A walk on thorns

Chapter 2| Throwback

Anisha’s POV

The drive home was a suffocating silence, filled only with Mukhtar's smoke that snaked around us, choking me slowly. Every drag he took seemed to fill the car with a sickly haze, each exhale a reminder of the cruelty that waited on his lips and in his fists. I stared out the window, my heart hammering in my chest, feeling like a cornered animal about to be slaughtered.

As soon as we reached the parking spot, Mukhtar didn’t even bother to turn off the car. His anger was a blinding storm, and he moved like a man possessed. He flung open my door, not with care but with a brutal impatience. His fingers dug into my arm as he dragged me out, ignoring my gasps and pleas. My legs scraped against the concrete as he pulled me toward the house, and I stumbled, feeling every sharp stone and rough edge cut into my skin.

Inside, he shoved me down in the living room, a space that should have felt safe but now held nothing but terror. Before I could even catch my breath, he ripped off his belt, the leather slapping ominously against his hand. He squatted before me, his eyes filled with a darkness that chilled me to my bones.

“Anisha,” he sneered, his voice barely human, “for the last time, why did you abort my baby?” Each word cut like a blade, his tone drenched in contempt.

“I... I swear... Mukhtar, it wasn’t an abortion,” I stammered, my voice a broken whisper. Tears filled my eyes as I tried to explain, knowing he wouldn’t listen. “I... had a miscarriage.”

He stared at me, his jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me? Why?!” he bellowed, his voice filled with accusation.

“Because… I was scared,” I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips, my hands trembling as I tried to shield myself from his rage.

“Scared? Scared of me? Am I a monster, Anisha?” he mocked, his mouth twisting in a cruel smile. “You lying, deceitful woman. You’ll never change!” He stood up suddenly and whipped the belt across my back. Pain exploded through me, raw and blinding, as I crumpled forward.

“Mukhtar, please,” I sobbed, agony ripping through every nerve.

“Then tell me how it happened!” he screamed, his voice filled with wild anger.

“Stop, please, I’ll tell you,” I pleaded, trying to protect my stomach with my hands.

“Are you giving me orders now, you worthless woman?!” His voice was venomous, and he lashed out again, the belt striking me over and over, my cries swallowed by the empty room.

“I’ll say it… please, Mukhtar… I’ll tell you the truth,” I begged, my voice breaking, my body wracked with pain.

“Then talk, animal!” he spat, his face twisted with disgust.

“It was that day at the gym,” I choked out, the words tumbling from my lips as I struggled to breathe. “Last week… when you found me at the gym. You… you stepped on my stomach… that’s… that’s when it happened,” I whispered, my voice a fragile thread.

For a moment, he stared at me, his expression darkening. Then his mouth twisted into a sneer. “You pathetic hypocrite. Are you actually blaming me now? Are you saying I caused this?” His voice was icy, each word dripping with hatred.

“No, Mukhtar… I’m not saying that… I’m just… I’m just telling you what happened,” I murmured, my spirit fading with each second.

“What’s the difference?! You caused this, Anisha, and now you’re trying to twist it around, acting like a victim!” He leaned closer, his face inches from mine. “You are nothing but an animal, a liar who only understands through punishment. You destroyed my family, and now you’ll suffer for it. For life.” His words hit me like daggers, and then he began to beat me, each lash of the belt sinking deeper than the last, each strike a reminder of the hatred he held for me.