A few days later, the atmosphere at Sumitra's ladies' party was charged with tension and indulgence. Sumitra, caught up in the thrill of gambling and oblivious to the consequences, had just lost a significant amount of money, much to the dismay of Aarav.

Aarav's face twisted in anger as he watched his step mother squander his father's hard-earned money. His voice trembled with frustration as he confronted her, "aap yeh sab band karengi.."

One of Sumitra's friends, egging her on with a mischievous smile, chimed in "Sumitra! yeh daav pe lagake kya hoga? kuch aisa daav pe lagao jiska maja aaye humhe" she said

Sumitra, with a sly grin, replied, "Why not!! how about..." she rolled her eyes around and smiled "chalo main apna pyaara beta daav pe lagati hun"

Aarav's eyes widened in shock at her suggestion. "Mrs. Sumitra! main koi daav pe lagane ki cheez nahi hun" he protested loudly.

"Shut up! yahan sirf meri awaaz uchi rehti hai tumhari nahi.." Sumitra retorted sharply, brushing off his objections and making her move in the game.

Deliberately losing the bet, Sumitra laughed triumphantly. "Oh Jasmine.. please take him with you" she directed her friend with amusement.

Jasmine approached Aarav, her eyes filled with desire, but he recoiled, saying firmly,"aap door rahiye mujhse.."

"come on? jeeta hai maine tumhe" Jasmine insisted, grabbing his hand despite his protests.

Sumitra intervened, sighing with exasperation, "Aarav stop creating a scene.. sirf aaj ki baat hai just go" she said

Aarav looked at his mother, bewildered and hurt by her actions. However, before he could react further, chaos erupted as Maya struck Jasmine from behind with a vase, causing her to bleed profusely.

Aarav turned to see Maya, her eyes blazing with fury. "how dare you touch my husband?" Maya declared fiercely, clutching the vase tightly.

Sumitra, taken aback by Maya's sudden aggression, demanded, "Maya yeh kya kiya tumne?"

Maya stormed towards Sumitra, gripping her by the neck and pinning her against the wall. "aapne kisse puchke mere pati ko daav pe lagaya? Sumitra.. Aarav sirf mera hai samjhi tum! ainda aisi harkat ki toh tumhe jaan se maar dungi"

Struggling against Maya's grip, Sumitra felt both humiliated and enraged. Maya released her and marched over to Aarav, delivering a resounding slap across his face.

Shocked and confused by the sudden turn of events, Aarav protested "Maya maine kuch bhi nahi kia" he said

"apni nazrein sirf mujhpe rakha karo tum.. chalo yahan se" Maya snapped, her voice tinged with possessiveness, as she forcefully dragged Aarav away into the bedroom.

Sumitra seethed with anger and humiliation, vowing silently to herself to get back at Maya for her humiliation.

In the aftermath of the heated confrontation, Maya's anger simmered palpably as she forcefully ushered Aarav into their bedroom. Aarav, visibly concerned not only for himself but also for the well-being of their unborn child, watched Maya cautiously as she gave him a stern look.

"ainda tumhe bahar jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai jab bhi wo Sumitra apni saheliyon ke saath parties kar rahi hai samjhe tum" Maya snapped, her voice laced with possessiveness and protectiveness over her husband and their future together.

Aarav, trying to diffuse the tension, responded calmly, "Maya shant ho jao.. main toh unhone rokne gaya tha mujhe nahi pasand wo iss tarah.." he paused when Maya approached closer to him.

His words trailed off as Maya closed the distance between them, her hand gently brushing through his hair as she looked at him with a mix of affection and frustration "toh tumhe nahi pasand unka ghar mein gambling karna?" she queried softly.

"haa.." Aarav affirmed quietly.

A hint of a smile played on Maya's lips as she tugged gently on his hair from behind, teasing him. "tumhe kabse unki fikar hone lagi haan? wo jo bhi kare unhe karne do tum sirf apne kaam ke kaam karo samjhe tum" she instructed firmly.

Aarav nodded earnestly, reassuring her, "main rakhunga tum bas shant ho jao"

"gussa tum dilate ho mujhe! meri fikar hi nahi hai tumhe" Maya retorted sharply, pushing him away with a jerk.

Determined to mend the rift between them, Aarav gently grasped her shoulder and guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. "I am sorry Maya.. tum jo kahogi wo main karunga.. batao kaise main tumhe khush karun?" he pleaded sincerely.

"sach? jo main kahungi wo karoge" Maya questioned, seeking his genuine commitment.

Aarav nodded earnestly,"haan.."

After Aarav's earnest pledge to do whatever Maya asked, the atmosphere in the room remained tense, thick with unresolved emotions. Maya, still simmering with hurt and suspicion, looked at Aarav through narrowed eyes, studying his every move as if searching for signs of deception.

"Prove it then," Maya finally spoke, her voice cold and calculating. She rose from the edge of the bed, standing over him with an air of authority that sent a chill down Aarav's spine.

Aarav swallowed hard, his heart sinking with dread at what Maya might demand of him. He nodded hesitantly, unsure of what lay ahead but determined to restore peace between them. "bolo Maya kya karun main jisse tum khush ho jao?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Maya's expression softened slightly, a hint of satisfaction gleaming in her eyes at having him under her control. "mujhe Khush karna chahte ho na Aarav? Then you'll do exactly as I say," she declared, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Maya stood before Aarav, a formidable figure with the whip in her hand, its thorns glinting malevolently in the dim light of the room. Her command hung heavy in the air, suffocating Aarav with a mixture of fear and resignation.

Reluctantly, Aarav stood as Maya gestured, the weight of her expectations pressing down on him like a leaden cloak. His hands trembled slightly as he began to unbutton his shirt, each movement slow and deliberate, as if prolonging the inevitable.

"Maya, please," Aarav pleaded softly, the vulnerability in his voice stark against Maya's unwavering resolve. His eyes pleaded for mercy, for understanding, but Maya's expression remained impassive, unmoved by his distress.

"I said strip," Maya's voice cut through the silence like a blade, leaving no room for negotiation. Her command was final, absolute.

With a heavy heart and a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Aarav shed his clothes, each piece falling to the floor with a weight that mirrored his shame and humiliation. Maya watched him intently, her gaze like a judge assessing his compliance.

When Aarav stood before her, stripped bare and vulnerable, Maya's lips curled into a chilling smile of satisfaction. She wielded the whip with practiced precision, its sharp thorns poised to inflict pain.

"Now kneel," Maya commanded, her voice tinged with authority and a cruel vindication.

Aarav hesitated, his dignity crumbling under the weight of her demands. He sank to his knees slowly, the coolness of the floor beneath him a stark contrast to the heat of his shame.

Maya's warning pierced the silence, a threat hanging in the air like a dark cloud. Aarav's jaw clenched, his resolve hardening as he prepared himself for what was to come.

"Tumhe agar mujhe dard deke khushi milti hai, toh tumhe jo karna hai karo," Aarav spoke quietly, his voice tinged with resignation. He braced himself, gripping the edge of the bed tightly to anchor himself against the impending pain.

Maya's smile widened, a glint of sadistic pleasure dancing in her eyes. She brought the whip down with precision, each strike calculated to test his endurance. Aarav bit down hard on his lip, his knuckles white with the effort of holding back any sound that might betray his suffering.

The room filled with the sharp sound of the whip cracking against his skin, mingling with the stifled gasps and the rhythm of his racing heart. Maya's strikes were relentless, each one driving deeper into his flesh, each blow a testament to her control over him.

Through it all, Aarav remained stoic, his face a mask of pain and silent determination. He endured the physical torment, knowing that his submission was the price he had to pay to salvage what remained of their fractured relationship.

As Maya continued to wield the whip, Aarav's mind drifted to a place of numb detachment, a refuge from the agony that threatened to overwhelm him. He focused on the rhythmic pounding of his heart, a reminder that he was still alive, still enduring.

In that room filled with echoes of pain and silence, Maya and Aarav danced a dark and twisted dance of dominance and submission. The whip cracked again and again, leaving behind trails of red on Aarav's skin, a stark reminder of the lengths to which Maya would go to assert her control.

Maya stood over him, her expression a mix of triumph and concern as she dropped the whip to the floor.

Slowly, Maya knelt down beside him, her movements deliberate yet surprisingly gentle as she reached out to hold his face in her hands. Her touch was tender, a stark contrast to the harshness of moments before, as she looked into his eyes with a mixture of sadness and determination.

"Kuch bhi kar sakte ho na meri khushi ke tum!" Maya's voice was soft, almost pleading, as she spoke. "Oh Aarav... please, ainda mujhe aisa mauka mat dena ki mujhe tumhe hi dard dena pade."

Aarav met her gaze with remorse and regret etched on his face. "I am sorry, Maya," he whispered earnestly, his voice thick with emotion. "Main ainda jab bhi wo Sumitra party kar rahi hogi, kamre se bahar nahi jaunga."

Maya's expression softened further at his apology, a flicker of understanding and forgiveness in her eyes. She rose gracefully and retrieved a first aid kit from a nearby shelf, her movements purposeful as she returned to Aarav's side.

Gently, Maya began to clean and dress his wounds, her touch careful and tender despite the pain she had inflicted moments ago. Aarav winced slightly at the sting of antiseptic, but he remained still, allowing Maya to tend to him with a quiet acceptance.

As she worked, the room seemed to grow quieter, the echoes of their earlier confrontation fading into the background.

Maya's steps were purposeful as she sought out Sumitra, her mind still reeling from the intensity of the recent events. She found Sumitra in the living room, amidst the remnants of the party they had all attended earlier—a stark contrast to the private turmoil Maya and Aarav had just endured.

Sumitra looked up as Maya approached, a hint of defiance in her eyes that Maya was quick to address. With a calm demeanor that belied the storm within her, Maya stood before Sumitra, her gaze piercing and unwavering.

"Sumitra," Maya's voice was steady, yet edged with a quiet intensity that brooked no argument. "I need to make something very clear to you."

Sumitra raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance but unable to hide the unease that flickered across her features. "aur wo kya hai, Maya?" she responded, her tone laced with a hint of mockery.

Maya took a step closer, her proximity a deliberate assertion of her authority. "Aarav is mine," she stated firmly, her words carrying a weight that echoed through the room. "Physically, emotionally, every part of him belongs to me."

Sumitra's facade faltered, replaced by a fleeting expression of surprise and apprehension. "Oh, really?" she retorted, attempting to regain her composure. "Last I checked, he's a free man. He can make his own choices."

Maya's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "mere saath games mat khelna Sumitra" she warned, her voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "main ache se janti hun tum kya karne ki koshish kar rahi thi.. mere husband se doori banake rakho apni samjhi"

Sumitra's bravado wavered, a nervous swallow betraying her uncertainty. "aur agar main tumhari baat na maanu toh?" she challenged, though the defiance in her voice was tinged with unease.

A cold smile played on Maya's lips, her demeanor shifting from restrained to assertive. "phir tum pachtaogi," she replied, her tone chillingly confident. "yaad toh hoga tumhe jab Ria aur baakiyon ne use mujhse door karne ki koshish ki toh wo log kahike nahi rahe they... Maya kisi bhi hadd tak jaa sakti hai uske liye jo mera hai samjhi tum"

With that final warning hanging in the air, Maya turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Sumitra to ponder the weight of her words. Maya's declaration echoed in the room, a testament to her determination to safeguard her relationship with Aarav at any cost a stark reminder to Sumitra of the boundaries she dare not cross again.

Aarav stood at the edge of the corridor, unseen by Maya and Sumitra, who were locked in a tense exchange in the living room. He had overheard enough to understand the gravity of their conversation. His heart sank as he realized he was caught in a power struggle between his wife and stepmother.

As Maya's words echoed in his mind "Aarav is mine, physically, emotionally every part of him belongs to me" he couldn't shake the feeling of being objectified, of being a possession fought over rather than a person with his own agency and feelings.

He leaned against the wall, running a hand through his hair in frustration and confusion. How had things escalated to this point? He had never wanted to come between Maya and Sumitra, yet here he was, a pawn in their emotional chess game.

As Maya's cold warning " Maya kisi bhi hadd tak jaa sakti hai uske liye jo mera hai " rang in his ears, Aarav's heart sank further. He felt trapped, suffocated by the expectations and possessiveness that both women projected onto him. His desire for peace and harmony seemed increasingly out of reach.

With a heavy sigh, Aarav resolved to find a way to assert his own desires and boundaries in the face of Maya's dominance and Sumitra's interference. He knew he needed to confront the situation head-on, to remind both women that he was not a prize to be won or a possession to be claimed, but a person with his own needs and aspirations.

But for now, as he stood in the shadows listening to the echoes of their confrontation, Aarav felt the weight of his predicament settle heavily upon him a puppet in a drama not of his making, struggling to find his own voice amidst the clamor of conflicting expectations.