In The Name Of Love [Indian] | ✓

Chapter 04

Saanchi stood alone in the quiet house, her forehead pressed against the door. She heard Abhay's footsteps slowly fading away and she left a long sigh. Saanchi remembered him, not for any reason one could assume.

Saanchi met her the day she came to this house and the day her life changed complete.

" How could I ever forget you? The day we met also happens to be the day my life turned into a living hell... ", she breathed out.

Right then, her sister-in-law, Shalini, barged out of her room with a skeptical expression.

" What's going on, Saanchi? Where is my food delivery? Didn't I ask you to pick it up for me... ", Shalini asked and then looked at her. A cruel smile appearing on her face. " Were you trying to run away or something? "

Saanchi was caught off guard.

" No, Bhabi, I wasn't. I was just- ", Saanchi started to explain but Shalini didn't seem like she wanted an answer. She took matters into her own hands and forcefully slammed her head against the door.

Saanchi let out a cry in pain.

" Don't try anything stupid. Running away won't solve anything for you. ", Shalini smirked as she took a step forward and pressed on her face further against the door.
" Not like you have anywhere to go... "

Her sister in law finally let her go and Saanchi moved away from her, checking on her now throbbing head.

In that moment of rage, Saanchi screamed, " I know you're cheating on my brother, Shalini. "

" What- "

Undeterred, Saanchi pressed on,
" I've seen you sneaking out at night and meeting some guy last night when your husband is out at work! "

Shalini's eyes flickered in fear.

" You bitch! Who do you think you are to blackmail me. Your brother would never believe you over me anyway. ", Shalini retorted back and Saanchi knew that she was right. Ever since she came to live with her brother and his wife, he has been a horrible man.

" Sure. Maybe he won't believe me or my words but it will plant that thought into his head. Once he has the idea, he will find out the rest. ", Saanchi said, trying her best to scare Shalini to not hurt her anymore.
" If you want me to stay quiet, stop abusing me... Please. "

Her sister in law was scared of getting caught, so she spat out some curse words before retreating back to her room, leaving Saanchi alone at last.

She breaths a sigh of relief.

Saanchi cautiously stepped outside and a cool breeze of air hit against her skin, easing the pain. She picked up the food packet that was left on the front yard and decided to sit outside on the bench for a while.

At a distance, hidden behind the bushes, was Abhay. He was about to leave but couldn't when he heard her scream out in pain a few minutes ago.

He observed her afar. Seeing the blood clot forming on her forehead made him fume in anger. Abhay was torn in between the urge to comfort her and the fear of scaring her and coming off as a creep.

While he debated within himself, Saanchi's voice called out his name.

" I can already see you hiding there. You might as well come out now. ", she laughed, which caught him off guard. Abhay hesitated for a moment before emerging from the bushes, a sheepish smile on his face.

" I didn't mean to be a creep. I just- I wanted to make sure you were okay. "

Saanchi smiled a little.

" Hiding in the bushes doesn't make you look any less creepy though. "

"I was just... worried about you. "

He noticed a strange sense of sadness wash all over her face. Her eyes almost welled up but she quickly batted her eyelashes to hide the tears.

" It's okay. Come, sit here... ", Saanchi tapped on the bench next to her. Abhay felt his heart leaping in excitement but he managed to calm himself down and sit by her.

" By the way, how did you see me? I think I hid myself pretty good. ", he asked, trying to lighten the mood but he wasn't very good at it. He didn't have many friends to know that.

But his strange sense of humour seemed to work on Saanchi because she smiled again.

" You're too tall and wide to hide behind that bush. Maybe that tree would have been a better decoy... ", she attempted to smile widely but stopped because stretching her face muscle caused her pain.

Abhay looked down and noticed the numerous bruises decorating her body. Every inch of her skin was covered in them. Unlike the day he first met her.

The Saanchi he met a month ago was vibrant, friendly and shining like the sunrays. The Saanchi sitting beside him today was completely different. She had deep dark circles and red eyes. Her voice was sickly and she looked significantly skinny.

Abhay felt her vision getting hazy.

" I'm ugly now... ", Saanchi muttered as she noticed Abhay's eyes looking at  the bruises. He swiftly looked up.

" What? "

" The girl you expected to find isn't here anymore. I'm just a poor collection of whatever is left of her... ", she managed to say before breaking down in tears.

Abhay sat there, stunned!

" You're still the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Those bruises do not define you. ", Abhay said while he felt his anger building up inside him. His head started flashing violent hallucinations before his eyes.

" What happened to you? ", he asked.

Saanchi spoke, her voice shaky,
" A month ago, I made the terrible mistake of coming to stay in this house... "

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