RAAHII was looking out of the window towards the city the bus just entered. The city looked beautiful and I wondered which city it is because I had no idea.And then, the bus entered the bus stop and the conductor walked towards the seats."We have reached Dehradun. This is the last stop."He made the announcement and walked away.So, we were in Dehradun. I sighed, as I looked around from the bus. I finally managed to escape Arhaan and step into a new city. I can finally restart my life and live fear-free.I nudged Arohi a bit, waking her up."Aru, we have reached," I softly responded."Where is daddy?" She innocently asked.I gulped. What if Arohi wants to go back to her father? How will I make her understand that his father won't be living with us anymore? How will I manage that?"He will be with us, soon," I lied.I didn't know how to console Arohi if I told her the truth because Arhaan didn't let me come close to my daughter. He didn't even let my daughter be my first priority."
RAAHIFLASHBACK"E...everyone?" I stuttered, looking at him in complete horror."Yes. So that everyone should know that you're mine," he calmly responded."I... I mean what's the need?" I questioned."Are you planning to betray me, sweetheart?"His voice sounded calm and questioning but I knew it was a clear threat. "No... No," I immediately looked down. He was extremely intimidating and I couldn't continue to look at him like that."Then?" He asked."I mean... I mean it could create trouble for me. Like, if the teachers would get to know about this or if they inform my parents, what would I do then?" I finally addressed my fear.Yes, I was scared of Arhaan but more than that, I was scared of my parents and I didn't want to go home."So? What if they inform your parents?" He questioned."They would take me back home. I wouldn't be able to complete my studies then," I muttered.Somewhere, I was ready to suffer, I was ready to be tortured but I wasn't ready to give up on my studies. I
RAAHIFLASHBACK"I don't know why, but I don't feel good about this idea," I spoke.I was worried, I wasn't ready to play along or give in to his atrocious advances."Why?" She questioned."Because, what if his obsession doesn't fade away? What if he never lets me go? My entire life will be screwed then," I complained."It won't. Trust me," she seemed excited about this."How?" I questioned."Because we are merely eighteen, nineteen year old kids. Whatever we're obsessed with, it won't last in our late adulthood. We won't be obsessed with the same things when we turn twenty five or twenty six. You will have to play along till then," she made an obvious face."Do you really think six to seven years is a short time to play along? My entire life will be destroyed by then," I shouted at her.How could she even think of something like that?"Do you have any other option?" She gave me a glare.I went quiet. I thought about every other possibility while I could find none and that hurt me ext
RAAHI"Saksham!"I was surprised after getting to know that Saksham is my interviewer."Raahi!"He looked entirely surprised as well."Hey," I smiled.Everything from our past cane flashing in front of me. Whatever we had, maybe we spent moments together, but those moments were always the sweetest ones for me. "Come, sit," he spoke, immediately getting up from his chair and making me sit on the chair opposite to him.I sat down and smiled a bit."How have you been?" He asked."Good," I replied.Saksham then walked towards his chair and settled down."So, you're here for the job interview?" He asked."Yes. I badly need this job," I nodded."Arhaan allowed you to work? That's impressive," he looked surprised at my words.The moment he mentioned Arhaan's name, the unsettling feeling gripped me again, but I somehow maintained my composure and smiled."He didn't," I replied."What?" He looked surprised."Yes. I ran away from Arhaan," I confessed."What?" He got another shock."Hmm," I nod
RAAHII clutched onto my bag tightly and looked at Saksham."I... I don't think it would be a good idea," I muttered.All I could imagine was how Arhaan would react if I brought a male friend home and that scared me. I didn't want to be a hindrance in the relationship between Saksham and his wife."I mean... How would your wife react? I don't want to give rise to a fight between you two," I muttered in an upset done."Oh!" He chuckled.His chuckle made me look at him. I was surprised, why would he even laugh?"I and Mrinal are pretty cool. She wouldn't even mind having friends. I mean, who minds at this time? She knows that I love her and that's enough," he confidently replied.I was surprised. Are relationships like this? His wife wouldn't mind my presence in his life? On the other hand, Arhaan.I gulped as I thought about Arhaan at that time."You know what. It's okay. Take your time to think about our friendship. But, you won't be having time to think about this job. I need immedia
ARHAANFLASHBACKI was waiting for Raahi outside the washroom area of our college but she was taking too long. This girl never wastes a chance to frustrate the shit out of me.I couldn't wait for her anymore, I needed to be with her right then and that's why, I walked towards where the washrooms were. As I entered the space, I spotted Raahi, standing outside the girl's bathroom, I quickly walked towards her just to get shocked.My girl was holding another man's hand and smiling? How the fuck she even dare to look at another man? Doesn't she know that's not how an ideal girl, ideal girlfriend should behave? Does she want to whore around?I immediately stood in front of her and glared at her. She didn't even bother to acknowledge my presence and that angered me much more."What the fuck is happening here?" I growled.Raahi and that guy immediately flinched and turned towards me. She left his hands and the smile on her face disappeared. Why doesn't she smile when she sees me? Why does
RAAHIFLASHBACK"And I will punish him right in front of you."The words of Arhaan made me horrified.I was already in extreme pain due to the torture he had inflicted on me and it made me feel sick to my stomach and miserable, and now, he wanted to punish Saksham?No. I can't let that happen. I can't let Saksham be harmed at any cost. He... He wasn't at any fault.END OF FLASHBACKI walked after Saksham as he walked towards the waiting area to meet Arohi. I was nervous thinking how Arohi will react to him as she never knew I had any friends. It was making me nervous."Hello, little Miss," Saksham muttered as he bent down to face Arohi equally.He had a charming smile on his lips and I couldn't resist looking away from him."Hello," Arohi responded, confused about the person who just greeted her.She looked towards me with her questioning eyes and I slightly nodded."What's your name?" Saksham politely asked."Arohi Awasthi," my daughter answered, a bit scared about the man."Do you k
RAAHI"And do what? Die?" I questioned him.He looked at me with a shocked glance while I monotonously looked at the other side."Why would you say that?" Saksham asked me."Because it was my misery. I had to suffer through that, maybe it was in my destiny and that's why your death wouldn't even matter. It would have only left a black spot in my concise," I replied, looking at him."Raahi. Like I used to tell earlier, destiny is the choices we make," he softly responded."Yes. And I made choices that made my life miserable," I scoffed."Okay. Let's go, Arohi will be waiting for you. I will be talking to my wife about her old house for the rent," he gasped."Thank you," I slightly nodded.And then, both of us walked out of the waiting area.FLASHBACK"Punish...punish him? Why?" I stammered, looking at Arhaan as he looked angry.He suddenly gripped his fingers on my cheeks, pressing it and hurting me more. I hissed in pain but it felt like my pain had no effect on him."He dared to talk
TWO YEARS LATER RAAHI I was wrapping up my shift when I heard a car honk and I immediately knew who it was. I smiled and looked towards the door of the restaurant, waiting for them. And then, the door finally opened, and Arohi ran towards me with a trophy in her hand. "Mumma!" She jumped in happiness as she hugged me tightly. I hugged her back and kissed her forehead. "Your daughter is a champ," Saksham muttered as he stood beside me. "I know that," I winked. "Mumma! I won first prize at the speech competition," Arohi proudly boasted as she handed over the trophy to me. "Wow! Congratulations baby," I happily spoke. My daughter was rocking in her school and I wanted nothing more. "The topic was about superheroes, and everyone spoke about spiderman, ironman or superman, but my speech was the most different," she muttered. "Oh really? What was it?" I questioned. "I talked about you. Because you're my superhero, Mumma," Arohi replied and hugged me. Arohi's words made me feel
RAAHI "Divorce? Raahi, have you gone nuts? Do you want to divorce your husband when he needs you the most? No good wife divorces her husband," my mother shouted at me. "Well, no one was there with me when I needed people the most. To hear me, to be by my side and to not ask me to tolerate everything I suffer, so why should I be with them in their hard times?" I calmly replied. "Raahi. You're Arhaan's wife. You can't do this," she shouted again. "Why Mumma? Why am I pressurised to be a good wife? Why is it so important? Nobody asked Arhaan to be a good husband, nobody told him anything, then why me?" I questioned. I then turned towards Maa and looked at her. "Maa. Tell me. If I tried to complain about Arhaan, why was I sushed by my parents and my in-laws? Whenever you tried to take my side, why were you punished along with me? We weren't criminals, we didn't murder someone, so why?" I looked at her with teary eyes. "Raahi. You're a woman. We have to live under the shadows of our
RAAHI I went numb when I heard the news. I looked at Saksham and Mrinal, and it felt like they were expecting a reaction out of me. But I just couldn't. I didn't know what to feel. I didn't even feel a glint of sympathy at this news. "Raahi!" Saksham nudged me out of my thoughts. "Yeah?" I looked at him. "Are you okay?" He questioned. "Yeah! I am," I replied with a smile. "The news," Mrinal muttered. "Yeah! What did the officer say?" I questioned. "He told us to reach to the hospital. They have informed Arhaan's parents and your parents as well," Saksham informed. For a second, I panicked. My cover was blown up. What rubbish would I have to hear from my parents and Arhaan's father? How would I even face Maa? "Raahi," Saksham tapped my shoulders. "Yeah. I think we should go," I replied. And then, I looked at Mrinal. "Don't worry, I will take care of Arohi and will handle the party," she responded with a warm smile. "Thank you so much," I thanked her. And then, I left wit
RAAHI I screamed at Arhaan to get out of my house. I had no idea how I got the strength to face him and do this. But all I knew was that I have had enough, and if I fight this time, I could never do this. "Baby. I love you, why are you saying this? Why are you asking me to get out?" Arhaan's tone suddenly changed. He was trying to butter me, but this wasn't going to work this time. "But I don't. I don't love you and I have never loved you," I screamed at the top of my voice. "Raahi," he looked shocked. "Arhaan. Get out, or else... I will make sure whatever I said about Arohi," I threatened him again. Arhaan looked at me. His eyes were full of anger, but I wasn't afraid of him anymore. I could never be afraid of him after this. "You're gonna pay off this Raahi," he growled. "If anything named Karma exists, it will be you who will be paying the price," I replied, looking deep into his eyes. And then, he walked out of my apartment. The moment I could feel Arhaan's absence from
RAAHI "Ah....arhaan," I stuttered. I looked at him. I knew his wicked smile and the way he talked. I knew this wouldn't be good for me. I closed my eyes tightly. No! I can't fall weak now. I can't. I have suffered for seventeen years, and after this, I finally managed to escape and create a little happy place for myself. I can't let Arhaan ruin that for me anymore. I opened my eyes and looked at him. I won't get scared anymore. "What are you doing here?" I questioned him in a confident voice. "Damn! You spoke a complete statement without stuttering. That's something new," he winked as he walked towards me. I gulped as I took my steps backwards. I had no idea what Arhaan had in his mind right now. All I knew, was that after this, he would drag me back to Delhi and I couldn't let that happen. "Where is Arohi?" He questioned. Arohi! How could I even forget her? Mrinal! Thank God Arohi is with Mrinal, and she would keep my baby safe. "Aru!" Arhaan shouted, looking around the ti
RAAHI"Come on, Arohi. Hurry up, or else you will be getting late for school," I muttered as I packed her lunch."Yes, Mumma. I'm coming," she replied from the room.I quickly served both of us breakfast as I was already getting late for work, and I didn't want that. And then, Arohi walked towards the dining table and sat on her seat. She started having breakfast."Mumma, I did my hairs today," she proudly boasted.I looked at her, and even though her hairs were a bit messy, she did it nicely. I smiled."It's good. It will just need a little bit of care from Mumma, and it will be fine," I winked.The initial few days were tough for both of us, with Arohi asking for her Daddy and disrespecting me and other stuff, but slowly, she started learning things, and three months were enough for our bond to improve. She was being a good girl, and I felt proud of her.She used to notice me, that I managed work and home altogether, and with that, she started helping me with little chores. Those we
FLASHBACKRAAHIAnd all the preparations took me a year, but still, I waited patiently because I could make no mistakes.One Day...I served a cup of tea to Arhaan."Raahi. Listen," he muttered."Yeah?" I questioned."The cameras in our house aren't working properly, so I have turned them off. A guy might come to fix it the day after tomorrow," he spoke."Okay," I nodded.Actually, the cameras were working fine, it was I who pulled out a couple of wires so that they malfunction. I had to do that because, in order to escape, I needed the cameras to remain turned off.I was about to turn around and walk away, but then Arhaan held my wrist tightly and pulled me close to him."Ah!" I hissed in pain."Before, you leave, let me make one thing very clear," he husked.He was looking at me dangerously, and I gulped. He looked scary."One mistake and you have no idea what the consequences can be," he howled.I gulped."There won't be any mistake," I weakly mumbled.I can't afford to make mistak
FLASHBACKRAAHI"How could you even scold my daughter? Who gave you the right to do that?" I heard Arhaan's angry words as he pulled my hairs and made me stand up. My forehead was hurting badly due to the hit, but he didn't care."You will have to be taught a lesson," he growled and then, he dragged me towards the room."I'm sorry, please, don't," I cried as I didn't want to bear that.But all my pleas were going to fall on dead ears as Arhaan care about nothing. He just needed reasons to torment me, and when he has got one, he wouldn't let it go at any cost.He dragged me to the room and whipped me with the same belt, and when he was done with that, he asked me to get up and go to prepare for dinner.I somehow tolerated all the pain, and when I walked towards the kitchen, I looked at Arohi. She looked confused by what happened. Maybe, initially, she thought she was happy that Arhaan scolded me, but in my later condition, I could see in her eyes that my daughter was scared of it.But
FLASHBACKRAAHIAnd the journey continued. Day after day, year after year, I was tormented, tortured by Arhaan just because he was my husband and he had a right to do so.He played the part of a perfect husband when outside, proudly showing me off like I'm his trophy, at parties and get-togethers. I had to learn to do make up and hide my scars, I had to learn to put a fake smile on my face and talk with everyone.Even if he introduced me to new people, he never mentioned them my name, he used to address me as Mrs Arhaan Awasthi. No one apart from our family knew my name, not even our neighbours or Arhaan's friends or colleagues. He was successful at wiping off my existence entirely and was proud of it.With all the show off of being a perfect husband and his trophy wife, no one knew what happened behind those closed doors. The ones who knew just told me to accept it as my fate and make amendments.I was abused and raped on a daily basis. He would beat me, humiliate me, hurl abuses at