Under His Control [ON HOLD]

22. Happy

Don't be that way

Fall apart twice a day

I just wish you could feel what you say

                    𓇢𓆸݁˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚ ⟡⋆.˚❀⋆.˚⟡ 𓇢𓆸

After a very long time, I felt somewhat relieved and happy today. Perhaps talking to Kabir helped me ease the burden that was weighing my chest. I felt in my heart that it will get better and one day I'll be able to muster enough courage to leave this all behind and build a life for myself. I won't let anyone take away my chance to live the life that I desired and I'll make that happen. It might not feel like it right now but it will get better and I didn't want to lose hope. I won't let this darkness swallow my soul.

I sat down in the balcony—the chirping of birds was music to the ears. A smile crept on my lips unknowingly as the wind whistled by me , swirling my hair.

"Ma'am, you're looking happy today." Vani said as she handed me the coffee.

"I am." I offered her a generous smile as I looked over to the daisies in the garden.

I was thanking the God that Ranvijay didn't stay home longer. It made me live a little without the fear that always gripped my soul whenever he was around me. I would sleep calmly without an ounce of pain. In his absence, I lived freely and I savoured every minute of this temporary peace.

Due to his work commitments, meetings and sometimes the political work , he travelled a lot. He was a busy and hardworking man, no doubt in that. The business he was a part of was not everyone's cup of tea but he managed it with so much ease and of course with passion and dedication like no other.

I walked up to the closet to get changed into a sports bra and leggings—topping it up with an oversized T-shirt. Feeling a bit energetic today, I decided to go to the gym. Vani told me that there was a private gym in this wing which was used only by Ranvijay. I was relieved that there wouldn't be anyone except for me.

I entered the gym putting the AirPods in my ears and removing the T-shirt I was wearing as I started running on the treadmill. After about twenty minutes of running, I did some sets of squats and lunges.

I sat down on one of the benches taking a breather when I noticed someone enter the gym—I pulled out the AirPods from my ears and grabbed the T-shirt lying beside me to cover my chest in a haste.

A man stood tall in the doorway—shirtless. He grinned as he looked at me—hands buried in the pockets of his shorts.

Vansh, one of Ranvijay's paternal cousins. He was around my age and had made me uncomfortable whenever we'd been in the same room. He always gave me the creeps but I didn't think he would stoop this low.

"This is a private area, get out from here." I said as I wore the T-shirt in a hurry. My hands trembled and heart thumped against my chest loudly.

"Isn't this my dearest sister-in-law?."He made his way towards my direction—standing in front of me.

"Get away, Vansh. This is highly inappropriate." I said as he closed the distance between us more.

"I'm trying to get to know you and here you're running away." He said as I picked up the bottle of water while standing from the bench in order to leave the gym but he blocked my way each time.

"What do you want?." I gritted in anger.

"Now we're talking business." He hummed as he leaned forward.

"What can a girl like you offer?." He laughed as sized me up with his disgusting gaze.

"Are you even in your senses?." I recoiled as he raised his hand to touch my face.