I want to begin as I always do by thanking God for everything even given to us all even strength in these tough times when we as humanity have to struggle to survive...Thank you. And I want to to thank all readers who are giving so much love to this story and I wish and pray all of you stay safe and healthy in these tough times which we are battling :). I am here for you and we all are here for each other :)

Thank you for reading :)

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https://youtu.be/Lfbn8Zr4xxo

His eyes continuing to smoke his temper while he made his way towards me as I began to take slow steps back continuing to tremble with sets of anxious fear taking full control of me...rushing through my blood...consuming my thoughts making me run many blurs unable to conceive the fact that the man I love is a criminal of sorts.

"What the hell is this Anika?...How dare you embarrass me in front of everyone by screaming in such an abhorrent manner?! Do you realize what you have done?!" His voice rumbling loudly echoing amongst everyone letting them tremble reminding them that this man they face is a daemon of his own who once awaken can never be controlled no matter what.

My body flinching immediately as I began to tremble violently remembering how he had raised his gun outside in front of me...how he had embraced death without any hesitation. His eyes continuing to swivel anger inciting screams of panic within me forcing me to leap back fearing he may do worse to me just like he did with that man outside.

What have I done though? He only heard my screams, but not the meaning behind them...Did he not hear my call to fight for my children and for their right? Did he not hear the filth his family spoke of?

His steps closing the gap to mine as I reached a sudden still finding his eyes enslaving me forcing me to hold my ground. Letting his teeth release their bite from his lips, he fumed a smell of heavy alcohol whose sent drifted towards me. My lips beginning to quiver as I felt tears fall out of me finding my hope crashing...hope that he will change...stop his addictions...give up on sin...and for once try to be human.

"You are drunk?...You drank alcohol even today? On the day of our wedding you drank...not once giving a damn or any level of respect to me!" My voice breaking a tough strand of anger feeling repulsed by how this man dared to lift that poison against his lips disgracing and disrespecting the vows that we both are daring to weave today.

I lowered my gaze not wanting to meet his eyes that appeared to thirst on the need of wanting to unleash his anger upon me and further embarrass the both of us letting everyone know of the cracks that still exist in our relationship.

He began to breathe deeply finding himself fully consumed with his narcissistic being that does not give a damn about anyone else, but only himself...who takes every step that will ensure his benefit...who only desires to live for oneself perhaps. I do not know because now I cannot tell what is real and is not...what is the true Shivaay is what I am wondering at the moment.

"You do not ask questions. I do. You have no right to question me considering how you have insulted me in front of everyone else by displaying how Shivaay Singh Oberoi's wife has no manners and no values by screaming her lungs off failing to maintain composure and control over her anger! It is absolutely wrong what you have done! Do you hear me?!" His screams beginning to rupture the veins of my ears as I looked away to avoid him.

His hands suddenly taking a firm grasp of my shoulders letting his fingers dig in making me shriek loudly as he gorged his eyes into mine revealing his scarred wound that I had given by daring to insult him in front of others. Immediately, he gave me a light push forcing me to sit on the stage with his hand taking a grasp of my arm revealing red urns of his eyes that called for death only.

Tears lasping themselves out of me as I looked towards him to not see the Shivaay that I am falling in love with, but a different one...one that only thrives on his selfish ego and pride and dignity wanting to protect it no matter what may come be.

Shivaay has always been like such...He is always concerned about his image in front of others...worried what they may think...consumed with an obsession of what will happen if they begin to dig filth on him...The only place that did not allow him to once think of his reputation likely was when he decided to reveal his secret to everyone that I was once his wife...surprisingly he did not waver from claiming such.

"Stop! Let go of our granddaughter now!" Nana making his way towards him charging with his anger as Shivaay immediately growled turning his head towards him before lifting his trembling hand up stopping him in his tracks...drawing a boundary.

Shivaay revealing his true mask dropping his values and embracing a pure psychotic fleshed savage that he always has been. He flashed his blue hues, to Nana, that now embraced a black shade full of ashed temper.

"No one can disrespect our granddaughter in such manner! We are taking her! Come on Anika!" Nana continuing to hold his authority not once wincing as he looked into Shivaay's soul that only reflected its devotion to evil.

Shivaay holding the rope to his anger while continuing to shake with his hand tightening its grasp on my arm. I bit my lip trying to surpress the burning ache that was becoming incited on the spot. My hand wrapping around his trying to free myself as he continued to hold me while looking at Nana ready to unravel his rage upon him.

"No one dares to come between me and my wife! Do you understand?! No one! Who are you to take my Anika away from here? Who?! She is mine only mine!" Screams from the deemed beast erupting as suddenly he began to heave deep breaths laying his stake on me who was now his property. However, Nana did not believe such as he immediately grabbed my other arm pulling me with his force. My feet stumbling as Shivaay's hand unraveled from my arm while cries erupted from me as Nana began to take a hold of my hand wanting to take me away.

Nana increasing his steps trying to move me, but failing as suddenly a hand took a tight hold of mine.

My feet spinning swiftly as the creature implied his power immediately taking my arm and pulling me into his chest. My temple slamming into his heart as his arm enveloped me into a tight hold. Tears rushing down my cheeks as I laid it against him wanting him to let go continuing to become haunted by the image of how this man may be committing sin and taking lives of others.

His gun poking against my waist as I began to shake with horror feeling him pull me in more closer while continuing to pound heavy breaths against my neck. Alcohol appearing to consume his senses fully as he began to howl loudly.

"No one can take my Anika! She is Shivaay Singh Oberoi's and you all better damn engrave this truth in your minds! What the hell happens between her and I is our matter and no damn person can get involved in such! No one!"

Complete silence holding everyone still as their attention fixated on the both of us finding themselves intrigued by Shivaay's shade wanting to see more despite being horrified by the ugliness of it...wanting to see another thread of our relationship considering they have only seen the euphoric side of it.

Shivaay immediately taking hold of my shoulders pulling me back slightly only to reveal that he still held anger towards me not liking how I had dared to insult him in front of others. "You are part of my image in front of others...Everyone knows you because you are linked to me and yet you dared to go in front of everyone and scream without once thinking of how it will effect me! All my business clients are attending my damned wedding and here you stand daring to ruin my reputation by letting everyone know about your grievances! What the hell happened that you decided to do such?! Could you not have waited for them to leave?!" He continued to hoard his anger on me with his loud howls and rumbles while I stood in silence as I placed my hand on my womb wanting to protect them from hearing the spiteful vices their father was throwing at me.

A sense of fury latching on to me telling me to speak and for once add clarity to him, but somewhere fear appearing to tie my tongue not allowing me to even croak a vowel. My eyes continuing to hold on to that gun slightly visible through the fabrics of his kurta which he wore. His anger dripping on to me as he continued to go on a selfish trance worried about his reputation and dignity not once giving a thought that perhaps I had valid reasons that led me to rip apart a series of turmoiled irk on his family.

His hands grabbing a hold of my arms pulling me closer towards him while I attempted to wrangle myself out of his grasp. I looked back see my mother and father holding their silence not once wincing as only seeing me to be Shivaay's property. My gaze lifting towards Pinky aunty who appeared to hold a smirk liking the insult I was facing at the hands of Shivaay and then that is when it hit me. Pinky aunty's words swiveling within me reminding me how she had threatened to ruin my haldi hours ago at the roka and show me my place....My eyes widening as I stumbled back looking towards Pinky aunty whose smirk widened able to read that I had understood what she had done.

"Answer me Anika! Tell me why did you do such?! You not only made a mockery out of me, but also yourself! I do not want people to see you in the wrong light...I want people to see you with great respect and see you for who you truly are. So why did react in such manner? Tell me! Why are you silent damn it?!"

He continued to question with his snarling spirit while I kept quiet beginning to laugh at my fate realizing that it has fooled me once again...That fate gave me so much happiness, but only for a moment to only snatch it away and put me in the lap of a man who cannot even be called human...a man who does not even dare to listen to me or once try to understand me...a family who does not love me, but see's me as a burden...Perhaps, fate only wants me to continue on a path of such suffering from which I can never find relief from...or maybe I have to end this suffering with my own hands not waiting for others to end it for me.

"Enough! You cannot continue to yell at Anika in such manner Shivaay bhai! If she is not saying anything does not mean you continue to lay wrong judgement upon her!" Gauri's voice erupting as I lifted my gaze towards her seeing her making her way towards me wrapping her arm around me immediately.

Shivaay's voice entering a sudden halt as he appeared to embrace confusion letting go slightly of his temper. His eyes standing still on my tears taking a closer look at them trying to figure their true origins beginning to ponder whether he truly did make a wrong judgement about me.

My hand wrapping around Gauri's as I looked at her shaking my head and telling her to not speak more knowing it would only further worsen the situation including his anger. Gauri furrowing her eyebrows as she disagreed with my request looking back towards Shivaay.

"Look even now Anika does not want to speak the truth...A truth that only combusts filth...that represents the sick level that this family can drop to...Anika was completely right in raising her voice and fighting for herself and for her child!" Gauri beginning to unravel the truth as Shivaay's eyes widened immediately looking towards me while I stood still looking into his eyes beginning to plea for my justice that I wanted in how his family has dared to raise an eye on our child.

"What do you mean Gauri? What exactly happened? I want to know," He held a loud voice trying to overcome his anger that was still lively beating within him.

Gauri sighing as she pressed her fingers on to my shoulder catching my attention. "Anika you tell your husband the truth. Shivaay bhai is the father of your child and he has a right to hear what was spoken and thought about regarding your child and his. You cannot be silent in front of him due to fear. You have to speak for your child and for yourself...No one else can speak for you best besides yourself..." Her lines kneeding a sudden strength into me as they pierced into my womb telling it for once to stand up not for its owner, but for the children it carried...for once to be a mother and fight for them.

Gauri is right...Why am I standing in silence? I should speak because at the end I am my children's mother and they do not have a voice yet...I have to be their voice.

Taking a deep breath and gathering my power, I looked towards Shivaay as he kept his gaze still on me holding on last strands of patience wanting to hear my voice to know exactly how his family may have wronged me. Gathering the pleats of my dupatta into my hand, I attempted to grip on to my anger not wanting to consume me again and worsen the situation.

"I know I did wrong by indulging in an argument in front of everyone Shivaay. I know I am your pride...and I symbolize you and represent you in front of others because as your wife it is my duty to ensure your name is not tarnished, but continues to thrive and further gain more respect. Many believe that we should let go of such beliefs, but how can we stop practicing them?...Wives are expected to behave and act in a manner to ensure their husband's honor is maintained because if their husband has honor then so do they...However, husbands do have a duty to ensure they behave in a manner that will keep their wife's dignity in front of others that which we will discuss later! But what I am trying to say now is that when you heard my screams those were the screams of a mother...not a wife's, but a mother's! I respect your family and their values and beliefs...and after what has happened I still respect them. But...I am sorry...I cannot do a puja that is intended to follow such a discriminatory practice...A puja that is done to pray that I have a son...not a daughter...but a son...!" My voice bounding up and down between a low and high tempo finding myself riveting in anger over how he had dared to insult me in front of others with sadness over how his family dared to discriminate against my child. Losing my grip, my hand wrapped itself around my womb fully giving out my strength no longer able to hold it.

My eyes moving towards Pinky aunty and rest of his family whose eyes shot up finding themselves stunned that I had dared to speak their truth. Paints of fury encircling themselves around each and every one of them wanting to gargle their hate upon me.

Tears continuing to flow down as I immediately collapsed down on the stage beginning to whimper finding that perhaps I am all alone in this path. Wrapping my dupatta around me, I kept drumming shallow breaths as I lifted my gaze only to see Shivaay's eyes set on me appearing to boil his temper, but not for me. His eyes showing an unusual softness within the red layers they carried as he continued to look into my eyes seeing the reflection of my tears.

His gaze lowering looking at my womb that I began to cover protectively with my dupatta veiling them from seeing the obscene hatred that their own blood carried for them if they dared to embrace womanhood.

"Anika..." He whispered taking a step towards me appearing to hold a set of tears in his own eyes immediately dropping his mask of a sinister phantom wanting to return to his love lorne form. Suddenly, he took a step forward wrapping his arms around me... and that was enough.

His warm embrace triggering whimpers from me as I wrapped my hands around his waist continuing to sit as he stood still holding me tight allowing me to let out the thorned tears that his family had dared to give me.

"I am right here for you Anika. Do not worry once about our children...I will protect them alright? I promise you..." He continued to whisper running his fingers through my waves as I looked at our families who stood in silence finding themselves entering mild shocks of how suddenly Shivaay had taken hold of me leaving his anger and embracing a different shade.

My heart immediately raising a solid beat finding itself weakening in front of sheer love that now was beginning to display itself again in his soul reflected in his tear ridden eyes. Continuing to tremble, I looked at his gun trying to remind myself of the deadly form I had seen him in, but failing to ponder upon that memory only finding myself drowning in the love he now beginning to lay upon me. His lips taking a hold of my forehead where he began to layer me with tender, succulent kisses letting me know that he is standing besides me on this matter.

Pinky aunty taking a step forward as she began to mutter curses in her anger while looking towards the both of us not liking how Shivaay in an instant had embraced me with love.

"Shivaay...Anika is misunderstanding us. We were just thinking about her good and your good as well. As a wife it is her duty to do everything that ensures you have a better life ahead-"

"Ma!" Shivaay's voice suddenly hitting a loud note making me flinch immediately as I shook back looking up and seeing a sudden scream of a demon beginning to laugh in his eyes now taking command again.

His hands letting go of me as he immediately slammed his hand against the bowl of haldi. My eyes widening as I launched up grabbing his arm knowing what he was about to do, but failing to stop him. His shaitan lunging forward taking a hold of the metal tray only to allow it to fly up. Screams erupting from everyone as the yellow, warm paste began to scatter away splashing against the floor before hitting their faces.

Pinky aunty shrieking loudly with the tray landing hard against her feet as she stumbled back. My hand moving forward as I grabbed on to his trying to pull him back knowing what he was about to do, but failing. With all his force, he snatched his hand out of my grasp colliding his feet with Pinky aunty making her stumble back only for Shakti uncle to take a hold of her.

Her eyes bulging out in horror beginning to shake seeing her son taking a new form as he began to take wide steps towards her ready to drain her pride. "How dare you?! How dare all of you try to lay your filth on my wife and my child?! Who the hell are you all to try to force my wife into participating in such a nonsensical ritual?! Who are you all to dare to even eye my child in such a disgusting manner?! Who?!" Screams erupting from the bulging red veins of his neck as suddenly he took a hit of toxic venom beginning to spew it on his own blood. No sense of shame found on him as he laid his rage upon his own family seeing them as his enemies who dared to cross their boundary and enter his realm.

Pinky aunty beginning to shake lightly with tears touching her eyes trying to figure whether her son still acknowledges their relationship or merely finds her as a foe. A sense of guilt wrapping itself around me realizing I may have gone too far in expressing my anger over Pinky aunty and Daadi's decision.

"Shivaay beta...we were thinking about your better future. You need a male heir who can carry forward your name and carry on your business in which you have put so much hard work into. What is wrong in having a son? Daughters are just a burden Shivaay and you are naïve in appreciating them...You are naïve in saying that daughters can carry forward a business in their father's name. No they cannot...A woman's true place is at home...not at work!" Pinky aunty spewing a bane of hatred not once letting her voice waver allowing it to speak a completely vulgar conservative value that she has held all these years without any regrets.

Deadning my heart, I stood in silence with my hand wrapping around my womb beginning to imagine what Chaaya's treatment may have been by this family considering the muck of prejudice they all embrace. What will happen if I give birth to a girl again? How will I protect her?...How will I protect myself from them?

Shivaay letting out a loud snarl beginning to let a ravenous barbarian take command of him finding himself unable to accept how his mother was questioning his wants and desires by labeling them as mere foolishness. Opening his mouth, he was about to let out his boiling inferno only for Daadi to take a step forward to support her daughter-in-law.

"Pinky is absolutely right! A woman's true place is at the home and that is how it always has been in our family for daughters-in-law and daughters as well. Priyanka was only given an exception due to your stubbornness as you wanted her to pursue a career. Our beliefs are different and we will continue to value them. Anika for example should not join work after her wedding...and if she gives birth to a girl then she shall know that she will not be given her rights and respect that other Oberoi bahus have gotten in the past. As an Oberoi bahu, one's duty is to ensure the prosperity of the family and her husband...The only way she can ensure such is to give birth to a male heir as the first child. In our family, we believe and strong uphold this ideal that the first born should be a male child to ensure property is divided in a manner that will support and give rights to the oldest child and if the oldest is a male then they will continue to carry forward our businesses without sharing it off with the in-laws like a female child will once married. Pinky got the puja done to conceive a boy then so did Gauri as well. This is nothing new. We are only thinking about ensuring that your bloodline is carried forward Shivaay and a girl will not do such...only boys do such...This is a fact of society and how society runs itself...Now get out of your delusion Shivaay and embrace the true desire of having a son as your first born...who will be your true heir!"

"Daadi!" His anger rupturing as he lunged forward towards Daadi ready to take her on only for me to stop him in his tracks. My arms taking a strong hold of his waist trying to pull him back as he began to struggle attempting to push me away wanting to unleash his barbarian upon his family and take forth a rampage.

His heated skin merging with him as I began to let out my tears feeling the burns of their blistering words. The blisters gross in their appearance as they began to settle on my box of values that I held within me...values that now were being threatened by an unusual new belief system which threatened my own existence and my children's existence as well.

Shakti uncle furrowing his eyebrows as he also appeared to mimic his son's anger finding a poisonous taste in his mouth. "Don't you dare raise your voice at my mother and my wife! You have no right to even look them in the eye because they are your blood!...And the truth is that I completely agree with Pinky and Ma that you should rightfully take each step including pursuing this puja to ensure that your first born is a male. There is nothing wrong in appreciating a male child over a female child...truth is that girls are a burden...in terms of raising them, ensuring they keep their honor, and of course then marrying them off to a family where dowry is an issue. Stop for once living in your sphere of righteousness and try to follow along societal norms and our family's beliefs!" Shakti uncle continuing to lay a savage combative defense of his own family trying his best to convince Shivaay that they are not wrong...that instead he is wrong and following an incorrect path of beliefs.

My heart continuing to tremble unable to bear the diseased, incapacitated beliefs of these savage like humans who roamed this ground hooting the rights of men over women...finding themselves cheering men for the same actions for which they shackle women...appreciating men for their victories while denouncing women who may achieve the same ones.

Holding silence, I wrapped my hand around Shivaay's arm wanting to find support as I felt myself detaching from the ground that embraced such sinful people.

Shivaay hitting a sudden still with his snarls disappearing. His blue hues holding an uncanny presence of a different sort of being...one that was raging wild igniting a sea of flames, but still holding to a wind of composure. Then a wicked laugh erupted from him as he threw his head up embracing a satanic figure with his goblin features embracing a dark shade of bloody wine.

Alcohol reeking its toxic effects on him as he slipped his hand into his vest only to pop out a small silver bottle. His fingers twisting the cap off of it only to reveal the repugnant taste of whiskey. Continuing to laugh, he slipped his lips against the bottle feeding off that venom, so he could create his own flawed chaos.

My hand slipping away from his as I looked at him with silent tempos of anger hitting me not allowing me to speak, but continuing to drum on my conscious that found itself detesting this action of his. Lowering my gaze, I found myself giving into a loss of hopelessness realizing that perhaps Shivaay may not support me...that him giving into alcohol in this very moment proves that maybe he just does not give a damn about what everyone thinks of our child...about me.

Suddenly, the bottle of whiskey slammed the ground hard releasing the toxic liquid he had bravely consumed to ready himself to feed off his anger from others.

His feet kicking back a chair to his side where he took a sudden seat grabbing my hand and forcing me to stand besides him. My eyes meeting his with confusion trying to detect his thoughts, but failing utterly at it. A smirk coming across his lips as he grabbed my fingers laying a ravenous kiss upon it finding himself unwavered by the filth his family had spoken.

However, his eyes were reeking with an inferno that he was ready to untie and so he did.

"You? You three with tell me what I should do? You all will tell Shivaay Singh Oberoi what to do? You three talk about class all the time right? Well wah, what an amazing class the great Oberois have!" Shivaay erupting into laughter as he began to clap his hands loudly with fear flashing in our families' eyes knowing that this mellow spirit the demon was displaying for them is a mere trap...

"Do you know whose territory all of you are standing on?" Shivaay questioning them with his voice entering a low, bellowed tone enveloped with a creepy tranquility.

Everyone keeping quiet failing to answer his question knowing he was beginning to weave a web of havoc around them. His eyes deafening red with no trace of any humanity, but only brisk waves of indifference.

Shivaay sighing as he took a deep breath shaking his head while looking at all of them not liking that no one gave an answer to him.

"This is Shivaay Singh Oberoi's territory. I own every piece of land that you all are standing on right now at the moment. When one enters my land, they have to obey and respect me and those who I love...I expect them to obey by my beliefs, my values, and my rules. I expect them to keep their mouths shut and not dare to impose their filth upon me and my own family...my family meaning my wife and my children....Not these low lives who claim to be my parents, but are just mere gutter creatures that unfortunately brought me to life. And do you know what happens when someone fails to obey me?" He hissed in a whisper that was only a high-pitched echo to all of us as his parents immediately riled with outrage letting out curses.

Images of him holding the gun beginning to flash in front of me as I began to quiver with my body reaching a sudden threshold of weakness wanting me to taper down. Lifting my trembling hands against my lips, I began to shake my head with fear running within me seeing his blue hues that were lusting for venal flesh.

Shivaay's eyes meeting mine as he revealed an innocent smile shaking his head and gesturing me to not hold fear even though I did in horror. His palm placing itself gently against my womb looking at it with pure intent envisioning the two children it held which carried his blood.

"These two are Shivaay Singh Oberoi's life...They carry my blood...a part of my being...These two are my daughters...These two will carry forth my name...My name. These two are my pride...not my burden, but pride. These two will fulfill their dreams...their hopes...These two will bring my name to new heights...to a point that people will begin to identify me as their father instead of saying they are Shivaay Singh Oberoi's daughters. My daughters will be my crown...My daughters..." Each and every line of his slashing the mucky thorns his family had dared to lay on my womb questioning the existence of the two I carried.

Shivaay leaning forward placing a fragile kiss on my womb impressing his love for them. A soft smile touching my lips feeling his love for our children merging into my heart allowing it to give strength to the tiny heartbeats of those I carried.

Still carrying fear, I continued to shake under his touch as he let his fingers drift against my protruding womb where the twins were making themselves visible to him. How can he change in such a manner? Moments ago, he was craving for death seen in how he held that gun continuing to fire it ready to take someone's life...and now here he is showing affection to two new lives that are soon to take birth.

My eyes lifting up towards our families who held a ray of shock unable to believe what they had just heard...They all appeared at disbelief beginning to eye my womb trying to grapple with the fact that we both are expecting twins something we both had not yet confessed to them. Tears holding me as I took a step away from Shivaay lowering my gaze feeling a sense of shame embrace me seeing how disappointment lingered on everyone finding distaste that I am expecting two.

"Two?...You are expecting twins?... Not one, but now two will hold stigma of being conceived out of wedlock! T-two lives will hold this blemish when they are born..." My mother finally speaking as she began to tremble finding herself nauseating over the twins not wanting to accept how I had put two lives on stake by daring to cross my boundary that she had drawn for me at birth...a boundary that prohibited me and shackled me to ill beliefs.

Pinky aunty's mouth widening as she took a step back holding the table behind her finding herself shaken by the thought that there is a possibility I may just gift her with two grand daughters. Daadi appearing to despise the thought of two girls as she began to growl finding herself indulging in a bout of temper.

"Two children! I cannot believe both of yours' act of irresponsibility has put two children's lives on stake! What will we tell society when t-they hear a-about Anika giving birth?! One child to face stigma was enough, but there are now two involved! You both...you both have done wrong by crossing your limits! Absolutely wrong!" Pinky aunty began to wail unraveling the actual reason that has been burdening her and pushed her to insult me today at the roka and now make her force me to do this puja.

My hand taking a hold of Shivaay's arm pulling him slightly back as he appeared to raise himself above his mother ready to blow the heat of his rage upon her continuing to build his hate for her. "Shivaay stop. Please...she is your mother and you have no right to continue to speak to her in such a manner and insult her..." I spoke softly to him slowly approaching him not trying to further incite him seeing his temper flushing red in his goblin eyes.

Pinky aunty letting out a smile as she drunk her tears holding an embittered taste in her mouth continuing to look at me finding herself amused by my statement. "Ab yaad aya ki mein iski Ma hoon? Why did you not remember I was his mother when you dared to speak in such a wrongful manner about me to him... when you dared to wrongfully blame me...trying to show me as if I am your enemy instead of one who is thinking well for both of you...I am thinking well in both of you conceiving a son and I will not back from this statement...I can see what kind of bahu you will be...I can see what kind of low upbringing you have had... The manner in which now you were wailing and screaming your complaints to my son shows how low you can stoop in trying to manipulate my son and shows what kind of background you belong to...Women like you only know how to lay a few crocodile tears and swindle rich men...just like you did with my son. Women like you can do anything to sell themselves off...undraping themselves shamelessly by putting a veil of innocence...ready to do anything for any man...who knows how many men have you been with besides Shivaay?...Women like you are sleeping with anyone....anytime-"

"Ma! How dare you?!" His screams suddenly jolting out of him ravishing him with a satanic shadow charging out of him. Blue eyes completely consumed with an ashed wickedness seen in red veins beginning to pop loose. His lips beginning to tremble violently with suddenly a loudly snarl engorging itself out him.

Then a screaming havoc came to life...A havoc that brought a euphoric hell to life.

His hands colliding against the glass table behind us making the large pots of haldi lunge up throwing themselves on the ground before hitting our callous flesh. Suddenly the table began to lift itself up with his hand taking a strong hold of it...with all his strength ready to use it as a weapon.

High pitched, deadly screams erupting from everyone as Pinky aunty began to stumble back quickly realizing her son was about to completely loose himself. My father and Thayya ji running to him trying to stop him, but he did not heed to anyone taking a hold of the large table beginning to raise it above his head towards Pinky aunty.

https://youtu.be/4fYWBezSfIs

"Shivaay stop! Stop!" I began to run towards him finding myself slipping against the flowers barely holding myself as I attempted to prevent him from creating further chaos. My eyes bulging up with pure horror grappling on to me reminding me of the image I saw outside with him holding that gun not once shaking, but instead embracing death.

"Stop! I beg of you please Shivaay...please!" My voice continuing to shake as I folded my hands in front of him trying to grapple his attention...attempting to get my voice across to him, but failing utterly at it because he is not mine at the moment. He is not.

His eyes barely meeting mine holding a hit of wicked acrimony finding himself somewhere softening seeing my pleas wanting to heed to them, but that shade...that awful, malevolent shade of his which never wants to let him go, but only make him suffer took complete control.

Suddenly, the table began to fly with his hands plunging themselves towards an empty set of the lawn. The table twirling itself as an inferno bursting and shattering loudly against the lawn with glass flying slight towards us. Screams of horror continuing to erupt from our families as Shivaay indulged in a sinister riot.

"How dare you speak such filth of my Anika?! How the hell dare you call my Anika such disgusting, vile words?! Look at yourself first! Look at you and look at Papa! You all have a loose character! You all are bloody swines who engorged on me and now dare to lay your vice on my wife! What you did to me in my childhood shows the obscene filth all of you are! All of you! You wronged me and now you will wrong my wife! You will wrong my children! You will try to stain the integrity of my family!"

He began to scream curses towards his parents with his hands taking a hold of the large sofa on the stage as he jumped on to it. His feet kicking themselves with full force against the sofa letting it tumble off the stage. Colliding against the frame of flowers behind them, he clawed his fingers against it before hurling it on the path of their parents letting it collapse on to the ground and shatter loudly with the petals cracking into withering pieces.

"Stop Shivaay! What is wrong with you?! How dare you threaten to hurt us?! Do you have no shame?! Huh! Do you have no shame for misbehaving with our parents?!" Om beginning to yell at him slamming his feet towards him finding himself enraged ready to pounce on his brother, but only for Gauri to stop in his steps not wanting him to go any further.

Shivaay beginning to breathe deeply as he moved his head back and forth looking for other objects which he could abuse and lay his wicked anger upon. His eyes bulging with a crimson, kindled fire wrapped with colossal rage.

"You the hell stay out of this! I warned you before right an hour ago and here you are trying to cross paths with me! Get out! Get out of my home!" He roared grabbing Om's collar pushing him back as he suddenly let out a loud snarl lunging back towards him only for the guards to grab hold of Om twisting his arms behind his back.

Shivaay letting out a series of laughter looking at Om as his parents began to reprimand him telling him to release Om, but his guards continuing to tighten their grasp on him. "You dared to ruin my reputation... You dared to ruin me now watch how I will ruin you tonight at the reception...Not only you in fact, but everyone will be ruined tonight at my reception... All those who dared to bring me down!" Shivaay beginning to make a preposterous claim with a sinister smile continuing to lurk on his lips indicative that he was weaving a very big game against his family whose victory he was going to reveal tonight at our reception.

Shivaay's guards beginning to drag Om out, and Gauri following him, while he continued to lunge curses at Shivaay allowing them to reach a hallow end because the man he was daring to harm was on his own path of horrendous wreckage.

Pure anger and rage intoxicating his senses fully driving him into a pure manic realm. His body trembling violently as he continued to drag his hands against the empty chairs spilling them down like dominoes while his guards attempted to control him, but failing at it. His hands swirling against the garlands of roses tearing them down and wrenching a euphoric dream...we both had dared to live moments ago at the haldi...

"You all dared to ruin my childhood... You all without any s-shame r-ruined me... You all ruined me...to a point that my past h-haunted me and I had to divorce my Anika for the sake of...... And now all of you have gained the audacity to point your damned lewd crap on my wife! W-what did you call my wife?! Huh! What did you call my wife?! How dare you question my wife's character!" He continued to scream that built up anger which he had been carrying for long. The bottle popping finally putting itself on a rampage wanting to spew its burns on others who had caused him pain....suffering.

Silence taking hold of me as I heard his blunt cut words which began to slash a curtain that he has always veiled his past...My body beginning to tremble hearing a tortured being come to life...a being that the man I loved always kept within him...unleashing at odd moments, but only to recoil...However, in this moment...this being is not taking itself in, but continuing to express an old, crittled rage that he always had kept.

Feeling my legs weaken, I stumbled back with a cramp erupting in my womb as I wrapped my hand around it before leaning back against a small pillar behind me. Fright taking hold of me continuing to see Shivaay wreck pure havoc with his hands smoldering against the bottles of champagne on the bar letting them shatter down on the ground with glass screetching itself loudly against out ears wailing in dire pain.

Past....?....A past that led him to leave me...to divorce me?...What past from his childhood forced him to leave me?...How is it that what happened in his past forced him to break that thread...vows...with me? How is his family involved in such? Confusion beginning to take hold of me wandering down to my heart that began to increase its beats profusely finding a sense of fear in the mystery that laid ahead...a mystery of his past entwined with our marriage's reckoning that occurred in the present.

I clasped my hand against my head continuing to wonder as our families began to indulge in a feisty war with one another.

"Shivaay beta stop! I beg you to stop this wreckage! Do not let the past consume you!" Daadi approaching him trying to sway him into giving up his temper and embracing composure which he had held for almost the entire ceremony. My eyes lifting up to Daadi seeing tears taking hold of her finding herself breaking down while seeing the sight of her grandson who was at the edge of vulnerability.

Lifting my gaze, I looked towards him with my heart falling in an instant not able to see him beginning to break down. Tears prevalent in his blue hues that attempted to hold on to his fury, but somewhat struggling because his past...that damned past which ruined our marriage...appeared to begin to run before him. His lips beginning to quiver as he held a candle vase in his hand ready to throw it wanting to impose his misery upon it and make it feel the same brutal pain that he has suffered for years.

My heart lifting me immediately up telling me to not give up on this man...to not give up because somewhere...he needs me in this moment. Despite how he has behaved just now with me and our families...despite how he held that gun outside embracing sin...The truth is that I am falling for him...and this love is not going to die easily. It is not. He is suffering...and he needs me just as I need him.

Gathering strength, I let my dupatta trail behind me slowly making my way towards him testing the waters trying to see if somewhere he had a need to be held...to be heard...He stood still continuing to hold the vase as our families behind us appeared to indulge in their own set of arguments.

His body flinching slightly sensing my presence as he kept looking straight ahead finding himself lost in his past that was leading tears to continue to drench his eyes burning them.

"Anika...do not go near him! He is not in his senses..." My father calling after me keeping his distance as I continued to make my way towards Shivaay who stood at a far distance from the rest of us.

Not wavering once to my father's voice, I continued to drag my feet against the ground holding my courage and having belief in my love that he will not harm me...He will not harm me that I know...The way he has let his rage come through because of what has just been spoken of me shows me...the level of respect, pride, and love he carries for me and our children.

"Shivaay...please stop...I know you are in pain...but do not harm yourself and others. I am right here for you and...please do not do this..." My voice shaking as I began to close the gap between us with tears running down my cheeks.

Take a step Anika...At times one has to drink a poison in order to save the other...This time drink that vicious creature's poison to relieve Shivaay from his clutches...You have to bring your Shivaay back from that cage of agony he has entered.

Closing the gap between us, I reached a stand still continuing to hear chaos behind us as somewhere our families were indulging in their own pitiful fights. Slowly moving my hand towards the candle vase, I grabbed a hold of it as he also held on to it tightly.

"Shivaay...I want you to stop please. I do not want you to get hurt...because I care for you and I need you and you are my everything...And to see you like this in pain, I cannot describe how I am feeling right now...I feel as if I cannot breathe...as if life has hit a pause...and I feel scared...scared of what will happen to you if I lose you to this side of yours'...So for the sake of me...our children...please stop..." I spoke in a bare whisper letting my heart speak my plea that is begging him for once to become the true Shivaay he is...the one he always has been...the one who does not rage, does not play with demons, does not commit sin...but one that loves and only knows how to love.

His eyes meeting mine with a small crack breaking in the creature he held. A light beat of his heart crackling through him reminding him that he must turn from his path and go back to the one that he has recently embraced...a path that will make him a better man. A sudden rush of guilt appearing to take over him with his gaze lowering finding himself as my culprit with a distaste beginning to enter his mouth over what he has become.

His grasp on the candle vase loosening allowing me to take hold of it as I saw his gaze continuing to lower not wanting to meet mine finding himself still reveling in shame in how he let his toxic side to consume him.

Taking the candle vase, I placed it on the table next to me before looking towards him as he kept still. My hand slowly wrapping into his letting the heat of our skins merge as I let our fate lines merge telling him that this time I am not going to part from him no matter what chaos may come be...his chaos to be exact.

We both reached complete silence as I continued to hear other members of our family indulge in arguments finding themselves feeding off the rageful atmosphere Shivaay had introduced with his own anger.

"Look how your daughter has changed my Shivaay! He has never dared to express such level of rage and anger the way he has done now!...This is the upbringing you have given your daughter! Are these the values you have given?....I am right....Your daughter is a manipulator...She is a hex that you have given birth to...Look at the way she has dared to tarnish the Oberoi name by conceiving two heirs who will face a stain of being out of wedlock..." Pinky aunty continuing to turn her foul mouth and lay more smut on my empty fabric of pride.

Keeping my silence, I wrapped my hand tightly into his while he swiveled in rage barely able to border an edge of patience. Shivaay continuing to tremble ravishing himself in anger ready to speak and reply to his mother, but only be stopped by the two howling women which appeared to lunge at Pinky aunty.

"How dare you question my upbringing?! I also can do the same with you in how you raised your son...My daughter is not the sole person to be blamed for what has happened...Your son too took part in indulging an affair with my daughter. Your son married my daughter without telling anyone else. Now, your son has conceived two children with my daughter...He willingly in complete senses took part in such! So, I can do the same by questioning what kind of values you gave your son that led to such?! Because my Anika never crossed her boundaries until she met your son...until he drove her to a point that she fore saked all her values for him!" My mother drawing out her complaints allowing them to rebuke Pinky aunty's claim.

Turning my gaze towards Shivaay, I noticed a sense of regret shading him as he kept his eyes low finding himself now beginning to revel in guilt...remembering how seemingly he had trapped me in a game...played with the concept of marriage...and then let me go to only return back. The memories appear ugly, but the truth behind them may be uglier...His childhood past is the reason why he divorced me...and if that past made him harm our marriage then perhaps it may just harm it again.

"Don't you dare blame our Shivaay for all of this...Absolutely not. Your daughter willingly got involved in this relationship with our son and the way she has behaved today in front of everyone...manipulating him with her tears and trying to over exaggerate the situation shows how your daughter may just be determined to create rifts in our family," Shakti uncle dragging a knife of hate against me as I felt his words question the remains of my pride. My hands trembling finding a sense of irk in his statement, but keeping quiet as I noticed Shivaay's eyes flame up with traces of anger. I tightened my hand's grip on his gesturing him to not say anything.

My father suddenly taking a step forward letting go of his typical passive voice and embracing a stronger one finding himself taking a stand for his opinion for once. "Anika was not wrong in standing up for her beliefs and for her children. The type of attitude that you and your family have displayed in favoring a male heir over a female heir shows the level of poor thinking all of your hold. In fact, you all are absolutely wrong in embracing this idea of doing a puja that supposedly will ensure that you will have a male heir...This is absolutely disgusting!"

A soft smile touching my lips as I looked at my father finding comfort in the thought that he is taking my side despite claiming to have fully deserted me as his daughter...How can he desert me? It is not like as if I am not his blood...I am his blood, thus, he can never leave me....can never abandon our father and daughter relationship. Never.

"Do not point your fingers at our class and malign our beliefs which are quite valid...There is nothing wrong in wanting a male child and we are thinking of Shivaay's better future. In our family, the oldest child get's control of business and if he has a daughter it will bring a huge loss to our family considering that daughter will take the assets to her in-laws...We cannot allow such to happen!" Daadi beginning to rant her repulsive values finally letting go of the mask she had been pretending to carry throughout our rituals...a mask that showed her to be a kindhearted woman, but rather she may just be the opposite.

"That is it! You can no longer continue to hold such barbaric beliefs and point your malicious fingers at our daughter! You have no right to insult my granddaughter...no right you old buddi!" Nani suddenly lashing out with her hands grabbing a pot of haldi.

My eyes widening as Nani grabbed a heavy chunk of the haldi beginning to enter a new personality like she always did...Her red eyes turning up appearing to become a bit wild as she let out a laugh and slapped the haldi on Daadi's face letting the yellow past slobber her completely dripping down her pearl white eyebrows before consuming its bitter taste in her mouth...making her look as a large twinkie bar or a clown

"Bibi! What have you done?!" My mother exclaiming immediately pulling her back as suddenly Daadi let out a wicked shriek before pouncing towards her ready to wrestle her to the ground.

Shock running through me as I looked towards Shivaay who appeared to have completely dazed out lost in his own thoughts not paying any attention to the havoc that now was erupting before us with our families wrapping themselves into a blistering, tornado of fury.

"You pagal buddi! How dare you disrespect me in such a manner?! Do you know who I am?!" Daadi screaming dragging her hands around Nani's shoulders before grabbing another pile of haldi slamming it on Nani's cheeks ready to claw her skin out.

Shivaay's arm wrapping around me instantly as he took a step back trying to protect me as the rest of our family members began to jump upon one another ready to indulge in their own feud.

"Shivaay stop them please..." I whispered to him beginning to shake with adrenaline rushing through me finding horror in how our wedding was facing its own destruction due to us and our families.

He kept silent finding himself somewhat amused by the situation appearing to like the chaos because this chaos appeared to give him justice...the insults his family was beginning to face in violent curses from my family members acting as a source of healing for him...because somewhere his own family has wronged him.

"Don't you dare touch my wife! All of you are abhorrent and vile people in which my granddaughter has gotten trapped in! I know all of your history....your sick past and I know what kind of low horrendous people you all are who only commit sin! Only sin!" Nana inciting layers of confusion within me as I felt his lines trigger a domino of questions within me. Nana knows their past?...What past does he know? Maybe he might know what happened to Shivaay in his childhood...the way he was looking at Shivaay as if he knew him from before...Nana knows...maybe also Nani.

A tide of shock running through me as I began to dive in thoughts thinking of ways my family may be connected with Shivaay from long before....How somewhere his past is connected to my family...A sharp pain igniting in my temple as I began to feel slightly dizzy leaning against Shivaay as he held me close appearing to have completely let go of his raging creature.

"Now I know why your daughter is like this! Why Anika has lack of values and morals...She is like all of you! Completely low class...All of you including Anika are savages who have no concern about honor and integrity! You all can sell your soul to the devil if it meant to fulfill your greedy desires...All of you are using my son Shivaay for your financial gain and manipulating him to support all of you especially your damned daughter! Anika is a curse that we have to take because of our heirs or else we would have never taken her! Never!" Pinky aunty beginning to place bricks of lies on my character wanting to mold it the way she see's it...Her words slightly piercing agonizing my inner being that cherished my pride, but not shocking considering how much more she spoke moments ago...claiming me to be a...woman of the nights so they speak.

"Let me teach you a lesson of insulting an Oberoi!" Pinky aunty dipping her hands into haldi before plunging on to my mother grabbing her jaw and smothering her face with yellow paste attempting to disgrace her dignity.

Then without any reason, Thayyee ji struck her arm at Pinky aunty's face driving her to bounce back as a round ball colliding on to sofa behind her. A gasp erupting from me with my hands clasping against my mouth stunned as Pinky aunty's nose began to ooze small amounts of blood. Shakti uncle and Daadi immediately coming to her rescue as Shivaay kept his ground not once showing any empathy or concern for his mother...distancing himself from her.

"That is it you hathi! I will teach you a lesson....Enough is enough! How dare you humiliate our daughter and our family?! How dare you try to ruin Anika's wedding by inciting such cruel level of drama which not only maligned her, but also cursed her children! You have all the wealth you need yet you carry such a pitiful heart which cannot forgive nor forget!" Thayee ji leaping up on her grabbing her neck as screams erupted from everyone else completely flabbergasted on the clownery that was taking place.

"Thayyee ji stop! Please let go of her!" My hands wrapping tightly around her back trying to pull her away as Shivaay grumbled following me and taking a hold of his mother trying to get her released from my aunt.

"Thayya ji please help!" I called out to him who sat in the corner finding himself completely intoxicated in liquor out in his own daze not giving a damn of what was happening in front of him.

My hands pulling on Thayyee ji's shoulders as I pressed my entire force on to them before pulling her back only to let her lunge towards a table carrying more bowls of haldi.

"Let me teach this two rupees ki chudaail a lesson!" Thayyee ji consumed with vengeance as her skin shot bright red with her hands taking a hold a bowl and beginning to pour the yellow paste on Pinky aunty's face making her shriek loudly.

"Anika stay away from them! They have gone mad!" Shivaay ordering me pushing me back gently as the women of our families began to indulge in a pure physical fight.

Violent, bloody, punches blowing as Daadi grabbed Nani smacking her arm loudly before Nani took a hold of her hair. The two elderly women beginning to turn on their feet as twisters bumping into Shivaay before tumbling down on the floor.

"Nani please don't do this! I beg of you!" I called out to her trying to get involved only for Shivaay to hold me back with his arm wrapping around my waist tightly trying to keep me under his leaf of safety.

"Anika you have to stay safe. Go inside the home now!" He commanded me as he gestured the body guards to separate Daadi and Nani who were beginning to come to blows at each other as Nani slobbered the yellow paste on Daadi's face only for Daadi to turn Nani on to the ground and hit her chest.

Haldi beginning to scramble and scatter itself like egg yolk with the yellow liquid swirling itself across each and every corner of the lawn seeping the green shades into pure yellow. Women continuing to lay their wrath upon one another using the haldi as a key weapon of agonizing and maligning each other.

"Your son impregnated our daughter! First look at your class you nagin! What kind of values you taught your son?! He has no respect for the institution of marriage!" My mother screaming her curses at Pinky aunty while beginning to insult Shivaay. Feeling slightly anxious, I immediately turned to Shivaay expecting him to be irked by the language utilized by my mother, but instead he was chewing on his last straw of patience.

"Oh acha?! Lekin tumhari beti baagi thi ghar se! Meri nahin! Humare ghar ki betiyaan ke paas asi khatiya sanskaar nahi hain!" Pinky aunty lashing a weak grime against me and before Shivaay could speak against her, my mother slammed her haldi filled hands against her chest slamming her against the pillar behind her.

"Now I will teach you a lesson, you nagin! Let me show you what a low life you are!" My mother jumping on Pinky aunty's back beginning to rub haldi on her face as Thayyee let out a series of crackled giggles finding herself amused. Shakti uncle and my father leaping towards them attempting to take them off of each other, but failing as the two women scratched and claw each other with their nails. Unusual, high pitched shrieks erupting from both drenching themselves with the yellow paste...they began to mold themselves into pure wild cats out for a fight.

"Kitni badhi saand hai! Ab hum tujhe banaye ge bhootni!" Thayyee grabbing haldi beginning to pour it on to Pinky aunty who began to scream feeling the cool paste sending vibrant chills throughout her body.

Letting myself go out of Shivaay's grasp, I began to run towards the three women who continued to smolder each other with haldi without any shame. "Please stop! Stop making a fool of both of yourselves!" I began to yell at the three trying to separate Pinky aunty from my mother who continued to smack her hands on Pinky aunty's face. Thayyee ji grabbing another pint of haldi throwing it down on Pinky aunty as she yelped like a small wet puppy.

My eyes lifting towards Shivaay who began to fume in anger finding himself infuriated by how our families were now creating pure chaos by ruining each and every decoration for the wedding with their selfish desire of proving themselves being better than the other.

Suddenly our fathers erupted in an argument with Shakti uncle taking a tight grasp of my father's shirt ready to blow a flame at him.

"This is why we were invited to the haldi to get insulted!" My father screaming loudly at Shakti uncle whose eyes darkened red not liking the tone of disrespect. His hand lifting up and suddenly colliding against my father's jaw.

"No we should ask that considering how low your family has behaved today! You all have showed what a low class all of you are from!" Shakti uncle growling loudly as Shivaay immediately took hold of trying to pull him away from my father who began to push Shakti uncle with full force.

"You are low! You were trying to convince my daughter to sit in rituals to conceive a boy! I spit on all of you!" My father throwing his spit on Shakti uncle as Shivaay attempted to barricade himself between both of the drunk men who were slurring their rage and continuing to be on the edge of killing one another.

A heave of panic escaping from me as I looked at our fathers beginning to indulge in a full blow out of anger. They began to tumble and fall against the tables which collided and fell leading to loud shattering sounds to erupt from the glass being broken.

I held on to Pinky aunty tightly trying to prevent her from lunging towards my mother who continued to curse smut upon her. "You are an irresponsible mother who could never raise your son right! He married my daughter only to leave her and now he has made her pregnant out of wedlock! Your son is at fault for luring my daughter in despite her being engaged to another man!" My mother spitting at Pinky aunty who grumbled as she attempted to push herself against me sliding against the wet lawn continuing to pounce her way towards my mother.

"Pinky aunty please stop this! You are the mature one, so please stop!" I began to beg Pinky aunty trying to raise reality into her knowing she might become convinced considering my mother is now fully consumed with avenging her for the dishonor she has faced at the haldi today.

"Let go of me you hex! I do not want you to touch me!" Pinky aunty for one last time letting her fury spill out and suddenly the back of her arms collided with a wrenching, blunt force against my womb. My feet pushing themselves against the lawn trying to grab support, but they began to slip dragging me down.

A loud shrill escaping from me with a haunting image coming forth in my memory reminding me of the day I had lost Chaaya due to my irresponsibility. My hand wrapping around my womb in an instant trying to protect myself as my body immediately collided hard against the ground.

Loud howls escaping from me with a stinging pain erupting in my ankle as I wrapped my hand around it. A small cramp making its way in my womb while I laid on my back barely having escaped from the twins being harmed. Haldi continuing to streak upon my face as our families found themselves consumed in a destructive carnality letting the yellow grace to transform itself into muck as it flew wildly up in the air.

My body beginning to shake with adrenaline continuing to run through my veins inciting my anxiety twirling over the twins as I felt my body flush red feeling my blood pressure was now rising each and every second. Pain continuing to throb in my ankle as I winced slightly trying to raise myself up.

My eyes wandering to Shivaay who reached a sudden halt with his anger now fully gone as sheer panic flushed him pale. Shock tensing its way through him finding himself riffling in a wave of convulsion. He began to run towards me reflecting tears of worry unable to grasp on the fact that we both merely had escaped a moment of losing our child once again.

"Anika! Anika...are you okay?!" His arms wrapping around me pulling me into an embrace as he lifted me slightly up from the ground. Latching my hand around my womb, I felt it lightly tremble, but the cramps appeared to go away with only an ache holding tightly onto my ankle. His heated hand brushing against my ankle seeing it become a crimson shade.

A sudden boiling of my temper occurring churning its way into me as I looked at Shivaay now trying to show his concern towards me. The chaos behind us still continuing to build itself up reminding me how Shivaay had been the prime cause of it...how he had brought his wretched demon on to the ground and indulged in a rampage of destroying and killing each and every lifeless object wanting to unleash his temper in such a manner.

"Anika speak to me! Are you having any pain?! We should get you to the doctor! My God...what if something happened to the twins?! Anika I am so sorry...this is all my fault...You fell because of me...Why do I always do this? Why do I always hurt others? Why?!" His hands trailing quickly down my shoulders as he looked at my womb intently with tears rummaging themselves out of his eyes reflecting a fearful father that was awakening within him. His scrambling lines not making sense as he began to shake violently finding himself at fault....Yes, he is at fault for starting this riot, but how is he at fault that I fell?

"Shivaay I am fine and the twins are okay as well..." I spoke softly to him looking into his eyes trying to get my words across, so he would not panic more. He began to tremble with his hands shaking as he slid them up to my cheek and down my arms continuing to stare at the twins who laid in the quilt of my womb finding themselves unfazed from the fall.

Always hurting others?...Who else has he hurt? My eyes lowering to his kurta seeing his gun peeking itself out...Alarm ringing itself loudly within my ears as I began to remember how he had taken that gun out and not once trembled while holding it.

His screams catching off the others from their brawl as silence began to break itself apart through them. Their eyes turning towards me as I attempted to lift myself up with Shivaay's arm immediately wrapping around my waist. Taking my weight upon him, he punctured his own power lifting me up from the ground as I limped slightly wincing in the stabbing pain of my ankle.

"Anika beta what happened?! How did you fall?!" Daadi quickly running towards me with her eyes wandering to my womb upon which she greeded without shame wanting a male heir. Her greed inciting her worry, not sympathy, but just pure gluttony.

Feeling slightly repulsed by the thought, I snatched my arm from Shivaay's grasp feeling irked knowing that he is the prime cause of the pure ruckus our families indulged in. His manic moment in which he brought destruction somewhat incited an energy in the rest to also commit the same deed.

Pinky aunty and my mother reaching a sudden halt from their battle letting go of one another before looking at me with horror realizing I had fallen. They quickened their pace towards the me showing some sense of worry not over me, but the two I am carrying within me.

"Are you fine? Do you need to go to the doctor? I think it is better we call a doctor...What if they got harmed?" Pinky aunty's tone lowering with concern appearing to fail to remember that her push had landed me on the ground. Her eyes softening subtly showing a root of empathy as she proceeded to place her arm around me only for Shivaay to take a hold of it firmly and twist it away in the air.

My eyes meeting Shivaay seeing not the typical creatures which enticed him into embracing a completely odd, ugly shade...but someone different. His blues hues holding a pint of fatherhood that was weaving a nest of protection...pursuing him to take a stand for me and our children and secure our wellbeing....a tinge of love gliding across his eyes forcing him to embrace a vivid clout of vehemence.

"Do not even attempt to touch my Anika nor my children! You are the reason why she fell on the ground! I saw you pushing her and now you are pretending to be innocent and show care for her!...You want to harm my family now...Before you and Papa ruined my childhood...my life...and now you want to spoil my family...y-you want to harm m-my Anika...my children!" Shivaay holding a loud tempo of his voice despite its chords having a minimal tremble to it. His arm wrapping around my shoulder pulling me into the warmth of his chest portraying as if he would let me go...his family would feed on me as some wild beasts as somewhere they are not human...somewhere they lack humanity.

Ruined his childhood...his life? My mind diving deeper into the mystery that was now fully consuming me putting me on a trail of clues that had seemingly unraveled themselves in this entire brawl which had erupted...clues that lead to the reason why Shivaay left me...

"Well said! I cannot believe you would try to hurt our daughter in such a manner! Not only you, but your entire family has become determined to cause harm to our daughter and her future children...You all are selfish people only wanting to fulfill uncouth desires such as wanting male heirs!" My father spatting while my mother grabbed on to his shoulder gesturing him to keep quiet becoming aware they stretched the situation more than it had been necessary to do such.

"Shivaay what are you saying?...I would never want to harm your children...nor Anika in the process of hurting your heirs. Beta you are my everything...you are my first born...why would I try to ruin your life?...You are the dearest to me Shivaay...and what happened to you as a child was out of our control...I am just concerned about your future which is why I was trying to convince Anika for the puja..." Pinky Aunty's eyes holding tears once again indicative that somewhere an old wound had been gashed again due to a subtle reminder Shivaay had given about his childhood.

She loves him that I can see right now in her eyes...That mother's love which at times can get selfish, but is the most unadultered, pure gem which is only borne in the womb once seeded is one that I have experienced and that Pinky Aunty also holds within her.

Shivaay shaking his head taking a deep breath attempting to push down his rising temper for my sake aware that I had found distaste in how he had behaved second ago in a moment of wrath. Letting out a weak smile, he drank his tears back finding himself feeling the nails of his wounds from the past that he had coffined. His hand sliding down my wrist colliding against my bangles before enveloping my palm making everyone aware that he still stands by me despite how he dared to insult me in front of others.

"Ma...you and everyone else only know how to cause pain...cause suffering. I know it firsthand what you all do in your subtle manipulation...in how you weave webs...and trap innocence for your own benefits...just like what you did to me. The way all of you have dared to cross your limits today and spew such wrongful claims that are purely obscene and lewd against my wife indicates that you all are still determined to claim your command over me once again....to run me on your fingers once again...to make me submit to you once again...You want to snatch my Anika and my children away from you, so I could be alone again...So, I could continue to die in this life until my last breath...Why are you all after me? Are you that repulsed by me...that you all do not even want my happiness....?n" His voice curdling its cracks as I felt tears touch me hearing a sneak peek into his childhood feeling a jolt from the fact that Shivaay may never have had a normal childhood...that somewhere his childhood holds the key to why he is like this...why he has a hatred for his family...why he does not respect relationships...why he had those addictions...why he is this dominant...his past holds the key.

https://youtu.be/Kg_Yk1yyqBY

"I will say one damn thing that you all will not even dare to utter a word against my Anika! Do you all hear me?! How dare you all question her character when you all are full of damned filth yourselves! You all are the most obscene and immoral people I have ever met and the fact that you all dared to malign my Anika and taint my children with your malice...I will never forgive you for this! Never! None of you can be like my Anika...not one of you! She is innocent...She is pure...and she has always vowed her loyalty to me! I can vouch for her innocence and her clean, unadultered, untainted character! She has always been mine and will always be mine. But, you know what? I will not further explain myself nor my Anika to all of you because you all are just mere insolent creatures who cannot even be called human...And for once I thought that perhaps all of you were happy for me...but thank you for immediately erasing this misconception. I mean even on this day...this day that I have longed for years to return...prayed for so I could reunite with my Anika...this very day you all decided to ruin it...All of you..." His words laying a bed of hypocrisy making me slightly cringe as I squirmed my hand against his palm not even wanting to continue being a displayed trophy that he had won...a trophy that did not rebuke him...speak against him...but only allowed him to insult.

Shivaay they did not ruin your day, but you yourself ruined it by creating this reckoning from which we both cannot now escape. If only you had dared to encase that demon within you and not allow yourself to be embroiled in rage...maybe things would be different right now...Maybe all our families would not have indulged in such a bitter war with each other.

Turning towards Shivaay, I snatched my hand out of his grasp catching him off guard as he appeared bewildered by how I was dropping a submissive mask I have been wearing for too long.

A heat of ire wrapping its way around me with my small temper beginning to bubble and boil into a large mass attempting to pull me down, but only to push itself out in a series of rambling, cursing statements that were now erupting from my mouth. "Shivaay you ruined this day for me! You started all of this!...Not only did you insult me, but you insulted each and every member of both of our families by failing to control your damned anger! Without any shame...any regrets...despite knowing you have a problem...you bravely gorged down on that bottle of whiskey in front of everyone! In front of our children that I am carrying....Is this the example you will to set for our children? Do you want to be a damned alcoholic all your life?!...The root cause of this pathetic, deplorable violence that just has taken place at your hands...is due to this alcohol! This wretched alcohol that consumes you to a point that you do not even know what you are doing! Just like what you did two weeks ago...when you told everyone about us! Our past!"

My hands immediately lunging towards the array of champagne bottles laying on the bar counter. Shivaay's arm grabbing a tight hold of mine trying to pull me out of my temper that was now running a frenzied rhythm taking complete control of my senses to a point of forcing me to become toxic just like my lover.

"Anika stop! You will get hurt please do not do such!" Shivaay trying to hold his order over me expecting I would listen, but no I will not. He needs to learn that he has wronged today and he needs a lesson.

Letting my hands collide against the champagne bottles, I let them drop one by one off the counter with the pieces of glass erupting off the ground shattering loudly scratching everyone's ears.

"Anika beta stop! What are you doing?!" Thayya ji intervening gaining conscious from his drunk state while Thayyee tried to take hold of my shoulders as I snatched myself away from her grasp.

My hands pushing themselves lightly against Shivaay's chest forcing him to stumble back against the entrance of the tent while I slightly limped making my way towards him. A creature of malice tempting me to fully let go and for once incite the same level of anxiety...fear...and hopelessness that he at time dares to pierce through me with a syringe of bane.

Our families reachinh a complete silence finding themselves quite stunned in how I was taking a reign of a man who had embraced a malignant, diseased phantom which set layers of temptations to commit to transgressions.

His gaze lowering as he kept his ground beginning to find some sense of shame in his act finding the toxic alcohol wearing its effects off of him and reality purging on to him. He needs to know he is wrong...As his partner, I have to let him know where he commits his errs and let him know what place I hold in his life...He has to know.

"Shivaay you had promised me to give me respect...honor...and love as your wife...and look it has only been a few days since you made this promise and it already has been broken. I mean you did not even wait until our wedding ended to break this promise..." Going back in memory, I began to remember the numerous times he made this promise when he proposed to me on the rooftop of the hospital...when he made that promise to my father who was on verge of death...when he made love to me...He promised...were those promises just hallow artifacts? Who knows? Who the hell knows?

Pinky aunty taking a step forward finding herself freed from her fury now appearing to reach reasoning once again. Her hand brushing against my shoulder as she looked towards the both of us while we continued looking into each other's eyes trying to find a way to build a brick of trust on which we could continue our wedding.

"Anika...what are you saying? You are pregnant with Shivaay's children...You are on the verge of becoming his wife and claiming your children's legitimacy. Your wedding is in five hours and here you are questioning my Shivaay...He is doing so much for you. He is protecting you and standing for you the way he has never done for anyone. Anyone! Do you know how torturous this haldi was for him? Do you know the past...this haldi holds...the dark symbolism this haldi holds for him?...He bore thorns today in this haldi Anika...and look how you are treating him...For once try to give him benefit of the doubt...For once try to show some sympathy to my son!" Pinky aunty's lines igniting confusion within me as I immediately looked towards her with curiosity encountering a sense of mystery in her eyes that she was trying her best to hold within herself, but wanting to reveal it to me.

Haldi was a torture to him?...It holds a symbolism?...What is she saying? Is it because of his marriage to Tia or something else?...I do not understand any of this. I do not at all...His childhood and now this haldi...what past does he hold with both that perhaps makes him this way?

Even if it does...he still has wronged me today and I have to change him...I have to. If his past has made him this way then I cannot just allow him to continue to be on the wrong path of humanity...I have to change him.

We kept still looking into each other's eyes trying to hunt for that euphoric ecstasy that somewhere had put us on a high in which we divulged in a fantasy believing we easily had filled our flaws and are now perfect humans who are just trying to love.

His hand trailing itself towards mine trying to take a hold of it as I snatched it away not wanting him to manipulate me again...not wanting his sorry...not wanting to even listen to his crap because that is only what he speaks of.

He began to speak his truth which somewhere appeared to be free of his toxic play on words with his eyes meeting mine. "Anika...I know how much all of this means to you and I was trying...I was trying to ensure you are able to experience each and every ritual because I know how much all of this means to you and how much you value marriage. You have a right to be part of these traditions...You have a right to be known as my wife to each and every person. You have a right to upheld in a status as my wife..."

Wrapping my hands into my hair, I took a deep breath throwing it up in the air feeling waves off frustration rushing up to my heart forcing it for once to give up naivity and question the man in front...for once stand up to him and let him know how he with own hands is now slowly placing dirt on my love wanting to take it to the grave again...

https://youtu.be/QYCg0nHa58M

"If I have a right then why do you not treat me as your wife?! Do I deserve to be yelled at in such a manner and be handled in a way that you did in front of everyone? Do I deserve to have the dirty laundry of our relationship to be waved out in front of everyone else? Should we not deal with our issues in private?...You know what is worst...the worst is when the whole world is against the person you love...and you depend on that one person you love to protect you...to safeguard you...to respect you...to love you...because that is the only person you have...and for me you are that person. Shivaay you are that person who I do my best to trust upon because you are the only one I have right now...The only one...Everyone has left me except you...and so I never would have thought you would treat me and insult me in this manner in front of everyone else. I never would have thought that after everything that went down between us, you would once again disrespect your promise to me...I mean if you could not uphold this promise for even two damn weeks...then how can I believe that you will uphold your vows as my husband? How can I trust that you will be a good father if you are drinking yourself away despite telling me that you will get help and are getting help...? How? Tell me...how can I trust you?..."

Dead silence embracing us both as I felt the wind roll its way by with rain beginning to pour its way down ominous of the future we both may hold with each other. A small smile touching my lips as I looked into his hallow eyes that held hesitation trying to ponder and scavenge for an answer to my question...to prove that he can be trusted upon...but he failed. The answer did not come. Tears took hold of his eyes as he veiled them with a reddened layer of bewilderment trying to puzzle together a way to take my trust...but failing.

"See...you do not even know how to take the first step of building trust. You do not...All you can do is just stand here and continue to find ways to manipulate me, but for once not try to reflect within yourself and think in a genuine manner on how you can build trust in me or even begin the first step to it...Then how can I marry you if you have not even taken the first step to build trust?" I spoke letting my voice hitting a loud echo igniting its own sea of storms...announcing that perhaps the wedding everyone has been waiting for may just not happen...It may not just go through.

Shivaay's eyes widening with the surge of my threat jolting through him running a current through his heart that for once has begun to beat a life called love. His skin turning a swiveling odd mix of pale and red as he found his temper hit his demon while fear hit his heart. His eyes beginning to wander trying to figure a way of pulling me back into his trap that he somewhere has weaved with quite elegance around me...a trap found in the ways he gave me gifts to control me...made love to me to reign me...and claimed sweet nothings to tame me.

But he does not know that this Anika is changing. That this time Anika may listen to his insults, but she will give him an answer when the time is right just like I did now. When his anger let go of him and his senses took over...is when I will bring him back to the truth...to the right path.

"Come to me when you have an answer..." A weak smile touching my lips as I looked towards our families who held traces of anger to fear to pure horror over what I had just spoken...over how I have dared to end this wedding that they all have longed to fulfill to satisfy their selfish egos that will fulfill their crowns of honor or pride.

Taking a small step, I began to limp slightly seeing Shivaay's hands reach forward only to stop as I raised my hand to him drawing a boundary just like he did to my family when he handled me in a manner he should not have.

Limping slightly, I trailed my dupatta behind me feeling a blunt, sharp pain rooting its way in my ankle, but mild compared the aches of malign spreading through my flesh. Each and every bolded curse...each and every muck thrown in words...each and every unraveling of my character continuing to pierce me as thorns and further inciting a mixture of rage with a tempered hopelessness that perhaps the taint that has brushed against my womb may never be removed. Never.

Shivaay's Point of View

No....No. She cannot leave me like this. She cannot leave me...I cannot allow her to give up on me. After so long she is finally going to be mine and now hours before...how can she even try to bring up the possibility of our wedding not happening...No. She deserves my trust...my respect...my love and God I failed today. I failed once again.

How could I just have gone against my own promise and dared to insult her in such a manner? How could I? How could I drink alcohol despite telling her that I will quit and that I am getting help?...

My heart beginning to increase its beats as it began to drop finding itself losing its bare ground on which it had tried to weed love into. A tortured scream erupting in my ears reminding me of that fateful haldi night when I was fifteen...when I lost everything....everything including myself...My hands clasping against my ears trying to remove the scream as I began to tremble finding a thread of anxiousness leaping itself and weaving around me tightly...suffocating me... t continuing to remind me of those wretched laugh...those screams...those cries.

No...Anika is the only one I have...Everyone else left me after that night...after that only Anika came and then Chaaya...these two are the only ones I have. No...I cannot let Anika go. No.

"Anika! Anika please do not leave me! Anika! I am sorry Anika!" I began to scream my words to her as she continued to make her way down the lawn not once looking back though tempted to as she looked at my reflection in the lake down below sensing that I was calling out to her.

A look of astonishment reaching my family hearing my apology that I began to continue to yell after Anika. Suddenly that fifteen year old Shivaay began to laugh in my ears taunting me how everyone left me before...and how Anika is now leaving me again...how a man like me can never be loved... never loved...how only I am repulsive being that cannot even be called mortal.

Smashing my feet against the wet grass, I continued to call after her quickening my pace while she began to run up the stairs trailing the orange hues of her dupatta and yellow hues of her haldi against the stairwells while the wind began to blow against the both of us trying to push us away...the storm a reminder of that exact fateful haldi night when my entire life changed twenty years ago...all of it.

Trekking my feet up the stairwells, I made my way inside seeing her disappearing down the hallway with her footsteps implying her continued fury that she was beginning to build against me.

"Sir wait...We have something very important to tell you..." My guard calling after me as I immediately stopped taking hold of the pillar behind me trying to take a breath finding myself winded from the chaos that had ensured moments ago.

Confusion hitting me as I snapped back towards him feeling tempered by how he was interfering already in a tough situation that I am in. Brody appearing to hesitate somewhat as he kept a stern expression before looking into my eyes ready to reveal another dreadful news.

"Nandish Sharma...is coming to your wedding tonight. He landed at the airport in the morning then proceeded to do certain tasks around town...Such as what happened with Anika ma'am...He planted that as his man confessed after you caught him...He was invited by your father to the wedding and he has full intentions to come..."

My back hitting the pillar behind me as I began to hear the screams in my ears from that fateful haldi night when I turned fifteen...that night where he also was there. That man...that man named Nandish Sharma...the father of my ex-wife Tia Sharma.

_______

Chapter 42 is the complete wedding chapter....How will Anika get married to Shivaay? How will she become convinced? Find out because the vows may just happen in Part 1....

I will say Shivaay's reaction in the beginning of the chapter is due to his past that forces him to go in a mode of protecting Anika no matter what...He wants to protect her image and reputation not only for his selfish sake, but because somewhere in his past, he has seen how the world treats those who have suffered a bad reputation...He just wants Anika to be safe away from the world and free from judgement. It is an odd psychology and I completely disagree with it shown in Anika's voice at the end in which she finally decides to give it back to him. Her last scene is the beginning of her change in her character and she will further become stronger once she reunites with Chaaya.

This is a whole big mystery. As confessed by Shivaay's family and Shivaay himself...the reason why he left Anika is connected to his childhood and this is also a reason why Chaaya disappeared and why Shivaay was forced to divorce Anika. Once Tia's father is introduced and now we have Anika's grandparents, this mystery will begin to slowly be revealed starting right from the next chapter and chapters after that. The wedding chapters are key to understanding this mystery. This mystery will now slowly be revealed and this is one big mystery in which each and every character is involved in Shivaay's childhood and why Shivaay left Anika...again each and every character is involved. This is one big mystery and now it will slowly begin to be revealed with many new shocking twists and turns right from the wedding chapters, so do read the wedding chapters!

If you have a friend waiting to read the wedding chapter then let them know the wedding is starting right from the next update, Chapter 42 where big twists and turns will happen! Anika also has a past just like Shivaay and these pasts are connected to Shivaay's childhood and why Shivaay left Anika....so do tune in and thank you for reading :)

Thank you for reading :)

See you hopefully next week and until then take care and I wish you all good health and stay safe :)

-Ciao!

-Jasmine