Mythri

Chapter 3

"MYTHRI! GET UP!"

Mythri felt a sting on her face, and she bolted up. Kabir was looming over her, hand poised over her cheek, ready to hit her again. His eyebrows furrowed, fixing her with an angry glower. His eyes held nothing but anger, and his body exuded nothing but malice. He grabbed her hands and pushed her off the bed.

"I worked all day," he started. Mythri rubbed her eyes and dashed to the kitchen, haphazardly fixing her askew sari. He padded after her, and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "When I come home, I expect food on the table." His voice was becoming more and more silent, dangerously silent. "And so I am here...but, I don't see ANYTHING!" He screamed the last word, grabbed a steel plate from the counter, and flung at her feet. 

Mythri grimaced and internally chastised herself as she quickly lit the stove. How I even have been so careless? How did I sleep for a full four hours? I know better than this; I'm usually very careful. She took a rolled out circle of dough and placed it on the pan. She just had to get through two rotis, she thought. Two successfully heated rotis, and she could serve that with the lentil soup she had prepared earlier for her lunch. Kabir was flinging insults at her, yanking her hair, pinching her arms — it took all of Mythri's determination to get his dinner ready, and as soon as she did, Kabir pulled her into the bedroom and beat her until she had no tears left to cry. There was blood on the ground, blood everywhere; Mythri's screams still echoed through the empty house. There were no neighbors, their house was the only one right next to the beach and overgrown fields.

Kabir left Mythri to clean up the mess he had made, and went back to the kitchen to eat his food. He was satisfied — he had shown Mythri who was in charge of the house. He pulled at a roti. It was decent, and nearly tasted like his mother's food, not that he'd let Mythri know. If he did tell her, she would become lazy, and not put any effort into cooking anymore. He quickly finished his food and walked into the bathroom. As the water poured down from the shower head, he looked at the floor. He could see the dirt and grime that came from his clothes still not washed from yesterday. His anger boiled. How could she go to sleep without even cleaning the house?

His fist angrily hit the side of the bathroom wall as he finished his shower. He didn't have time for this; he'd deal with Mythri tomorrow. And, it was Sunday. He'd have the whole day to discipline her. He pulled on a new set of clothes, and walked into his bedroom. Mythri's eyes were red, and she was huddled in the corner, the blood wiped clean from the floor. She looked at him, but just as quickly averted her eyes when he walked closer. He opened up the cabinet, and on the bottom shelf, a black safe awaited.