Living in the darkness.

We Shall Overcome.

Helloo lovey amazingly witty ladies. How are you? Another update in a row... Once again thank you thank you soo much for all the lovely comments and votes. Thank you for taking your time and reading my story. It means a lot. Thank you each and every individual thank you.
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Nandani's pov.

I saw him.

No, I didn't. Yes I did.

He said, "Nandani....." he remembers my name. He remembers me. I saw him. I saw him in the garden.

A sharp cry made me come out of my thoughts at once. I looked at the source and found Shruti, crying in her cradle. She wants to come out. I go to her and pick her up and she stops crying. She smiled as I picked her up giving me her best teeth less smile. I shook my head helplessly and thought, humans are born liars. This girl always wanted to crawl over the floor once is off the cradle and I can't afford her to roam around. I emptied all her toys in her cradle and made her sit in their again. Now she was happy to stay there. She picked up the panda and today her amusing part of was his nose. She started pulling it's nose but her attempts didn't pay off. She was busy in her own world and was starring at her, who was my world, when suddenly the door clicked open and it didn't just click open it even slammed close. Madhyam was in his work out clothes and his face told me he was angry. And it was not a good news.

In just two strides he was in front of me and my hand was twisted to my back, "you fucking meet him right? Answer me damn it you fucking meet him on purpose? You wanna run away with him? Han? Answer me, I am asking you something." He roared like a mad lion. My eyes pooled up and I shook my head vigorously in a No. "I would never do that." I said in almost a whisper.

"Don't forget that I am the one who owns you. And you fucking don't forget the deal." He said leaving my hand. I press my hand in order to relieve the pain. Shruti who was busy with the panda was now standing in the cradle with the support of edges and was holding her hands out to Madhyam, indicating him to pick her up. While Madhyam paced around the room running his fingers in his sweaty hair. "Fuck this Aryaman. Fuck him..." he shouted and slammed the mantelpiece in a brisk of moment right on the floor. "Arrrrrgghhhhh...... someone just shut this fucking kid up." He groaned loudly making me gasp and take a step back in fear. I quickly placed my hand on Shruti's mouth. And she instead head my hand in her two tiny palms and started biting it.

He turned around and came to me again in just two long strides. Held my face and placed his disgusting lips on mine. "You. Are. Mine." He said, in clear sharp words. And the look in his said he could kill anyone for what he said. Accept it or not. He is a man of his words- he says- he does. I know it. I have seen it. I have experienced it. I have lived it.
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I wear the sari Madhyam gave me. Today is the inaugural party of the project. A party Aryaman is throwing. Two years and I have never seen people apart from a few. There will be people around. There will be Manik around. Does he remember me? No. No Nandani don't think about him. What if Madhyam comes to know. No. He'll kill him. 'Your freedom is someone's death...' his words rang in my ears.

        I quickly wash my face water on face several times. And prepare my self to pretend. Pretend to be happy. Pretend to be a perfect happy marriage. A person happy family.
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The tables are ready. The orchestra is playing smooth music. Drinks are being served. The large hall of the Ooty mansion is filled with scattered sophisticated manner people, with elegance dripping down them.

Suddenly I felt an arm snake in my waist. "Let's go? And yes, Smile." Madhyam said clutching my skin tightly. We elegantly walked down the stairs and some people notice us while some still busy within themselves. I see Aryaman pointing our presence to some elite elderly guests. And Madhyam acknowledges them by nodding his head. He suddenly tugs my waist brutally indicating it's time to smile. I do. I do as he says. Isn't that what puppets do?