Chapter 7 :
Anika's POV (Flashback continues)
I was shocked would be underrated to say. I was beyond shocked. The lines that followed in the contract, read,
I, Anika Roy Chowdhury,
1. Agree to this contract marriage which terminates after one year.
2. Agree to be his wife officially and accept him officially as my husband.
3. Agree to submit myself to Mr. Arnav Rai Mehrotra without any issue.
4. Agree to let him control me however he wants and I won't protest.
5. Agree to let him do whatever he wants to do with me.
6. Agree to never protest or complain.
7. Agree to stay within the limits he sets.
8. Agree to never disclose the information about this contract to anyone.
9. Agree to bear the punishments for the mistakes I have made.
10. Agree to not get involved in infidelity.
These were the terms and conditions he wanted me to agree to? Was he serious?
Holding onto the file tightly, I turned towards him.
"What the fuck does this mean Arnav?", I don't care if I addressed him without honorifics. My voice was loud and my breaths were heavy. I was flummoxed, but most of all, furious.
He opened his eyes and sat up straight.
Rolling up his sleeves, he faced me,
"It's the contract you're gonna sign now".
He replied as if it was about signing a child's school diary.
I groaned, "Mr. Rai Mehrotra, for your fucking kind information, I ain't agreeing to this marriage. Get it signed by some random fangirl of yours. I am Anika Roy Chowdhury. I don't work on other's orders. I make others work on my orders", I replied gritting my teeth but before I could stand up properly, his next words froze me.
"You know Dhruv Singhania?"
How could I not know him? He was that unforgettable part of my life.
But how did he know him?
I sat back before facing him with a frown, "Why are you asking that?"
His stoic face just remained like that.
"Answer me Anika. Do.you.know.him?"
"Yes I do. He's...someone close to me. But how's he related to this?"
A ghostly smirk touched his lips before it vanished.
"He is. Everything that's happening is because of him or say, for him", he replied. His voice laced with fury was clearly visible. I noticed the veins in his neck popping up and his clasped hands tightened.
How was Dhruv related to this?
"Can you be clear Mr. Rai Mehrotra?"
"Will you be able to take it Ms. Roy Chowdhury?", he questioned back.
"It doesn't matter. You've brought this up so I need answers. How's he related to this?"
He smirked.
"He's Dhruv Rai Mehrotra. Son of Neha Rai Mehrotra and Niraj Rai Mehrotra. Their youngest son, and my younger brother", he replied.
The ground from under my feet slipped away. My eyes widened, I felt my heart thumping hard against my ribcage. I never thought he'd happen to be a Rai Mehrotra. He actually never introduced himself like that. I was told that his father was an industrialist and mother a writer. He never talked about any siblings and I never pressed onto the matter.
But, he was the brother of Arnav?
My breaths were stuck at my throat. The same pain is back to my chest. It felt too suffocating to comprehend further.
"W-what does he ha-have to do with this?", I asked gulping down the lump in my throat. I was sweating for sure.
I dug my nails further into my palms resting on my lap. He must've noticed me turning pale.
He chuckled, "He does sweetheart, he does. Do you know where's he now?"
His questions were fueling my fear.
I just shook my head in response.
Leaning in, he stared at my right eye before letting his gaze fall on my lips and then to my left eye. What was he trying to do?
"He's been in coma from past four years and five months. He's been just breathing and haven't showed a fucking bit of improvement", he replied shaking me to my core.
"What? What do you mean?", I yelled standing up. How did he get into coma?
The last time we saw each other four years ago was when...
I breathed out some shaky breaths before muttering, "Please tell me clearly. How's he? How did that hap—", even before I could complete, he stood up abruptly smashing the glass flower pot from the coffee table. I flinched stepping back.
I glanced at the shattered pieces of glass and the white lilies scattered on the white tiled floor.
"Don't act innocent. You're the one who's responsible for his this situation. Don't you dare to fucking act innocent", he yelled pointing his finger at me. His eyes were red and he was breathing like a raged bull.
The pain in my chest was still there but the new feeling of fury rose in my chest. How could he blame me for something I didn't even do? And more to that...what did I do?
"Mr. Rai Mehrotra, I'm telling you, stop blaming me for nonsense. What the fuck do you want? Can't you speak clearly?", now I yelled. He was no one to me to speak like that.
He chuckled, sarcasm had married his tone.
"Oh yeah? After ruining him you're saying you didn't do anything? Huh? Woman, your audacity is really appreciable".
"You really don't know?", he asked calmly this time despite the redness in his eyes.
I shook my head. My voice wasn't coming out because I was still in shock.
Pulling me to the couch, he made me sit beside him and then faced me.
"Four years ago, on 19 February, you had an argument with him where you admitted of having another affair with the someone else when you were already committed to him. Despite his pleadings for you to stay back, you left him and walked out so easily. Do you remember now Ms. Roy Chowdhury?", he spoke with sarcasm but his each and every word stabbed my heart, letting it bleed with all the memories I had burried deep inside.
He said everything as if he was there at the moment.
I froze once again.
I never expected this to happen. Fvck! I never wanted this to happen. This wasn't intended—I used to repeat these lines four years ago.
My breathings turned heavier remembering those nights and it seemed as if the oxygen in the air was less for me. The tightness in my chest increased as I clutched onto my dress.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
"No no please don't say like that. I didn't mean that", I muttered. Through my blurry vision I could see him clenching his jaws.
"Now you remember right? That deed of yours has put my brother's life at stake. He's fighting between life and death. No one knows if he'll ever wake up or if he does, no one knows if he'll remember anyone or not", he gritted.
I gulped down the painful lump in my throat. I wanted to sob but I couldn't. I didn't want to be vulnerable in front of him.
I was strong—Akriti, my friend from Paris used to tell me. Those four years were the worst nightmares I lived. I'd live any moment in my life once again but those days, if I'm asked to do so.
I inhaled and exhaled before wiping away my tears and looked at him.
"Mr. Rai Mehrotra, you have no right to meddle in my personal life even if you're his brother. It's something between him and me", I spoke staring straight at him.
His furious gaze bore holes in my body.
"I wouldn't have meddled if he had been fit and fine. He's in a critical condition and that's because of you. And I've promised him to punish the person who has caused him this", he growled, striding towards me as I stepped back.
I remained silent. What do I say? I couldn't justify myself even if I wanted to. I couldn't get rid of the guilt I had always felt inside me. Even after years, I'm still guilty for what I did.
I closed my eyes and opened them to see him inches close to me. I gasped.
"What will you say now? Are you gonna run like a coward again?", he mocked. I knew he was willingly doing this. But I was helpless too.
I didn't want to run—I wanted to yell this at his face but I can't.
Why was my life like this? Why was I even born? Which sin did I commit to suffer so much all alone?
My back touched the wall behind me when I didn't even realise that I was stepping back as he stepped closer.
I was pressed against the wall beside the sofa with his hands on either side of my arms. His body pressed against me releasing the heat sipping into my cold one, as his rich cologne filled my lungs suffocating me even more.
I stared at his red eyes while he did the same. The only difference was that he was furious and I was broken.
"Now sign the contract. Within this one year, you'll go through everything I'll make you go through for causing so much pain to my brother. You're gonna do atleast this much to earn virtue after doing this right? For the man you pretended to love?", he spat on my face.
He was trying to manipulate me but he was right.
My heart clenched inside my chest. I can't contradict him. Yes. At least I could do this much if it earned me some virtue and lessened Arnav's hate towards me. I had already gained so much hate that I couldn't take anymore.
I lowered my head and muttered, "I'll do it".
The moment I completed my sentence, he pulled himself back before pulling me with him to the sofa.
I sat down with my eyes on the paper. I had signed numerous papers till today, which made my life, but this paper would ruin it. It'll leave a deep scar on me that I might not heal from soon.
Holding up the pen he gave, I finally signed my destruction. I couldn't run anymore given that I had already reached the end.
"I'm sorry Dhruv", I muttered and my tears finally dropped on the paper. No matter how strong a person was, there were moments when they're at the peak of their vulnerability.
I had stripped myself raw in front of him sacrificing my self esteem and strong personality today. The Anika he was seeing right now was hidden for years but today, she was back again.
Inhaling sharply, I stood up straight.
"Now what do I have to do?", I asked him.
He smirked at me, "Nothing. It's me who'll do everything. Anyways, welcome to hell Mrs. Rai Mehrotra", he spoke staring at me.
I clenched my jaws fisting my hands.
"We are married officially"
Flashback Ends
.
That evening the strom finally came into my life. I was no more that independent and free Anika Roy Chowdhury people know.
Now I am Mrs. Anika Arnav Rai Mehrotra.
I was his possession for one year—was what he said. I was simply being objectified.
We were yet to just get married in front of the world to prove our commitment which was nothing but contract-based.
My own husband would ruin me for something I did in the past. I knew I'd be punished but never knew it was this soon. I had almost healed but he came back to scratch on those half-healed wounds again.
Hurt—would be underrated to say. But I can't do anything. I hated to be vulnerable in front anyone and especially him but now, he'll control me and I couldn't talk back because I was at fault here.
I deserved this. Didn't I?
I sighed.
Standing up from my chair, I walked out of my study room. I need to meet Rooh today. Atleast she'll understand me because I couldn't share it with my family.
He must've found out about all these and approached my family for my hand. Everything seemed so simple but it was complicated within. Many layers were there, hidden, unknown to us, hiding the secrets that'll only bring destruction.
.
"So you gave in?", Rooh asked staring at me with concern.
I kept looking at the view outside the Rooftop Café but nodded.
I heard her sigh. It had been 15 minutes of us staying in silence after I told her everything and now she had spoken up.
She was furious at Arnav, as expected from a bestfriend but she knew why I agreed to it. I did it for good. It didn't matter if I died in the process if it saved the other lives involved in the mess.
"What'll you do now?", she asked again.
Turning my head towards her, I replied, "Nothing. He said he'll do everything".
I didn't lie. I truly didn't know what to do anymore.
She placed her hands on mine resting on the table as I looked down and gulped.
"But please don't do that. You have stopped that just a year ago and now don't start again", she requested.
I sighed looking somewhere else. I can't look into her eyes because I knew how much pain she must've been through during the past four years just because of me. I really didn't know how to give others happiness. Whoever's life I entered, I just provided them pain.
Looking back at her I just weakly smiled and nodded, "I won't because I can't this time. This time he owns me and I'm not allowed to do anything without his permission".
Her gaze softened in agony, more.