~•} C H A P T E R|16 {•~
Ishani's lips parted in fear as a trembling sigh left past her lips the moment he tilted his head like a maniac and his dark eyes punctured right into hers.
It was like he pinned her soul not only her body with his dominating gaze.
A cold chill ran down her spine as he approached her with a predatory gaze.
Terror,
Sheer terror was what she was able to feel seeing the madness in the man's eyes in front of her.
Her face paled as her mind thought of the consequence of what she did before.
Involuntary she stepped back.
Her tender skin sliced against the broken glass jug pieces letting a hiss escape her mouth due to the sudden unexpected pain.
But right now nothing was able to stop the devil in front of her who didn't even wince as the glass pricked his feet as well.
"Mr. Rath-"
Her attempt to defend or calm him was cut off as he demanded, "Not a word." His voice was surprisingly low and restrained but firm enough to leave no room for arguments as he clasped his palm over her mouth.
Her heart thudded loudly in her ribcage as he caged her between him and the wall. His silence terrorized her more.
Fear clouded her senses and the confident facade of her failing in front of his wrath.
"Scared now wifey?" His chilled voice rang inside the kitchen.
Keeping her head high she tried to say something but her muffled voice made him chuckle.
His cold chuckle made her actions stop as she froze in her place gazing at him like prey trapped by a predator.
"Why are you scared now when you weren't scared while threatening me with a knife?" His arm encircled around her waist as he questioned lowly.
"Why are you scared now when you weren't while pouring tomato ketchup on me?" He pulled her closer with each word he said as he removed his hand which was enclosing her mouth.
"Why to fear the snake when you drank the poison yourself?" He murmured just above her lips while his nails dug in her waist making her wince.
His menacing orbs glared back into her terrified yet steady ones.
Whereas she understood the underlying meaning of his words, he was talking about their marriage.
A sudden rush of adrenaline erupted within her as she raised her barefoot and dug her foot on his bare feet. The glass shreds which were still stuck in her skin now pierced his foot but dug deeper into her skin as well.
Both of them stood still, not even a slight hiss escaped past their lips as they endured the pain while glaring into each other souls.
"If I want I can kill you right here." He murmured near her ear placing the knife he just took from the kitchen slab dangerously close to her throat.
She stiffed but sucked in a shaky breath of encouragement and swallowed deeply to moisten her dried throat before boldly stating, "If you have guts. DO IT."
Her reaction caught him off guard and frustrated him to some extent knowing he wouldn't be able to do it. Unadulterated rage pulsed through him as the veins on his neck throbbed in sheer anger.
Clenching his jaw, he threw the knife in a corner and suddenly lifted her surprising every cell in her body.
"What are you doing!?" She yelled thrashing in his hold but he seemed unbothered by it and continued walking until they were out on the beach.
Almost throwing her on the chair he craned his neck and stated, "Now thrash and do whatever the fuck you want but outside my villa."
With this, he turned and left a too stunned Ishani.
She was way too surprised to protest or retort.
She was left here, outside on the cold beach in nothing but a pair of shorts and a t-shirt whilst the glass pieces struck inside her feet and the blood oozing out from what she felt, a deep wound.
Swallowing the sudden lump formed in her throat, she gazed at the large water body in front of her.
Her hands moved up and clutched her throat, just where she felt the cold blade of a knife.
A cold breeze blew and she sniffed, trying hard to keep herself together even when internally she could feel her confident facade fading.
The sudden heaviness in her chest felt too much to handle. Especially when she just realized that she had no person to care if she died tonight either by cold or blood loss.
Hell, she didn't even have a person to genuinely talk to about whatever Vardhaan was doing to her, about how he was mistreating her.
Her good-for-nothing family would be careless and so the people in the world...
Everything felt too much to handle...
Hugging her knees close to her chest, she blankly stared at the illuminating moon which was in a way taunting her she felt.
That even moon has stars to accompany it unlike her.
Who was alone in the world.
Too alone for her good...
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Naina heard the clearing of a throat behind her and giving herself the last look in the mirror she inhaled an encouraging breath before turning and facing him.
There he stood in his casual t-shirt and sweat pants with an ever-lasting slight frown on his face.
Twiddling with her thumbs she could feel her face getting heated up again as all the previous incidents made a presence in her mind for the umpteenth time.
His gaze drilled holes into her skin but she never attempted to lift her lashes and make eye contact with him.
All this was too much for her poor soul to bear in a day.
Especially when her husband who was always so reserved and far suddenly started behaving a bit strangely.
Is this how it feels to have a not-reserved husband? She couldn't help but wonder while trying to calm down her racing heart and breaths.
Though she was rethinking her request to God of making him a non-reserved husband.
It felt too much for her to handle.
Hell, she wasn't even able to look into his eyes let aside talk after his so strange behavior.
But the previous memories of the incident that happened were churning her insides...
In a good way!
Which absolutely stunned her to the core.
"..Food," She heard him croak out awkwardly in the tense environment.
Swallowing deeply she fisted her red dress to muster some strength and lifted her lashes looking into his dark orbs.
The time seemed to stop and so did their bodies as their eyes bored right into each other.
Unknown emotions swirling in their orbs. The intensity of the eyelock drying their throat due to the rawness of emotions they saw in each other eyes.
Inhaling sharply Aadarsh broke the eye lock looking away, deliberately ignoring the sudden ache in his chest and purposely not acknowledging the emotion he saw in her orbs.
Though Naina knew what it was.
She knew what her eyes were shimmering of when they looked into each other eyes.
It was love.
Pure love.
Directed towards the person who unknowingly stole her heart and made her fall for him so hard that now it almost hurts.
Almost hurt to be in so much love with a person who shut himself from her and the world.
"Food is getting cold." He murmured walking away towards the table where dinner was set up.
Why do you always run away from me, Aadarsh?
Naina thought glancing at his back before sighing heavily and sitting on the chair in front of him.
It almost felt like a date with dim lights and the moonlight illuminating the room from the big open window just behind them.
But she knew that this wasn't due to his own will, elder members had gone on a wedding and Ruhanika-Yuvraj were out on a dinner.
So she knew that her husband had no other options but this.
Still, she was going to enjoy every bit of it.
Taking a deep breath she smiled brightly and indulged herself in the food in front of her.
No, she wouldn't let her insecurities ruin this night for her.
The night which she was sure she wouldn't ever forget.
And maybe this would be the only memorable night of her life...
.........
Aadarsh couldn't help but glance at her from his food every once and then.
She looked simply gorgeous today but with that full-blown smile on her lips... She took his breath away.
"Aadarsh, What happened?" She asked moving her hand in front of his face.
Coming out of the trance, he stuttered, "N-nothing." and wiped his hand from the tissue as they were done with the dinner.
"You sure?" She confirmed blinking her eyes and looking tense.
He fisted his hand to control the sudden urge to hug her.
Today all his patience and self-control were going down the drain. For the first time in their relationship, he felt the urge to initiate the kiss.
And now he was feeling the urge to suddenly embrace her.
It was getting so difficult to suppress that urge especially when she was looking at him like that.
"Aadarsh?" She called out again being unsure of his mood and him.
"Photos?" He asked in answer.
"Hnn?"
"I mean... you are dressed up... So let's click some photos." He murmured cringing at the good-for-nothing excuse he made of his teenage-ish behavior.
He was so lost in her thoughts that he didn't even hear what she asked a second time.
Not again. He chanted in his mind and gave a small smile in return for her big one who looked way too excited at the thought of clicking some photos.
"You will be okay in clicking photos in this outfit?" She inquired getting up from the chair, her tone dripping with enthusiasm.
He felt tongue-tied at her question but nonetheless, awkwardly nodded his head in approval.
He never meant to click the photos together when he asked her before but seeing that dazzling smile on her face...
He had no mood,
To deny.
To dampen her mood.
To snatch that little smile from her face.
Even if that meant that he, The Aadarsh Rathore who hated to get clicked would take selfies with her.
And once she walked towards him with her phone and that smile which even got bigger.
He knew,
That he did the right thing.
Made the right choice...
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The main gate of the beach house unlocked as a warmly dressed Vardhaan Rathore stepped out towards an almost frozen Ishani.
Keeping the blank expression on her face, she didn't stare at his way. Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her in this state.
It has been hardly 2 hours.
She finally glanced in his direction.
What does he want now?
Several thoughts invaded her mind but she kept herself composed from outside and refused to show her emotions on her face.
Sitting beside her on the beach lounge chair, he lifted his eyebrow tilting his head, "Enjoyed your alone time, wifey?"
She refused to glance towards him and continued to stare at the sea in front of her.
"I am taking your silence as yes!" He replied for himself as he laughed placing her foot on his lap and plucking out a big glass shred making her wince.
She glared in his direction but he repeated his previous action as there were way too many pieces struck on her foot.
She couldn't help but peek down at his freshly bandaged feet as well.
"You know the way you felt helpless sitting here on the beach alone," He started making her look at his face.
Suddenly she winced as he wiped down the oozing blood with cotton dripped in disinfectant but he continued, "I felt the same when I was ordered to marry you."
She gazed at him being surprised but he simply wrapped the bandage around her feet and lifted her catching her off guard all of a sudden.
She remained silent as he carried her to a guest room and placed her down on the bed.
"What is the cost of all this courtesy and humbleness you showed, dear majesty." She mocked with a smile.
"You know me way too much, dear wife." He gave her a smug grin in response.
"Though the cost will be told tomorrow... Till then sleep well and dream of me." He winked with a smirk making her whirl her eyes at his retreating back.
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The clock ticked showing 2 am whereas someone slowly unlocked the door and stepped inside glaring at the sleeping figure wrapped in a blanket.
Stepping near the tapped on that girl's shoulder and clasped his palm on top of her mouth as she tried to scream.
"Shh..." Yuvraj asserted looking in Ruhanika's terrified orbs whose eyes widened seeing who it was.
"Yuvraj Ji, you here... How?" She questioned lowly once he removed his hand from her mouth.
"Come in the room Ruhanika." He demanded not bothering to answer her question and walked out of Yuvika's room without looking back for once.
Ruhanika's mouth was open agape in shock at his order.
Sweat beads formed on her forehead as fear clouded her senses but slowly sitting up, she wore her slippers and hesitantly moved towards the room she shared with him being well aware her scolding and his anger would only increase with passing time.
"My punctual husband even needs to scold on the same day." She murmured under her breath being frustrated.
Halting on the room's entrance, she exhaled deeply trying to calm her racing heart, and entered inside the dead-silent room.
Way too silent to make her feel comfortable.
"...Yuvraj Ji?" She called out in the darkness but gasped feeling his hand on her waist as he pulled her back, turning and slamming her on the wall.
She breathed in as her pulse rate heightened seeing the wrath in his eyes.
"Playing hide and seek now, are we?" He chuckled humourlessly making the goosebumps rise on her skin due to his deep voice.
"Yuvraj Ji-" she was cut off by his low whisper, "Given you enough time to speak on the dinner... Now it's my turn."
She internally shivered to hear the anger in his voice. She knew it wasn't easy to calm down when he gets angry.
"Was it intentional? Did you intentionally ignore me throughout to make me feel the same how you felt the whole time since we are married?"
Her heart sliced at his harsh words but she knew she was at fault even when she unknowingly ignored him throughout the dinner. The dinner she knew he must have planned from his tight schedule at work.
"Answer me!" His loud voice boomed.
"No, Yuvraj Ji it wasn't-"
"Do you even know how many important meetings I canceled just for this dinner? The dinner was planned for Yuvika but no, you had to ruin it! You got engrossed in having your shares of fun. Didn't you?" He smiled bitterly.
Gulping the sudden lump formed in her throat, she answered, "I am sorry... It is my fault and I accept that. I am sorry for wasting your time. For forgetting that we aren't a real family. For ruining the dinner which was planned FOR Yuvika."
Yuvraj didn't fail to notice the way she emphasized 'FOR' and felt a pang of guilt inside his chest when he could feel his anger cooling down.
Leaving her and ignoring the urge to apologise, he sat down on the bed not before demanding, "Sleep, Ruhanika."
She didn't say another word and silently laid down on her side of the bed with his harsh words reminding her of her position which she seemed to forget...
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Raina anxiously fiddled with her fingers as once again her gaze went to the wall clock on the hotel room which indicated 4 am.
She couldn't help but wonder where her namesake husband was.
She didn't want to admit it but yes, she was worried for him.
Who was missing since 5 in the evening?
He had gone but not before informing her about his departure.
That he had an important meeting.
But the important meetings didn't last till the early mornings, do they?
She knew how much she tried to show she was unaffected by his presence or departure but she knew a part of her was.
The part which had developed a tiny bit of feelings for him.
The feelings weren't too strong to be named love.
But nor too weak to be ignored
And then she heard the door of the hotelroom being unlocked.
Her eyes went wide as she let out an audible gasp seeing his condition.
Hair messy,
Eyes red,
Clothed disheveled
And breathing ragged.
But that wasn't what caught her attention, it was the lipstick mark visible on his white shirt and the strong smell of female perfume his body was oozing of...
Target- 350+
Uhh-- Aakarsh is in trouble? What do you think?
Yuvraj again being a jerk...
About Aadarsh and his sweet little urges...
Vardhaan being little smug... ;)
Also thankyou everyone one of you for spending your sweet time in reading my story. I am grateful for each one of you✨
Take Care ❤️