Living in the darkness.

The cruel him

MANIK's pov

We finished our dinner. The girls across the table were also done. Me and the beautiful girls were stealing glances throughout the dinner. When I looked at her she looked away and when she looked at me I looked away. We payed the bills and moved out of the restaurant. It was raining lightly. Cabir went to get the car. While other two went to use the loo and I waited outside. The girls were already gone. I was watching the rain gain acceleration slowly when someone bumped into my back. I turned around immediately and saw the beautiful girl stumbling on her feet for balance. I gripped my hands around her shoulders to help her balance. That was the time I saw her this close. Her skin was fair and clear. Soft. Her hair seemed even more softer. Everything seemed to move in a slow motion. The cold wind mixed with the rain water gushing our face, her hair moving slightly with the wind exposing her silver earrings. Her eyelashes falling down and rising slowly. That was when I saw her closely.

"Nandani.... Jaldi kar. Der ho jayegi..." A voice from the rain got us out from the trance. She looked towards the source. Her friends were calling her. She looked at me then took a step back then to the right one.. Two.. And then she turned and ran towards the waiting car. She covered her hair with the stole to escape the rain and sat in the car. I looked at the car while it drove off.

I smiled and said, "Nandani....."

NANDANI's pov

"NANDANI!!" I heard a loud roar. I jumped on my feet , my heart skipped a beat. " NANDANI" he roared again. I walked with shaking legs towards him. He looked at me and smiled tightly. "Ooh! My darling. Come here. Come come come baby.." He said faking a polite voice. He extended his hands towards me, gesturing my hands. I extended my hands. My fingers shaking not wanting to meet his. He extended his hands and grabbed my in a nano second crushed them and pulled me to his lap. He stroked my bangs off my face and tucking them behind my ears asked, "Nandani, do you know what salt is? Hmm?" I nodded my head in yes. Tears pooled in my eyes. "To fir dala kyu nai khane me?" He roared loudly. His eyes red in anger. He held my face between his index finger and thumb, and took a spoonful of the eggs and pressed it against my lips. "Khao Nandani. Eat." I started crying and shaking my head and in the mist the spoon fell down. "You are going to pay for it now." His hand went back my head and grabbed my hair in a fist and pulled it. He stood up with his hand in my hair and pulling them. He dragged me upstairs through the stairs not caring if I missed a two.

I cried. I pleaded. "Madhyam. Please. I am sorry. Madhyam I am sorry." But he didn't pay a heed. He pushed me in our room straight to the floor. I was just a figure shivering on the floor. He lifted his arm to slap me just then his phone rang and his hand paused in air and I thanked god in my silent prayer. "Arrggh." He groaned in frustration and moved out with his phone.

I hugged my knees and cried out in a corner. He came back and carried out with his daily routine. He got ready for his office and came to me. He wiped my tears with his thumb. "I will be back by evening. Be a good girl and stay in the room itself. Okay? I don't want you anywhere near that little bundle of shit. Hmm?" He said clenching his teeth and banged my head with the wall. He moved out of the room banging the door. I cried out loud. I cried in the hell.

One hour passed. I was sitting blankly. I heard a feeble continuous tapping on the door. I knew who it was. I quickly rushed to the door and pulled it, but the door didn't open. "Yaayiee..."(Aai-word used for mother in Marathi.) A small baby voice spoke calling out for me. I vigorously moved the handle to open it but I couldn't. It was locked. My baby was calling out for me continuously tapping and calling out for me. With each passing second her voice cracked and she burst out in tears. "Shruti... Baby I am here only. Don't cry. Mumma will do something han. Aai aa rai hai bacha. Rote nai." I consoled her and was all baffled as I knew Madhyam hai locked the door and went out and none of the servants are going to help me come out. I cried. I cried at my fate. I cried at his cruelty.