'Taraa!!' Bhabhi shouted behind the closed door of the room.

'Haan!' I answered.

'Taiyyar ho gayi?' She asked, still in the same decibel.

'Haan bhabhi! Bas aa rahi hun' I answered and I felt her leaving.

I sighed and continued making my hair.

Hi. I am Tara Mahajan. A twenty-five-year-old architect and....an orphan. No, I have a family that includes my elder brother Manav, chachu-chachi, and my cousin brother Samarth but not my parents.

Our father died years ago when I and Manav bhaiya were kids. After his death, our mother disowned us tagging us as a burden and left us for another man. Since then, chachu and chachi bore all of our responsibilities.

My father's funeral was the last day when we saw her. After that, none of us neither met her not talked about her. We don't know where she is today.

We grew up with chachi-chachu. Although they love us and never treated us like a burden, but still, I have always craved the love and attention that is only meant for me.

My brother had a love marriage with the daughter of an affluent family. As per the demands of his in-laws, he has been living with his wife's family after his marriage, for almost two years.

Today is my engagement with Bhabhi's only younger brother Angad. It is an arranged marriage. I have met him for a few times only but I can say that he is a spoilt brat.

When Bhaiya's father-in-law proposed this alliance, I couldn't deny it. To be honest, for two reasons.

First, we owe him a lot as he, not only allowed my brother to marry his daughter despite the prevailing differences between us but also involved him in his business. Second, I don't want to be a burden on my chachu chachi anymore. Although they never mistreated me and I am independent, but the liability of a girl dances on the head of the family till she gets married, especially in middle-class families.

Like every girl, I also expected love and peace in my married life but now, I have lost hopes. Angad is nowhere near a man I wished for but as society says, a person improves himself after his or her marriage as the responsibilities of their family burden them up. I hope this will go with Angad too. Moreover, bhaiya too would be there with me to support me.

The sudden knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts making me startle. It opened revealing chachu and chachi. They smiled seeing me and Chachi caressed my cheek.

'Ek baar phir sochle beta' chachu spoke in a serious tone.

'Sab theek hi hoga, aap chinta mat kariye' I said and they nodded their head, smiling sadly.

'Humari Tara samajhdaar hai, kuch soch samajh kar hi ye faisla liya hoga usne' chachi said and I nodded trying to smile.

'Come, let's go' chachu said.

We went out of the room towards the hall. The ceremony was held at our home only as not many guests were invited. I walked to the center where no presence of Angad could be sensed.

Told you, a spoilt brat! He wants the world revolving around himself and he doesn't want to adjust for anything. Even a five-year-old has more maturity than this man.

'There's no need to sulk your face, smile karo varna log kya sochenge!' Bhabhi whispered to me in a displeased tone.

Mere life kharab hone ja rahi hai or mai smile karun? Sahi hai.

'Bas aata hi hoga, hard-working ladka hai, kahin busy hoga' Bhabhi's mom said.

As if all of us don't know how hardworking he is.

After almost half an hour, Angad came inside wandering with his phone in his hand and his eyes stuck over it. There was no sign that he was accidentally or involuntarily late. He noticed the environment around him as his face showed as if, the reality struck him.

'Kaha reh gaya tha tu' his father asked him sternly, holding his arm tightly.

'Chill Dad! Engagement hi hai na, shadi thodi hai' he spoke in a carefree tone making me feel disgusted over him.

'Guys! Give me a min, mai change jarke aata hun' he said and walked to his room without waiting for any response.

We waited for ten more minutes and there this brat came. If not for my family, I would have never agreed to marry a person like him.

The ceremony started and now, I was the time to exchange the rings. Bhabhi got a tray with the open boxes of rings kept on it.

I took a deep breath and picking up his ring, I slid it into his finger with shivering and sweaty hands. After that, he too picked up my ring and slid onto my finger.

I felt a lump forming at the back of my throat. I gulped it and tried to smile but somehow, I was frozen. Tears began to brim in my eyes but I controlled flowing them.

Angad pulled me close to him by sliding his arm around my waist and a sudden feeling of discomfort flew through my veins. I tried to get free from his hold but he held me more tightly and pinched my bare waist.

'Stay still' he spoke giving us dangerous looks.

I felt like puking!

The photographers started clicking our pictures and I was in the same position by then. My skin which was in contact with him was burning like someone spilled acid on me. I tried to wiggle out of his hold but the more I tried, the more it pained me because of his hold. Finally, the photo session ended and I pulled myself out of his hold.

The crowd was decreasing as they were heading for lunch in the lawn area. I saw Angad coming towards me with rage visible on his face. He stopped in front of me and clutched my arm tightly.

'Ahh' I whimpered as the grip pained.

'What is wrong with you' he asked making me confused.

'Why were you hell-bent on removing my arm huh' he intimidated me.

'You were making me uncomfortable Angad' I tried to speak.

'Uncomfortable my foot! You are going to be my wife, logon ke samne aise rahenge hum haan! I don't fucking care whether you are comfortable or not but keep this in your mind, ab iski aadat daal lo jitni jaldi ho sake' he threw the words on me and left jerking my arm.

I caressed my arm to soothe the pain. My skin got red due to his grip. Tears brimmed in my eyes. I felt so helpless.

Just bear with it Tara. He will change gradually. I tried to make myself understand.

I saw Chachi coming towards me and I immediately wiped my unflowed tears.

'Chachi, I am going to my room' I said.

'Khana?' she asked.

'Mann nahi hai, sir me bhi thoda dard hai, mai baad me kha lungi' I spoke.

She nodded and let me go. I rushed into my room, trying to hold back my tears. Once inside, I locked the door, then removed the hairpins from my hair, allowing my waist-length locks to flow free. After that, I took off my jewelry and wiped off my makeup. Finally, I undressed from my lehenga and stepped into the shower to wash away my pain.

I let the boiling warm water flow through my head to my toes resulting in the flowing dam of tears from my eyes. I sat on the floor and pulled my knees to my chest.

Why the hell Papa left me? Why mummy abandon us? Why on earth did my Kanha do this to me only? Why why why???

I feel like I am a burden, a burden for this world, a burden for everyone! I hate this feeling but ironically, I have experienced this from childhood.

First mummy left me, then bhaiya went to live with his wife forgetting his sister, then chachu chachi, they never say this but I know that I am burdening them. That's why people leave me. Just because I am a burden!

I scratched my arm and waist where Angad touched me. I felt disgusted! Disgusted from his touch, his presence, his voice, his everything. I want to run away but I can't. I myself pushed me into this hole and now, there is no way to escape.

After what felt like half an hour, I finally stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in towels. I wiped my body dry and then grabbed a pair of undergarments, an oversized T-shirt, and a pajama from the cupboard. Next, I thoroughly dried my hair and hung the towel over the back of a chair.

I tidied up my bed a little before getting under the duvet and covering myself up to my neck. After turning off my phone, I hugged a pillow tightly to my side, making myself comfortable. I closed my eyes and in no time, sleep engulfed me.

~•~

Knock!

Knock!

Knock!

The incessant knocking on the door jolted me out of my sleep. As the noise persisted, I unlocked the door and it flew open, revealing an aggressive Angad.

Now what the hell does he want?

I rubbed my eyes to see him. I was still a bit sleepy and had messy hair as I forgot to tie it before sleeping.

'What happe-' the words stuck inside me as he held my throat and pushed me inside.

I wiggled and successfully threw his hand away. With all my strength, I slapped him, causing his body to jerk downwards.

'Kya badtameezi hai ye Angad!!' I shouted at him.

He aggressively went to the door and locked it making me hell scared. What is this man up to?!

He came back to me and pushed me against the wall holding my throat. His eyes were red, giving me the idea of his anger. Chills ran down through my spine as I felt the grip on my throat tighten.

I attempted to push him, but he was way too strong. The lack of oxygen made it hard to breathe and tears streamed down my face.

'Tumhari vajah se aaj mera mazaak udaya sabne, tumhe idea bhi hai kitna humiliate hua hun main?' he furiously said.

'What did I do?' I tried to ask, still confused and terrified from his behavior.

'Don't act innocent now, you know what you did' he fumed.

'What do you think nobody noticed your behavior? You know what that fucker Ritesh said, that for sure I wasn't able to satisfy you on bed, that's why you weren't letting me touch you' he ranted.

I felt as if I would die due to lack of breathing.

'You know how my friends laughed at me and questioned my musculanity, huh! You know how I felt? No you don't! Kyuki tumhari koi aukat nahi hai mere saamne khade hone ki!' he spoke and left my throat with a jerk.

I immediately started snatching deep breaths feeling short of air inside me. I touched my throat which felt like was free from the clutch of chains after many days.

I felt a pull on my arm as Angad made me face him with a jerk. He held my face with his fingers, hurting my inner cheeks.

'You need to know how to behave' he dangerously spoke.

My brain stopped for a moment. Without thinking about anything, I punched his stomach with my free arm and he left me groaning in pain.

'How dare you touch me' I shouted on him.

I immediately turned my heels towards the door as I got a slight Idea of what was coming. Running towards the door, I was going to open the lock but his hand stopped me. I felt my heart drop. Sweat beads formed on my forehead.

Please save me Kanha ji!

Suddenly, I felt a sharp stinging pain on my cheek and I realised his slapped me. The corner of my lips started bleeding as the slap was too hard.

He clutched my hair and pressed my face between his fingers.

'Ahh!' I whimpered in pain.

'You bitch! Tujhe sabak sikhana padega!' he roared.

He pushed me on the bed, throwing the duvet aside. Landing a slap on my cheek, he pressed his palm on my mouth resisting me to make any voice.

I was scared, very scared!

'Leave me! Please leave me Angad' I begged crying as I didn't see any option.

I wiggled hard but he didn't bulge. I tried pushing him but failed. It felt every ounce of energy leaving from my body as he again slapped me making me go numb.

'Shut up you bitch! There's no way I am going to spare you today!' he spoke in rage.

Please help Kanha ji! Please! Anything but not this. Please!

I silently prayed while crying but I guess, there is no way he is going to leave me now...