Chapter-35

Shraddha Kumar Malhotra POV

We went to a café. We wanted to have some peace of mind but it got spoiled by some idiots.

"Hey babies,can I have one kiss please?," One guy asked looking at us.

Bastard how dare he. I’m not going to leave this jerk.

"Shraddha come we will leave," Riya said with fear gripping her heart.

I can understand but I can't leave these bastards without broking their bones. They messed with wrong person.

"How are you going to leave? Without giving us what we want. You little bitch." he cursed and tried to touch my hand.

Wrong move jerk.

That's it he crossed his line. I can't tolerate this. How dare he call me bitch?

"Let's go," Riya said trying to drag me from that place.

"Why are you scared Riya. Don’t you want to face that bastard?" I screamed and punched that guy who cursed me.

"What are you fearing for? We are way stronger than these jerks." I said And Kicked another guy in his stomach.

Another guy tried to catch me but I kicked him before he could come near  me. He landed on his back.

"Riya fear will make you weak so don't fear for nothing which is very small in front of us. Your weakness is their winning treasure so don't let your weakness come in front you so better face it. I'm teaching you, self-defence classes, from tomorrow onwards." I said wiping her tears.

One guy tried to touch Riya but I was quicker than him. I twisted his hand and punched him on his back.

"If you will try to touch any girl, then just remember this day," I said in a warning tone.

"Sorry," they said withering in pain making me smirk. 

That's better you insensible jerks.

"Let's go Riya," I spoke.

"Thank you Sister in law, I don't know what would have happened if you were not here. I didn’t know you would fight like this," she said smiling.

I want to thank my brother who made me strong enough to face the world. Thank you, Kartik. I miss you brother.

"One more thing don't say this to your brother because I want to keep it a secret. When the right time will come I will tell him. I want to have fun when he comes to know that." I said with a smirk.

"Oh ok and I'm going to enjoy it," she replied with a smile.

"I will keep Divya as your teacher because I don't want to get caught. Be strong to face the world ok." I said 

"Ok." She said.

"I'm happy that I got the best sister in law as my best friend," she said hugging me tightly.

After that, we reached home and went to our rooms to freshen up. I was thinking about my plan of how to spill the truth from this monkey monster. 

After freshening up, I went to the living room. I was walking down the stairs when Shree shouted and said.

“Sister in law, come fast, MM is waiting for you only.” 

MM?

“MM? Who is this person?” I asked and took a seat on the couch.

I looked at everyone, all were present in the living room. 

Mom is smiling widely, Dad is shaking his head looking at her. My both sisters-in-law were smirking. Then I saw my husband was sitting on a single-seater sofa. He was giving me angry glares. 

‘Why is he glaring at me?’ I thought.

“You’re Monkey Monster,” Shree said with a smirk.

I looked at her and pleaded with eyes to shut up. 

“MONKEY MONSTER,” Aaron said, giving pressure to words. 

Shreya opened her lips to answer.

‘Shree please don't do this. Please don't spit it out. If he gets to know that I was the one who kept this name for him then he might increase my punishments. Already with office, café, Self-defence classes I don't get enough time to practice and to record the songs.’ I thought to myself.

“Yes, your nickname is kept by Sister in law. Nice right? I loved it.” Shree said excitedly.

Oh god, I'll be dead now. I know what will be going to happen next. Shraddha get ready for your punishment.

“Guys, let's have dinner. Shall we?” Riya asked diverting the situation.

My angel sister in law. One is the devil, another is an angel.

We all had our dinner. I felt a heated stare on me whole the time we were having our dinner. After dinner, I completed my chores  and went to my bedroom. He was in the study with Dad so I freshen up and changed into a nightdress. 

When I came into the bedroom from the washroom, I saw that he was standing facing towards the balcony.

I gulped my saliva and prayed to God to have mercy on me. God save me from this monkey monster’s punishment.

I cleared my throat to get his attention. Listening to my voice he quickly turned his face. He scanned me from head to toe. 

He furiously came towards me and clutched my shoulders very tightly. I could have pushed him instantly but I won't do it. He may get to know that I know self-defence. 

I can see flickering expressions in his eyes which varied from anger to pain to love.

Why I’m seeing the pain in his eyes? I can't see the pain in his eyes.

"Where did you go?" he asked glaring at me.

"I went to a coffee shop with Riya. We chatted for some time then we returned back home." I said skipping the part of the fight.

I don't want him to get worried.

"Do you even know how worried I was? I didn't know where you went after office hours. I reached home but you were not at home also. I was calling you both but it was either switched off or not reachable. I was so worried about you both’s whereabouts. I was going to call the police but before that, I received a call from my security guards. They informed me how some jerks were molesting my girls in the café. I got to know that you both went to a café. I immediately started towards your café but I was late as you reached home at that time.” He yelled at me making me smile.

So Mr MM is worried about me. That's great news to hear.

“Did you even think for a second that you should let your husband know about your whereabouts?” He asked with same intensity.

I can see the fear and anger in his words. I can understand the worry but fear? Why fear? I couldn't understand it.

"Where is your damn phone? If you don't know how to use your phone then why are you keeping with you," he yelled again.

"My phone’s battery died, that's why I couldn't reply," I said, controlling my pain.

"From now onwards don’t go anywhere without informing me," he warned me and left his hold on my shoulders.

I simply nodded my head. When I tried to move towards bed, I unconsciously hissed in pain. He quickly turned towards me.

"What happened?" he asked, coming close to me.

"Nothing." I stammered.

"Don't try to deny it. Show me where you got hurt," he asked me furiously.

I don't remember when I got hurt. I tried to remember it. It was when 

Now I remember when one of those bastards came with a knife from the back but before he could attack me, I kicked him but in this fight, knife lightly grazed my arm. I didn't realize it then as I was busy fighting those jerks. 

He took my hand and led me to the couch. I sat there and he brought the first aid box from the washroom. He started cleaning my wound. He cleaned and covered it with the bandage. 

Suddenly he kept his head on my lap. I was startled with his action but I composed myself. I don't know why I feel like he is controlling himself for something which I don't know.

After some time I started running my fingers through his hair making it messier.

I felt my dress getting wet. My husband was crying in my lap. I can't see tears in his eyes. I made him turn and wiped tears from his face. I gently cupped his face in my hands and asked him.

“What happened Aaru?” I asked cupping his face in my hands.

“Nothing.” He said and turned his face to the other side.

"You can share your pain with me. I'm always there for you." I said with tears.

"I don't know what happened to me when you were not present here. I lost my calm. I’m sorry. I know I shouldn't have shouted at you." he said.

"It's okay. Now tell me what is bothering you" I asked.

I want him to share his pain. I want to make him comfortable with me.

He placed his head again on my lap and started telling me about his past.

“We had a group of six friends. Me, Ishaan, Rajeev, Varun, Vishal and Vaishnavi. We all are close friends from school time. We all took admission in the same college. We all took admission in different courses but our college was the one only. We all were close to each other, we always shared everything with our best friends. When we were in the first year at that time, one day Vishal came to us and said that he loves Vaishnavi. We all were happy for them. We knew that these two will eventually fall for each other.” He said smiling remembering about his past.

“We helped Vishal in all the arrangements to propose Vaish. She reciprocated his feelings. Soon they both became one of the most favourite couples in the college. We all were in the last year of college when Vaish said that her family started looking for an alliance. Vishal met and told her family that he loves her and wants to marry Vaish but her family did not allow it. Her brother was very hot-headed, he was adamant that she will not marry him. They tried to house arrest her but we all had our exams so they couldn't do it.

On the last exam, we all took both of them to the Register office to get them married. We took the appointment a few days back so we got them married legally then took them to temple to make them married ritually.” he continued.

"Then?" I asked curiousity dripping in my brain.

"We sent both of them to Canada to settle in their life. After two months, one day I received a call from the servant who works in Vishal-Vaish’s home. He informed me that they both died in a car accident. I was confused so I went there but there were no proper records or any other proof. I understood that it was all done by Vaish’s brother.  

I decided to collect proof and give justice to both. Her brother didn't know me as he never met me and when all my friends all went to her home with Vishal that time I was not in Mumbai. So I offered a deal with his company and soon became a close person to him. I made him drunk and asked him about Vaish. He told me everything like how he made the plan and how he executed the plan. 

I recorded all this and handed it over to police. He was jailed for a lifetime but with some health excuse he got out on parole. I know that he is the city and he is planning to destroy me. He wants to hurt all my loved ones.” He said and hugged me tightly.

"I couldn't save my friends. I don't want to face the same fate again. If anything happens to any one of you, I’ll kill myself. I don't want you to get hurt. You are precious to me. I can't live without you so please don't do this again." he said with pain.

Now, I could understand why he was so worried about me. I also can't bear if anything happens to you Aaron, I love you. I love you very much. I never thought that he might have faced all this. He said that I'm precious to him. I couldn't control my happiness. I don't know when will be the right time so I can confess my feelings to him. 

I tried to get up but he tightly gripped my hands. 

"Where are you going? Please stay with me." he pleaded with pain in his eyes.

I couldn’t decline his pleadings. I feel hurt whenever I see the pain in his eyes. 

“Ok,” I said and sat on the bed properly. He kept his head in my lap again. I covered him with a duvet and dimmed the lights. He tightly hugged me. I kept looking at his face running my fingers on his hair.

I don't know when sleep consumed me...,........................................