OS – Blazing Inferno
"I know about you & Shyam". Words which had branded her soul, seared her heart till it bled to death. After that fateful night when they had brought home the corpses of her parents this was the only moment when she felt that death would be a better alternative to this cruel life. How she wished she had been in that car so that she would have slipped into that eternal sleep which comes to all in the end to end all.
She sighed & almost collided with someone. Cross that out.Not someone but something. The former pronoun would be applicable only for humans & not for the crazed, demented animal salivating before her.
"Please step aside JEEJAJI". She meant the last word to bite but it had no effect on the creature.
"Kushiji you look like a goddess in this saree. Green suits you." Before she could react he had actually taken her hand in a vice-grip & ran his fingers over her bare arms. She shuddered & tried to wrench her hand away from the beast when they heard approaching footsteps. The slime ball immediately beat a retreat. She heaved a sigh of relief which was premature because she found herself being held in a vice-like grip again. She stiffened & then relaxed when she recognized the touch.
She looked up to see those dark chocolate orbs boring into her, scorching her. Next minute she was aghast when he started dragging her towards their room. It was a work of a minute for him to bolt the door & turned towards her breathing heavily. His face had contorted into a demonic mask & she felt a chill travel down her spine.
Before she could gather her wits he threw aside the pallu & was tugging at the pleats of her saree in rage. She caught his hands but of course she was no match to his fury. The saree was ripped off in one swift action & she felt almost naked standing before him in her petticoat & miniscule blouse.
She covered herself & turned away from him. His next words came as a whiplash which wounded her bleeding heart further.
"Stop pretending that you have a modicum of shame & decorum still left. Or do you get these attacks of morality only in my midst. Morality which you gladly discard like this saree when you are cavorting with your loser lover? "
"Kushiji you look like a goddess in this." He spit out the words venom coursing through his nerves. "How dare you allow that B* to grope you. He literally disrobes you every day with his eyes & you don't have any qualms waltzing around in his presence. But my proximity disturbs you. You wh**e around with my sister's husband in our house. You finally proved that you are just a piece of trash that I had always thought you were. Remove this saree right now & change into something more appropriate. No need to dazzle everyone by your skin show."
"SHUT UP."
Her scream jolted him momentarily. She walked slowly towards him all the while staring into his eyes & he shivered slightly due to the intensity of the emotions flitting across her face. The hatred & rage blazing in her doe-like eyes.
"RAIZADA KINDLY KEEP YOUR FILTHY MOUTH SHUT."
She came closer & clutched his shoulders.
"I don't remember you having any qualms about mentally disrobing me or trying to kiss me when Lavanyaji was your girlfriend. You of all have no rights to call others trash or b*. But wait of course you do. After all it takes one trash to identify another. Like jeeju like saala."
He stood rooted to the place. He felt as if the blood pulsating through his veins earlier had simply frozen. He watched in daze while she draped the saree back. She was actually shaking & was finding it difficult to arrange the pleats. She finally flung the saree aside, dropped onto the floor & broke into uncontrollable sobs.
As if in trance he was drawn towards her. Her tears always affected him, as if someone had ran a stake through his heart. How could tears scorch one he wondered?
She felt strong hands grip her gently & make her stand up. What ensued next made her heart skip a beat.
She felt gentle hands draping the saree around her, weaving the pleats delicately & then tugging it in. When his fingers grazed her navel she bit her lips hard to restrain the moan that was threatening to escape her mouth.
Finally he arranged the pallu over her shoulder & even pinned it firmly. Scared to speak she did what she did best or rather worst, flee the room.
She was panting by the time she reached the hall where the havan had been built. Nani had organized a special pooja for the wellbeing of the unborn child. Kushi was completely distracted thanks to the Rakshas from whom she had just fled.
Why Devi Maiyaa? Why does he still affect me. Why does his touch chill my nerves & scorches my senses. I get feverish by his mere presence. Why am I behaving exactly like a trash in his presence merely providing him with more fodder to taunt & humiliate me?
She suddenly shivered & knew immediately that he had entered the room. She was like antennae always attuned to him. His presence made her jittery & clumsier. And that was always the perfect recipe for disaster. She stole a glance at him & regretted it immediately. His face was dark, his eyes dangerously narrowed & she could see him clenching his fists. A few seconds later she realized why!
"Kushiji let me help you with this!"
That smooth voice grated on her nerves. His hand deliberately touched her fingers while appearing to hold the basket & she wrench her hand away violently causing the basket with the flowers to crash to the floor.
"Tchk Tchk Kushiji you need to be more careful & he stooped down pretending to help her collect the flowers all the while touching her"
Arnav clenched his fists & bit his lower lips to prevent from screaming. He couldn't tolerate that creep look at his Khushi, his life, his love with those lustful eyes. He saw the swine let his eyes roam all over her revealing saree & he again felt the urge to throw her over his shoulders in cave man style, dump her in his room & lock her away safely away from that B* roving eyes. She was hers, only hers. He felt blood pounding into his head.
"Haan Kushi bitiya I think you need some rest since you have running around doing all the work."
"Ji Naniji."
Khushi gasped with relief at this readymade excuse & made to walk away from the place when in her usual clumsy manner she tripped & the next moment she felt a creepy sensation around her waist where the sleaze ball was holding her to break her fall. She felt like a million caterpillars crawling all over her skin. She tried to pull away when IT happened.
Khushi……………………….
Khushiji……………………….
Bhabhi……………………….
Bitiya……………………….
Phati sadi……………………….
Their screams collided into an indistinguishable din & there was total chaos. Arnav stood rooted to the place. His brain failed to comprehend the scene unfolding before him. All he remembered was Khushi toppling almost close to the havan before Shyam held her. But she had twitched & jerked causing her saree pallu to fall on the havan & catch fire. In one fluid moment Shyam ripped the pallu off & threw it afar. The saree continued to blaze & sizzle till HP dunked it in water.
They had surrounded Khushi who was still being held by Shyam. She was crying hysterically at her half naked condition till sense prevailed. Mami & Payal dragged her away from the conflagration. Shyam darted a look at Arnav but he was staring aghast at the motley group trouping up the staircase & realizing that he was safe he inhaled & then lightly kissed his fingers which had caressed his Khushiji's bare skin. The image that he had been fortunate to witness conjured up heated images in his mind & he greedily drifted towards his room with a wicked leer wanting to wallow in his lustful fantasy unhindered.
Arnav ran up the stairs but stopped abruptly outside his room. He could hear her hysterical sobs which pierced his heart. Not even in his worst dream had he imagined his action & his thoughts to be mirrored immediately in such dire fashion. He had disrobed her in his room, stripped her of her dignity, called her names, abused her & now just few minutes later she had been disrobed before everyone including that lecher. His heart constricted painfully & a dull, throbbing ache gnawed his innards.
He wanted to hug her, comfort her, sooth her, ease her pain away but as usual coward that he was failed to muster the courage to face her after the cruelty meted out by him few moments back. His presence may only serve to agitate her further.
He sighed & leaned on the wall wearily when Nani came out. Seeing him her frown eased & she grabbed his hand.
"Chote you have got to do something. Khushi bitiya is hysterical. We have never seen her like this. Payal claims that she never lost control even when her parents' body was brought home. Anjali bitiya is panicking & wants to call the doctor. But the problem is she is not letting us go near her. In her semi undressed condition how can I allow outsiders albeit doctors near her. You have to calm her down chote. Only you can. "
Before Arnav could react or refuse Nani dragged him inside. At the same moment that he entered she looked up her eyes blazing & his shoulders slumped resignedly. He saw a flash of green & the next moment she had launched herself at him.
There we go he thought. Maybe she would attack him & he stood still ready to face her fury.
She was finding it difficult to breathe. She still couldn't shake off the sensation of million caterpillars crawling over her body. That swine had held her, his fingers had touched her bare waist, her bare arms & shoulders. The last straw was when he had ripped off the ablaze saree. His fingers had brushed against her exposed breasts & her navel. That moment she had wanted to simply set herself ablaze. The way his roving eyes had travelled all over her body resting on her heaving breasts in particular she felt that it would have been better to be devoured by the hungry flame rather burn in shame, burn before those shameful eyes. At the pretext of saving he had continued to hold her with his lustful arms till she had been rescued by Mami & Payal. In fact for the first time she had seen Mami actually hug her comfortingly & throw a loathsome & suspicious look at that creep before dragging her from his grasp. But nothing had managed to calm her jangling senses. She was revolted & repulsed by her own body. She wanted to hurt herself, claw herself at the places where he had touched her so that she bled painfully. The agony may make her forget the sensation of his fingers on her skin. She felt herself choking as sob after sob escaped her throat. Even in her crazed state she realized her semi nakedness. Shorn the saree, her ivory blouse was miniscule revealing more than concealing & her petticoat was tied low thus revealing the satiny, milky span of her bare navel. To think that he had actually gawked unrestrained at this spectacle & even touched her at all those places made her want to die a slow, painful death. Mami & Payal were trying to drape another saree on her but the moment she felt their hands on her skin she lost control. All she could think was his hands groping all over her & she started resisting & almost attacking them. She couldn't bear anyone touching her.
Suddenly she felt his presence. Her eyes jerked up & caught him being dragged inside by Nani. She felt his eyes staring into her soul & she sought comfort from those chocolate orbs, drawing strength from his mere presence. The next second she leaped off the bed & literally flew at him, throwing her arms around his shoulders almost crushing him.
Honestly he had not expected this reaction from her. When he saw her leap towards him he had been expecting her to attack him, push him but instead she hugged him tightly, clinging to him, her soft body pressed against his hard, lean build arousing once again all those perilous emotions that he fought hard to curb in her presence.
It was sheer madness on his part to marry her & bring her into this house where she could haunt him & his senses even his thoughts & dreams 24/7. Every time he set his eye on her satiny skin & porcelain visage it took every ounce of self-control to stop himself from devouring her. Even today she had looked absolutely delectable & all reason fled him. His fingers were itching to trail that milky span of her waist, dance lightly over her arms, caress gently those shoulders & finally dip dangerously lower onto those delightful slopes hidden halfheartedly by that diaphanous saree pallu. Then he had seen that creep prance around her & he had lost his temper & his head in his customary fashion.No one had the right to admire her, look at her like that & at instant he had hated that green saree, her face, her beauty, the effect she had on him. He had simply hated her for making him love her despite everything.
He awoke from his thoughts to find his family members throw them surreptitious looks before vacating the place giving the duo much needed privacy. He was stunned that while she had refused to be touched by Nani, Mami, Di & even Payal she had hugged him desperately not minding being touched or hugged by him. He shook his head in wonderment.
She dint seem to have any intention of letting him go & he became painfully aware of her body pressed against his. Her excuse of a blouse & petticoat barely covered her & he felt a dull ache down his body. He swallowed several times & tried to disentangle himself. He felt her slowly stir in his embrace.
She dint know what exactly had propelled her to leap into his arms. All she knew was she felt safe, comforted & content in his embrace. When he had hugged her back she broke down in relief. She felt his hands rubbing her comfortingly & she wanted to simply lose herself in that intoxicating feeling. While the touch of others had frightened her & reminded her of the nightmare just gone by, his touch seemed to wake her up from the nightmare. His fingers blazed the same trail as that creep thus erasing the pain caused by his intrusive touch.
He never realized when he had started stroking her bare back but once he had started he couldn't stop. He let his fingers trail lightly all over her back, tracing lightly her spine, her waist, her navel before they encircled her waist possessively. He felt her move slightly & hazel eyes staring at him. Hazel drowning in chocolate pools.
He gently led her towards the bed, made her sit & covered her with a duvet. He then rummaged inside their wardrobe trying to find those simple night suits that she wore. Amidst all the blinding riot of colours he finally found that light pink night suit of hers which he loved. He laid it on the bed & turned to leave when he felt her small, soft hands on his.
He turned to find those hazel eyes plead with him.
"Please don't leave. I am scared."
The words came out barely in a whisper & he nodded & sat down near her. She had sat up & the duvet had slid down to expose her in all her glory & he gulped.
"Khushi I will not go anywhere. Go & change. I will wait here."
"NO………………………."
He was taken aback by her refusal.
"Arnavji I will change here."
For what seemed like eons they simply stared at each other.
Devi Maiyya is this your way of taking revenge on me for advocating atheism. Have you planned my untimely death by a burst artery or a racing heart.
His feet suddenly felt like lead. He slowly locked the door, French windows, drew the drapes, closer & finally switched off the lights save one near the dressing table.
She was touched by his gesture. Any guy would have been tempted to feast on the spectacle but not her Rakshas. He had turned away & was resolutely looking in the opposite direction. She took a deep breath & touched his shoulders & was shocked to see him almost jump from the contact.
He turned slowly & she noticed that his breath was ragged. His innocence touched her. He was aroused like any normal man but had still not intruded her personal space, had not made her uncomfortable, given her the dignity of darkness. If this was his hatred what would his love be? She felt tears prick her eyes & felt them roll down her cheeks.
"Khushi………………………." He whispered in that husky voice which broke her completely.
"Sshhh" He had placed his finger lightly on her lips. Then jerked it away as if electrified by the effect & then softly caressed her tears away.
"Arnavji he touched me, my bare skin & I feel sullied. I feel repulsed by own body. I want to simply tear & scratch my skin."
She sobbed harder & that was his undoing as usual. In a flash he had pulled her closer & kissed her full on her mouth. What started as a gentle, comforting kiss soon turned passionate & almost violent.
She felt his lips desert her mouth & before she could protest he was placing feather light kisses on her neck, shoulders & finally her breast. He then knelt & placed a wet kiss along her waist before finally resting his head on her navel his hands hugging her around her waist. The earlier feeling of caterpillars crawling all over her was replaced by butterflies skipping lightly & dancing all over her skin. She felt light & liberated.
He draped the bed duvet around her, then sitting next to her he loosened her blouse & eased it away. He brought the salwar over her head & then straightened it over her body lightly taking care not to touch her body.
Her breath hitched when she felt his feather light fingers hover over her waist, loosen the petticoat string & remove it. He then made her wear the pants again taking care not to touch her or not allowing the duvet to slide away.
He made her lie on the bed & covered her well with the duvet tucking her in like a kid. Tears glistened in her eyes.
"Arnavji please sleep next to me today."
He couldn't refuse those hazel eyes beseeching him. He slid next to her & held her hand, comforting her till she finally fell asleep.
Nani, Payal, Anjali & Mami were looking anxiously towards the staircase. From the time Arnav had entered Khushi had stopped screaming. Nani turned toward Anjali a warm smile plastered on her face.
"Anjali bitiya did you notice how Khushi bitiya responded to chote's presence. While we couldn't hold her or comfort her nor make her change her dress, the moment chote hugged her, her hysterics died away & from the looks of it I think she has fallen asleep."
Anjali's eyes were slightly misty.
"Yeah Nani I noticed. While I confess that I was not happy with the manner in which they got married secretly I can't deny that the two are perfect for each other. They obviously love each other madly & though they may drive each other & us crazy by their fights their love for each other is far more overpowering & pure. They are blessed to have found true love which is as divine as theirs."
The object of their attention was sleeping peacefully in their room, holding hands all strife & hatred forgotten momentarily for a change their unflinching love taking over their senses.
Anupamaa
O Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera
Jhanak
