Five Weeks by Shruti Omar (any book recommendations .txt) 📕

She nodded, shutting her eyes. Tears hung on her lashes and sobs left her throat. Yuvraaj was satisfied to see her conflicted and left her. He avoided looking at her when she wailed, holding her wrist.

"Now just get out of here!" he yelled and she jumped to her feet, prancing out without a second look. She cursed her parents for finding someone like Yuvraaj for her, for throwing her before this demon. She was certain that she wouldn't want to stay in this relationship where her husband physically violated her.

She wiped her tears and trudged to the balcony. Her thoughts circled their journey in a wink. He was never nice to her. He just pulled the act of being nice around everyone and now when they were married, he was showing his true colors. He never needed a wife, he wanted a slave. He thought himself as a ruler and she was his prisoner. Rubbing her nose, she hiccupped and pledged to never cross his way again.

*****

Hauling up the car before Maurya Mansion, Yuvraaj ignited off the engine and waited for her to step out. Angularly, Anahita remained sitting on her seat, resting her chin on her folded hands on the window. He snuck a glance of hers and sighed. They were not on speaking terms but he had to accept defeat before her obstinacy. He climbed out, rounded the car and clicked open the door for her. She blankly stared at him, regaining from the shock that he abruptly pulled the door open.

“Come out. I'm not your chauffer.” He commanded and she scratched her nose like a cute, little child. She looked at the familiar mansion. Last time she was here, her mother slapped her and her father abandoned her. The reason, she believed, was stupid; she just wanted her happiness.

"Come out or else I'll pick you up. Choice is yours." He threatened, keeping a palm flat on the roof and stooped. She twitched her lips, mumbling. “You said it was important for your family to leave me here but they are not coming after us, so please drop me somewhere else; in nearby park."

"Who are you to command me? Come out because I've to accompany you inside." He probed but she didn’t waver. Moments of silence passed by but she didn’t step out. Yuvraaj stared at her in fascination. How could she be so stubborn!!! He huffed and cajoled her, “Okay, come out now. Don’t be so adamant!”

“Just drop me somewhere else.” She pleaded; her voice teemed with repressed anguish and disappointment.

"Fine! Don't blame me then." he said on an exhale and scooped her up in his arms, closing the door with his leg. Anahita gasped, binding her arms around his neck. "Yuvraaj, what are you doing?"

"You look fragile but I bet you weigh almost 50pounds." He jested. The gatekeeper opened the gates for them. Anahita melted in shame when the old man gaped at the couple. Yuvraaj handed his car keys to the gatekeeper and strode to the doorstep.

"Yuvraaj stop!" Anahita hid her face in his neck, mortified. He stopped in his tracks, marveled at her closeness and his inner world sparkled in delight. It was the first time she hugged him after their marriage and that swelled his chest in mirth until… "I don't believe in this marriage or rituals, and then what's the need of performing this crap. Five weeks and it's all over, so it doesn't make sense."

Five weeks! The term had started to acuminate his ears, whenever she said these two words, he felt that she was burdened and he had committed some crime. Her chants of five weeks reminded him, all the time, that she was not his. She didn't belong to him. She will be gone.

Frustrated, he dropped her on the ground on her feet and straightened himself, "I know Anahita and that's why I'm not expecting anything but where my family's happiness is involved. I'll bend you down, whether you like it or not."

"What about me Yuvraaj? You are not caring about me. What am I now?" She looked at him with hurtful eyes.

"I have nothing to answer. Come!" She was in a stroke of shock to see him responding softly, he had never done that since their marriage up till now. Latching her palm with his and pulling her closer, he sauntered to the main door and pressed the doorbell. Mrs. Maurya opened the door. Anahita automatically smiled at her and Yuvraaj bent down to touch her feet, "How are you, Aai?"

"I'm good, betu. Come inside!" She lovingly caressed his hair, welcoming them inside while Anahita desperately looked for her father. A moment ago she didn’t want to come inside and now, she was flapping her eyes frantically to see her father.

"Ma. Where's dad?" She asked, sitting on the couch and Mrs. Maurya didn't even smile at her. "In his room." 

"Didn't he know that I was coming today?" Anahita asked, already knowing that her father was deliberately ignoring her but she was afraid to hear that; not on her face, not before Yuvraaj. 

"He is not well. Let him rest." Mrs. Maurya indirectly ceased her from meeting her father. Anahita clammed up, pushing back her tears. She knew her father wouldn’t forgive her. After all, it was he whom she had inherited her stubbornness. Her mother indulged herself in cooing Yuvraaj and neglected her completely. She was hurt that her mother refused to cast a glance at her let alone enquire after her health.

She thought she expertly hid her pain but Yuvraaj was aware of it since the beginning. He could read her eyes, thereby, he knowingly taunted her cooking and whatnot just to make her feel included but she kept zoning out.

"Mom, I am going to my room. Call me up if you need anything." She mumbled, sprinting up to her room and expectedly didn’t get a reply. She clicked open the door and smiled to see that her room was just as she had left. Nothing was misplaced and thrown which made her feel gratitude towards her parents that they kept her belongings. She changed and dived to the bed. Burying her face in the pillows, she cried herself to the sleep.