HEART SAVIOR

Delhi (India)

A pin drop silence was there in the air, under the broad day light of around 2 o'clock, and the entire house was in complete disarray. As if a heavy blow of wind came and destroyed everything, leaving gloominess and mess.

Glass shards were scattered all over the floor. It seemed like the house had not been cleaned for quite a few days. Clothes were lying here and there, and in some places, there were several pieces of broken glass bangles. On one side, a bloodstained bed looked desolate.

Her entire body was writhing in pain. She had so little strength left that she couldn't even stand on her own. Before her, the same scene replayed over and over again-the moment when that person, in a state of intoxication, brutally beat her, and even worse, forced himself upon her. She pondered, "Does a husband really harm his wife so brutally? Does a husband forcefully violate her without her consent? Does a husband imprison his own wife like a prisoner?"

But this all was happening with her.

Her own husband raped her last night, even though he was the person... the person she liked, the person of her choice, the person she loved. Despite that, today she started fearing him and developed hatred towards him.

Recalling the incident from the previous night, she closed her eyes in pain, lying on the ground. Numerous tears rolled down her swollen cheeks.

Due to crying, her entire face turned red. Even in such a miserable state, she appeared like a beautiful artwork. Deep black eyes with long lashes, snow-white skin adorned with several scars, long hair that hadn't been combed for who knows how many days, causing them to tangle with each other.

In the name of clothing, there was only a nightgown that came in violet color down to its knees, with strings to tie over her shoulders which was also open, leaving her body exposed.

She didn't had that in her to cover her exposed self. And even cover it from whom or for whom? When the guardian of this body, who should protect her, was a wolf in the form of a human.

____________

Last Night

"N-Ut..Utkarsh I'm on my periods please... please don't do it today", she plea with a crying tone.

"Did I asked for your opinion?", he roared at her. And flinching, she shivers in terror while her eyes get shut closed and hands cup her ears.

"No... no... but I'm getting stomach ache."

"So, what do you want? Should I bring you chocolates like the guys or take you out for an outing... or maybe bring your pads, huh?", he grits and lands a harsh slap over her face.

With whose intensity, she fell abruptly from the bed, causing the black glass bangles on her hand to shatter, scattering in pieces on the floor, and some piercing into her hand.

She screams in pain badly when he walks closer to her, grips hand which was wounded by broken bangles and twists roughly, then growls, "Now, say nah Bitch.. don't you have tongue?"

"M-my.. my hand is hurting, Utkarsh leave... I said leave it!", she deadpans, writhing in pain.

"What did you say? Leave... now wait, I'll show you!", he hisses in annoyance.

He throws her over the bed, pushing her hard and removes every inch of cloth from her body venting his anger and lustful desire needs. For a long time she kept on screaming but he got deaf ears to them.

The whole bed sheet was bathed in the pool of blood. But he doesn't stop until he takes her 2-3 times more, satisfying himself to the fullest, and goes to sleep. While she sobs vigorously, turning into a ball. The pain is getting worse after that torment and now crying. Helplessly, lying over there, she was holding onto her stomach once and then head as the pain took over her body, but no one was there to hear her screams.

Recalling all this, she screamed in a distressing manner.

She cried loudly, sobbing uncontrollably.

After crying to her heart's content for a while, she mustered courage to stand up. She attempted to get up, driven by the fact that she hadn't eaten or had a sip of water in since a day. In the restlessness of thirst, she struggled to rise from the bed, but in the next moment, she stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Ah...!" she screamed again, this time with the intensity of pain. On the ground, there were pieces of glass that once again pierced into her hands. Her entire hand was now covered in blood. Once again, she started sobbing uncontrollably.

While crying, she could only think of her mom and dad. She remembered how they had strongly advised her, "Hiya, dear... Utkarsh is not a good choice for you." From a distance, their words of counsel echoed in her mind.

"Mama, you were right... Utkarsh is not a good choice for me... he is bad... Actually, he is dirty... very dirty, Momma... he dirtied me too... very dirty, Momma... very dirty!"

She cried out so loudly that she began to fear even looking at herself. She wasn't like this before; she was like a beautiful flower in a garden, and Utkarsh, the named devil, had crushed her petals.

_____________

Ahil Raizada was the only brother among three sisters and was everyone's favourite. Despite being the youngest among his sisters, his status was just like that of the elders. It seemed as if his three sisters were younger than him, and their brother was older.

He had beautiful eyes with a good height, adorned with a nifty eye-map. Dark brown hair, hazel brown eyes, a slight shaving on the face... and he was the first choice of thousands of girls – Ahil Raizada.

All the girls in his office admired him, but they knew that he would never be there, it would only be a dream. Truly, he is just a prince charming of dreams.

Today, the entire Raizada mansion was glittering due to Ahil's birthday. His three married sisters were present, but no one seemed to know whose birthday it was. His elder sister Sneha called him.

After ringing a couple of times, Ahil, the birthday boy, finally picked up the call and calmly said, "Yeah, Di! What happened?"

After ringing a couple of times, Ahil, the birthday boy, finally picked up the call and calmly said, "Yeah, Di! What happened?"

Sneha, a bit annoyed, replied, "Well, sir doesn't even remember that today is your birthday."

"So what!" he responded nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal. She sensed from his tone that he had no interest in celebrating his birthday.

Despite that, she affectionately said, "Oh my sweet brother, come home quickly; we're waiting to cut the cake."

He got a bit irritated with her words, "You've come home, enjoy, have dinner... and go home... there's no need to wait for me... I have a lot of work."

Despite Ahil's refusal, she didn't let go, saying, "I told you to come home. We'll cut the cake together."

This time, he was annoyed and said to his sister in anger, "When I said once not to cut the cake, it meant not to cut it. Why are you persisting?"

After saying this, he angrily ended the call. Meanwhile, Sneha, a bit emotional, and all his sisters who had gathered to celebrate their brother's birthday, had now left for their respective homes.

Ahil's parents tried hard to stop them, but the three sisters, upset, had already left. His mother, expressing her frustration on Ahil, said, "What should I do about this boy's anger? Even after so many days, he doesn't talk properly to his sisters. His affair with that deceitful Akriti has turned Ahil into a heartless person. He doesn't talk properly to anyone. The betrayal by that girl has caused suffering to our entire family. He has made his life a machine."

Ahil's mother was very upset about his daughters leaving in anger, and she was channelling all her anger towards Ahil's ex-girlfriend Akriti. Since Akriti left, Ahil harboured so much anger and hatred, especially towards women.

_________

The night had grown darker, and Hiya found herself contending with pain in her room. Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud creak, prompting her to instinctively cover her ears in trepidation.

Utkarsh, clad in a black shirt and jeans, entered the room bearing a birthday cake. With infectious enthusiasm, he approached Hiya ,singing, "Happy birthday to you... happy birthday to you... happy birthday, dear Hiya... many-many happy returns of the day!"

As he drew closer, her breath seemed to synchronize with his steps. There was an almost ominous aura about him, and an inexplicable fear seized her. In response, she unconsciously started stepping backward, maintaining a cautious distance as he advanced. The closer he came, the further she retreated until her back met the unyielding wall. Pressed against it, she watched as he, with a sly smile, settled into a nearby seat.

Utkarsh tenderly ran his fingers through her hair, presenting, "Hiya, sweetie, see what I've brought for you - a cake and birthday gifts." Displaying the gifts, Utkarsh was met with tightly shut eyes from Hiya, consumed by an overwhelming sense of fear. While the notion of receiving gifts usually brought joy, the giver of these gifts had transformed into a source of dread for her.

Her tightly closed eyes bore witness to Utkarsh persistence, "Come on, let's cut the cake quickly." As he meticulously adorned the cake with candles, he prodded Hiya to partake in the purported celebration.

In response to his relentless insistence, she summoned the courage to stutter, "N... n... no, I don't want to celebrate my birthday."

The tremor in her voice seemed to ignite a spark of irritation in Utkarsh. In a fit of frustration, he delicately twisted her arm and declared, "You will celebrate your birthday, sweetie, and you'll do it right now. Or you know, sweety, what I am capable of."

With a forced smile, he firmly covered her mouth, extinguishing any further protests. Coerced into compliance, she reluctantly participated, and together, they cut the cake.

With a facade of affection, he fed her a piece of cake. Subsequently, he carefully bandaged her wound, followed by an insistence to prepare for dinner.

Handing her a shopping bag, he adopted a sugary tone, saying, "Sweety, get ready quickly." His words were coated with sweetness, obscuring the bitter reality-that he was a venomous serpent, injecting torment into her daily existence.

Despite the apprehension instilled by the fear of Utkarsh potential wrath, Hiya reluctantly acquiesced and got ready. Internally, she quietly acknowledged the silver lining that, in just 3 months, 13 days, and 12 hours, she would be breathing the open air, emancipated from her current confines.

Draped in a black saree, with her long, straight hair cascading freely, and lips adorned in a shade of red, she radiated an ethereal beauty. The elegance of her attire concealed the physical wounds, yet the internal scars persisted, inflicting a deep and unrelenting pain.

_________

Following his liberation from the office, Ahil initiated his car and embarked on the journey homeward. The rhythmic hum of the engine was accompanied by the resurgence of bitter recollections from his past, insidiously gnawing at the recesses of his mind like an unrelenting pest.

Suddenly, an apparition from two years ago unfolded before him. It was his birthday, an occasion he had fervently anticipated, earmarked for exclusive celebration with Akriti.

As the clock struck midnight, Akriti and Ahil immersed themselves in conversation. Speaking from the depth of her heart, Akriti wistfully expressed, "If only we were together right now, celebrating the joy of cake cutting. Ahil , nighttime birthday celebrations with you would have held a unique charm."

He already knew Aakriti would express such feelings, so he had positioned himself on his balcony in advance. However, his heart sank when he saw Aakriti in the arms of his own friend, Aman.

Aman and Aakriti were unaware of his presence as he had stopped right at the gate of his balcony. Aman, pulling Aakriti towards him, lightly removed her nightgown,

kissing her body one by one, gradually undressing her while she moaned a slutty moan.

Overwhelmed by the sight of Aakriti without clothes, Ahil closed his eyes in pain.

Overwhelmed by the sight of Aakriti without clothes, Ahil closed his eyes in pain. His mind wrestled between wanting to confront Aakriti or wishing for his own demise.

Meanwhile, Aman continued with the intimate gestures. Ahil felt a throbbing pain in his head, matched by the intensity of his emotions. Witnessing Aman and Aakriti being intimate was unbearable.

The tears welled up in his eyes. He reached into his pocket, retrieved his phone, and dialed Aakriti's number.

As the phone rang, Aman interrupted with a smirk, "Looks like your Romeo is calling. Poor guy is so straightforward."

Disregarding Aman's comments, Ahil patiently waited for Aakriti to answer. Aakriti, lying in Aman's arms, picked up the call and chuckled, "If it isn't my Majnu calling. Well, let him call; I'm already in bed. After all, every night is spent with you in spirit. As for Ahil , he thinks he's in love. The poor guy is a real fool, like a lost cartoon character."

They both burst into laughter, reminiscing about Ahil 's antics. The echoes of their laughter reverberated in Ahil 's ears as he continued driving, memories of their joyful times haunting him. Ahil 's anger intensified with each passing moment.

Lost in his thoughts, he unconsciously accelerated, and his car collided with a large tree. The impact was jarring, causing Ahil 's world to spin. The call dropped, leaving Aakriti and Aman unaware of the accident.

The airbags inflated, shielding Ahil from severe harm, but his heartache overshadowed any physical pain. The twisted metal and shattered glass mirrored the wreckage of his emotions. Alone in the wreckage, Ahil contemplated the wreckage of his trust, love, and happiness.

As he struggled to collect his senses, the bitter reality sank in – his love story had met a catastrophic end on this fateful night. The shadows of betrayal and heartbreak loomed large, casting a pall over what once seemed like an everlasting bond.

__________

After three long months, Utkarsh had finally decided to treat Hiya to an outdoor dinner, and the occasion was none other than her birthday. However, it wasn't a gesture of goodwill or affection; rather, it seemed more like an obligatory act, as if checking off a box on the list of marital duties.

As they stepped out into the world, Hiya couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness. The vibrant energy of the surroundings was contagious, and for a moment, the weight on her shoulders seemed to lighten.

Draped in a black saree adorned with sparkling borders, Hiya's long, dense hair cascaded freely. A white diamond nose pin added a touch of elegance to her beauty, and the rosy red lipstick she wore enhanced her features. Despite her outward charm, there was an underlying sadness in her eyes, a testament to the unspoken pain she had been enduring.

Utkarsh, on the other hand, made a half-hearted attempt at being courteous in this unfamiliar territory. However, the question lingered: Could a few civil gestures erase the wounds inflicted on Hiya's heart during the past few days? The ache of recent actions couldn't be easily dismissed with mere pleasantries.

Seated at a restaurant, Hiya undoubtedly outshone every other woman present. The envious glances from the surroundings were hard to ignore. Utkarsh, seemingly oblivious to the disapproving looks, continued with his feeble attempts at being a considerate companion.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as some of Utkarsh's friends, coincidentally dining at the same restaurant, spotted them. Their casual greeting and subsequent approach added a layer of tension to an already strained situation.

"Hey buddy, what's going on? Today we finally got to meet your wife," one of them exclaimed, oblivious to the undercurrents.

Utkarsh, with Hiya by his side, introduced his friends. The forced politeness and obligatory handshakes were exchanged, but the unease in the air was palpable. Hiya, with a strained smile, played along, doing her best not to escalate the brewing tension.

As his friends began showering compliments on Hiya's beauty, Utkarsh discomfort became increasingly evident. Their words, rather than lifting the mood, seemed to intensify the silent storm within him. Meanwhile, Hiya, caught in the crossfire, maintained her composure, concealing the emotional turmoil beneath her smile.

The restaurant, with its air-conditioned ambience, failed to cool the heated emotions that permeated the table. The encounter, rather than bridging the growing gap, threatened to widen it further as they navigated the social dynamics with a delicate dance of words and smiles.

After dinner was completed and they were on their way home, everything was perfectly fine. But the moment Utkarsh steps inside the house, he takes the form of some dire wolf.

Entering the flat, he grips over Hiya's open hair harshly and pushes her hard so that she falls over her face on the floor.

Her old wounds due to falling were starting to throb again when she got a new one. Her chin was bruised, blood was oozing out of it. Her beautiful black deep eyes were filled up with those salty water– tears again and she, while writhing, was sobbing in pain.

When Utkarsh takes out his belt from pants and strikes it over her head, then waist, hand, legs. He hit her all over her body leaving no place left. And she didn't have any ounce of courage left in her to stop this bastard man. When every belt touches her body, she used to cry out in pain loudly. When he hears her screams getting louder and louder, crouches down a little and stuffs her mouth with tissue paper so that her voice gets muffled while he beating her up badly was wanting to vent out his anger.

She kept on dithering to scream and shout but it all failed. She unconsciously lies on the floor and endures every pain he gives her. She was about to close her eyes due to the intensity of pains when he pulled her drags straight to the mirror and roared in her ears, "Look at yourself in the mirror now, and see how beautiful you look?"