Gahna sat in the dimly lit room, the soft patter of rain against the window the only sound breaking the oppressive silence. The darkness in the room mirrored the darkness she felt inside-a deep, suffocating void that had grown since her marriage to Vikram. She watched the rain, her thoughts swirling like the storm outside, when a low, almost whispered voice broke through her reverie.
The door creaked open, and Vikram stepped into the room. His presence filled the space with an oppressive weight, his shadow looming over her as he approached.
"Gahna," his voice was low, almost a whisper, laced with an undertone of suspicion.
"Why are you sitting in the dark? Are you hiding from me?"
Gahna forced herself to speak, keeping her voice steady despite the fear that gripped her.
"No, Vikram. I was just watching the rain."
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized her.
"Is that so? Or are you plotting something, like the ungrateful wife you are?"
She shook her head, turning to face him with a forced smile, though her heart pounded in her chest. "I'm just... tired, that's all."
"Tired? Of what, exactly?" Vikram's voice grew colder, more menacing. "Of me? Of this life I've given you?"
Her pulse quickened, but she kept her composure. "No, Vikram. I'm just tired from the chores. Your parents expect a lot from me."
Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist, his grip tight and unyielding. Pain shot through her arm, but she didn't dare pull away. "My parents are right to expect a lot. You should be grateful they even let you live in this house."
She winced but kept her voice calm. "I am grateful. I do everything I can to please them."
Vikram leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "Ye dhyan rakhna aurat sirf is chaar diwaario ke liye bani rehti hai aasha karta hu ki tum samajh gyi hogi teacher banne ka sapna chhor do aur ghar walo ke saath pati aur bachche ki dekh bhal karne ka sapna dekho samajh aayi baat."
Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "I will not dream about it"
His grip loosened, and he caressed her cheek with a touch that was both soft and menacing. "You better not be. Because if I find out you are... you know what I'm capable of."
"I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Vikram released her and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. As the door closed behind him, Gahna let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her body trembled, and she wrapped her arms around herself, seeking some semblance of comfort in the cold, dark room.
A few minutes later, she heard the familiar, sharp voice of her mother-in-law cutting through the silence, filled with contempt and disdain.
"Why are you just standing there like a useless doll? Have you finished all the work I assigned you?"
In these few days her mother-in-law's behaviour changed towards her.
Gahna quickly wiped her eyes and turned to face her mother-in-law, forcing herself to appear composed. "Yes, Maa. I've done everything."
Kamla, her mother-in-law, sneered as she walked around the room, inspecting Gahna's work with a critical eye. "We'll see about that. You always miss something. You're too careless."
YOU ARE READING
GAHNA: A Fire
Non-Fiction"Dreams don't die easily, but sometimes, the people around us bury them alive." She shared the secrets of her heart, the ones she could never speak to anyone else. Her voice trembled as she revealed the emotions she had kept locked away, each word...
