Chapter 21

"P-please sir. P-please, believe me, sir. H-he assaulted me. H-he raped me----

He looked away, closing his eyes trying to remove the images away from his vision. A sheer level of anger surged as he looked at her and suddenly he pushed her body into the water tub. She fell into the water and her whole dress was drenched, becoming transparent and sticky to her body.

As if it wasn't enough with the help of his hand he shoved her face into the water. She struggled in his hold trying to push away his hand as her legs kept kicking in the water. She tried to shake her head to get rid of his hand but he didn't remove it at all.

After a few seconds, he took off his hand and pulled her up in a sitting position as she gasped for air as if her life was dependent on it though it is. Just when she caught her breath she was again pushed into the water and this time for a longer seconds and was again pulled out. After doing it three more times she broke into hysterical sobs as her hands clutched to his body with a steel grip afraid of being pushed again. She coughed and cried at the same time and this time her cries were loud. In a span of time, she was punished multiple times. Her head rested on his shoulder while her fists clutched to the back of his shirt as she kept crying.

He sat there crouched immobilly staring at nothing in particular as if he zoned out. He let her cry on his shoulder as slowly his hand began to rub her back in a consoling way. She didn't dare to give any reaction or move in her place, still afraid of his mood change.

"Next time (rubbing her back he looked down at her). Next time you slap me again. Then there will be a fire in the place of water. You understand".

He threatened and her body visibly trembled in his hold as her voice became mute except for hitching breaths.

"Now go. Before I change my mind".

He said and she immediately tried to stand up in the water and flew away from his washroom.

Reaching to her room she locked the door and fell on her knees. Her face twisted in a cry as she hunched down her upper body releasing a cry. She was crying but no sound came out. She cried out loudly in silence. Her soundless sobs jerked her body as she closed her eyes. She clasped her hands around her mouth as she let out a scream of agony while crying in her hands which was muffling her screams. Again and again, she screamed in her hands to let out her pain as she cried and cried and kept on crying.

Her body rose as she took a deep breath between her cry and momentarily her eyes fell on lord Krishna where the idol was placed on the nightstand and her face twisted more in pain as she let out a cry looking at him.

"Why? Why is this happening to me? What did I do"?

She questioned him as tears fell from her eyes.

"My life was never flowers and rainbows. Neither did I wished for it. Then why am I being gifted by this pain? What did I do"?

"I pray to you daily. I thanked you for every good moment. I played dance for you with my devotion. I rarely complained about myself. Then why am I being punished? All I wished for was a peaceful life. Was that too much to ask? If not peace at least don't give me pain. Don't give me anything. I don't want anything".

"I don't know what plans you have for me and I don't know on which thorned path I have to walk to reach my destiny. But I know that I cannot take pain in my dignity. Please. (hiccup). You have not sent me any Ram but put me with Ravan. But I'm not Sita to bear all this injustice. I don't have that enduring ability as Sita has. Spare me, please. I don't have the courage as she (Sita) has to fight with the devil Ravana".

She cried out as she looked at him. Her complaints didn't end as she poured out her feelings and started to narrate everything to him to lessen the pain in her as she cried out her pain in front of him. After all, he is the only one she has to put all her vulnerable pain in front of him without fear of being judged. Like a child, she complained about everything to him until she fell silent and sat there gazing ahead blankly.

After some time she examined herself and was reminded that she was still in her white clothes. Getting up she changed her saree into a long-length dress that covered her ankle as well as her full-length hands. Leaving her hair free she got on her bed and wrapped a blanket around her for warmth. She gulped only to feel her throat paining. The water that entered through her nose and mouth had caused unnecessary pain and itchiness at the back of her throat.

Trying to ignore it she forced herself to sleep. The next day she felt a feathery touch over her cheek as someone caressed her. She tried to open her eyes but gave up finding it difficult. She felt weird as her eyes felt hot. The next second she felt a rough touch over her forehead and cheek which felt like the back of their hand. Knuckles. She felt their knuckles and this time she tried to open her eyes only to groan as they felt heavy and uneasy. Murmurs were heard as their shady figures came visible in front of her slightly opened eyes. Her eyes were so blurry. As soon as she opened her eyes and blinked a hot tear rolled out passing through her hair line and this time she was able to see Ridhima and him. He was staring at her with knotted eyebrows and concern on his face. Alerted she immediately opened her eyes and tried to get up with the support of her hands but groaned in pain as she fell back. Her body felt hot as well as prickles of pain on her back.

Ridhima came to her side as she put her hand on her shoulder and slightly pushed her back. Involuntarily another hot tear rolled out of her eyes.

"You have a very high fever dear. Don't get up. Take rest".

Was all she says and Asha got herself convinced easily as she felt her body extremely weak and painful. Even her breaths are hot puffs from her nose. She closed her eyes to rest. She didn't know how time passed or whether it was morning or evening or night. Her entire day was spent in bed and the two times she opened her eyes are once when she felt the pain on the back of her hand and the other time when she had to eat. And while having her lunch she understood that a drip was attached to the back of her hand. After she was fed Idli with red ginger chutney by Ridhima she was again back to sleep.

It was night 2:30 pm and the door opened slightly. But that wasn't the door of her room entrance but a door that was on the right side of her wall. The door connects his room with hers. More like her room was used and built to store either instruments or other items while the construction was planned. And after the mansion was shared due to disputes today it is in his hand and he got the room empty for her so he can keep her close to him.

Stepping in the room he closed the door. His whole form was messy with his coat hanging on his shoulder and his hair jutting forward and his laces coming undone.

He dropped his coat on the floor and saw her figure turned to the other side away from him. There was one chair placed in the room and he dragged it to her side and sat on it. Leaning back leisurely he fixed his stare at her as he drew in a breath puffing his chest with oxygen.

She looked cool and peaceful even while burning hot.

He leaned forward as he put his hand on her forehead and on her cheek to check the temperature. He took a relieved breath on finding her temperature a little less hot than the morning one. Another complete bed rest and he could eat her food again.

Maybe he shouldn't have done that. Maybe he should do anything else other than dumping her into the water. He doesn't know that her health is so fragile to the extent she could get a fever because of waterboarding.