-: Rajeshri :-

This was a mistake, I knew it. But it was the only option I had left. Shamrat ji wasn't ready to listen to me and I would never marry him. Duad was my future, only him no one else.

I gazed down at my palms where the fresh henna had been emblemed. The color was very dark and Sakshi's voice ran in my mind.

'The mehendi gas appeared very dark. I am sure Pradhan ji will love you to the moon and back.'

Love, my foot! I loved only Daud and no one else.

My grip on the bag tightened as I stood in a dark corner of the bus stand, waiting for the bus to come. It was the last bus of the day, and I would reach him within a few hours. Daud's last words still rang in my ears.

"Its the last option left darling. You have to come. I love you, you know that right?"

"Why can't you come Daud?" I pleaded, wringing my fingers into the dress.

"You know I can't. They have banished me from your village. And the guards that pradhan had assigned for you. They wouldn't let me even see you, before fixing a bullet to my skull."

"But Daud, how will I escape alone from here!?Pradhan ji have kept guards." I whispered on the phone.

"Mix sleeping pills in their food. And pack everything Rajeshri. Every jewellery that bloody Pradhan had sent for you. They will come handy for us in future," he reasoned.

"No, I don't want anything from him." I argued.

"Don't be silly dear. It would be helpful for our bright new future," Daud insisted and I finally compiled.

Taking the bag, I packed a few clothes, and a picture of ma and baba.

"I am sorry baba, but this is the only way left. I love you and I will come back," saying this I kissed the picture and stuffed it in the bag.

The jewellery came next, which was a difficult task. Pradhan ji had sent atleast a dozen gold braclets, necklaces and rings. Packing all of them was kind of difficult for me in the not so big bag, but I managed. I kept the phone inside the drawer and hid the bag below my bed.

It was 9 pm, and I still had 2 hours left with my parents.

And here I was standing in cold, with the bag on my shoulder. I had pretended to talk to ma that I had accepted my fate, to sneak into the kitchen. Her eyes had glistened with tears of joy and she had kissed me on my forehead. The guilt in my chest had magnified but I buried it in.

I didn't met Adi, didn't know where he was. May be ma and baba had decided to keep him away from me, for a few days.

But the most difficult task was to look at baba for the last time. He was talking with the catteres about arranging the meals properly for the guests.

I couldn't dare to look in his eyes and lie. So without giving him a second glance, I had went to give food to the guards.

The cold wind deranged my hair, and I tucked it behind my ears. Goosebumps broke out on my skin, at the chilling breeze.

Finally after waiting for a few minutes the bus arrived and I climbed up. There was only a few daily traders and the bus was almost empty. I covered my face with the shawl and tightened the hold on my bag. They looked creepy.

Taking the seat just beside the door, I snugged in the bag beside me. It had my everything and I couldn't risk it. The bus finally started and I gave a last look to my village.

God knows when I will get the opportunity to come here next.

As soon as the bas started, I instantly started regretting my decision. I would miss ma and baba, but what worst was I was betraying them. They would never forgive me. I softly wiped a lone tear, and covered myself fully with the shawl.

Was this the right decision? I didn't know. But I had to do this.

Leaning my head on the glass panel, I kept my gaze on the road. It wouldn't take much time to reach the nearby town  where Daud was staying. Roughly 1 hour. My eyes started drooping but I jolted upstraight.

I couldn't sleep now. This was dangerous.

Althroughout the journey I kept my senses alert. Looking every where every now an then. The next stopage and my destination would arrive within 10 mins, so I tightened my grip on the bag and looked at the wrist watch.

12:30 am.

Finally it was time to see Daud. Even in the midst of regreat and fear, my heart fluttered. Loving Duad wasn't a mistake, and I would prove that to my parents and Shaskshi.

As soon as the bus stopped, I hopped down from it, and saw Daud standing there, with a small smile on his face.

I ran towards him and leaped myself on him, hiding my face in his chest and  tightening my arms around his torso.

"I missed you," I sniffled.

He nodded and stroked my head lovingly. I casted my eyes up at his mesmerizing stell orbs and my breath hitched. They were so enchanting.

"Lets go darling. I have prepared everything for you," he whispered and left a chaste kiss on my forehead.

Entangling my fingers with his, he pulled me towards a auto which was already waiting for us. We settled down on our seat and he encircled his hand around my shoulder. Wearniness was already taking it's toll on me, so I leaned my head on his shoulder and drifted off to sleep.

*******

My eyes fluttered opened when I felt someone holding me up. My body jolted in surprise and I saw Daud was carrying me in his arms.

"Duad, what ar...?" It was making me uncomfortable.

"Shh, go back to sleep. We are here," he murmured and rubbed his nose on my cheek.

"Put me down Daud," I asked and he complied.

Sitting down on the soft bed, I looked around the room. It was a shady looking hotel and my face scowled in disapproval. Why was I here?

"What happened sweetheart?" he asked, and gripped my waist.

"Why did you bring me bere Daud? Won't we go to your apartment?" I asked. That was our original plan.

"We can't go there darling. That is the first place that bloody pradhan will look for, as soon as he find you missing. So we are gonna stay here for tonight and tomorrow early morning, we would go to temple and get married. After the wedding no one would have the right to separate us," he said, and kissed my temple.

I nodded and gave a tender smile. He retuned it and nudged my neck with his nose. Shivered ran down my spine and I looked at him with hooded eyes.

"Come here darling," he said in a husky voice and started pulling me towards him. He buried his face in my neck and started leaving soft open-mouthed kisses on my throat.

"Umm, Duad. Don't please. I wanna do this only after getting married," I said, and started pushing him gently. He exhaled a distressed breath and looked up at me with eyes coated with lust.

"You are such a tease."

I giggled, but my smile died down in my throat as soon as it came.

"Oh my god Daud, my bag!" I exclaimed.

"Don't panick darling. It's right behind you." My head shot behind me and I sighed in relief, when I saw the bag. Thank God it was okay.

"Now, sleep and I will se you tomorrow morning," he whispered in my ear and stood up. I gripped his wrist in nervousness.

"Where are you going?" I didn't want him to abandon me.

"Darling, if I stay here, I am not sure I can control me. So I would ne staying in the next room." he reasoned and softly smiled down at me.

How did I get this lucky to get a man like him?

I nodded and he strode out of the room, closing the door on his way out.

My eyes fell on my wrist watch.

2 am.

I would hardly get 4 hours sleep. But that was enough for now. My heart fluttered and my stomach churned in happiness. Tomorrow I would finally be married to the love of my life. I chuckled out merrily and lied down on the bed.

*******

A harsh knock on the door broke my sleep and my eyes shot open. What was that?

After a few seconds of silence, the harsh sound again echoed in the silent room and I jolted up.

'Oh no, had they found me!?'

I dragged my gaze on the watch, it was 2:50 am.

Was it Daud?

Chances were high. Maybe he was having troubles in sleeping, and that's why he came. But I couldn't take any chance. So I climbed down from the bed as silently as possible and tiptoed towards the door.

"Who is it?" I asked, my voice almost inaudible.

"Rajeshri, open the door." Daud's voice came from the other side, and I sighed in relief. Thank God, it was him.

But as soon as I opened the door my smile died down, cause there was someone else too with him. A tall man, with a moustache. He raked his eyes upon me and I hid my body behind the door.

Who was this?

"Darling, this is Feroz. He has his contacts in the marriage register office. He would help us tomorrow." Daud introduced him, and I passed Feroz a nervous nod.

He smirked at me, and my body shuddered in fear. What was that? Something was not right and it was my gut feeling.

"Okay then, sleep now. I will see you at tomorrow dawn." Saying this Feroz and Daud entered into a room beside mine, whispering something.

I exhaled a shallow breath and closed the door. A hollowness spread into my chest and I strode towards my bag, which was kept on the bed. I needed to see the picture of baba and ma.

But as soon as I opened the zip, my breath hitched in my throat.

Where was the picture!?

I fumbeled with my bag, and checked each and every pockets but none of them had it.

Oh no no no. Where was it?

I was about to go and ask Daud about it, when my room's door slamed open, and my head snapped towards the direction.

A tall silhouette appeared at the door and I shot up from the bed. The lights were very dim so his face was not all visible. But why the hell did he break the door? And who was he?

"Excuse me, kon hai aap?" I asked agitatively, and stood up rounding my shoulders in defiance. (who are you?)

But there was no reply from him. He slowly started stalking towards me with a predatory gleam and I swallowed in fear.

"You can't just barge into someone's room like this. Get out .... Ahh!"

He pushed me on the wall, gripping my shoulders and I screamed out in fear. I casted my eyes upon the figure and gasped out.

Shamrat ji was standing infront of me, his eyes bloodshot red, his jaw firmly clenched and a nerve ticked in his forehead. My eyes widened and I took in a shallow breath.

I was doomed.

******

-: SHAMRAT :-

Blood boiled in my veins, when Arnav disconnected the call. How dare she pulled this stunt? Every nerve is my body was scorching in rage, all directed towards Shri.

"Sahab, do we need to wait for the guards?" The driver asked, but I was beyond the point of listening to anything.

Daud Akhtar, you will pay for even imagining being with Shri.

"They would follow us. Drive as fast as you can." I rasped in a hoarse tone, and he mutely started the car.

She shouldn't have done that. But now, she would pay for it. If she thought she would escape by running away with her bloody lover, she took me as a weakling. I wasn't a fool to believe that she would readily agree to marry me, without any hustle. That's why I hid a tracking chip in her engagement ring.

It took me 45 minutes to reach the neighbouring town. I scoffed as the car died in front of a shaby looking hotel. Didn't expect anything better from that Duad.

The guards came behind me, guns tucked in the waistbands and I strode into the hallway of the hotel. The manager was siting behind the counter, and as soon as he saw me, his eyes widened.

"Sir, two room have been booked. 3E and 3F. She is probably is 3E cause that is a single bedded room. The other other is double bedded."

My anger spiked and I gripped her collar. Horror flashed in his eyes and he shuddered.

"What the fuck do you mean you gave them a double bedded room. I can sue you for this!" I snarled, but the guards had already left in search of that fucker.

"Si ... sir ... the 3F is occupied by Daud Akhtar and one of his friend. He arrived a fe ... few minutes after the couple arrived," he stammered and swallowed.

"They are not a bloody couple, you moron!" I roared.

"Sorry sir, please," he pleased and his knees started shaking. I shoved him away and climbed the stairs hurriedly, two at a time.

Daud, you shouldn't have messed with me. You dared to touch what belonged to me. Consequences, be damned. You are doomed.

*******

I was still hovering above her, when her face twisted into an fearful look. Her skin paled, and her body starred trembling in fear.

Good!

"Pradhan ji, the bastard is here." Jaggu, one of my guards dragged the crying pathetic mess of a human, as he prayed me for the mercy of his life.

I looked back at my would be wife and gave her a twisted smile. "I will deal with you later."

"Jaggu, don't let her move. I will deal with you lover boy." I mocked Daud and crouched infront of him. Jaggu took his position behind Rajeshri, holding her hands.

"Now, now, now ... you dared to touch what belongs to me? How shall I punish you then?" I taunted in a calm deadly tone, and took out my knife. His eyes bulged out from the sockets and he joined his hands in prayer form.

"Please, please Shamrat ji ... Don't hurt him. I will go with you. Please leave him alone," Rajeshri pleaded form behind me, trying her best to untangle her hands from Jaggu's grip.

My blood boiled in my veins. How dare she tried to plea for his life? I glared at her and she took a few steps back.

"I have something else planned for you. So you better keep that preety mouth of yours shut, if you don't wanna add more punishments to your plate. You are coming with me, at any cost," I growled out. She flinched back at my tone, and wheezed out.

"Now, back to you, you dared to touch her. Time for your mini punishment." Saying this I grasped his left hand and dragged the sharp knife down his middle finger in one single blow.

"Ahhhhhhh," he screamed out in pure agony, but before he could recover from the blow, I grasped his other hand, and slashed a deep cut on the nerves of his wrist. Blood sprinkled out of his cut hands and splashed on my face and shirt. But my chest boomed with happiness.

He deserved this and far worse treatment for touching my belonging. Standing up straight, I looked down at him. He was spread in a fetus position, crying and howling in pain. My lip curled up in a satisfied smirked.

But the anger in me hadn't subsided yet. So I thrusted my shoes on his throat and he started choking on it. His hands were useless so he could even try to hold my leg. After a few seconds his face started turning blue, until a guard stopped me. We needed Daud alive.

I looked up at the guards and they took his body out of the room. I would finish the rest of my work on him some other day.

Turning back I saw Rajeshri was puking her guts out. Clearly she had never seen this kind of brutal things in her life, so it was difficult for her. Jaggu was giving me a passive look and I signalled him to go and prepare for tomorrow's weeding.

Shri would marry me tomorrow and that was final. Stalking towards her, I gathered her hair away from her face as she peered back at me, tears running down her cheeks. Her eyes were red, and nose was flushed, hair disheveled.

She was looking nothing, but a hot mess.

●~~~~~~~<☆ >~~~~~~~●

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And Shamrat, *swoons* oh my my!! 🔥 He can be damn possessive!!

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