Destiny For Unlikely Vows

Chapter 9. Riya's Awakening

Riya stirred in her sleep, a deep uneasiness wrapping around her like a heavy shroud. Her body felt caged, trapped in discomfort. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and the realization that she wasn't in her own room crashed over her like a wave. She blinked, disoriented, as memories from last night began flooding back in jagged fragments. What happened? Did Agastya...?

Her breath hitched, and her hand instinctively grasped at the fabric of her wedding lehenga. The feeling of the bra strap digging into her skin made her wince. She wondered how she had fallen asleep in this uncomfortable attire, her body tense and violated. The last clear memory she had was of Agastya, trying to force himself on her. But after that, there was only darkness-nothing but the blankness of unconsciousness.

Her eyes scanned the room for any sign of him, but there was no one. The silence felt oppressive. She caught sight of a note on the bedside table, and her hand trembled as she picked it up. "Get ready. We're leaving for my penthouse."

Get ready? The audacity of it made her stomach churn with rage. Not a single word of remorse, no acknowledgment of what he had done to her, only this cold, dismissive command. He expected her to follow him, like some puppet without a will of her own.

Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them back. She wasn't his slave. Yes, last night, she had been helpless, but that didn't mean she was broken. There was still fire in her, even if it felt like it was burning low right now.

She glanced at her phone. The battery was almost dead, and it was already noon. Her heart sank further-she had slept through half the day, and now, she wanted nothing more than to escape this suffocating place. To leave everything behind. I need to get out of India, she thought, her mind racing with desperate plans.

Determined to reclaim some sense of control, Riya unfastened her lehenga and discarded it on the floor, then made her way to the shower. The hot water cascaded over her, soothing her nerves, but it did nothing to wash away the memory of last night. She leaned against the tiled wall, her tears mixing with the water as she let herself cry-silent, aching sobs that seemed to wring every last bit of strength from her body. She cried until she felt numb.

Wrapping herself in a bathrobe, Riya emerged from the bathroom, her mind a fog of exhaustion and grief. A red trolley bag sat near the bed. She knew it was hers. Inside, there were only sarees-no jeans, no comfortable clothes, nothing that felt like herself. Anger bubbled up again. Even here, in this foreign house, she felt the weight of expectations pressing down on her.

Her phone rang, breaking through the heavy quiet. She picked it up, her heart sinking as Agastya's grandmother's voice greeted her on the other end. "Everyone is waiting for you at the lunch table, beta. Come soon."

Riya clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around the phone. She didn't want to face them. She didn't want to sit at a table where the man who had violated her would pretend everything was normal. But there was no way out-not yet. She had to play along, at least for now.

With no other option, she dressed in a simple red georgette saree. She applied her sindoor mechanically, as if her hands were detached from her body, then added a touch of moisturizer and lip balm. Her face was pale, her eyes hollow, but she forced herself to look presentable. The last thing she needed was to draw attention to her misery.

Her grandmother rushed to hug her as she reached the dining area, showering her with blessings, unaware of the turmoil churning inside her. Riya barely heard the conversation, her mind numbed. But then her sister spoke, and the words jolted her back into focus.

"Agastya told us everything about last night," her sister said quietly, sympathy in her voice. "Amit tried to hurt you, and Agastya saved you. He's in jail now."

Riya's blood ran cold. Amit? She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The lie was so expertly crafted, so perfectly delivered. Agastya had turned himself into the hero, spinning the events of last night to paint her as a victim of someone else's evil. Her family believed every word of it.

"Thank God Agastya was there to protect you," her grandmother added, her eyes brimming with gratitude. "What a good husband you have, Riya."

Riya could barely breathe. She kept her eyes down, unable to meet anyone's gaze, especially not his. She could feel Agastya's presence before she saw him, could feel the weight of his stare on her like a burning brand. He was watching her, and though she refused to look at him, she could feel the intensity of his gaze, like a predator eyeing its prey.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Hi, My Lovely Readers!

Thank you for reading this chapter of *Destiny for Unlikely Vows*. Your support means everything to me as I embark on this exciting writing journey. ❤️

What did you think of this chapter?
What do you think will happen next?

Please **leave a comment**, **like**, and **share your suggestions**! Don't forget to share this story with your friends to help it reach more readers. Your feedback inspires me and helps me grow as a writer. Let's make this journey unforgettable together! 🌟

Stay tuned for the next chapter!
With love, Mona