THE DARKEST VOWS

CHAPTER - 2

Samikshya's parents, Rajendra and Nalini, sat in the living room, their faces twisted in disdain, as they gazed at her with a mixture of disappointment and disgust. The dim lighting seemed to amplify the tension, casting long shadows across the room that appeared to writhe and twist like living darkness.

"You're a constant disappointment, Samikshya," Rajendra spat, his voice dripping with venom, each word cutting deep into her soul. His eyes, once warm and loving, now seemed cold and unforgiving, a reflection of the chasm that had grown between them.

Nalini's voice was equally toxic, her words dripping with malice. "You'll never be as successful as Tanya," she hissed, comparing Samikshya to her sister, a constant reminder of her inadequacy.

Samikshya's heart withered under their scorn, feeling like a fragile flower crushed by the weight of their disapproval. She yearned for acceptance, for love, but it seemed forever out of reach. Tanya watched the exchange, a smug smile spreading across her face, reveling in Samikshya's misery.

"Abhyansh will make a fine husband," Nalini said, her voice filled with excitement, as if the very mention of his name was enough to erase all of Samikshya's shortcomings. "Tanya's future is secure," Rajendra added, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction, the prospect of Abhyansh's wealth and power blinding him to the danger lurking beneath.

Samikshya felt a pang of fear, her mind racing with thoughts of Abhyansh's ruthless reputation. The whispers of his brutal dealings, the lives he'd destroyed, and the fear he inspired in those around him haunted her. Was Tanya truly aware of what she was getting herself into?

That night, as Samikshya lay in bed, her phone buzzed with an unknown number. The message sent chills down her spine: "You're not safe." The words seemed to sear themselves into her mind, a warning or a threat, she couldn't be sure.

The next day, Abhyansh arrived at their house, his presence commanding attention. Rajendra and Nalini fawned over him, their earlier disdain for Samikshya forgotten in the face of his power. Tanya beamed with pride, her eyes shining with adoration.

Samikshya trembled, her fear intensifying as Abhyansh's gaze locked onto hers. For a moment, she saw something flicker in his eyes, a glimmer of emotion, but it was quickly extinguished, replaced by an unnerving intensity.

"Samikshya," Abhyansh said, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine. "You'll join us for dinner tonight." It wasn't a request; it was a command.

As Abhyansh left, Samikshya felt trapped, ensnared in a web of deceit and danger, with Abhyansh at its center. His presence suffused the room, like a dark cloud that threatened to consume her.

That night, at dinner, Abhyansh's eyes never left Samikshya. His gaze was unnerving, making her skin crawl. Tanya chatted enthusiastically, oblivious to the tension, while Rajendra and Nalini laughed, their faces flushed with wine.

Samikshya felt suffocated, the air thick with unspoken threats. Abhyansh's presence seemed to grow, filling the room with an aura of menace.

As dinner dragged on, Samikshya's anxiety intensified, her nerves stretched taut like a violin's strings, vibrating with every glance from Abhyansh's piercing eyes, which never wavered, never relented, seeming to bore into her very soul, laying bare her deepest fears and insecurities. Tanya's laughter grated on Samikshya's nerves, a shrill, discordant sound that clashed with the tension building inside her, while Rajendra and Nalini's obsequiousness made her cringe, their fawning over Abhyansh a pathetic display of subservience. The air was heavy with unspoken threats, the shadows cast by the flickering candles twisting into menacing shapes that seemed to writhe and twist on the walls.

"Samikshya, pass the wine," Abhyansh ordered, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine, the command echoing through her mind like a death knell. As she reached for the bottle, Abhyansh's hand brushed hers, electricity sparking, a jolt of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Samikshya jerked back, her heart racing, her face burning with embarrassment. Tanya's laughter teased, a cruel, mocking sound, while Abhyansh's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying, piercing the veil of politeness to reveal a glimmer of something darker, something sinister.