Her eyes slowly flickered open and took in her surroundings. Her throat felt parched and dried up.
She felt thirsty.
Slowly she tried to get up when her hand pained. She looked at her hand only to witness a saline attached to her hand.
Few scenarios flashed in her mind which reasoned her current condition as she slowly tried to sit properly on the bed. Her eyes again fell on her hands and then fingers as again the scenarios flashed in her mind. Her eyes turned glossy but she shut them by closing her eyes.
She tried to gulp and again felt the parched up pain in her throat. She looked around to find no water jug on the nightstand.
Sighing tiredly she leaned back to the head board and sat silently not wanting to go for a tour around the house for a jug of a water or face him. And the saline is still attached to her hand.
Her dull eyes stared at nothingness. Her gaze drifted lost in thoughts.
She wouldn't run anymore. Giving up seemed easier than losing a body part. She had to protect herself for when she was finally free.
Two weeks. That's all she had to endure. Two weeks of captivity and violation.
It is better to loose what is already lost rather than any of her body part.
This year with her in-laws hasn't been easy, but her struggles run deeper.
Perhaps this is just another hurdle in a long line of hardships, but maybe, just maybe, it will be the last.
There are countless women who face unimaginable horrors or forced into prostitution. They found ways to endure, to live their lives. And so will she.
The only difference is she will be free in two weeks.
She has to just endure him----
"You are awake"?
Her chain of thoughts broke with his voice. She turned to him as he walked in with a water and food in a tray.
"You fell sick. Again".
He said setting the tray to the side and sat opposite to her connecting his eyes with her. Her eyes turned glossy again as she gulped and coughed.
He was quick as he poured her a glass of water to drink. After taking light sips she emptied the glass.
His veiny hands retrieved the emptied glass smoothly. The clank sound of the glass being placed on the table made her flinch.
He placed the steaming hot food infront of her and ordered.
"Eat".
He sat back in his place making himself more comfortable as he said.
"You are far too weak"
She eyed the food with a flicker of apprehension.
"Ah". He sighed interpreting her hesitation.
"Too weak to feed yourself"?
Without waiting for her answer he took the plate into his hand and with a gentle firmness he forwarded a spoon full of food to her lips after blowing the steam off from the food.
She looked at the food with knots between her eye brows.
Every fiber of her being rebelled against the idea of trusting him, even for something as basic as food.
His eyes scanned her as he read her like a book. The fear was clearly written on her face.
He turned the spoon and fed a spoonful if food for himself clearing her doubt about any kind of drugged meals.
Their eyes met as he ate, sending shivers down her spine.
"It's safe. No medication. Eat".
There is a firm warning in his voice opposite to his gentle actions. His eyes conveying her to not to disobey while his eyes
He said again. This time she pushed her fear back and took the food in her mouth reluctantly.
Her food remained intact in her mouth with betraying tears in her eyes.
Each bite felt like a concession, a surrender to his control as he fed her untill she objected.
"I said, you are too weak. Complete this".
He commanded with no space of rejection.
She didn't reject further as she tried to complete full untill he took it away seeing her struggling to complete food.
He put the plate away and looked at her while she lowered her eyes to not to look at him.
"Let's come to the point. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry".
A flicker of surprise shone in her eyes as she looked at him before it disappeared in a second as she down casted her eyes again recurring to her diminishing hope.
How many times didn't this happen.
His sorry meant nothing. He will hurt her again.
"I will not hurt you again".
She looked at him as if his words held no meaning but just a plain words as a compensation for what he did to her.
"From now on. I'll do anything but hurting you. I'll try to be as civilised as possible".
"You terrified me. You traumatised me. How can I believe you".
Her voice small as she demanded an answer. Because trust for her seemed an impossible thing.
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