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Salem held her hand and caressed it lovingly, however his intentions were far from it.

"I'll make sure that these hands won't repeat this mistake again, my love." Salem kissed her hands as Pari trembled at her words. His dangerous intentions were clear in his eyes.

He took hold of her fingers and bent them backwards till he heard the satisfactory snap sound. Pari screamed in horror and pain. He had bent her fingers at an uncomfortable angle. She cried from the pain

"Ah. Ah. You know I hate loud noises." Pari cradled her hand like a baby and cried. "Shh. It's night. People are sleeping, my love." They both knew that her loud screams must have reached the whole floor.

He kept a hand on her mouth and muffled her cries. He then took her other hand and snapped her wrist. She screamed louder than before but his hand blocked her screams. He left her mouth and her cried echoed in the room.

"Don't you fucking dare to hold my collar next time." Salem threatened her.
Pari laid on the floor and cried, her hands were in the same position. One near her chest and other on the floor close to her head, she didn't have the courage to move her hand. He walked past her lying figure and stepped on her hand that was on the floor with his boots.

The pain felt like a jolt of shock. Pari screamed and wailed in pain. Wajid and Tiger came inside the house and looked at Leela aunty. Leela aunty was an old servant of the Ahmed's and she was the only one who would stay in Salem's home as everyone else would go to their respective homes after duty. Leela was old and widowed, so Salem had offered her to stay here with them.  The screams from Sahab's room had made Leela come outside. The three of them looked at each other with one question - should they interfere?

Leela asked Wajid to go ahead. They had never heard Pari scream so loudly. For a moment, Leela thought to call Jenny and call her here.

Wajid knocked on the door as Leela and Tiger stood behind him. After multiple knocks, an angry Salem appeared at the door. The three of them had questions on their face but didn't know what to ask.

"The fuck you looking at my face?" Salem snapped.

The three people didn't know what to say. Afterall, it was a matter between husband and wife. He was also their boss and they knew not to cross him.

"If you have nothing to say, f*ck off from here." Salem ordered them looking at Wajid and slammed the door shut.

He went near Pari and picked her up bridal style and kept her on the bed softly. He soothed her pain with an ice pack as she passed out from the pain.

In the morning, Dr. Anjali and her assistant Dr. Rhea came for a check up. This was the second time Dr. Anjali was tending to her wounds. Anjali looked at Salem with disappointed and shook her head. She asked him to not stress her and take care of her. Rhea muttered a small bye to Sahab and left.

A moment later, Natalia and Wajid entered the room. Natalia looked extremely angry. "You cancelled the shoot?" She asked.

Natalia was Salem's manager and looked after everything from PR & Media to Tours for the past 3 years. Natalia was a 40 year-old seasoned business lady and had many entertainment clients. She had to come home because Salem had not gone on shoot and was not picking up calls since morning from any of her assistants, directors or producers.

Wajid also didn't give her much explanation that's when she decided she will go see Salem herself.

"Salem, the producer is going to face loss if you don't show up today! I don't understand, you have never done this before." Natalia said in one breath, her blood pressure shooting up.

"I am going to shoot for the next 2 days. It's final." Salem said.

"The producer -" Natalia started when Salem interrupted her.

"Send a girl from Blue Eyes to make it up." He looked at Wajid and ordered.

Natalia took in her surroundings and noticed Pari who was asleep. Natalia's eyes looked at the hands wrapped in a bandage. She turned and looked at Wajid and Salem to confirm to which Wajid lightly nodded.

Natalia had a shocking face when she said, "What if she goes to police? Salem, your personal matters are going to show hell to all of us." Natalia had gotten a great reputation and respect being the star's manager. She had the power to quote money and give access to Salem to the producers, directors, brands and event hosts. She was the daughter of one of yesteryear's producer who loved the showbiz. She had great sensibility and her business skills were immaculate. Now, she was obsessed with keeping her reputation and throwing her weight around. She can't afford these goof ups from Salem.

"So?" Salem sat relaxed on the couch and drank from the bottle. "There's nothing Blue Eyes can't solve. It holds everyone's secrets."

The men who visited 'Blue Eyes' were as much of a whores as the women there. Most influential people visited Blue Eyes for the girls they offered.

"Wajid, send two girls to the producer. Make the old man happy." He ordered.

Natalia meant strict business. This was only her second time visiting his house. She had met Pari rarely and was happy with their decision of keeping Salem's marital life private. She believed marriages end an actor's life.

"From what I have seen, your wife isn't someone who is going to keep quiet. If she goes to police, we will be ruined." Natalia again warned him.

"Get out. I had enough of you. You too can go to Blue Eyes and make yourself happy." Salem dismissed Natalie.

Pari had heard half the conversation but pretended to be asleep. Salem walked towards her and caressed her face when Jenny entered the room.

Salem sighed. He really needs to lock his room so none of them enter!

"What did you do Salem?" Jenny screamed and Pari opened her eyes.

"Leela aunty snitched? Damn, didn't take her as one." Salem muttered.

"Salem! What should I do with you? Beta, this is not how you treat your wife." Jenny broke down when she saw Pari's eyes on her. She went to Pari and caressed her head.

"Are you feeling better?" Jenny asked.

"Home...I want to go home." Pari rasped. Her throat dried from lack of water.

"This is your home." Salem said and stepped towards Pari when Jenny stopped him.

"Get away from her." She ordered him. Jenny was heartbroken to know her son did something like this.

Pari got up from the bed slowly. She wasn't able to move her hands much which was causing her difficulty to stand up from the bed.

"My bag. Will you help me pack?" She asked Jenny innocently like a child. Her face didn't show anger or hurt. She looked empty.

"Beta, I will talk to Salem. I promise. But don't leave." Jenny cried and requested.

"Okay, I will pack on my own." Pari said quietly. Salem was about to say something but Jenny silenced him with a glare.

Pari packed her bag with Jenny's help and left when Jenny insisted her to take their driver instead of a cab.

"I am letting you go for now but this, this is your destiny." Salem stopped her and pointed towards their home. "And how long can one run away from their destiny?" Salem said to Pari.

"Move." Pari had no energy to fight with him. Jenny was going to accompany her but she already had health issues so Tiger volunteered to go alongwith Pari.

"I...I hope you forgive Sahab." Tiger broke the silence in the car. "He is...he is short tempered but..."

"Wow! You guys still think he is just 'short tempered' and not a 'devil'." Pari snapped.

"I know it's hard for you to see it. But he has immense goodwill. If he was a 'devil', he wouldn't help the children at the hospital free of cost. He wouldn't have done so much..." Tiger said calmly.

"You know that I have only respect and love for both of you. I wouldn't -" Pari didn't let Tiger complete.

"You only have respect and love for Salem. Not me." Pari said to which Tiger shook his head. "That's where you are wrong. I can't love and respect him if I don't feel this for you. You are his wife. His love for you commands us to respect you the same way." Tiger put up his point.

"You call this love?" She showed him her hands.

"Which relationship doesn't go through problems, Ma'am? But haven't you seen how much Sahab has changed? Remember the college days where he had so many girls around him...that only multiplied in the coming years. Before your marriage, I thought Sahab would go back to his old ways. But in these 5-6 years, he has not looked at one woman let alone sleep with someone. You don't know how hard it is for a man to control these temptations." Tiger knows his Sahab's temper is worse but he had transformed himself from a womaniser to one-woman man.

"So, just because he has turned loyal, he changed his nature, I should go through this? It's truly a man's world, isn't it?" Pari asked. Being loyal was a basic thing in a marriage, she can't help if men were whores and cheated all the time on their wives.

"Ma'am, I hope you both are together, always. Otherwise, the last time you left for a month, Sahab was miserable. You are our queen and you will always be." Tiger said.

"Queens don't get abused. I am just a pawn for him." Pari said quietly. She hated the word 'abuse.' She never thought that one day the word would be used to describe her and her marriage. It only meant how weak she was!

"But it's still a game. Play smartly and win." Tiger hoped that she understands how much power she had over Salem. The man brings to her what she says or even eyes. It was not Tiger's place so he kept quiet, but Pari had no business interfering about Blue Eyes and things happening there. Sahab never brought it home, Pari did.

"I can only be a queen as long as I listen to him, obey him, be okay with his other business. But, I don't want to be a part of immoral things." Pari said and got down from the car.

Tiger left her luggage in the room and looked at Pari, "take care," and left.

Pari's parents and aunt were shocked to hear when Pari told them what Salem did. Kabeer stood there without an expression and left.

"Aise kaise hath Tod diya bacchi ka? Bhaisahab, call his father and tell him he can't do this!" Her aunt said in a shocked high pitched voice and hugged Pari.
(How can he break her hands?)

Her father took Pari in his embrace and said, "you are my brave child. Don't cry.  These are precious." He wiped the tears that flow.

"Sorry beta." Her father and aunt looked at Pari's mother. "I found something in Kabeer's pocket and I wanted to know if Kabeer is consuming any bad substance. I didn't know this would happen." Her mother cried but Pari shook her head asking her mother not to cry.

"Okay, enough of all this. What will my Pari like to eat? Your aunt will make all your favourites." Pari's aunt said and Pari smiled and told her to make her signature vegetable curry and rice kheer.

Pari's father called Mr. Ahmed and expressed his disappointment over what has happened to which Mr. Ahmed said that he is ashamed of his son's action. He would have visited and personally apologised if he was in the country.

The next night, Salem had come over to the house but Pari didn't leave her room. She refused to come out and locked the door. Sometime later, she heard him leave and was grateful for that.

"I am not going to let him control my life." She had declared to her family members and resumed her job at the last hotel she worked. She was more open to conversations with the people at work. She had turned into a kind and grateful person at home. The Pari who used to make faces at the boring 'poha' every morning, just ate it quietly when her mother served it. Before marriage, she was a 'toofan' (storm) at home, her tantrums and her disagreements with everyone had vanished. She used to also help her mother and aunt cook and clean the house voluntarily. They tried to tell her not to do anything as she was not used to doing the house chores. Back at her home, she had help for every small thing, Salem made sure Pari didn't lift a finger to work.

In the 2 months, she avoided Salem like a parasite. One week, he had visited almost every night but she refused to see him. He had sent Tiger to tell her that he is going abroad for shooting. Pari didn't react and asked Tiger to leave her alone. He also sent extra money if Pari or her family needed anything in times of his absence. Pari sent Tiger back with the money, not wanting anything from Salem.

In the next two months, she valued each day and the smallest of things. She still had the temper and tantrums but she controlled it.

At work, she was excited about an annual event for employees. The best performance would get a reward. Her colleague had convinced all the women in the team for a group dance. The women would practice for an hour every evening after their shift. Pari enjoyed dancing and her moments of freedom. On the day of the event, she got ready in a long green skirt and a golden blouse. The women in her team helped her braid her hair. She looked breathtaking to say the least. She could see the old Pari who loved to dress up.

They danced on the famous Hindi songs as the audience applauded and won the competition. As a reward, they received Rs. 5000 for the group which was divided amongst everyone and some other coupons. Pari was too happy, she felt like a normal person again. Away from Salem's anger and his activities, she felt secure and relaxed.

"Hey Pari, you are looking so beautiful."  said Sunil, one of her colleagues.

Pari thanked me and went back to eating her food. "Here, I got these flowers for you." He handed her a bouquet of roses. Pari was too shocked to say anything. Sunil was an extremely chatty guy at work but he had never shown her interest in this manner. Pari asked him to keep the flowers at side.

"If you don't mind, will you come on a date with me?" Sunil asked, shocking Pari. Pari stopped eating and told him she can't come on dates. Sunil was disappointed but thought of her as a shy person, denying dates.

On the third day, he asked her out again after their shift and she denied but he professed his 'love' in front of everyone and bent on one knee. She made him stand up and asked him not to repeat such things as she had no interest in him or any dates. She was left embarrassed when 2-3 colleagues had noticed Jai proposing to her.

The night didn't get any better when Jenny and Mr. Ahmed had come to her home. They looked apologetic of their son's actions. Pari didn't say anything to them. But when they asked her when she would return, she said, "I don't want to see your son, not do I think of a return."

"But relations don't break easily, beta. We have to work on it." Mr. Ahmed said.

Pari didn't want to deal with this right now. She already had a tiresome day. She politely excused herself from the room. Jenny and Mr. Ahmed returned home with disappointment.

The next day was as mundane as it gets.  Her mother and aunt had started telling her to think about her marriage and resolve issues with Salem. The society where she resided had started asking her mother and aunt why was Pari staying here for so long.

"So, I can't even visit my own home now?" Pari said irritated.

"Pari, we have avoided them saying your husband has gone abroad and didn't want you to stay alone. But how long can we lie?" Her aunt said.

"Then, don't lie. Tell them I left him." She said in anger. She has been angry since Mr. Ahmed and Jenny visited.

"Pari! This...this anger and your sharp tongue has landed you in trouble." It was her mother. The words hit her.

Pari didn't say a word more and left for work. In the night, she didn't have dinner despite insistence from her parents to have food. Kabeer, who was not on speaking terms with her, also asked her to have food once he returned from job but she didn't listen.

The doorbell rang at night around 1 AM and kept ringing till they opened the door. The constant ringing of the doorbell awakened everyone in the family. They knew only one person could cause so much chaos at this hour. Pari, as usual, went to her room to avoid Salem.

A few minutes later, Kabeer came to call her. "He says he only wants to talk to you." But Pari didn't move from her place. Kabeer sighed and said, "he wouldn't budge. Please talk to him."

Seeing the late night hour, she didn't want to cause more trouble to her parents, she went out and stood infront of him after 2 months. He had become bulkier and his muscles were prominent through his plain dark shirt. He was accompanied by Wajid and Tiger who stood near the door.

"I missed you, wife." He said smiling. His voice echoing in the dark silent night.

"Unfortunately, I can't say the same." Pari retorted.

"Ofcourse, how can you? When you were busy enjoying all the male attention." He smirked. She was taken aback by his words. "What....what are you saying?" She asked.

"Oh! Don't act so innocent when your family is around. Is this the reason you want to separate? Because I don't give you this freedom where all the male gaze is on you." He spit out. He was informed of the dance performance and also the guy at her office who proposed her. How dare he propose his wife?

"Salem, you must be mistaken. My daughter isn't what you accuse her of." Her father said weakly.

"Papa, I am sorry. But today, I am here only to speak to my wife." He said and looked at Pari.

"What is love if you don't trust the person? You say I am your wife, then why don't you trust me?" She questioned him. "You know what? Just leave from here and don't ruin others right here."

"Dancing infront of other men then when a man proposes you not once but twice, why didn't you shove him off? Are you ashamed to tell them you are married? And where is your nuptial chain?" He asked her getting angry. She was his possession. He hated it when others eyed her.

"Salem. Leave. You have disrespected me enough. Leave from here." She yelled pointing towards the door.

He laughed at her anger, "not today, Pari. Not today. Come on your own, otherwise...I would drag you." He said dangerously lighting the cigarette.

"And that guy....I am going to make sure he bends his knee permanently." Salem threatened. Pari's eyes widened and she shook her head. "You won't do anything to him." She felt pity for the guy. However he was, he didn't deserve what Salem would do to him.

"Why? Like him a little too much?" Salem asked teasing her.

"Yes! He is far better than an animal like you. You got your answer?" She yelled, not meaning any of it. Her pent up anger from 2 months was coming to surface.

He smirked and crushed his cigarette beneath his foot. "Play time's over. Come, let's go home." He walked a bit closer to Pari and said, "come with me or I won't mind dragging you." He whispered in her ear.

Pari shook her head at him. In a moment, her world spun when he carried her in his arms.

"Time to take my wife back." He walked out of the door carrying her bridal style.

Wajid and Tiger talked to her parents and told them Pari would be fine. They asked Kabeer to send her important stuff tomorrow morning.

Salem kept her inside the car but she kept thrashing. He sighed and tied her hands with his discarded tie.

"This is kidnapping!" Pari yelled as the car started.

"You are my wife, not a kid." It must have been Salem's poor attempt at joking.

"It's time I teach my wife some rules." Salem said as they drove to his home.

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Dec'17 2024

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