"A collision of rough souls"

CHAPTER 17

*SAME NIGHT AT HRIHAAN'S BEDROOM*

(Hiya stands in the doorway, holding her small bag. She looks around the room, her face pale and drawn. Hrihaan is already inside, pacing angrily by the window. He stops when he sees her, his expression hardening)

Hrihaan (coldly): Sleep on the other side of the bed.

(Hiya doesn't respond. She sets her bag down and walks over to the couch, sitting down and curling up against the armrest. Hrihaan's frustration flares)

Hrihaan (more forcefully): I said, sleep on the bed. You’re my wife now, remember?

(Hiya, still ignoring him, takes a blanket from the closet and wraps it around herself. She doesn't even glance in his direction. Hrihaan's anger bubbles over, but he manages to keep his voice low)

Hrihaan : Fine. Sleep wherever you want.

(Hrihaan turns back to the window, staring out into the night. He can't shake the feeling of betrayal, convinced that hiya has been playing him all along)

Hrihaan (to himself, muttering): I can't believe I trusted you...

(Hiya closes her eyes, her heart heavy with the weight of everything that's happened. She feels a mix of confusion and sorrow. The betrayal she feels from hrihaan's actions, the shock of seeing her mom alive, and the forced marriage have left her emotionally drained)

(Hrihaan lies down.. but he can't find any peace)

Hrihaan (thinking): Why did it have to be her? Why did she have to be his daughter?

(Hiya lies on the couch, staring at the ceiling. She feels numb, the events of the past few days replaying over and over in her mind. Tears slip silently down her cheeks as she clutches the blanket tighter)

(The hours pass slowly. Neither of them sleeps well. Hrihaan's mind races with thoughts of revenge and betrayal, while hiya feels lost and broken)

Hrihaan (softly, to himself): I hate this... I hate feeling like this.

(Hiya hears him but doesn't respond. She feels a pang of sorrow, knowing that the man she had started to trust now sees her as an enemy)

*NEXT MORNING*

(Hiya wakes up early, feeling the ache in her muscles from a night spent on the couch. She quietly gets ready and heads downstairs)

Brinda(mom) (seeing hiya): Good morning, hiya.

Mohan(uncle) : Morning, beta.

Neela (Aunt) :Good morning, hiya.

(Hiya offers a weak smile and a quiet response)

Hiya (softly): Morning. I'm just... going to the garden.

(They watch her go, concern etched on their faces. They exchange worried glances, unable to process why hrihaan would force hiya into such a situation)

Mohan : I don't understand hrihaan's actions. What could have driven him to do this?

Neela : He won't tell us anything. Just keep everything to himself.

Brinda : We have to try again. He can't keep treating her like this.

*IN HRIHAAN'S ROOM*

(Hrihaan wakes up and notices the couch is empty. He frowns, gets up, and goes through his morning routine)

(After getting ready, hrihaan heads downstairs. The dining table is set, and his family is seated, but hiya is not there. He feels a pang of guilt but quickly brushes it aside, masking it with his anger)