Insatiable Desires

Chapter 13

A gentle reminder before you read this chapter. This book is based in the background of 1950s. A time when domestic violence was, forget being a crime, it wasn't even considered wrong. By the end of this chapter, you may feel that my female protagonist doesn't have a spine, but just remember in those times majority of the women preferred silence over protesting. And this book focuses on just that and the why! But, I would like you to trust the flow of the story and be open minded. Moving on, hoping I did justice to this chapter, Enjoy!

Her eyes, lost and tired, stared at her reflection in the water as she took off her clothes to bathe. Unable to comprehend the girl she was watching. Every inch of her skin was covered with red marks, except the stomach, some already healing as they turned bluish while others were a stark contrast, raging at the injustice of last night.

Snapping her eyes away, she bathed herself, oblivious to the pain her worn out body was suffering from as she rubbed her skin, trying to wash off the traces of last night since she was too oblivious as she tried to overcome the pain her heart and mind were experiencing.

She froze, snapping back to reality as a knock sounded on the wooden door before his voice, laced with impatience, drifted in, "Nandini! Kitni der laga rahi hai. Jaldi bahar aa. Mujhe kaam pe jana hai."

Her hands shook and her heart pounded in fear of angering him again as she hurriedly rinsed herself and quickly wore the suit. Manik, who was sitting on the bed, looked up as the bathroom's door opened as Nandini stepped out, bathed, in a blue loose suit with her wet hair falling on her back, her eyes averted down.

Without a word, Manik walked to take a bathe, ignoring her presence completely and Nandini sucked in a breath of relief. She hurriedly picked up the dupatta, wanting to get out of the room before her husband came out. As she was about to walk out, her eyes fell on the small mirror on the wall, watching the red marks on her neck.

She wrapped the dupatta around her neck, trying to hide the bite marks from last night. Noticing some of them still visible, she took it off, her hands shaking slightly as she draped it over her shoulders. Although the marks were covered, she observed in fear that it accentuated her breasts. Taking it again off, she clicked her tongue in frustration, her hands shaking as she attempted to cover herself completely while her eyes welled up. She immediately wiped the tears of  despair that managed to escape with the back of her hand, not wanting to think about anything before she decided to change the clothes.

Some time later, Nandini walked to the kitchen, her movements slow and monotonous as she prepared breakfast. As her mother in law and Manik sat on the veranda for breakfast, she served it, her hands shaking slightly as she stepped closer to her husband to pour his tea.

"Nandini, sab theek hai? Tere haath kyu kamp rahe hai?" the old woman enquired, eyeing Nandini, while she sipped her tea. Feeling Manik's gaze on her, Nandini replied with a feeble "Hanji" before escaping to the kitchen.

As Manik continued sipping on his tea, he felt his mother's eyes on him before she snapped, "Thoda toh soch kuch karne se pehle!" As he looked at her, questioning, she gritted out, "Uski baaju pe nishan dekhe maine. Tum mard kaabu kyu nahi kar paate khud ko?!" When Manik didn't speak up, she continued, "Mujhe kuch farq nahi padta tu apni biwi sath kya karta hai. Lekin ye iss liye bol rahi kyoki uski kokh mein hamare ghar ka ansh hai. Apna gussa kam kar thoda. Woh teen mahine pait se hai. Bache ko kuch ho gaya toh?"

"Kuch nahi hoga kisi ko. Woh haath se bahar jaa rahi thi. Mai kuch na karta toh hume pata bhi nahi chalta ki kab saara ghar sar par utha leti. Mujhe pata tha mai kya kar raha hu," Manik replied, his tone letting her know not to utter another word. His mother quietened down, both of them having the rest of their breakfast quietly, not noticing the presence of Nandini, standing at the corner as she involuntarily overheard their entire conversation, her heart and mind numb to even comprehend anything.