22 - I literally have no clue!(S1)

(the set up continued)

"You are my wife," he declared.

"W...what?" I stammered in shock.

"And yes, you know what? Tumne mujhe kitna bhagya hai," he uttered, his voice low, sending shivers down my spine.

He advanced, locking his gaze directly with mine, and then I felt his grip on my shoulder tightening. "You know what; now your time of playing hide & seek is over. Now it's my time to play the game, the real game," he declared, his dark grey eyes beginning to cloud over. I couldn't discern any emotion in them anymore.

What game is he talking about? And when did I play with him? These were the very first questions that flooded my mind. I closed my eyes, feeling him shake me as he held onto my shoulder, causing me to flinch in response. "Look into my eyes," he ordered with an authoritative voice.

I reluctantly opened my eyes and gazed into his. They held no emotions. They were not the eyes of a human; they lacked any hint of feeling. They were a type of glare that made my soul shiver, and my entire existence quiver. Why did this total stranger harbor so much hate or a myriad of emotions all tangled together? They couldn't be unraveled easily. Was it for someone else, or was it directed at me?

He interrupted my chain of thoughts, "I thought you were an innocent, simple girl. But I didn't think you'd turn out to be this cunning," he remarked.

"C-cunning?" I questioned myself, looking down and trying to make sense of his words.

"Look into my eyes. Why do we keep breaking eye contact again and again? I don't like to repeat; do as I ordered," he instructed, making me gaze into his eyes.

"Now, give the answer to my question. Do you see any emotion in them?" he demanded.

"What... what?" I stammered.

"I asked a question," he stated, his jaw clenched.

"Do you see anything or any kind of emotions in my eyes?" he reiterated.

"No...o!" I uttered with fear, looking down.

I didn't know if he could sense it, but the emotions within me were overwhelming.

"Look here and answer me," he ordered again, holding me by the shoulders.

"Then what do you see?" he demanded, maintaining his grip.

"A ha..tred! In..intense h.hate for s-someone," I admitted, acknowledging that his eyes held nothing but deep-seated animosity. However, for whom, I didn't know.

"Exactly. Congratulations, Mrs. Chauhan. You have got your very first answer right," he said with an evil smirk.

"C..can y...o..ou lea.ve me now?" I pleaded, my voice on the verge of breaking. His smirk disappeared.

"No, stand still here," he commanded.

"I c..an't, pl...e.ease. My k...knees, the..y can't s..stand, they are f-feeling we...a..ak."

"Do as I said. If I say no, then no. I'm not done yet; we're still talking," he declared.

"Don't you want to know the name of the person for whom these eyes hold nothing but immense hatred?" he asked, putting his hands on my cheeks and covering them with his palms. I felt even more scared now.

I nodded in "No" but he still continued.

"It's you!" he stated.

"Me?" I said, shocked.

"Yes, I hate you from my guts. Your face, which seems so innocent, I hate the most about you. It's the most misleading thing I have ever witnessed or can imagine," he said.

"I'm n..not getti...ng any..t..hing. Ple..ase, st..o.op this," I pleaded.

"No, it can't be stopped or undone now," he declared, as if I had committed an irreversible sin, something unforgivable. I wanted to ask, 'What have I done?'

"You know what I'm hating most right now?" he asked.

"Huh?" I replied.

I shook my head, indicating 'no.'

"Okay, we will answer one by one, right?" he said, patting my head gently. I nodded in fear.

"We don't have to complicate things for our understanding," he added.

The look on his face made me even more scared. He seemed like a total psychopath. Who is he?

"Okay, so where was I? Yeah, what I'm hating most about you is I know your reality. I know your true colors. You know I know what you were up to till now. Still, I can't see your true color. I can't read your face, your face not betraying any emotions, any cleverness, huh!" His face turned dead serious as he stated this.

"I'm so..r..rry, a-app ki..s..s bare mei..n b..b.bat kr ra..he! Me..in toh apko jan...n.ti bhi n.n..nahi hu," I said.

He ignored my reply once again, and my plea.

He continued, "Let me guess, you must be a very certified conwoman to play like that, still keeping this innocent face. It might have taken you a really long time, huh! To master these expressions," he said.

"I w...ill ag..a..ain repeat, ple..ase, ap jis b..bhi bare mein b..a..aat kr ra..he hein, I h...a--ave no C-clue!" I pleaded.

He ignored my reply once again and continued, "You want to be my wife, huh! So here we are, welcome to my life, you officially, Mrs. Prithvi Chauhan. But you can't be my life partner, nothing more than just a display wife."

"If yo..U.u hat..e me..e that m.m...much, t..hen wh..y did yo...u..u m..a-arry me?" I asked.

He replied while twisting my wrist at my back, keeping me closer to him, "Coz, you challenged me! Now I know your reality. I can't even stand glancing at you."

He again repeated the same word, "reality." This time I halted at my very position. Is that my stammering he's talking about? But why then did he marry me? He might have known it the moment I spoke, asked him to stop this marriage, when he stopped, when he saved me from committing suicide. But then why did he still marry me? What's his reason?

"Re...ality, wh...at are yo..u.u talk...ing abo..u.ut?" I asked with seriousness. I wanted to know. Does he mean my stammering, my harsh reality?

"Don't act so innocent like you have no clue," he said.

"Lite.....r.rally, I have N-n-no clue," I admitted, throwing my hands in the air to explain.

He loosened his grip on me, then backed away while thinking something. Then he turned his back on me. "Seriously?"

I seized that opportunity and took back the knife while his back was still turned to me.

"Ladki, suno, mein ab or nahi aane wala tumhare iss act mein," he said, looking again in my direction.

I hid the knife behind my back, nervously.

"So, drop the act," he said, starting to come towards me.

"Do..n't com...e ne...a..ar me! This t...time, I w-will attack," I said in fear and a shaking voice, holding the knife in front of me in defense with both hands.

"And wh...at ru..b..bbish are y...you ta..l..l..lking a..bout?" I said while taking a step backward.

He looked at me questioningly, scanning my actions. I might be looking stupid, scared, more feared, but I needed to tell my side of the story. I said frustratingly, "Me..na b..b..bola na 'tumhe' sor..ry! 'Apko' m...mein, ja...n..nti bhi n..nahi hu."

But rather than hearing what I said, he chose to ignore my confrontation and said, "Attack," taking a few steps forward.

"Sto..p.p there," I said, gesturing with one hand while the other held the knife closer.

"I said fucking attack, huh! Don't you listen to me at first," he said, taking long steps and coming forward in outrage. "Attack me," he said, pinning me to the bed.

Bed? It was a worse position than before. I think, "This knife," he said, taking the knife with force and cutting his hand.

"Wh..at a..re yo...u—" I tried to stop him in shock, but he put his palm on my lips, leaving a mere distance between us.

He looked into my eyes intensely, saying, "Yeh lo hogya tumhara kaam, now what?"

His hand was bleeding, yet he still held eye contact with me. I found it hard to break now. What a life I had a minute ago. I was finding it hard to even glance back at him. Now, I can't leave his eyes. But then, the look in his eyes started turning into a disgusting one, like he was disgusted with me. And I realized the situation I'm in.

With fear, I started moving backward on the bed, covering myself. Maybe he noticed, because this time he looked in disbelief. That's why he said, "I hate you, but that's not what I'm up to."

He again said, "I hate you from my core, the way I never hated someone before."

He said, like accepting, taking me again back into his hand grip, "I want to hurt you. Tumhara yeh chehra dekh kr mujhe ghin ati hein, nafrat hoti hein. I hate myself too, for becoming your clown."

He loosened his grip on me, said, "But that doesn't mean I will force you. That's not what I'm up to. Aur ek baat sun lo ladki, dhyaan se, mujhe na hi koi shauq hein tumse physical hone ka," he said.

I looked down and noticed his hand. "Yo...ur ha..a.and is blee..eding b..adly," I said, coming forward.

"Don't try to touch me," he said, removing my hands from his. Tears streamed down my face.

As he searched for something inside my eyes.

He stated with a straight face, cold expressions, "I don't know why I saved you, because the hell I will give you would be much worse."

"Yes, and now I'll see where you can escape, my girl. Now you are mine," he said, leaning closer. Goosebumps covered my arms, and I felt a shiver down my spine.

"You are mine," he repeated again, "but I can't be yours."

***

With that, he rose from the bed and turned around, starting to move towards the exit. However, he abruptly halted in his tracks, refusing to face her. Perhaps he was apprehensive about meeting her gaze once more, as he seemed to falter after witnessing her in tears, weakened by the situation. Without looking at her, he spoke with a firm resolve,

"You were right. It would have been better if you had committed suicide or simply died."

He left the room, and she observed him walking away, his departure leaving a lingering sense of anguish in the air.

***

The room was filled with a heavy silence after he left, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the consequences of my newfound reality. The pain in his eyes, the hatred he expressed, and the cryptic game he spoke of left me bewildered and terrified.

I sat on the bed, still clutching the knife, my mind racing with questions. What did he mean by revenge? What did he believe I had done to him? And why did he save me if he harbored such intense hatred?

The bleeding wound on his hand reminded me of the violence that had just transpired. The room echoed with his words, "You are mine," and the chilling proclamation that my life had taken a turn for the worse.

I tried to make sense of the situation, to understand the depth of his resentment. Was I really the cause of his pain, or was there a deeper, more complicated truth that eluded me?

As I looked around the room, it felt like a prison. The walls closed in, suffocating me with the weight of my reality. I couldn't comprehend the man I had married, the man who claimed to despise me yet saved me from taking my own life.

The events unfolded like a nightmare, and I couldn't wake up. The room, adorned with symbols of an unfamiliar life, became a symbol of my entrapment. The marriage that was supposed to be a new beginning turned into a twisted game with rules I couldn't comprehend.

With trembling hands, I placed the knife on the side table, realizing the futility of using it as a defense. I was no match for the complexities of the situation I found myself in.

As the room remained enveloped in silence, I couldn't escape the feeling that my life had become a chessboard, and I was just a pawn in a game I never agreed to play.

***

|FOLLOWING THE SAME NIGHT|

"Vanshi, where are you taking me? At least tell me."

"You will know once we reach. It's an important thing you need to know."

"Really?" he said, but she ignored him.

"Okay, at least tell me," he asked again, but she pushed him in disbelief, taking him without answering his question.

Then she stopped and said, "Here we are," and he looked around casually. His expression turned horrible, then fearful.

"Wait, this is the room! You're kidding me. I can't go. Oh, I just remembered I have something to do," he lied, starting to go back.

But she pushed him, saying, "Let's go."

"No, you can't be serious," he whispered. She nodded in response, showing no worries.

"What?" he said.

"Thakuryaan, he's here," she said, speaking loudly. He tried to stop her from speaking so loudly.

"Oh, haha, how foolish I am. I just remembered the boss gave me a presentation to make, and I, being a fool, forgot. I'll go finish that, and I'll greet Dadi Sa next time," he said, his voice loud enough for the other side to hear.

And he started going back.

"Amar, come inside," Dadi Sa's, Thakuryaan's voice came from the room.

He opened the gate and greeted, "Dadi Sa, I was coming to greet you, but the boss will not leave me if I don't complete the task given by him on time."

He lied casually, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped the small bead of sweat dripping down from his face.

"Vanshi, this was your important work. What's more important than Dadi Sa's sleep?" he said, faking disappointment.

"Sorry, Dadi Sa. Good night," he said while bowing and adding, "This Vanshi, she is stupid. You should sleep."

"Amar, sit. I have something serious I want to talk about," Dadi Sa stated with a serious face.

"Ask, Dadi Sa," Amar said, smiling and wiping his face constantly.

"Why did Prithvi marry her?" Dadi Sa said, coming straight to the point.

"Why did the boss marry her?" he repeated, starting to laugh awkwardly while Dadi Sa, Dada Sa, looked at him seriously.

"We all know, the boss told everyone in the morning because he loved her. They love each other," he said.

They both fell silent and stared at him. He looked around, then Dadi Sa said, "Acha, thik hein. Tu thak gaya hoga, chora. Kuch khavega?"

"No, Dadi Sa, I'm okay," he said.

"Arey, na, chora."

"Vanshi, mhari chaddhi (stick) lekar aa," Dadi Sa said, shouting.

"Dadi Sa, chaddhi (stick) kyu?" he said, laughing, knowing what was coming.

"Vanshi, chaddhi (stick) la idhar, kyuki chora tu aise to batayega nhi," Dadi Sa said.

"Dadi Sa, pyar se baat krte hein na," he said, looking nervous.

"Na ibb chaddhi (stick) ana de," she said.

"Vanshi, tu mhara muh kyu tukr tukr ke tak rhi hein, mhari chaddhi la, chora bhuka hein," she said.

"Dadi Sa, I'll tell you everything. You should have asked me first," he said, looking dumbfounded. 'Seriously, bruh, like she asked you and your dumb ass first question about that,' he muttered to himself. "What a psycho family."

Dadi Sa signed for Vanshi to go out.

"Ibb bol, chora," Dadi Sa said.

The room fell into a deep silence after Amar's revelation. Dada Sa and Dadi Sa exchanged glances, processing the unexpected turn of events. The gravity of Prithvi's decision to marry Niharika under such circumstances hung heavily in the air.

"Disrespected her?" Dada Sa asked, his voice grave.

"Yes, Dada Sa," Amar replied, wiping his face once again, a nervous habit he seemed to have developed during the conversation.

Dadi Sa leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. "So, Prithvi took it upon himself to protect her honor?"

Amar nodded, "Yes, Dadi Sa. He couldn't tolerate the insult directed at her, and that's why he stepped in."

Dada Sa sighed, "But he hates her. Why would he go to such lengths for someone he despises?"

Amar shrugged, "I don't know the details, Dada Sa. The boss is a complicated man. Maybe there's more to the story."

Dadi Sa contemplated the situation, her mind weaving through the complexities of the tangled web surrounding Prithvi and Niharika's marriage. "Amar, you said he forcefully married her after she ran away?"

"Yes, Dadi Sa. He was furious about her running away from the wedding, and when he found her, he married her against her will," Amar explained.

Dadi Sa exchanged a glance with Dada Sa, and then she said, "There's more to this story, and we need to find out what it is. Prithvi must have his reasons, even if they are veiled in anger and hatred."

Amar nodded, "Abhimaan Bhai tried asking him, Dadi Sa, but he's not willing to share. He's determined to keep her at a distance."

Dada Sa spoke up, "Whatever his reasons, we need to handle this situation carefully. We don't want any scandals or tarnished reputations."

"ji, Dada Sa, please don't tell the boss I told you everything otherwise I would be dead by his hands." Amar agreed & requested.

Dada sa nodded.

Dadi Sa sighed, "Let Prithvi handle his marriage. We'll observe and act accordingly. And make sure he understands the consequences of his actions."

Amar nodded, "I'll keep an eye on things, Dadi Sa."

***

"What, he married someone claiming to be his lover?" A voice echoed in the background from the phone.

"Okay, is there anything strange about it?" a voice from the other side asked.

The holder replied in a quick bet, "I don't know yet, but I will let you know once I find something odd."

"Now I have to go," the holder replied. "Okay, keep keen eyes on his actions. He seems not to be himself. It's good for us, and on that girl too, he married, keep an eye," the speaker from the other side said.

"I understand. I need to go before someone thinks of me as fishy," the holder said, looking around on the dark rooftop of the palace. The face of the person providing information was not visible. The call ended, and the holder walked out furiously.

***

The next morning, Niharika heard a knock and opened the door to meet new faces.

"Hukum, ne thare ko yaad kiya hein Pratima Griha mein," the old lady, who appeared to be the head of the household, stated.

"Chori, take her; show her the way to Pratima Griha," the old lady instructed, and a young lady nodded.

"Ji Kaki Sa," the young lady replied.

She turned to Niharika, "Yuvrani! Aaye," and gestured for Niharika to follow.

"Chori ruk," the old lady interrupted, stopping them in their tracks.

She scrutinized Niharika from head to toe with a judging look and said, "Iss chori ko samjha dena, hukum ke samne ya Pratima Griha mein zyada bole na. Hukum ko pasand nahi hai."

The young lady nodded in understanding while Niharika looked down nervously, fidgeting with her fingertips.

"Ibe mhara muh ke takke hein, chori ja lekr isko," the old lady instructed.

"Ji Kaki Sa," the young lady acknowledged, nodding again.

The young lady, who had been assigned to guide her, gestured for Niharika to follow.

As they walked through the corridors, the atmosphere was tense, and the unfamiliar faces around her only added to her discomfort.

They reached a room labeled "Pratima Griha," and the young lady stopped, turning towards Niharika.

"Yuvrani, this is Pratima Griha. You stay here," she said, her tone respectful but distant.

"Thakuryaan will come in sometimes. App thodi der ke liye unki pratiksha kare. I have work, so I have to go," the young lady informed her.

Niharika nodded, acknowledging the information. She stepped into the room, and the young lady closed the door behind her.

The room was modestly furnished, but there was a certain elegance to it. As Niharika took in her surroundings, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being trapped in a place where she had no control.

Meanwhile, in another part of the palace,

the same old lady, keeping an eye on the workers standing outside prithvi's room.

Another young lady emerged from Prithvi's room, wearing the same uniform as the previous lady—a peach-colored saree with a black border.

She reported, "Kaki Sa, the bedsheet is red."

She noted the red bedsheet and seemed dissatisfied."Clean the whole room," she ordered, her voice carrying authority.

The young lady nodded, "Ji, Kaki Sa," and hurried to carry out the instructions. The task at hand seemed routine, yet the air in the room felt heavy with unspoken tension.

Back inside the Pratima Griha (hall of fame/family history hall)

Niharika looked nervously around, roaming and staring at the grand photos hanging on the wall. She stopped at one particular photo.

"Anang Pal Tomar," a voice came from behind her.

She flinched and looked to meet the old man, who seemed to be the family's eldest.

He stared at the photo, his hands folded behind his back. "Not a lot of people know about him, but he's one of the brave warriors of the Chauhan dynasty," he said as she looked at the photo.

"Right beside him, Ajayraj Chauhan," he said, pointing his finger. "And the one on the Left side is Someshwar Chauhan, the father of Great Prithviraj Chauhan," he added, looking at her with a proud yet warm smile.

She looked nervously at them and finally gathered the courage to ask, "Ap?"

"Samrat Chauhan! Your husband, Prithvi Chauhan's grandfather. People here call me Thakur; you can call me 'Dada Sa,'" he said with a strict but strangely soft tone, perhaps noticing her nervousness around him.

"Bahubeta, apka naam!" Dada Sa asked.

"Ni..Niharika," she said, looking down.

"And can I ask you, why are you here? At this early hour? A young soul like you in this hall made me shocked and happy altogether" he said.

"W..why?" she asked innocently.

He was about to answer when a voice interrupted.

"Re, Suman le ayi chori ko," Dadi or Hukum entered the griha.

"Vasantika Singh Chauhan," Dada Sa said to Niharika, and she looked questioningly.

"Prithvi's grandmother is the most arrogant woman you can ever encounter. Be careful of Hukum."