Living in the darkness.

The Re-begining?

(Unedited)
****

NANDANI's pov

I watch the night turn light blue. The birds began to crip. It's may be some 6 in the morning. Dehradun is turning colder day by day with the coming winter.  I spent the whole night outside in the balcony. I have stopped caring about the cold atmosphere ever since Madhyam has walked into my life. I stand up and walk inside but my lower body is too sore. I can't even walk properly. I slide the door close. I walk to the chest drawers and pull out a strip of painkillers. I gulp one with water. Hopeing the sedatives will bring me some sleep. I slide in the warm sheets besides Madhyam and close my eyes to drift in solace.

****
I feel two kind of fingers over me. One creasing my cheeks and the other one my hair. The little fingers on my cheeks clutch my skin into tiny little fist and pull it a little. I know this touch. The most soothing touch. My baby's touch. My Shruti's touch. I frown a little because I don't remember sleeping beside her nor she wakes up beside me ever. 

My eyes shoot open wide suddenly. As soon as I open my eyes, Shruti gives my a wide toothless smile. My eyes reach out to the figure lying behind her. Madhyam was lying behind her, resting his head on his elbow and his other hand in hair. "Good morning Nandani." He says and pulls my hair into into his fist. I hiss in pain. "Oohh!! Did i hurt you? Come I will heal you." He says.

I shift back suddenly away from his touch. He pouts, and hugs Shruti from behind and glance at her "Baby, see mumma is running away from Daddy. Tell your mumma naa... Daddy loves her sooooo much."

Why is he calling himself Dad. "What do you want Madhyam?"

"Aah! There you are. Straight to the point." He grins and get up. He is well dressed in his formals. He adjusted his blazer, rubbing off the creases with the back of his hand. Shruti too turns facing him lying on her stomach and watches him intensely. She gets up a little and briskly crawls to the edge towards Madhyam. She lifts her arms in air indicating him to carry her.

I quickly get up to get her before Madhyam does, but I was late. He swiftly carries Shruti  and she giggles in his embrace. "What do you want Madhyam?" I ask sternly. Getting up.

"A sweet little happy family." He says with a fake polite cheesy grin. What is this man up to now. He and his evil games. But I will not let him drag Shruti in his games. Before I could question him further he made himself a bit more clear this time.

"Aryaman." His face becomes serious and hard.

    Aryaman Khurrana was the elder step brother of Madhyam. Madhyam can lick his soles for he has all the property under his power. I met him once and he unlike Madhyam seems to a genuine man. But I have stopped trusting people now. They show their real colours when you least expect them to. But now when it concerns Aryaman it has to something big because he is involving Shruti in this.

"Aryaman is coming back from the States. He presumes us to be a happy family. His arrival means your freedom. If you TRY, mark my words EVEN TRY an escape, you will have to face the consequences and this will be even worse than the last time. Be a good wife. If Aryaman smells anything fishy you are the one paying." His voice crystal clear and sharp.

"What if I say no." I speak sternly. Looking straight into his eyes.

"Haah!" He give out a humourless chuckle. His lisps press into a hardline. He walks into the walk in cubbord with Shruti in his arms. My heart beats raised abnormally. I shouldn't have spoken like this. After a minute or so he comes back. Shruti is holding something. Something metallic. She puts it in her mouth and tried to chew it with her gums. Before I analyse the foreign object, Madhyam throws something at my feet making me jump.