She Can Be Toxic Too (Completed) √

"No, I want to tell it to you."

Abhinav shut his eyes as the haunting glimpses flashed in his head. Tears kept falling out of his eyes and he took no effort to wipe them. Aashi felt her heart twist in pain at the sight. Deciding not to trouble him further, she spoke,

"Umm... Maybe you should sleep. I don't want you to think about your past now. We can continue this later."

Nodding his head immediately, he looked up to see her face amidst his tears as he spoke in a determined voice,

"No, I want to get it all out today. This has been within me for so many days, I can't hold it further. It has taken all my strength to confess and I don't want to give up. Also, I'll never be able to sleep now even if you forced me to. I'll just let it all out."

Aashi smiled vibrantly, her hopes jumping up to life at his words. She was relieved to know that he was opening up willingly and not just because of her pressure. She held on to his hands and moved even closer, her actions reflecting her inner happiness and confidence.

"About two months into our marriage, Nidhi decided to go on a trip to Goa. Since we were newly married, even dad supported the idea, telling me that it would give us time and space to understand each other. So I took a week off from office. She already had an off after the production of her advertisement shoot. We spent the first day lazing around and enjoying the beach. On the second day... he suddenly gasped for breath, feeling a tight squeeze in his chest.

"Its okay. You don't have to say it."

"No, I want to tell it to you."

Aashi gently hugged him and stroked his back, before he pulled back and continued.

"On the second day, she started behaving weirdly, being a little touchy and intimate. We both were aware of the situation in which we had got married and had mutually decided to take things slow, trying to understand and realise our love for each other. But that night, she came close and initiated our first kiss. I was too shocked to respond. She broke apart and told me that she wanted me. I tried denying because I did not want to do something that both of us might regret later, but she was adamant. When I asked her again, she told me it was probably the feel of being in Goa that stirred her inner feelings. I did not know what to say, I didn't know how to react. It was just too sudden and unplanned for me. She grew really upset at my reaction and I didn't like it at all. I didn't want things to grow awkward between us and also, it is pretty normal between a husband and a wife. So I gave in and we... we... We consummated our marriage that night."

Abhinav peeked at Aashi's face trying to find a look of disgust or hatred, but found none. He saw her face mirroring a blank look and that scared him more. He immediately lowered his gaze and continued, not wanting to stop in between.

"The next morning she was elated and her face glowed with all that happiness. I was glad that she was happy. She didn't regret anything. It put my hesitant thoughts to rest. But I was so wrong. She kept demanding for more intimacy as days progressed and I was beginning to get a little uncomfortable. I supposed it was just some temporary craving or mood swing because we were in Goa, but I knew I was wrong when she became demanding and fussy even after we were back home. I had to give in to her demands because I didn't want to upset her, but soon I felt like I was being used because there were times when I was not interested yet forced."

He stopped to take in a few breaths before continuing while Aashi sat wordlessly.

"Once I was late from office because we had a very long meeting with some foreign delegates. It was way past midnight when I came home and dad had already slept. Nidhi was awake, waiting for me. As soon as we entered the room, she literally pounced on me. But I was too tired to even speak. The long day had exhausted me both physically and mentally. I told her that I wanted to sleep but she still insisted on spending time together. That was my final straw. I raised my voice, tired of trying to explain my situation to her. I knew I shouldn't have shouted and thought that she would be mad at me, but that's when I saw her true self."

Abhinav stopped speaking, trying to collect himself while Aashi was running out of patience to know more.

"What happened then?"

"She slapped me."

Aashi gasped, trying to control her emotions as she saw him shudder. Be strong, be strong, she mentally repeated. She immediately cupped his face and wiped the stream of fresh tears, asking him to continue.

"To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. I stood still like my body was paralysed. She slapped me another time and began yelling. That was when all the abuse started" he looked down, his eyes unable to meet hers.

"She would hit me hard and punch me if... if I ever denied spending time or refrained from fulfilling her desires. She slowly began controlling me and I was nothing but a toy in her hands. She treated me like one. In front of dad, she was the ideal wife and daughter in law. No one could've ever guessed how her mind worked. Every time I spoke something from my mind, I would get punished. When I couldn't put up with her harassment anymore and decided to talk to dad, she figured out my plan and played her dirtiest trick."

"What did she do?" Aashi mumbled, fearing if there could be anything worse than what she was already hearing.

"She threatened me. She blackmailed me saying that if I ever said anything about our relationship to anyone, she would file a defamation case against dad, charging him for domestic violence on her."