❝"I refuse!", was her deafening scream. The temple full of people stood in silence. He watched her, taken aback at the audacity, but not out of his icy cold composure.
He took a step towards her.
"Step back! Step away-"
He yanked her by her wrist...
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Aviram :
I COLLAPSED, on the carpeted hallway, outside the room. Before the very same pillar that had once shattered her ancestral ghungroos. I was down on my knees. Now I sat with the weight of her shattered dreams, yet again.
The world closed in and on me. I felt numb.
Never had I felt this helpless. "Raja ji.. please calm yourself down.", I heard Santosh. And yet, I could hear nothing.
Nothing except her. Her whisper.
I.. love you.. Ram..
She loved me. A beast, a heartless man who didn't even dream of love anymore.
She loved me, and the same love had costed her so much.
Nayantara ran down to me. "How is Maa?", She asked, clearly panicking. "She is being treated.", Santosh replied on my behalf. She looked at me, teary eyed. "Papa.. will you do nothing about this?", She asked softly. "Do what?", I asked, almost involuntarily. "Take revenge! They hurt Maa! More appropriately your Amma! She hurt Maa!", Nayantara said.
I narrowed his eyes, through a blur of tears. "Amma?", I asked in a dazed whisper. "Yes! I saw her! She had thrown those glass pieces!", Nayantara said immediately.
I wasn't in control anyways, but at this, I completely let go of control. Without another word I stood up. I noticed Santosh get alerted. I looked at him.
"Get Nayantara ready for tomorrow's flight to her school.", I said simply. "But Papa—" "You must rejoin school and study. I will keep you informed about the ongoings here.", I said simply before striding out.
•
Vinay sat on the prison floor, back against the cold wall.
The police officers had not left a single opportunity to humiliate him. Illegitimate, undeserving, a pathetic leech who was simply ungrateful. He knew he was all of it. He had heard it ever since he was born. All his life, he had fought for the respect of at least a human being. Yet he was always called the dirty blooded dog of the palace of Gods.
His father had loved him, but only away from the public eye. His mother had loved him, but only when no one was watching. And Anamika had loved him, but he had only intended to use her to punish his step brother.
Deep down, he knew the step brother wasn't the cause of his misery, yet he hated the man. He was too ideal, too perfect, too loved.
The prison gate opened in the dark.
Vinay sat up, a chill ran down his spine. The police officers had always found a way to his prison to went out their frustration.
