Under his gaze (his forced bride) by Olivia Jessie (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📕

He left me here to die. I wished he had snapped my neck and buried me somewhere in snow. To die of starvation and thirst is the worst. I tried to stand up a lot of times. But the heavy lehnga won't allow me to. The dust had already caused five sneezes escaping my mouth. I was going to die sneezing and coughing if not by starvation. Moreover I needed to move a bit. 

Just give me a chance. Please God! 

I heard the rumbling of an engine outside the house. And it was turned off a minute later. I heard footsteps on the wooden porch and jingling of keys. He came back. I couldn't describe the happiness I felt contrast to the condition I was in. He walked in with four bags full of things in his hands. And put them on the table. He ran again and picked other bags. Finally locking the car he shuffled through the bags and separated the contents. 

" I am sorry. " I whispered. He stopped doing what he was doing and pressed his lips tight. With a fast pace, and squatted in front of me. After putting my flicks back, he removed the half hanging cloth from my mouth. And gave me a hard kiss on my lips. He untied my hands and I moved my fingers to get the blood flowing. 

" Get up! And pick that broom. Clean the whole house. No single dust particles. Then.. " He stopped talking and looked  at me " You know how to convert a broken house to a liveable home. Don't you? "He asked raising a brow at me. I nodded instantly" Then start. I will be back in few hours. I will love to find the house clean and dinner ready. " I smiled at him. When was he going to hit me? 

" And one more thing, don't try to run away. There are hungry wolves and bears out there. " And he went out closing the door. I heard the door being locked . How was I suppose to run then? 

Without wasting any other minute , I picked up the new broom and removed the dirt on it first. Then started with the innermost room. The largest maybe. It was a six room cabin log. The kaushiks were really rich. I thought. 

The dust just won't remove from the floor in one time so I had to do it three times. All covered with dust, sweat and in a heavy lehnga. 

I put the clean bedsheet from the closet. The closet was well locked and the blankets seemed clean enough. It felt like someone must be coming here in every few months. 

It took two hours to be precise. With all brooming and removing the dust. It felt better. During cleaning, I had one mantra in my mind. In an isolated place with no one around and a psychopath breathing in the same air , the best option was to flow his every directions. It was not Delhi, no one was going to knock on the door if they heard me screaming. No relative would be here. I had eloped according to them. 

With these things going in my mind, I dusted the tables and kitchen cabinets with the duster. After thoroughly bleaching the kitchen I went ahead to the bathroom. It was normal. I had to clean everything. Nothing was wrong in that. 

The bathroom washbasin had hair clogged in the drain. Who would put hair in here? It took lots of my energy and by the time I was done cleaning the windows too the sun was setting down. It was taking him a lot of time to come back. But I didn't want him to return, not now . 

The dinner was not ready. I cleaned my hands and boiled potatoes. Aloo parantha. I had no energy left and it would be okay for dinner tonight. 

I sat down and put my head on the table resting for a while. The whistler woke me up from my little nap. I somehow prepared the dough and put them aside. Waiting for him. To return. Where was he? 

I looked around at my work. It was liveable home now. Everything so cleaned. I had to clean five rooms because the sixth one was already clean and beautiful. He must be visiting this place every then and now. The lehnga turned black from red with all the dust and my hair were stuck in dirt. I wanted to take a shower but I had no clothes. Moreover there was no water in the taps. 

I had been working since seven hours. Now i had no power left to do anything but I would give him dinner. I had to prove my innocence. In this dark place away from civilisation. 

I didn't hear the car this time but felt someone tapping on my shoulder. I woke up startled. And stood up . 

" I will just cook something for you. Sorry " I said and went in the kitchen. He sat on the table. Just staring at the house. Shocked. 

After preparing five of them I gave four to him and ate one. After we  were done with dinner I wanted to sleep on the floor. 

" You should take a shower. I don't want to kiss Mr. Clean tonight. " He laughed. 

" I have no clothes . " My voice was slurry and my mind was already sleeping. 

" I just brought our clothes and other things from our house. " I watched him. Our house. Did he go to Delhi today? " We have everything we need the car is full of the necessary things. " He smiled. 

" Oh. Great. But we don't have water supply in here. " He looked confused but understood what I said . 

" Yeah I will repair it. There is small pond out in the back. Not too chilled out there. You can take a bath in there  . You must " He emphasised. I needed to. So I nodded 

" And wolves? " I asked him horrified. 

" Don't worry it has electric fence. " So he made me a fool. " But not everywhere " He said finally. 

" Okay. " He gave a saree from the bag which he had placed with other things in the corner while I was sleeping. I took it and we went out. There it was a medium sized pond. 

It was too dark out there. Good for me. I could see almost nothing. Just moonlight. He asked me to take a bath. 

I stepped in after watching him going inside the house. I put my dirty clothes away and stepped in. It was normal. Not too cold. I washed my face and it felt heaven. It was first time I was in a water body. I was so deeply immersed in my pleasure that I didn't notice him behind him.