“Before I could react or resist him, I am catapulted to the bed. What is he going to do? Is he going to ruin the divinity of this relationship? Will he stoop so low? All these anticipations alarm my mind and body. Tears brim my eyes once again. I have started hating myself for loving this monster, this brute. He starts unbuttoning his shirt. His chiselled chest hitches my breath in fear. I crawl back keeping my timid eyes on his daunting ones. Right now, I have zilch empathy for myself. Even I am cursing myself for not believing my father. I hurt him so much. That’s why I am getting the same pain. The pain of shattered love and trust. When we love someone more than our life and that person crushes our heart like glass, that pain is unbearable. My heaven of dreams is going to shatter like a house of cards and I am solely responsible for that. Aditya takes off his shirt in one go and nears the bed with a slow yet determined pace. His muscles are wriggling with desire. Then he utters the most painful words. Today the Brute will devour an Angel….not a fairy tale. He is right. It is not a fairy tale. Life is not a fairy tale. Here Angels lose their purity by loving the Brutes. I close my eyes and gulp the pain.”

Aditya kneels on the bed and slinks at Nandana. His eyes are flickering with wrath and passion.

“Open your eyes, Angel. See your Brute is here. Love me or hate me, Baby. But you can’t leave me.”

Aditya’s hisses through his husky voice make Nandana unfurl her eyes. She meets his intimidating eyes. She knows that she can’t save herself from this Devil. Neither she wants. Perhaps this is her punishment. Punishment to love and trust this monster.

“I won’t leave you. You want my body…right? Fine! You can have it. I know you are an animal in this human body and animals live on the flesh and blood of a dead creature. And I am also a dead creature now. Because you have already killed my soul. This body is nothing but a soulless dead body. So, come and have it. Whatever way you like. Come, Mr Oberoi. Devour your dead Angel.”

Nandana mouths in a razor-sharp voice. Now, her eyes have no fright or pain. They are as vacant as a ripple-less water body. For a moment, Aditya halts. He didn’t expect this reaction from Nandana. According to human psychology, we desire those things most that are hard to get. Easy or plattered things often discourage us. Nandana’s words stir his heart for a moment. Will she really surrender like a defeated person? Where is that fire which once triggered him to get her? Perhaps she is playing with his mind. He can’t be trapped so easily. Aditya clutches Nandana’s forearms and hauls her towards him. Nandana crashes on his chest like a cotton sack. Her hair bun gets untangled and cascades down on her bare shoulder.

“You are right. I am an animal. And you know girls love my savageness in bed. Today I will show you how I can ignite the fire even in a dead body.”

Aditya’s hard words fail to create any repercussion in Nandana’s body or mind. Like a submissive doll, she keeps on looking at Aditya. Being confused, Aditya pushes her on the mattress and comes over to her. He grabs her both hands and pins them on either side of her head. Nandana is still staring at him like an emotionless statue. Aditya’s burning breath is fanning her face dangerously. She is not even blinking her lashes. Aditya purrs and violently slams his rough lips on hers and starts chewing them ruthlessly. On the other hand, there is no acceptance or confrontation from Nandana’s side. Aditya is kissing her like a crazy soul just in the demand of any resistance. Her lips are bleeding. Her eyes are open. She is lying like a lifeless puppet. The salty taste of her blood breaks his lunacy. He withdraws his mouth and observes Nandana’s face. There is no emotion, no pain or fear.

“Nandana, respond. You can’t ignore me like this. Don’t provoke the beast inside me more. You won’t be able to bear me, damn it.”

Aditya hisses against her ears but Nandana doesn’t give any answer. She only indifferently turns her face to another side. Aditya lifts himself and watches her for a while.

“Fine….let me see how much you can tolerate.”

Saying this, Aditya pounces on her upper chest. He claws her breasts and mercilessly squeezes them. Sinking his sharp teeth on her cleavage, he rubs his heavy body against her fragile frame. He is nibbling and biting her bare shoulder and nape like a famished lion.

“You have to respond. You have to accept me.”

He is growling while pouring all his frustration on her motionless figure. One of his hands crawls down to reach her lower sensitive part. Nandana closes her eyes in anticipation.

“You can’t stop your body reacting under my hands.”

He groans out. Suddenly his eyes fall on the necklace which is still adorning her beautiful neck. A shock makes him halt his aggressive hands. A voice resonates in his ears,

“Okay, my Dear. I will bring a bride for you exactly like me. And this necklace will be a gift for her. Now you are happy, Adi Dear?”

Like a torn bow, he pulls back himself from her body. Having no pressure on her body, Nandana opens her eyes and looks at Aditya with confusion. He was almost there to break her completely, then what made him withdraw? Aditya gets down from the bed and stands on the floor. He fists his hair and grimaces.

“Leave, Nandana. Before I ruin you completely, leave me.”

He says in a grave voice. Nandana rises and sits squarely on the bed to observe him minutely. Now, his back is facing her. Sweat is rolling down the cavity of his spine. All of a sudden, Aditya flips and screams at his highest pitch.

“LEAVE THIS BRUTE, ANGEL. OR ELSE EVERYTHING WILL BE SHATTERED.”

...........................

It’s about 6 o’clock in the morning. Vivek Basu stretches his hand to reach the jug kept on the table beside his bed. It’s time to leave bed and welcome the day. Vivek pours some water into his mouth when a soft knock comes from the closed front door. Jaya, Manvi and Rishi are still sleeping in the inside room. It is he who always gets up early in the morning. At first, he thinks that it might be some cat scratching on the door sill. However, the sound is heard again and this time a bit more profoundly. It seems that someone is eager to come in but hesitant to make a loud noise. Vivek shoves the bed sheet and heads to the door. Again, a shaky knock is heard from the other side of the door. Vivek opens the lock and pulls the gates of the door. A cool gust of dawn hits his face. It is the end of winter and the outside is quite dimly illuminated with soft morning sunray. Vivek rubs his eyes to remove the drowsiness and when he completely opens his eyes, the sight stops his heartbeat for a second. Nandana is standing on the threshold like a shattered soul. Her red gown is torn and mud-spattered in many places. Her eyes are swollen and red. The tresses are tangled and unkempt. She is shivering like a dry leaf. Vivek skirts his eyes on her body…from head to toe and from toe to head. Surprise clouds his eyes.

“Pa..p…a”

Nandana cries out meekly. Tears prick her eyes.

“What are you doing here? Please leave. I have nothing to give you.”

Vivek’s impassive words hit Nandana’s ears.

“Papa…I remember…everything. I….I…”

She can’t say anything further and is about to collapse when Vivek immediately holds her slackened body. A frightful wail comes out of his mouth,

“Nandu…!”

He looks here and there helplessly and shouts,

“JAYA…MANVI…..COME…LOOK WHO IS HERE…”

.............................

An hour passes. Nandana is lying in her bed, unconscious. Vivek and Manvi are standing there. Jaya has brought Rishi inside as he got too hyper to see his sister and right now Nandana is not in a condition to respond to any emotional outburst. Vivek is looking at her closed eyes, His forehead is furrowed in worry and confusion. Before losing consciousness, Nandana said that she remembered everything. What does that mean? Does it mean his conjecture was right? Nandana was in an amnesia stage! Is that the reason she denied recognising her father? But what happened now that suddenly brought back her memories? Where is Aditya Oberoi? Is he still after her? Has she escaped from his captivity? Is her life in danger? Vivek’s train of thoughts gets broken by Manvi’s resentful voice,

“Now, what is she doing here? She denied to recognise you….right? Then what brought her here again? Or his rich husband threw her out of his mansion!”

She distorts her face in jealousy. She was about to say more but Vivek’s glare stops her in middle. Meanwhile, Jaya comes out and orders Manvi,

“Manvi, go inside and stay with Rishi. I made him sleep again but he can awake anytime. Don’t allow him to come here. Let Nandu get up first. Go…”

She indicates the bedroom. Manvi looks at her parents and heads inside, making an annoyed face. Jaya nears the bed and scoots down to observe Nandana.

“I think we should call a doctor. See, she has some bruises and marks on her body. Her dress is also indicating that she was in some trouble. If she doesn’t gain her sense in the next 10-15 minutes…please call the doctor. I can’t see my daughter in this condition.”

Her voice chokes. Vivek rests his palm on her shoulder.

“I will. But before that, I think we should inform the police. I don’t know if Aditya is still after her or not but I can’t take any risk. Before I lose her again to that devil, I should call the SP. She needs protection.”

Jaya nods at Vivek’s reasoning. She further asks,

“Did she tell you anything before fainting?”

Vivek thinks for a while. It won’t be wise to tell anything to Jaya before he himself doesn’t be confirmed about his all doubts. He wobbles in denial. With a deep sigh, Jaya sits beside Nandana and starts caressing her forehead. Vivek comes to the other room to call the SP. After a couple of rings, someone picks the receiver.

“Hello…can I talk to the SP. I am Vivek Basu.”

He clears his identity. The voice instructs him to hold the line and after a short lull, a virile voice comes into life.

“Hello...SP Bhosle speaking…”

With a trembling voice, Vivek utters,

“Nandu…I mean my daughter Nandana Basu has returned. She…she is not in a good condition…she…”

Before he can explain more a deafening yell startles him.

“NANDU…DEAR..!”