That day I found some medicines from his drawer and learned that he is not well, he need to have the medicines or else he will continue to act wild. These medicines keep him under control for some time. I have now understood that he needs attention.

Every time the doorbell rings at 7 pm, I expect my pati babu to come but it's Vishal babu, Always.

That day after he came home, he started drinking and acting weird. He needs the medicines, "Vishal babu ap shant ho jaiye".

"Wo kaise deal cancel kar sakte hain" saying this he banged his fist to the floor. I secretly mixed the medicine in his glass of water. "Ap ye pani pijiye pehele aur please shant ho jaiye".

He held my hands, "sirf tumhi mujhe samajh ti ho Uravi" saying he drank the water. "Tum mujhe chor ke maat jaana Uravi" saying this he rested his head on my lap and went to deep sleep.

I took a deep breath. I closed my eyes to let out my tears, "ap kaha ho pati babu". If he learns that I have made him take his medicines, I don't know what he will do to me but these medicines are important for him to take.

"Wo bas bacchi hain!" I shouted, "wo masoom thi kya ye uski galti thi!"

I broke down into tears in front of the villager, "kyu nehi jeene diya ussey?"

All heads were down in guilt.

I rubbed my eyes, "agar meri patni ko kuch bhi huya na to mujhse bura koi nehi hoga."

I indirectly glared at her mama and mami, "kaha hain Bondita?"

"H...h..humme kya pata" said mami.

"Dekhiye ap..." I was about to speak but a child pulled my hand. I looked down, "Dada, jab mein raat ko apne bachure ko pani pilane bahar ayi thi to dekha ki Bondita didi ko tin admi le jaa rahe hain Motor gari mein".

"Kaun the wo log? Chehera dekha tumne?" I asked him hastily but the child nodded in no. "Gari ka number?" He again nodded in no.

He said Motor Gari...in whole Tulsipur only we have a car...

(Note that at that time only rich people had cars)

"Gari ka rang kya tha?" I asked the child again. "Lal rang, wo log soti hui didi ko gari mein bithaya aur le gye."

I glared at Mama mami furiously once again while they gulped in nervousness.

If anything happens to Bondita, all these people will have to face my wrath. I won't spare any single person.

"Gubbare lelo rang be range!" I heard the balloon sellers cry.

I love balloons. Whenever I and Batuk used to visit the fair, pati babu used to buy us these balloons. We used to play with them in our backyard.

I looked at Vishal Babu who was sleeping so I tiptoed outside, "o gubbare wale kaka" I waved my hand.

"Konsi lenge ap bitiya" he asked me with a smile.

"Ummm"I thought for a while, "neela rang mere pati babu ka pasandida rang hain wo dedo, aur uspe mere pati babu ka naam likh dena"

He handed me a blazing blue balloon with "pati babu" written with black ink and asked for money. Suddenly Vishal babu came and paid the money and smiled at me.

I looked at him and gave a wide smile too after all he brought me the balloon, he is being kind to me. I followed him inside the house merrily humming a song. Finally, the medicine is working...I thought but soon I was proved wrong.

He stopped suddenly and turned towards me, "tum khush ho na?"

I nodded my head.

"Do ye mujhe do" he took the balloon and went inside the room, I followed him. He smiled at me and started tying the balloon to the handle of the window, "jante ho Uravi jo chiz ur jati ho ussey bandhke rakhna chahiye" he then turned towards me and his smile vanished, "chahe wo insaan hi kyu na ho".

He literally picked me up and threw me on the bed. I tried to get up but he pressed my face with his palm, "bohot has k baat kar rahi thi tum us admi k saath, mere sath to kabhi nehi karti".

He started breaking things in the room and held his head. He was behaving weirdly, laughing then again crying.

"Aap shant ho jaiye Vishal Babu"I said with covering my ears with my hands.

"Tum sirf meri ho, koi bhi dusra admi tumhe dekhe ye mein bardash nehi kar sakta" he uplifted the table and banged it on the floor, "nehi kar sakta bardash!"

His behaviour was terrorising me again. He shouted and started acting like wild animals. "Shant ho jaiye please....mujhe daar lag raha hain!" I cried covering my ears.

He climbed on the bed and pushed me to the bed, caging me he said, "tum pehele to aisi nehi thi Uravi fir abh aisa kyu kar rahi ho mere sath" he said in a gentle tone as if she has calmed down...but...I am not so lucky.

"Mein to bas gubbare kharid..." Before I could speak he wrapped his tie around my mouth, "dekha maine tum has has k baat kar rahi thi...tum sirf meri Uravi ho".

He tied up my hands behind me again, "tum kyu dard de rahi ho mujhe, paraya mardo k sath tumhe kyu baat karni hain".

Seriously?? I was just buying balloons. This person is mad, he is torturing me, I want to get out from here. Those medicines worked only for hours. I cried in pain when he intentionally pressed my injured feet.

"Jab tak tum mere pyar ko nehi samjhogi tabh tak mein" he slapped me, "tumhe marunga".

"Bolo pyar karti ho! Bolo!" He shouted at me.

My mouth was covered with the tie, how am I supposed to speak but unless I speak he won't stop. He is a maniac. He covered my mouth and now wants me to speak up.

I wanted this to stop so I tried to speak but my voice was not clear.

He now walked up to his cabinet while I sat all scared and petrified. He brought the same stick of his and........

.

.

.

(With a very blow on her, flowed down her pearly tears. The cushions became wet due to her tears. She panted in pain as the mad person counted every blow on her. Too much for a young girl to bear.)

.

.

.

I don't know the time. It feels like ages. My whole body was shivering and aching. He had successfully vented out his frustration on me...good! That's what I was born for...

Throwing the stick aside, he cupped my face, "tum kaanp kyu rahi ho jaan, daaro maat, mein hu tumhara Vishal, your beloved husband"

He suddenly slapped himself, "bohot bura hu main, maine firse hath uthaya tumpe" he slapped himself again.

He now started crying again, "sacche pyar ki kisiko kadar hi nehi" he pulled the tie out, releasing my mouth, "chalo bolo jo bolne ko kaha hain varna firse agar mein shuru huya to..."

"M....m....ein..mein..." I was crying, shivering and so was unable to talk properly.

"Jaldi bolo jaldi"

"Mein....a..p...ap.....se...mein apse"

He suddenly splashed a glass of water on my face, "jaldi!"

"Mein...a..apse...p..pyar...kar...karti hu" I said unwillingly. These words...I wanted to say but someone else. That someone else who had never raised his hands on me, that someone else whose behaviour never terrorized me, that someone else who makes me feel secure.

He laughed and jumped in joy. "Aj mein bohot khush hu Uravi!" He rejoiced. He leaned towards me and kissed my cheeks and then my forehead, "that's like a good girl" and covered my mouth with the tie again.

He placed his head on my lap, "mujhe accha nehi lagta bar bar tumpe hath uthana par tum meri baat sunti kaha ho...I love you...

He fell asleep on my lap while I cried in pain. My hands and feet were tied up, I was unable to make noise, my body was aching and he slept peacefully on my lap. Mere pati babu agay na to tumhara ye nind urake rakh dega par kaha hain wo? Dugga maa unhe jaldi bhejo yaha.

I was punished...he punished me because I smiled at another man. Let pati babu come, I will complain about him. My pati babu will teach him a lesson......but when.......I was losing hope. Sometimes he acts so sweet but then he becomes violent. He is obsessed with me. I used to control his temper with those medicines. He needs treatment immediately but people don't talk about these diseases.

I was in immense pain while I was thinking all this.

After an hour when he woke up, he looked at me and smiled. He picked me up to the drawing-room, placed me gently on the sofa and he did work, normally as if nothing happened.

He cooked food for himself, did some paper works like a normal person. As if he forgot everything that happened an hour ago. He didn't even look at me for once, I was panting in pain, breathing heavily and crying, trying to free myself from the ropes.

He had his dinner alone and I was starving. He then washed the dishes.

While working he spoke from the kitchen, "jante ho Uravi ek ladki ko maine pehele tum samjha tha, wo ladki shayad shadi shuda thi, aya tha uska pati par maine maar dala uske pati ko" he said looking at the knife.

Hearing this my eyes widened. I groaned, I wanted to shout and kill him. Agar mere pati babu ko isne kuch bhi kiya to mein jaan le lungi iska.

He came to me, "good night, sweet dreams" he whispered, patted my head, switched off the lights and went to his room leaving me there.

I will never buy balloons, never play games, never be childish, I will never smile, never laugh, never in my entire life, I promised it to myself that day and most importantly I will never love.

I loved pati babu and that's why I am here. Vishal babu loves me so that is why this is happening to me.

I will never love....

I asked the local people if they have seen any red cars or not but got no suitable answer. I showed them her picture as well but got no clue.

Never in my life, I have ever felt so helpful less.

I suddenly saw a couple having ice cream and the girl kissed the boy on his cheeks.

I smiled at the couple and touched my own cheeks

She again jumped on a chair to match my height and pulled me by suspenders, pulled my cheeks and played with my hair, "ap acche ho, goody goody". Then surprisingly what she did made me go numb. She kissed me on my cheeks. My eyes widened and I immediately pushed her away.

"Dev Babu" I murmured the name and chuckled softly with tear brimmed eyes. "Choti toofan!"

I woke up feeling a gentle touch. I opened my eyes and realized Vishal babu applying ointment on my bruises with care. He freed me, "mujhe maaf kar do Uravi" he held his ears, "mein aisa karna nehi chahata tha".

I looked away. I don't want to see this man's face. "Mein samajh gaya hu tumhe kya chahiye mujhse" he got up and sat beside me. He pulled me closer to him, "tumhe pyar chahiye na mera,hain na?" He made my headrest on his chest and creased my hair with love.

I was focused today...after what happened last night...I can't stay here any longer. I am not scared of being beaten up...I am scared for my pati babu. If I stay here further he will definitely come in my search and what if this mad man kills my pati babu...No never! I can't let anything happen to him...this man needs treatment as fast as possible.

He separated me from him and kissed on my hands, "aj raat jab mein lautu, ek surprise leke lautunga mere phool si khoobsurat patni Uravi k liye". He tugged my hair behind my ears.

That psychopath took out a few jewelleries and made me wear them. He tied flowers to my hair and placed my pallu on my head. He now rubbed my kajal and made a mark behind my neck, "kisiki nazar na laggey."

"jab mein au tumhe aise hi sajh dhaj k nayi naveli dulhan ki tarha dekhna hain mujhe fir gift dunga tumhe, jo mein kharid k launga" he whispered in my ears and left.

As soon as he left I stood up. I have to elope. I had discovered a back door in the kitchen a few days ago. I went there but it was locked. The dogs were sleeping and the guards were guarding the front giant entrance.

I smiled. A few days ago I stole the key while Vishal babu was sleeping. I opened the door and went outside.

As my feet touched the grass and sunlight fell on me, I felt free.

"Mein azad hu!" I cried in joy.

But before doing anything I headed towards the police station coz I was far away from Tulsipur and I don't know my way. This place is a hill station, a beautiful place, unlike Tulsipur. There were meadows and hills, pleasant weather.

"Sir!" I entered the station hastily. "Sir mujhe apne ghar jana hain."

"Dada apne is ladki ko dekha hain kahi" I asked a group of people then switched to another group in the station.

I asked through the window, every person on the train that was in the station but nobody saw her.

I then asked a tea shop owner, "apne is ladki ko dekha hain?"

One balloon seller was talking to the tea shop owner. On hearing me, he creased his eyebrows and stared at me for a long time.

"Nehi dada nehi dekha" said the tea shop owner. Being disappointed, I was about to leave but the balloon seller called me from back, "o dada is choti ladki ko ap kyu dhund rahe ho?"

"A...ap ne dekha issey, meri patni hain" I said impatiently.

He looked at the picture, "aarrey ye ladki kuch din pehele mujhse gubbare kharid rahi thi".

"K..kaha?"

"Dada hum idhar udhar jaate hain vyapar karne, pichle hafte Darjeeling gye the, shayad waha hi mili thi ye ladki".

After I told the inspector my original address he asked me to sit in his car, he will take me to my house.

I was so happy and relieved. Finally!! I am going back to my house, free from that abusive man and his obsession.

I sat in the car and it drove to somewhere.

"Le beta apka ghar a gaya"

Hearing this I became so excited that I almost jumped out of the car crying, "pati babu"

But....

Stood in front of me Vishal Babu

My soul shrunk in fear. I looked at the inspector who was smiling at me.

Vishal babu approached nearer, "thank you, inspector," he said and handed him a heavy amount of money.

He pulled me towards him, "chalo Uravi uncle to thank you bolo, chalo be a good girl".

The inspector smiled at Vishal babu, "is ladki ko shayad pata nehi ki yaha sirf apka chalta hain afterall you are the richest tycoon over here".

Vishal babu looked at me and kissed my hair, "haa inspector thori bholi hain meri Uravi".

"Lets go inside Uravi"

Vishal had brought a diamond necklace for her. The day real Uravi died, he had brought the same necklace. That night he wanted to gift this to his pregnant wife Uravi but before he could, she died in an accident.

This necklace was his emotion but Bondita has unintentionally hurt his emotions.

Something bad is going to happen I know...

When I went inside, his sweet gesture vanished and he pushed me to the ground with all his might.

"Tum ne dhoka kyu diya mujhe batao?" He cried.

"S...s..sorry...mein..agey....sey"

"Tumne mere pyar ka ye sila diya?" Bolo kya kami reh gaya tha"

He brough a knife. I got scared.

"Mein sabit karunga ki mein tumse pyar karta hu" saying he slipt his skin and wrote Uravi.

Blood dripped on the floor. I closed my eyes in fear. I was unable to look at his arms.

He is such a maniac, he cut his skin to write my name. It scared me to the core.

"Tum ne aisa kyu kiya" he cried the threw the knife away.

"A..ap marham lagaiye" being a human with heart I tried to console him and put some ointment as it was bleeding but he slapped me.

"Mere dil k chot pe kaise marham lagao gi tum? Chalo tum"

He pulled me up by my hair and held my elbow, "chalo mere sath, ek khel khelne" he dragged me upstairs to the punishment room and kicked the door shut and pushed me to the ground.

He suddenly clapped in joy and started jumping, "yeah!!! Hum game khelenge" he said like a kid, "mujhe games bohot pasand hain, khelogi na Uravi tum?"

He took out a dice from his pocket and rolled it on the floor in front of me and he sat on a chair.

He again clapped, "bohot maza ayega is game mein"

To be continued...