I stepped into the hallway only to find a massive gathering of women who were busy in Chit-chatting with my mother in law. She looked quite calm and cheerful as always. I wonder sometimes, how can she maintain her calm demeanor in this house? But again what I have to do by knowing the secret of keeping oneself calm amidst the turbulence...

"Aranya dear, why are you standing there? Come here and sit beside me", my mother in law politely asked breaking my train of thoughts and I obliged nodding my head.

"You've got such a beautiful daughter in the form of daughter in law", a woman complimented, passing me a beautiful smile which indeed made my afternoon awesome. After coming in this house, except my dear cruel husband, everyone's behaviour is friendly and generous which made me sigh in relief.

"She's my daughter only, Reema. I'm indeed blessed to have her here",my mother in law chirped while embracing me in her arms and lovingly pecked my forehead. Okay, frankly this was something I least expected but it did made me feel safe. It made me feel as if she's my mother in actual sense, not only by rituals... I felt like to tell her everything what his son has done with me but again, I would be the one to face the wrath rather than expecting any sort of consolation. Afterall he's her son.

After a while of sitting among the cheerful ladies, I excused myself towards the kitchen.

"Where you going Akshat?",I heard my mother in law's voice coming from the hallways.

"Mum, I have some work left in the company so...", ofcourse he lied to excuse himself from facing me or might be missing his girlfriend so badly...

"It's your first day after your wedding! You should be spending your time with your wife to strengthen your bond with her. Listen, I won't let you go. Don't worry, Ashish will look after everything",she scolded him which brought an ugly scowl on his face and he nodded sighing...

I turned towards the gas stove and started preparing tea for everyone. Obviously he is also included in everyone since he was sitting beside mum. I poured the tea in 6 cups and placed it on the tray. Tucking my pallu (a part of saree) into my petticoat, I started walking towards them, carrying the tray in my hands. I was obviously feeling uneasy and kinda nervous under his intense gaze. But as soon as he looked at me, he immediately he turned his attention on the other side.

Sighing I handed the cup to everyone. He himself picked his cup before I could even handle him. I don't understand why he hates me this much that he cannot endure my presence around himself? My trance broke the moment when when my mum indicated me to sit beside the obnoxious hulk. Sighing I sat beside him, obviously maintaining a two inch distance so that we don't have any physical contact..

After a while of sitting, I felt his breathing on my neck. As I turned to look at him, he whispered in a very subtle tone, leaning more towards me "I want a favour from you"

Hearing his request, I was left speechless because this was something I least expected from his mouth that always spits venom. I couldn't believe my ears but when I looked towards his serious face, I knew he meant it.

I nodded indicating him to proceed...

"Can you swap your cup with me? God knows if you've added any slow poison or something...Afterall you're the daughter of a killer!",he scoffed, smirking evilly with a tone laced with mockery. I tried my best to act strong but tears started stinging my eyes and I immediately dropped my gaze on my lap.

"Are you crying Aranya?",I heard my mum saying in a quiet concerning tone.

"N-No actually I.....I was just feeling....um....just that I was missing my mum and seeing your caring side, I felt as if my mum is here with me",I said biting my tongue. I didn't wanted to lie but her son had left no choice.

"Oh dear! I'm your mum only and if your missing your another mum then you can pay her a visit in the evening. Akshat will drop you there",she replied smiling, while raising my chin upwards to look into her crystal brown orbs.

I nodded my head meekly and excused myself towards my bedroom. Closing the door behind me, I sprawled my body on the bed, lying on my stomach with my face facing the balcony on the opposite side of the door. I felt really empty and tired from inside. Empty from feeling any kind of emotion and tired of handling his harsh behaviour and acting as if everything is okay with me.

Being mentally and physically exhausted from not sleeping properly since a week, I fell into a deep slumber as soon as I hit the bed. I didn't even bothered to remove my saree.

While into my sleep, I felt something weird. I felt as if something if crawling on my back. It took me a while to realise that it was a hand that was drawing circles on my back. He was caressing my back too sensually that I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach. It was a really foreign feeling for me and I couldn't help myself from moaning. His rough hands started sliding towards my waist while caressing every inch of it. I was so lost in this feeling of euphoria that I didn't realised when he had started giving open wet mouth kisses all over my neck and my shoulder. He dipped his face in the crook of my neck and sniffling my bodily scent, he started biting and sucking my collar bone with his teeth. He skillfully glided his wet tongue all along my neck to my ear and stopped there, lingering his lips there for a while and again started nibbling and licking my ear. After a while, he whispered huskily in my ear, with his hot breath fanning the crook of my neck," Do you like it baby?"

"Mhm...",the voice abruptly escaped my throat even though I was trying really hard to keep a hold on my burning Ecstasy but his touch has no doubt done wonders with my body that it wasn't in my control anymore. I was drowning in the feeling of desires but immediately my trance broke when I heard his next words...

"That's what I wanted to make you understand that you're a woman with really high libido. You're actually a wh**e who likes getting f*cked by several men. See for yourself that you're about to have s+x with a man you barely kn...",his voice was stopped in the middle with a loud voice of slap echoing the whole room...

Author's POV:

"Can you open your eyes, Mrs. Malhotra?", She slowly opened her eyes to see a person standing in a white coat with stethoscope hanging around his neck. She instantly looked around to notice herself on a hospital bed. She immediately frowned and tried to lift herself but fell back, groaning in pain.

"Don't move Mrs. Malhotra. You're on pills so you must rest for a while",the doctor instructed her.

"When was I admitted here, doctor?",she asked in a broken voice...

"Yesterday afternoon!", saying this, he left the room while sending a member from her family inside.

Silent tears started rolling down her cheeks as the images of his brutality from last noon started flashing in her mind. He became a true beast yesterday who didn't even stopped beating after she lost her consciousness. She never expected to herself become a victim of domestic violence after running several campaigns of raising awareness about it and helping many women out there who were suffering from this issue.

"Are you fine Aranaya?",her mother in law asked.

"Do I look like one? Has your son left me in that condition that I can say I'm fine",she replied bitterly while turning her attention to the other side.

"If you had not slapped him and falsely accused him of having an affair with another woman than he had never raised his hand on you. You're also at fault here."