Rukmini

Chapter 17: Back To The Present

You'll are very silent. I don't like silent readers. I'm going to start setting goals for updating the coming chapters.

Btw, I am dedicating this chapter to shritha98

(Ashitha, you are the best writer on earth. Wallah, I swear. :*)

How is it going ?

Radhika

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Continued from Chapter 12:

I woke up feeling sick and weak, as I was. I could barely open my eyes.

I felt someone help me sit up in my place, and sprinkle water on my face.

I opened my eyes only to find the five brothers all looking at me. I turned my gaze to the right side to see who had helped me sit up, I had been hoping it was Abhimanyu, but it was Aniket.

'Aren't I a man of my words, Miss Rukmini Sawant ? Oh, sorry, Mrs. Rukmini Deshmukh ? ', said Vikramaditya, emphasizing the last three words.

'Can I have some water, Aniket ?', I asked, still recovering from the shock and ignoring Vikramaditya.

'Yes Rukmini. Here, take this.', Aniket replied as he helped me drink water.

'You can't ignore me Rukmini. Come on, answer me !', Vikramaditya screamed at me as he took a seat beside me.

'Vikram, I think its better you leave her alone for a while. She is already suffering from a massive shock. We don't want any major complications or problems occuring now, do we ? You can continue your interrogations and conversations with her later. And if you really want to continue, then you better do it in a mild manner. Don't shout or scream. It will only make the situation worse.', said Aniket.

I gave him a small smile.

'Aniket, keep your medical practice out from this. I want to talk to her.', he said.

Medical practice ?

(Rukmini's thoughts are in italics)

'It's fine Aniket. I have some questions too. Let him talk.', I whispered, trying to gather some energy.

'Sure, as long as you don't take too much stress. Let's at least move you to the bed, you'll feel more comfortable and better.', he told me as I looked at him in surprise.

'Abhimanyu, come here and help me move her to the bed.', he commanded.

'No. Why should I ? Do it yourself. I don't care about her.', Abhi replied, as I looked at him in surprise.

What did he just say ?

'Okay. Don't be a jerk. I'll do it myself.', Aniket sighed.

He picked me up and helped me adjust onto the bed.

'Thanks, Aniket.', I said.

'Enough of the pleasantries ! See, Rukmini. Just how you proved your point all those years ago, I've done it now. I proved my point. I am a man of my words. I had told you that I would make sure that you would become Mrs Rukmini Deshmukh, and here I am, with my point proved. I've done it.', he said arrogantly.

We gave each other what one would call 'angry stares' for a few seconds.

I turned to Abhimanyu and said, 'Abhi, can you explain all this to me ? You knew about all this ? This "plan of revenge", made by Vikramaditya? '

He ignored me.

'Abhi, I think I'm asking you something. Don't ignore me, ANSWER ME FOR GOD'S SAKE !', I said loudly with the last few words literally jumping two octaves higher than my actual voice.

He continued to ignore me. This time, I lost my cool. I literally jumped out of the bed, with a newfound form of energy in me, and went upto Abhimanyu.

The other brothers kept their gaze strongly fixed on me.

'Mr. Abhimanyu Dadasaheb Deshmukh. This is no way to answer a question. Stop ignoring me, and answer me. I want answers. ', I said angrily.

'Listen girl, I don't have time for your nonsense. I've had enough already. I'm only here because ...'

'Because ? Because of what ? If you're here, then you'll have to answer me. I demand an explanation from you. I demand answers from you for my questions !'

'I'm only here because this is my room. I am not bound to answer you. You are no one to me.'

'What do you mean ? I'm no one to you ? I'm your legally wedded wife. I don't wear this mangalsutra for the world. It's for you. I'm your wife. Now, answer me.', I said.

'Abhimanyu, just answer her.', Aniket said.

'Aniket, stay out of this. It's between a husband and his wife.', said Abhimanyu.

'Abhimanyu, I'm your older brother. Listen to me and answer her. Look, she demands to know everything after all that's happened.', he commanded.

'Aniket, remind me to bash you up later.'

'Sure.', he said and winked at Abhimanyu.

'Can you answer me ?', I asked him.

'Yes, I knew everything about this plan, I was aware of everything happening with you and "Vikramaditya's plan of revenge", as you call it had me playing a big part in it, BECAUSE THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS WAS YOU GETTING MARRIED TO ME !', he said and paused for a second.

I knew what he was going to say next, but just didn't want to hear it.

Brace yourself, Rukmini.

'IN FACT, OUR MARRIAGE ITSELF WAS NOTHING BUT A DEKHAVA, AND YOU WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO BELIEVE IT. ', he screamed at me.

(Dekhava = a façade, more like a play.)

'So, you never loved me ? All those things you said and did for me, all that was ...', I said as I was interrupted by him.

' .... All that was just a façade !', he completed my sentence.

I had a huge cocktail of emotions all bubbling up inside me, and didn't know which ones to give importance, and which ones to silence. All I could think about was this façade of a marriage of literally four days. Obviously, as always, anger took over.

'Abhimanyu, you bastard, how could you do something like this to me, I am your wife ! I just don't believe this. ', I said.

'RUKMINI, HOLD YOUR TONGUE IN PLACE ! YOU BETTER LEARN TO MIND YOUR LANGUAGE, OR ELSE ...', he screamed, bringing the heavens down.

'Or else ? Or else what ?', I asked him in an equal amount of anger.

'Or else this ...', he said and swung his hand in full force in a perfect angle towards my cheek.

'Oh no you don't. ', I said and caught his hand tightly before it could come into contact with my cheek.

I looked straight into his eyes with arrogance.

'I wasn't wrong in my choice of words, you are a sick bastard. You haven't got an ounce of shame. I still don't get it ! How could you freaking think of doing this to your wife ?', I said.

'Oh, but darling, who said you were Abhimanyu's wife ?', said Vikramaditya holding something in his hand.

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I know you guys are probably going to kill me for this cliffhanger, but ... I can't help it.

*evil smile*

Anyways, now I'm setting a target for the updation of the next chapter.

So, I need at least 5 votes and 5 comments on this chapter in order to update the next chapter.

Hope you guys are enjoying the story.

Do vote, comment and recommend this book.

Also, add it to your reading lists.

Love you all,

Radhika :*