Married To A Stranger

“Manoj!” the monster yelled, from the other side of the door. I know Rajat Verma would be furious by my defiance but if I stay another minute in his presence, I might end up strangling that bastard. He deserves to be rot in hell. No, one should create a special place to monsters like him.

I would have left him and his so-called mission years ago if I had any clue about what he intended to do. He pretended to be a devoted father who lost his child to a bunch of monsters. And I believed him. The monsters being Verma’s who dramatically have the same surname as him.

I trusted him.

Like a fool!

Why wouldn’t I?

I was a kid who lost his father and he showered all his fatherly affections on me. He was my father figure since my childhood. The idea of having an uncle overpowered my senseless senses and I became a loyal puppet in his hands. I did everything he wanted me to do including making friends with Sreesha. His words were a law to me. They still are… he has the power to ruin what’s dear to me if I ever dare to defy him. Sadhika will be in too much danger if he ever gets to know about her existence. She only has me to protect her.

On the other hand, Sreesha has a whole battalion beside her to keep her away from harm’s way.

She has Karthik.

A bittersweet smile graced my lips. She had changed. She’s not the same Sreesha I knew years ago. She was not the girl who craved for love from her parents. The girl who was always protected by her younger brother. She’s a woman now, a strong one. Now, she will not cover into darkness by her father’s presence. She can decide what’s right or wrong on her own. And the credit goes to Karthik Shekhar not me, and it stings like hell. Karthik mended her heart which I broke years ago.

I made her feel insecure while he secured his place in her heart.

I made her fall for me while he made her raise along with him.

I failed her in every step we took while he swept her off the feet and carried her to her throne where she belongs.

We both followed our rules by our families. While my rules made her feel worthless, he made her stronger, powerful and regal.

And that bastard made her fall in love with him as he promised years ago.

‘She loves him’ I smiled looking at the sky ‘And she’s finally happy and safe’ the guilt that burdened me all these years was lifted. My heart was as light as a feather now. My mother was right all along, I just needed to forgive myself to be happy again.

‘I am happy now, ma. Completely happy though I lost her to Karthik, but I won in saving her. And I will save our angel Sadhika too, in time. Then I will have no regrets. Then I can leave this place and lead a peaceful life painting Sreesha’ I frowned when I remember Sreesha’s warning. ‘Then I have to paint Sreesha and Karthik together? I would rather paint Dhanush instead’ I thought, shaking my head.

“What’s so amusing? Care to share?” I was startled by the voice beside me.

“Don’t tell me, you are still obsessed with Sreesha Shekhar. Now her name has a nice ring to it don’t you think. Sreesha Verma was never a good fit” he ranted, looking amused. There was no trace of fear in his voice of what would happen next.

“What were you thinking about going against your father’s orders?” I demanded him. I don’t want him to be involved in whatever power game that is going on between two families. Like Tej, he is growing up too fast and I don’t like it one bit.

“I am not a kid, Manoj. Spare me from another lecture. I have had enough from my father already” he said nonchalantly, rolling his eyes. “Be happy. Now, he will trust me with his plans which of course will be relayed to Shekhar’s in the form of threats.” His voice was void of any emotion. No one can read him. He’s too mature for his age.

“Why did you do it? What if they were succeeded in the ambush you planned? You wanted to help them, don’t you? Then why disrupt their peace?” I asked him and patiently waited for his answer.

“Do you take me as a fool, Manoj? They need to know what is going to happen if they don’t take the threats seriously. We have waited, enough, and they are thinking that the threats were empty. So, I merely gave them a sample of what’s going to happen in future. They need to know this is not a child’s play.” He was staring right into my eyes while saying these words. There was no trace of remorse whatsoever.

“Her idiot of a husband dragged her right into devil’s realm and sauntered it as he owned it” he hissed, dragging his fingers through his hair. “He needed a taste of fear of loss and I gladly gave it to him. He should be careful, and he will be, from now on” he smirked looking into the darkness.

“As for your other concern, Manoj, the ones who died in the ambush were my father’s loyal dogs and Tej already got a tip from the anonymous source that an ambush was planned. Karthik was lucky for he stopped the car a few meters away from the planned area and took his sweet time. I think there is someone from inside working for father ask your dogs to stay alert and sniff around the find the man” he demanded, he’s blunt like always “or woman” he mumbled looking lost.

“Why are you helping me again?” I asked him for the nth time.

“Wouldn’t you want to know?” he smirked walking away.

“I do” I whispered to the empty corridors.

I wish I can trust him with everything. The reason behind his deeds is still unknown. He was not fond of Sreesha. They have never met before excluding the brief encounter they had this morning.

Then why?

I have no other option than pretend in front of Sreesha. I was shocked when I saw them in my home and she, watching every painting of hers in horror. Never had I ever thought we would be face to face again. And she still believed me when I said I was never involved in her life. I might not, physically but still, it is a lie. She trusted me enough to defend me in front of her husband.

She at least didn’t regret our friendship.

I still remember the days I spent hating my mother for not revealing the reasons behind our departure. I was young and stupid. Stupidly in love and thought everything would be alright when I get her out of her parent’s clutches. They were horrible people… no acted to be horrible as instructed by my uncle.

‘He is not even uncle by blood’ a voice yelled in my head. He still gave shelter to me and my mother when my father, his friend died in an accident. He took my family under his wings and protected us… or so I thought for a while. Little did I know that he was planning to use me against Sreesha and her family all along.

It was not until the day my mother revealed the person’s name who threatened and demanded us to disappear from Sreesha’s life. I hated him until I get to know the reason behind his meddling in our lives. I thought he was ruining my life because of the rivalry he had with Rajat Verma. I thought he was taking business rivalry into personal lives. It was too late when I know it was never business.

And everything I thought, did was planning to do would have ruined Sreesha’s life. And that my life was perfectly planned by my dearest uncle for his own selfish reasons.

It was a long-term plan. He couldn’t take Sreesha away, so he took someone else from her family and manipulated them into bidding his wishes.

He took Sadhika from her family, Tej’s real sister.

The one who Rajat Verma thought died in an accident.

The one who I am protecting, keeping her existence secret under my dearest uncle’s own radar.

She is within his reach, but he has no bloody idea of who she was, and it would stay that way.

Sadhika A. K. A ESHA THAKUR.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.