgive you for sure."

"What's the truth, Ajay? Do you think he will forgive me if I say I left him as he lost everything and realised my mistake later, that made me to hide myself from him for years?"

"Yes, I am sure he will forgive you if you say the truth and apologise him saying that you have realised your mistake. I know he still loves you. If not he would not marry you."

"Let it be, Ajay. May be I don't deserve his forgiveness."

"Sakshi, please understand that you both are suffering because of this misunderstanding."

"Ajay, please go from here. If Randhir finds us talking, he will be more angry."

Ajay left and after a few minutes, Randhir came and started the car. He is so silent but his eyes says his mind is not that silent.

"Randhir, what happened to you?"

"Did you enjoy the company of Ajay? Actually I thought to come before a few minutes but seeing you and Ajay together, I went back to give love birds some privacy."

"Ra..Ran..dhir.."

"Let's talk at our home, baby. Till then be relaxed and enjoy the music. I asked you to sit in the car shutting your mouth but not to enjoy with your boyfriend. I will keep a check to your anger provoking acts today," Randhir said.