The Revenge Marriage

THE NIGHTMARE

MEHER'S P.O.V

After Persis left me under my father's apartment building and drove off, I took a steady breath and entered the building lobby.
Everything was the same. Marbles were polished and shining, chandelier was not lit as it was day but it moved slightly with the gush of the sea breeze and the crystals banged with eachother producing a tinkling sound. The sound was soothing but it did nothing to calm my nerves.
I gave a Shakey smile to the gaurd sitting near the reception and made my way to the elevator.

I pressed 2 and let the elevator take me up to my dad's apartment. As the doors opened, I froze staring at the dark ornate door, intimidating me to take a step forward and face the devil.

I took a deep breath. I needed to see my mother. I needed to be strong. I stepped out and rang the doorbell.

My maid Rutu opened the door soon after. She stared at me shocked. Soon she composed herself and looked to the right towards the living room. She gulped audibly and then let me enter inside. I knew her morose expression was because my father must be in the living room.

As I went in, My father looked up from the newspaper. Front page of the paper read "Meher Irani, daughter of Aslam Irani eloped from her own wedding". Below the headline was a pixelated picture of myself and Persus getting in his car.

My father knew who I left with. He looked beyond angry. He was fuming.
Suddenly he threw the paper and roared "You bitch".

I squirmed at his gutteral voice and bowed my head down. My mother walked out of her room after listening to my dad's roaring sound.

She looked terrible. Her eyes were puffy, she had bruises on her face and her arm was in a sling. She was beaten because of me.

I couldn't help but feel guilty. This was my fault. As tears cascaded down my cheeks, all I could do was repeatedly say sorry to my mother.

This made my father go mad.
"You bitch. Only person you should say sorry to, is me. Is her name tarnished in the morning papers?" He quickly walked up to me and held my hair in a deathly hold.

I looked straight in his eyes. Hell I am saying sorry to him for beating my mother.

Next thing I know, my head was being smashed at the wall. I heard a crack and a few seconds later I felt excruciating pain in my neck. He still had steel grip in my hair. As he left my head, I started to see white dots in front of my eyes. I was getting dizzy and my knees were wobbling. As I crashed to the ground, I felt my dad kick me continuously.  My mom was screaming, so was Rutu. My dad was yelling but it was only jumbled noises to my ears. I didn't care though. I just wanted to die. Soon everything went  dark.

_______________________________________

PERSIS

Meher was lying lifeless on the hospital bed with her neck in a heavy cast and her stomach bandaged. She looked pale, the red colour of natural blush lost from her cheeks.

An IV drip was attached to her right forearm and her finger held the device that connected to the vitals monitor.

I slowly walked towards her and sat on the stool placed near her bed. I was scared to touch her but at the same time I yearned to touch her too.
As soon as I took her soft hand in my big palms, a nurse walked in.

She gave me a soft smile which I returned instantly.

She picked up an injection from the tray kept on the side table,filled in the medicine from a small clear glass bottle and injected it in the IV. She then picked up her notepad and started noting down her vitals.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked softly, staring at Meher.

"Sorry! But you are?" She asked suspiciously

"I am her husband." I said looking her in the eye.

She looked at me for a while before sighing.

"She has a hairline fracture in her neck and a few broken ribs. Looks like she was beaten up. But none of us in the hospital are allowed to mention it." She said with sadness in her voice and shrugged helplessly.

I suddenly stood up from the stool and started pacing in the room. Anger boiling within me was quickly making me restless and out of control.

"Honestly, we thought that it was a case of domestic violence. We assumed the husband beat her and her parents got her here for treatment. But I guess that's not the case." She said as if realising something.

"Did they say, who did this to her?" I asked aloud.

I couldn't believe that Aslan would do this to Meher for eloping with me but everything that happened outside; Aisha's scared voice, Meher's hysterical laughter when I said that his dad would sign the papers to protect her, it all pointed to the fact that this must be Aslan's doing.

"They never said anything but looks like the father. He wasn't treating his wife very well. " The young nurse said with a sad smile.

"When will she wake up?" I asked hopefully

"Soon. Heavy medication is making her sleep alot. She will be fine sir, don't worry. If you need anything then just press that bell." She said, pointing at the bell switch near the bed, right above the side table.

I thanked her politely before she excused herself.

Confused and angry but mostly guilty, I looked at my sweet angel with broken wings.

Deep down I knew, I was the one who snatched away her wings.

I always took pride in not caging her, never taking away her freedom but I have done something worst. I burnt her wings and made it impossible for her to fly.

A lone tear escaped my blurry eyes, as I took in her fragile state. This time I let the guilt dominate me. I Tooke her hand in my palm and gently lowered my head on or connected hands.

I cried and apologized a thousand times. Every sorry that left my lips, made my heart a 100 times more heavier.