Chapter 19: chapter 19

SRUTHIHis words echo in my ear as my jaw hangs open in shock. Assassin! He is a FREAKING assassin. I laugh though nothing about the situation I am in now is funny. I wanted a safe and stable life. I wanted my husband to be a soft man with gentle qualities. Someone who won’t brag about killing others.“How many?” I ask pacing the room. “Huh?”“How many innocent lives have you taken?”He scoffs, “The people I kill are hardly innocent. They are the ones who target your brother’s life or do harm in the society.”“That doesn’t mean you have the right to kill them,” I shout at him in frustration. “Yes, I don’t,” he agrees with a nod. “I am not justifying the profession I do but sometimes it has to be done. Some people have to be eliminated.”A chill goes down my spine as I look at the man before me. His gaze is cold and posture rigid. He looks like an emotionless monster. Strike that! He is an emotionless monster who kills others. “Don’t look at me like that Sruthi,” he says in a tone filled with anger and frustration. In a second, the cold look in his eyes vanishes and it glimmers with so much emotions that I don't understand.“Like what?”“Like I am some monster who is about to eat you alive,” he says raking a hand through his hair. He is a monster. “I am just your brother’s tool and not the mastermind.”I know that already. I also know that my brother is the mastermind. But I am not scared of the mastermind. The tool is what makes the mastermind powerful. Without the tool, the mastermind can’t make any plans. The tool is what brings the theoretical plan into action. So, it is the tool I am scared of. “I hate you,” I say voice thick with emotion. “I hate this marriage.”Madhav only smiles, “Keep on hating me, Sruthi. That would be for the best.”A shiver runs down my body and I feel small before him. Before today, he scared me but now I am utterly terrified of him. What is the difference between him and the person who killed my parents? No one should face a death like them. Brutally butchered before their children’s eyes. A feeling of hopelessness and helplessness settles in me as Madhav says, “If you are ready, then we can start for my house.”His house. If I want to make the media believe that I am happy about this marriage, then I have to live with Madhav in his house to tell the world that our marriage is a real deal and not fake.I want to run far away from here. To someplace where no one knows me and I can live as a normal human with no responsibilities to carry. To do as I wish and live for myself. For the very first time in my life, I regret my birth. If only I was not an Ariyan, I wouldn’t have to go through all this.A knock sounds on my door followed by my brother’s voice, “Sruthi, can I come in?”“Yes, you may,” Madhav answers before I can. I don’t rebuke him for it because I am on the verge of tears and Vikram would find out something is wrong with me as soon as I talk. I don’t want to worry him. He already has his plate full of worries. I turn away from the door and face my bed. I am sure the sight of my brother would rip me apart. I don’t want to cry before him. He always took good care of me. He is shouldering a huge burden and I am not going to add to it. I know Madhav won’t hurt me because he values Vikram’s friendship.That is the only comfort to me now. “What are you doing here?” Vikram asks and even without turning to face him, I know the question is for Madhav.“Well, I came inside to take her luggage to the car,” Madhav replies. Before I could protest, Madhav scoops both the luggage in his hand and walk out of the room.Vikram waits for Madhav’s footsteps to fade before approaching me, “Sruthi, look at me.”I square my shoulder and blink my eyes rapidly before turning to face my brother, “I am sorry that things ended up like this.”“Don’t be sorry,” I say with a shake of my head. “It is not your fault that Praveen is still in love with his ex. I will move on from it.”Vikram opens his mouth to argue but I wave him off, “Don’t. Let us not think about the past. I don’t want to think about Praveen. I want to focus on the present.”“That reminds me,” Vikram says in a cautious tone. “There is something you need to know about Madhav. I am sorry that I hid this but this is a confidential matter that I didn’t want unwanted ears hearing.”“Is this about Madhav being your assassin?” I ask directly not bothering to beat around the bush.Vikram’s jaw opens in shock, “Whoa! Okay, how did you know?”“Madhav just confessed to me about it,” I say.“He did?” my brother asks with a frown. “He breached the confidentiality agreement we signed.”“I am sorry but I was the one who asked him about it in a round about way and he answered. He didn't willing tell me about it. You can trust me to keep your secret,” I answer.Vikram shakes his head, “I trust you, Sruthi. I am not going to ask you to love Madhav and tell cheesy lines about how he would keep you happy and that stuff. That would be selfish of me. Just try to accept him as he is. When you see the real him, you will be surprised. But, if you realize that he is not the man for you or if he—I am sure he would never—but if he mistreats you, I am a call away. I won’t spare him.”“Don’t worry, Vikram I can take care of myself,” I answer. “Besides, it is time I started living my own life and facing my troubles. I don't need you fighting my battles for me.”“Oh my! Look at you all grown up now,” he says pulling me into a hug. I return the hug and the familiar smell of my brother brings tears to my eyes. I still remember how Vikram held me tight and shielded me from my parents’ murderer when they stabed my parents. He has always been my source of comfort and he never expected anything in return. The least I can do for him is face my fears and share a house with a man whom I am scared of.❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥