The turmoil clouded Viaan's mind as he reread the email repeatedly, each pass breaking him down further. Though he acknowledged it as his own karma catching up, he couldn't easily accept the fact that she flatly refused to romanticize their connection. For eight years, he took pride in the idea that his beautiful wife remained deeply in love with him, even in their separation. It was a boost to his ego, signaling to all the men who eyed her that she belonged to him, even though he never spared her a single glance.

The email began with "Sir," a nod to his perpetual sarcasm, and he couldn't help but chuckle. Simultaneously burning with frustration and arousal, he found pleasure in the title "Sir," imagining the taste of her lips and the rush of adrenaline when she addressed him that way. The desire to handcuff her, smudge her lip color, and passionately kiss her until she trembled in his arms overwhelmed him. It reminded him of the intense passion they once shared—the same passion that drew him irresistibly closer to her.

He cursed himself, questioning the sanity of his thoughts. This woman, who had the audacity to file a 498A domestic violence case against him, now consumed his thoughts with violent fantasies. He acknowledged losing her, but he harbored a desperate desire to spoil her for every other man, ensuring she had no option but to return to him, allowing him the satisfaction of rejecting her again.

His cruelty extended to manipulating her emotions through his lawyers, exploiting her emotional vulnerability. Despite knowing she was an emotional fool, he aimed to use her feelings to his advantage in the divorce case. His ultimate goal was to secure the divorce without paying alimony for their daughter, Pari. The mention of Pari triggered conflicting emotions—guilt and disgust. Pari, the living thread that bound them together, now felt like a suffocating constraint. In his blinded perspective, an autistic girl child couldn't be his heir, and Pari represented a burden he was unwilling to bear.

As he contemplated his motives, he grappled with societal norms and his role as a father. He considered the easiest way out: paying alimony for Pari and exiting the marriage. He believed his wife wouldn't have received a penny from him if Pari weren't in the picture. It irked him that she never demanded anything for herself during their 10-year marriage—no shopping trips, no gifts—finding happiness in simple pleasures like street-side golgappas. Her financial independence and pride wounded his ego, especially when he saw her bank statements submitted in court. She had redirected the entire maintenance amount into Pari's account, declaring her independence from him. She insisted on being only the mother of his child, not his wife, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

Returning to the email once more, he absorbed its length, savoring the multitude of words she had sent after nearly eight years.

Hello Sir,

I'm writing this email to you with a heavy heart. I truly understand there has been a lot of hurt from both sides and a lot has happened in these 8 years. I truly acknowledged your pain as well.

Did she understand what pain he is going through? He thought.

Not thinking any further, he read the next set of words which clarified why she was so hurt.

"I have been experiencing a lot of pain realizing the false lies spread by your esteemed lawyers. I had never approached them for living together and the way my feelings have been made fun of today has incurred the pain again transporting me back in time. To be very specific, I had never approached your lawyers. Instead, I had received calls from your advocates and on several occasions in personal interactions with them outside court rooms waiting for our case calls, inquired about what was the issue in our matrimonial life and if we could have stayed together outside your home.

I was even inquired about my office schedule and my work timings and other details. I was polite enough to provide them with details. I was given the impression that you might be looking forward to spending your life with Pari. I just wanted to make things smooth for you and Pari, not you and me altogether. I clearly stated to him that I would like to peacefully resolve cases given the circumstances with Pari. It is difficult for me to also lead a closure in my life.

Your advocate's communication gave me an impression that you might be interested in having a future with Pari. I did not want to be a purposeful hindrance to this, so I had clearly asked your advocate to take your advice and I would be happy to follow your lead in case we can resolve things peacefully." She explained in her email.

Mind games at their best. He understood what his advocate did—once again, giving her false hope about loving Pari. Utmost hatred filled his heart for his advocate as well. He strongly desired to punch his advocate for hurting his girl. However, the next statement simply crushed his entire heart.

"I was given the impression that you might want to take things on a positive note for Pari and I was happy to accommodate in case I had to fill in the role of a parent and was ready to adjust as for me husband -wife relationship has taken a backseat for me now as my priority lies only in Pari. However, things were presented and coasted through a web of lies which stated I contacted your advocates for living together which is utmost false.

I had given up on the thought about any husband-wife relationship between us long back and my stand was clear discussing the same with counsellor. With due respect sir, I have no intention of harboring any romanticizing feelings for you again with so much has happened and so much pain and grief thrown at both of us. When your advocates had approached me with the impression I was only thinking as a parent and not as a wife." She wrote.

Yes, it hurt like hell when she openly stated that she only needed the father of her child and not her husband. A man can act cool and be a stud; however, the open refusal of his wife can weaken a man to his core. The only consent she gave was to be the mother of his child. She had come to terms with the fact that her husband was no longer around, and she was okay with it. Even though he wasn't interested in continuing the marriage, this challenge struck a blow to his male ego.

He groaned like a tiger, desiring to crush her completely, wanting to engage her in this game. His arousal was so intense that it could burst at any moment. She had become like water in a desert, and he wanted to quench his thirst.

The need to kiss and make love to her one last time rushed through his veins. He yearned to hold her tight and engage in passionate intimacy until the morning to remind her of how good it still felt to be with him. However, he knew he needed to calm himself. If she perceived his current feelings, she could have sent him to jail for molesting her. "Bloody hell!" he shouted. Yet, he reminded himself that he was her husband and had every right to fantasize about his own wife; it wasn't even a crime. As he reflected on his emotions, he realized he wasn't the only one left confused. She, too, was struggling to gather all her pieces together.

"Yes, I had expressed my love for my husband, however I never had any demand to reciprocate my feelings. It came into light due to a comment made by your advocate and that I had replied that I would never ever see my husband hurt even in the current day as your pain still affects me and I would never harm you physically or emotionally.

However, time and again comments made on my feelings are quite degrading and hurtful. And today it indeed crossed a line which I do not appreciate. I had always respected your private space and restrained myself in calling or messaging you all these years, I had even restrained myself from coming into any physical space with you to avoid making you uncomfortable. I had stopped communicating all together after the incident in 2019 when I felt we couldn't respect each other now.

I have been in my happy space living in my husband's memories demanding nothing in return and demanding no claim as a wife, and however I do not have in me to forgive you ever for leaving your own child vulnerable. Kindly understand that apart from being a stronger parent I am a human too and it genuinely hurts me as well. I am not made of stone sir. I think someone out of us must be a bigger person and bring the cat out of the bag so I take this responsibility and request you to refrain from hurting each other.

We have already done that a lot and I do not wish to hurt you or myself any more. Kindly keep this email outside of any courtroom drama which can embarrass us any further. It is better till the time we are still legally wedded husband and wife, we can at least respect each other's feelings and let the justice take its course. Love for you can never fade away. My love for you is always alive in Pari as a living proof, however your painful words for her are a reminder that I could never forgive you. I do not want to hate you but loving you is equally painful.".

She beautifully encapsulated her emotions on paper, and a void filled his heart. Her words were pure and innocent, devoid of drama or any strategy to downgrade him. The sincerity touched him momentarily, but then his demeanor changed. When it came to emotions, she was truly innocent.

Even during their court case, she refrained from any deceptive means. Though she had been a drama queen in the past, many years had passed since their last fight. She had simply withdrawn, giving him the silent treatment, reminiscent of the exact treatment he once gave her. Now, her silence was tormenting him. What kind of woman was she? Either she was a vixen or too innocent for him to spoil. The truth was, he had already spoiled himself for every other man.

"I sincerely apologize in case any action /any words of mine has ever hurt you as it was not in my conscience to hurt you with anything. I was hurt, disrespected, and isolated. Closing this on a positive note. Kindly advise your advocates not to play childish games which will do no good for any of us now, it would in turn make things messier which i do not want any more. Hope you do not block this one. I anyhow have no intention of disturbing you again. Let us keep peace which we both need now.

With Warm Regards,

Riya Kapoor". 

Reading the last sentence of the email, he sighed and suddenly felt overwhelmed. It struck him that she understood every breath and emotion so calmly. Unlike other wives, she never claimed her rights on him. There was crying, sobbing, and drama in the beginning, but now there was complete silence. She had accepted the fact that he had moved on even before their separation. While others might judge him for his cruelty, at least he was honest with her.

Like a slap on his face, he couldn't come to terms with the fact that she had left him for her career. He wanted her to be submissive, but she refused to bow down. It became a challenge for him to display his cruelty.

He decided not to read any further, moving the email to his trash bin where all her messages resided. He never responded to her emails, messages, or calls, and that's why she stopped writing to him long ago. However, this time, he felt the urge to reply, to see her, hold her in his arms, and let her melt into them. Even though he was single, unknown to her, societal norms blinded him, compelling him to let her go. He wanted to protect her from himself, from the animal within him that urged him to keep her as his submissive.

Raised as an alpha male, he refused to bow down and believed in keeping a tight leash on his female counterpart. In his perspective, her place belonged in the kitchen and their bedroom, not struggling for money. He wanted to be the sole provider. Thoughts of her surged like a magical wind, urging him to taste her once more, to tie her to the bed and make love senselessly until she dozed off. The desire to kiss her plump lips, grip and suck her beautiful mounds, once exclusively his, filled his mind. He was jealous of his own daughter, who now shared those mounts that once belonged solely to him. With these thoughts, he masturbated, eyes closed, awaiting a new day to start a new beginning. Deep down, he knew this tiger would be tamed soon for his tigress.