6

Manga nahi rab se tumhe Lekin ishara tumhi par tha

Naam beshaq nah leya ho Lekin pukara tumhi ko tha...!!!!

Tara pov

We finally reached our home, and as soon as I got out of the car, the first thing I did was meet my parents. I missed them so much, after everything that had happened.

After a few moments, I turned to Dev bhaiya. "Bhaiya, how could you take and come me like this? This isn't right. Daksh ji doesn't know about any of this," I said, my words coming out sharper than I intended.

Dev bhaiya didn't seem to care. His face twisted in anger as he shot back, "So what if he doesn't know? They don't care about you, Tara. And don't you dare take his name or his family name in front of me."

The words stung, but I wasn't going to let him belittle Daksh ji or his family. "You're wrong, bhaiya. They do care about me. Daksh ji cares about me more than you could ever understand,"

We stood there, facing each other, exchanging words that felt more like a battle than a conversation.

I couldn't understand how Dev bhaiya, who had always been protective of me, could say such hurtful things. How could he not see how much Daksh ji cared for me? How could he be so blinded by his own anger? Even after after he did for me since the day we met.

"You don't know anything, Tara," Dev bhaiya spat. "Daksh and his family, they've used you. They don't care about you. They're just pretending to be nice, but they'll leave you at any moment."

I shook my head. "You're wrong, bhaiya. Daksh ji has never used me. His family cares about me. They treat me with respect, unlike you and this nonsense you keep saying."

Dev bhaiya sneered, his frustration growing. "Respect? What kind of respect do you think they have for you? You're blind, Tara! Can't you see what's right in front of you? Why are you defending him? He's just like the rest of them!"

I stepped closer, not backing down. "Because he's different, bhaiya! Daksh ji is different."

Dev bhaiya's face flushed with rage. "Enough, Tara! Stop acting like you know everything. You're just innocent. Do you really think that man cares about you? He's only using you!"

I felt my chest tighten with the weight of his words, but I didn't let him see how much they hurt me. "You have no right to talk about him like that! Daksh ji has shown me so much care. He would never treat me like this. And you have no idea what you're talking about, bhaiya!"

In a fit of rage, Dev bhaiya raised his hand as though to hit me, but just as his arm swung toward me, he stopped. His eyes widened when he saw the fear flash in my eyes

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. I couldn't breathe, my heart racing in my chest. Dev bhaiya's anger slowly turned into hesitation as he noticed the fear in my expression. His hand hovered in the air for a split second, and I could see the conflict in his eyes.

Dev bhaiya's hand slowly lowered, he stood there, and I could see his fists unclenching, the anger slowly draining from his face. He had almost hurt me, and I could see the realization hit him hard. He never raised his hand on me since childhood.

But I didn't respond. I couldn't. The fear that had gripped me made it hard to even look at him.

I took a step back, my heart still pounding in my chest. "You don't understand, bhaiya. You never will."

"I don't want to stay in this house anymore" I said and started to come out while my parents stopped me but I didn't care.

■

I couldn't stay in that house any longer. Not when they spoke such terrible things about Daksh ji. My heart ached as Dev bhaiya's words rang in my ears, accusing them of pretending to respect me, of faking their care for me. How could he say that? I know they genuinely care about me. But tonight, I didn't care about anyone's opinions or accusations. All I wanted was to be beside Daksh ji. I know till have he would know that bhiya brought to village.

As the sky darkened, I found myself walking along the road. Night was falling quickly, but for the first time, fear didn't seem to bother me. The only thing on my mind was Daksh ji. I needed him.

The road stretched ahead, silent except for the sound of my own footsteps. But soon, I began to notice another sound, faint but persistent. Footsteps. At first, I dismissed it as my imagination, but the sound didn't stop. It felt as if someone was following me. Turning around I scanned the empty road behind me. No one was there.

Strange, I thought. Brushing it off, I turned to walk again. But my heart skipped a beat when I suddenly found Gulshan standing directly in front of me.

His eyes roamed over me, from head to toe, and I could feel his piercing gaze, making my skin crawl. Fear gripped me, but I clenched my fists, trying not to let it show. Ignoring him, I stepped around him and continued walking.

"Where's your husband, Tara?" Gulshan's mocking voice followed me.

I didn't respond. I couldn't stoop to his level.

"I know he left you," he sneered, his tone full of derision. "That's why girls like you shouldn't marry men like him. City guys always play with innocent village girls."

How dare he speak about Daksh ji like that? Anger boiled within me, and I couldn't hold back. I spun around and slapped him hard across the face.

"Don't you dare talk like that!" I hissed.

Gulshan's smug expression vanished instantly, replaced by fury. His hand twitched, and I realized he was about to hit me back. Panic surged through me, but before he could react, I pushed him with all my strength and ran as fast as I could.

I could hear him cursing and shouting behind me, his footsteps pounding on the road as he chased me. My breath came in ragged gasps as fear clawed at my chest. I shouldn't have left the house at this hour.

My eyes caught sight of an old, abandoned house. Desperation pushed me forward, and I slipped inside, slamming the creaky door shut behind me. I crouched low, peeking through a crack in the door. Gulshan was standing outside, his eyes scanning the area, searching for me.

I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't see me. But then, his eyes locked onto mine through the gap. My blood ran cold as a sinister grin spread across his face.

He laughed and pushed the door open, stepping inside. The door slammed shut behind him with a loud thud, trapping me inside with him.

"Tara," he drawled, his voice sending chills down my spine.

Before I could react, he grabbed my hand roughly, yanking me to my feet. His grip was bruising, his eyes dark with anger.

"You think you're so brave, don't you?" he snarled, his face inches from mine.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding like a drum. I needed to escape. I needed to get away. But how?

"Look, there's no one here right now," Gulshan said, his voice dripping with malice as his hand landed on my shoulder. "I think I can make this moment very special for you."

"Don't touch me!" I spat, shoving him away with all my strength. But he barely moved, his smirk growing wider.

His hand suddenly gripped the nape of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. "How many times did I ask you to marry me, Tara? But you refused every single time. And now, you've gone and married that city guy, breaking my heart." He paused, his expression darkening. "But it's okay. I'll fix that. I'll marry you now."

His words sent a wave of terror crashing over me. My eyes darted to the door, the only chance of escape, but before I could make a move, his voice stopped me cold.

"I locked the door from the inside," he said, a sinister grin curling on his lips. "And I threw the keys out the window. So, no, Tara, you're not going anywhere. Now, let me do what I came here for."

He tightened his grip on my neck, pulling me closer until his face was inches from mine. I could feel his hot breath on my skin.

"Tara, meri jaan," he whispered mockingly. "Open your eyes and look at me."

My eyes, which had been squeezed shut in fear, fluttered open, only to find him grinning at me like a madman. Without thinking, I spat on his face.

Gulshan stumbled back, wiping his face in shock, but his surprise quickly turned to rage. I took the opportunity to run to the other side of the room, my heart pounding in my chest.

"You'll regret that, you little..." he growled, his voice echoing through the dimly lit space.

Before I could react, he lunged at me, grabbing me by the arm and slamming me against the wall. Pain shot through my back as he struck me again and again, each blow harder than the last.

"How dare you fight me?" he said.

Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let him see me break. I needed to think, to act, to escape. But with the door locked and Gulshan's relentless assault, my options seemed terrifyingly limited.

My back throbbed with searing pain, but I couldn't let him see my fear. I pushed against his chest with trembling hands, trying to create some distance between us.

"Let me go, Gulshan!" I yelled, my voice cracking with desperation.

He sneered, grabbing both of my wrists and pinning them above my head against the wall. "Who's going to stop me, huh? That city husband of yours? He's not here, Tara. No one is."

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I tried to free myself, twisting and turning, but his grip was too strong. He leaned in closer, his breath suffocating me. "You should've chosen me, Tara. I would've given you everything. But now you'll see what happens if you talk against me."

Then suddenly I stumbled back, my legs giving way beneath me, and fell hard onto my back. Before I could recover, Gulshan was standing over me, his face twisted in a cruel smirk.

He slammed one of his boots onto my wrist, pinning it down. Pain shot through my arm, but before I could even scream, his other boot pressed down on my throat.

I gasped, my free hand instinctively clawing at his leg, trying to push him away, but he didn't budge. His weight bore down on me like a boulder, crushing the air out of my lungs.

"Still think you can fight me, Tara?" he sneered, his voice cold and mocking.

I tried to speak, to shout for help, but the pressure on my throat made it impossible. My vision blurred as I struggled to breathe.

My other hand flailed desperately, searching for anything to use against him, but there was nothing. The pressure increased, and black spots danced in my vision.

A terrifying thought crept into my mind, What if I can't speak?

Tears streamed down my face as my strength began to fade. I couldn't let him win. I wouldn't let him win. Summoning the last bit of energy I had left, I forced my free hand to reach up and dig my nails into his leg.

He flinched slightly, but it wasn't enough to make him let go. His laugh echoed in the room, mocking my futile attempts.

"Don't worry, Tara," he said, leaning down closer. "You'll learn to submit. You'll thank me for this one day."

But I wouldn't. I couldn't. My mind screamed for me to fight, even as my body began to give out. I just needed one chance one opening to escape his grasp.

Gulshan's hands moved to the knots of my dress, his smirk deepening as he tugged and tore them apart. My heart pounded in fear, my mind screaming for him to stop.

Before his filthy hands could touch me, the door suddenly swung open with a loud bang. My teary eyes widened as I saw Daksh ji standing there.

But before I could feel relief, Gulshan pressed his boot harder against my throat. The air was ripped from my lungs.

I saw Daksh ji move toward us, his voice booming, but the sound became faint, muffled, like it was coming from underwater. The room started spinning, and darkness crept into the edges of my vision.

The last thing I saw was Daksh ji's furious gaze locked on Gulshan before the suffocating weight and fear pulled me into unconsciousness.

■

Daksh pov

I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest as I took in the horrific sight in front of me. Tara was lying on the floor, blood staining her forehead and wrists, her dress torn. My entire body shook with anger as I saw the state she was in. Every inch of my being screamed to protect her, and I didn't care who was in my way.

I stormed over to Gulshan, grabbing him by the collar and shoving him out of the house. I didn't give him a chance to even react before my fists came crashing down on him. Each punch came with a fury I couldn't control, each one fueled by the sight of Tara in pain.

"How" punch "Can" punch "You" punch

"Touch" punch "My wife!" I roared, my voice shaking with rage. With one final blow, I sent him crashing to the ground.

I turned, saw Devendra and his parents coming toward me. Their eyes widened in shock as they took in the sight of Tara's beaten body on the floor.

His mother took a step forward, reaching out as if to touch Tara, but I was already there, standing between them. My voice was cold, filled with a venom I couldn't suppress. "Don't lay your hands on my wife," I growled, stopping them in their tracks.

They froze, their expressions shifting from shock to guilt, but I didn't have time to care about their feelings. I turned to Devendra, who looked guilty, but that didn't matter to me. My eyes burned with anger as I took a step toward him.

"You're the reason all of this happened," I said through gritted teeth. "Because of you, because you didn't listen to Tara when she said he was tormenting her, she's lying there like that. If you had protected her, if you had taught her how to stand up for herself, none of this would have happened!"

I turned my gaze back to Gulshan, who was now trying to sit up, a sick grin still on his face. It only made me angrier.

"You let this man hurt your daughter," I spat at Devendra and his family. "You never once made her fight back, you never once showed her how to defend herself. Instead, you kept her locked up, sheltered from the world while he got bolder. And now look at what he's done to her!"

Gulshan, still smiling like the monster he was, laughed in response. That laugh broke something inside me. I pulled my gun out of my waistband, my hands and aimed it straight at his head. I looked him dead in the eyes, my voice low and dangerous. "Blink, and I'll pump all these bullets in your skull. Don't make me do it."

For a moment, the smirk on his face faltered, but he didn't say a word. He knew I wasn't bluffing.

Just then, the police arrived, responding to my earlier call. They moved to arrest Gulshan, but I didn't lower my gun. I didn't trust them to do what needed to be done. "Take him away," I said, my voice filled with venom. "But know this, his punishment isn't over. You may take him to jail, but I'll make sure he suffers every day for what he's done. For touching my wife. For every woman he's hurt, for every life he's ruined. He'll beg for death, but I won't give him that mercy. He will regret ever laying a hand on my wife."

As the officers dragged him away, my body still shook with rage. My eyes never left Tara, lying there so vulnerable, so hurt. I felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness wash over me. No one would hurt her again. Not while I was breathing. I swore to myself that I would make sure of it.

I walked towards Tara, my heart aching at the sight of her. The state she was in made my blood boil, and I felt a rage so fierce it almost consumed me. I couldn't stand seeing her like this. Without wasting another second, I carefully lifted her into my arms, cradling her close to my chest as if I could somehow shield her from all the pain she had just gone through. Her body felt so fragile, and every step I took felt like an eternity, but I managed to get her to her room, where I gently laid her down on the bed.

I couldn't stop myself from glaring at Devendra, whose presence only fueled my anger further. His failure to protect her, his indifference it all had led to this. My eyes burned into him as if I could make him feel the weight of his mistakes.

Soon, the doctor arrived, and I stepped back, allowing them to examine Tara.

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally spoke, reassuring us that Tara would be okay.

"She's fine," the doctor said, their voice calm but firm. "She has a minor injury on her forehead, but she'll recover. However, her throat was affected somewhat. She should refrain from talking for a while so that her windpipe can heal properly. It'll be fine soon, but she needs rest."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, my heart still racing with the aftermath of everything. At least she would be okay. The relief that washed over me was short-lived, though, because I knew that what had happened today would haunt me for a long time.

Tara slowly opened her eyes, her gaze blurry at first as she tried to focus. I stood silently behind her, watching every movement, every breath she took. She weakly tried to say my name, "Dak..." but I immediately shushed her, my voice soft but firm. "Shhh, Tara, don't talk. You're fine now."

Before I could say anything else, she reached out and hugged me as tightly as she could. I held her carefully, but then remembered the doctor's words. "Don't, Tara," I whispered. "It might affect your throat." She pulled away slowly, but the look in her eyes, the softness of her touch, made me feel as if everything would be okay.

Then, she took my phone and typed: "Take me back to our home."

I nodded, my heart swelling with emotion. "I will, Tara. I'll take you home." Her smile was all I needed at that moment. It was the light that pierced through the darkness of everything that had happened. Her smile, her presence, meant more than anything in the world.

But before we could savor the moment, the door opened, and Devendra walked in. Tara immediately held my hand tighter and averted her gaze from him, as if she didn't want to face him. I could understand why his actions had led to all of this.

"I need to talk with my sister alone," Devendra said, but as I moved to get up, Tara squeezed my hand, typing into my phone once more. "He will not go out. Speak whatever you want."

I paused for a moment, surprised by her firmness. I had never seen her like this before. Devendra sighed heavily, clearly frustrated, but he walked closer to Tara. He took her hands gently and said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you like that."

Tara didn't respond. Instead, she simply signaled with a slight tilt of her head for him to go on. Her silence was more powerful than any words she could have said.

Devendra turned toward me, and I could see the tension in his face. "I know you planned all of this along with Gulshan," he said.

I was stunned. How could he think that? How could he believe for even a second that I had anything to do with this? If he wasn't Tara's brother, I would have torn into him right then and there, just like I had with Gulshan. But I held myself back, reminded myself of what was important.

Tara, even in her condition, had been through enough. She didn't need to see me lose my temper with her own brother, even if he didn't deserve my restraint. But the thought that he could think this of me... it stung. It hurt more than I was willing to admit.

But I wouldn't let him get away with this. I couldn't. Not now, not ever.

I stepped outside, taking a deep breath to calm myself before heading straight to Devendra. My frustration had been building, but I knew I had to hold it together. "I know you hate me," I began, my voice steady but cold, "but I'm not someone who would do this cheap stunt to harm my wife. I'm respecting you because you're her brother. If not..."

"If not what?" Devendra interrupted.

Before I could respond, Tara's parents entered the room, and the atmosphere shifted. We quickly adjusted, our faces falling into a more neutral expression. Her mother immediately asked, "Is she okay?"

I nodded, trying to keep the conversation calm. "She's fine. She is just taking rest and then I'll take her hom."

Her parents seemed relieved, nodding in agreement. But Devendra wasn't ready to let go. "You can't take Tara to your house. I don't trust you."

That was the final straw. I was about to say something, but before I could, Tara's father stepped in. "Dev, stop this drama. Enough is enough. You've done more than enough already," he scolded him sharply.

I almost couldn't hold back a laugh. It was rare to see Devendra being scolded like that, especially by his own father. I watched him squirm, clearly caught off guard by his father's reprimand.

Devendra looked at me, and for a brief moment, I couldn't help but hide a smirk. It felt good to see him so off-balance, but I didn't want to make things worse for Tara, so I kept my composure.

I was still angry with him, but right now, I needed to focus on getting Tara to safety. I was done with the drama.

To be continued

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