The Things We Love and Lose

Chapter 6

I will ruin you.

I should forget his words by now rather than scourging my mind to hear the echo of the hurt, of the rudeness that refused to leave my conscious. Had I committed such a sin he found it hard to see my face and leave me alone in the venue? Should I be angry at his actions or feel distaste at my own actions?

If I had a choice, I would rewind back to the day when I had hid my ring from him, rewind when I had lied about the ring on my finger and never initiated to project what remain hidden in my heart. He wasn't wrong in his position. I had cheated both of them, and involved in my scheme. From his position, I was nothing other than a girl who spread her claws to get him.

Thumping my head at the back, I spared a glance to my building, to the brightened lights of my house.

They must be waiting for me.

"Are you okay?" Adirath asked.

"Yes." Collecting my act, I exchanged a smile. "Thank you for dropping me home."

"I am your fiancé. You don't thank me." I didn't like you. Why couldn't you see that and break the marriage? Why couldn't you let me go to Arnav? "Did you start the shopping?"

"Not yet."

"You looked unhappy before. Is everything okay between you and Mr. Oberoi?"

I didn't know.

I had no idea if I would see him again or not.

"Yes," Replying shortly, I gathered the skirt in my fist. "I should go."

"You kissed me."

Hearing the familiar voices, I whipped my head to the side, to the tight lipped man with his hand clenched on his Nokia phone but nothing changed how he looked at me, the anger pouring out, the ring reflecting in the small car.

"I-I can explain-"

And the back of his hand flew.

Before I could jump, I felt the burn, the anguish, the anger reflected on my skin.

Did it hurt?

Yes.

But what hurt further was when my head was staggered to the window, a hand curling around my throat, gripping it tightly that I struggled to breath. What to pay attention to? The burn on the cheek or his hand curled around my throat.

My feet kicked at the bottom, my nails trying to scratch his hand away but it tighten.

"You will listen to me clearly." I gasped, praying for him to remove his hand. Thump on the window. Ask for help. "This stunt you pulled up is not acceptable in my house. You are going to be my wife, respect that. You are my fiancé and you are going around kissing a man as if it doesn't matter. Imagine what if I tell your parents. Imagine if I break the marriage on this pretext?" He hissed, some of his grips loosened. "Such a loss for both of your families if this tape got released in the public. It will not affect him but yours? Don't even imagine. Do you think I don't see what you have been doing for a month? Which deal is talked about in a marriage?"

"Breath," I managed out. "Adirath, leave."

"Be happy I am still marrying a girl like you. I will forgive you this time but if again, something like this happens, I will not stand by like this. Got it?" He shouted the last words.

All I could do was nod and accept what he was saying because I had no other option rather than accept the harshness of his tone and hands. Could I tell anyone? Could I tell my parents when I had put too much at stake? Mom and dad would be devasted after hearing the words, and if he made it viral, none of the respect and pride they kept in their heart would be shattered in a second.