Dusky Moonlight

Chapter- 18(3)

Rathi looked at her baby bump, protruding out from her lean frame. The cold water beneath her thighs doesn't give shivers anymore but Aadhiyan did, the truth that she found out in the morning trembled the life out of her. Her hands slowly caressed over her stomach; she tried not to remind her about how dangerous her husband is; or will he harm this child if she is not here with him or in this world and Rathi felt like this child is going to decide whether she can be alive or not. She slugged down her saliva along with her fear and angst and exhaled slowly standing in the middle of the lake.

The sun is shining mildly from the top and the streaming beam of sunshine fell on her half-naked frame. She closed her eyes feeling the mix of warmth and ice.

All of a sudden, that familiar warmth and aura bounded her from behind. She became edgy and gasped in fear when Aadhiyan moved her long raven hair to her front side and gave a wet kiss on her nape. Then he encircled his hands around her neck and waist authoritatively against his strong torso. After placing a kiss on her shoulder blade he rested his chin at the crook of her neck. His beard scratched her pale skin and his hot breath gave shivers down her spine.

"What is that you're trying to hide from me," he asked near her ears which aroused goosebumps on her skin. Her breath stuck in her throat and she couldn't utter a word at that moment. Aadhiyan bought her here, for this reason, to calm her and speak what's in her brain. Because these days she has learned how to hide her thoughts from him.

"I am not h-hiding anything," she nodded after muttering that.

"Don't lie," he said that little loudly. She shuddered and abruptly Aadhiyan turned her to face him and they both stared at each other's eyes. Rathi noticed he's himself and Aadhiyan found that she's scared.

"Don't try to hide, you know I will find out anyway," he convinced her in his warm gaze to get the truth.

Rathi stared at his eyes, "Will you kill me?"

He heaved out a sigh looking away, "I told you this already, I won't."

"I am not asking you, I am asking about the person who controls you. Can you stop him if he wants to kill me?"

Aadhiyan lost his confidence in his eyes and looked at her unable to tell the truth that neither he can never control the king nor guarantee that she will be spared to live if incase she is an obstacle for their onus.

"I won't let anything happen to you," he gave that usual wavering answer.

Rathi smiled lightly, "You know what, you can't control anything in your life. When the time comes I will know the truth in your words," she replied and turned again showing her bareback. He clenched his jaw seeing her disbelieved face; he again held her hand roughly and twirled her to face him.

"Why you're talking about this all of a sudden?" he knotted his eyebrows and continued, "Morning you tried to get out of the house. What did you saw in your dream?" he asked understanding the meaning of her actions.

Her eyes welled in tears, seeing that Aadhiyan loosened his grip on her hands fearing whether he has hurt her. But then he learned that she has found out something that she shouldn't know. Perhaps about their child? he got confused.

"Why?" he heard her voice but she didn't speak. He got even more confused about why she's speaking to him this way.

"Why you bought me here? Why did you entice me by showing your fake love? Why you all acting like you all love me and why you have to be so cruel?" she asked looking at his dazed face.

"What did you know, tell me?" he held her shoulders and asked in a panic.

"I saw how you killed our grandparents. Why did you do such a thing?" she asked that once he completed.

"That's not me," he nodded with guilt dancing across his face.

"I know but, how could you let that happen. They are your grandparents!" Rathi's accusing eyes made him uncomfortable but the evil in his blood told him that he didn't do a mistake.

"If they are meant to die then I can't do anything, even if it was in my hands," he answered justifying his innocence. He took away that remorse and looked at her face, assertively.

Rathi's tears fell down from her hazel eyes seeing his unsympathetic face, "Then you will do the same thing if I am in their circumstance, don't you?" she told. Before Aadhiyan could deny her statement,

"I know you're going to kill me someday? If you didn't, someone else, your god or whatever. Don't deceive me anymore like you're protecting me," Aadhiyan stood there, staggered, thinking about what she just said. Rathi took his hand from her and walked slowly towards the cascade.

Aadhiyan never concerned about his malevolent side, he never thought of himself as a murderer and never felt guilty or sad about the deaths which he saw in his life. But for the first time, her tears shuddered his sanity and morals. She didn't argue or fight with him, her dejected face and worn out eyes were indeed done something to him.

What she asked is true, if he ever put in the situation to kill Rathi then it's impossible for him to save her. But he can't see her die; in fact, he needs her at the end because unknowingly he has fallen in love with her greatly yet he didn't realize it. He never loved anyone, this is the first-ever time he wanted someone in his life. So he can't help but think about the possibilities of escape from this place still knowing all the dangers.

On one side he has to do the greatest responsibilities vowed upon their family, he can never elude that, and on the other side Rathi, reflecting his innocent, peaceful and happiest side of his life. Who he has to choose? Confused and burdened Aadhiyan saw Rathi. She walked carefully on the slippery cascade and stood under the running water. She got soaked and she started crying standing there.

Her life has turned upside down since the moment she saw Aadhiyan. He took away the bits of happiness she had in her life. Now she's standing here lonely, going to die lonely in a melancholiest way -no one will cry for her.

When she was standing thinking about all these things, Aadhiyan pulled her hand all of a sudden and hugged her forcefully, skin to skin, and said, "It's not my fault, believe me. And I won't let anything happen to you."

Rathi couldn't accept it. It's there in her head that he's treacherous which can't be changed. But after all, only he's there to hold her so she embraced his back. He pulled out from the hug and kissed her lips to show that he needs her, his love, and his yearning.

In your eyes, I am just a murderer.

You think I am going to kill you but how can I say the struggle that I am battling inside?

Like you fear, maybe I will kill you? No! I can't! Even if everything goes by plan and I get the chance to live with you, things won't be the same. I will be a heartless monster for you. Why you have to get this damn curse? Why you have to suffer like me? You need to live, we need to live, happily and I have to save you! Even if it demands to break the rules. Aadhiyan made up his mind.

Rathi got dressed and she somewhat felt calm by his affection. She walked holding her wet clothes, Aadhiyan followed watching her, they both slowly strolled on the path to their house. Remarkably the sun hidden behind the dark clouds and the place became dim. That time, a strong wind blown in their way. Rathi paused and looked at Aadhiyan who's standing insensibly closing his eyes. Her heart thumped against her ribs in fear. She slowly got close to him and place her palm on his arm.

When there's no effect she rocked his arms and brusquely Aadhiyan opened his eyelids and beheld her intently. That glittering eyes told her that he's not Aadhiyan...

"You look upset; don't you feel happy to see your husband?" he smirked. She's taken aback and took a few steps away from him seeing that expression of the Devil.

Soon his face grimed, he held her hand in fury clenching his jaw, "You wish to have a long happy life right! Come I will teach you to hate this entire lifetime and you will never forget that." He tugged her hand and dragged her with him. Rathi's eyes surged with tears thinking what he's going to do...

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