For the hundredth time, Shradha checked the clock on her nightstand, and finally when she saw it was four AM and she still hadn’t managed to fall asleep, she sat up. Rubbing her face, she sighed and got up.

For the past week, Aditya did not come to their room. He rather avoided her at all costs. The only time they saw each other were at the table down for breakfast with the family.All her attempts at talking with her husband had failed, one after another, so she had stopped after attempt number four.

The more questions she asked, the more she tried to talk to him, he got annoyed or he walked away from her. Resting her head against the headboard of the bed, she closed her eyes, her mind travelling to the day they got married.

The bedroom door handle turned, and she nearly jumps out of her skin. The door creaks open, and she see him.

He’s here.

Aditya stood in the doorframe looking at her. He seemed taller, and the longer he stared at her, the more intense those piercing charcoal eyes seem against his olive skin. Shradha's breath hitched in her throat and her heart raced.

Terrified, Shradha pushed to her feet from the floor she was sitting and crying a while ago, as he walked in and closed the door behind him.

She found herself wanting to look away, but at the same time his striking appearance commanded her attention and rivetted her gaze to him, making it difficult for her to focus. She would have  found this easier if he weren’t so ridiculously gorgeous.

He was the kind of man who you would naturally stare at.

Paralyzed under the weight of his stare, and the anticipation of what he’s going to do made her want to run. Run far away and never look back.

But she held herself. This man was now her husband. The only one who can protect her. Even her father had betrayed her. He was the only hope she had. And she was prepared to give him whatever he commanded of her tonight.

He got closer but stopped a few paces away, still towering over her. The scent of his aftershave filled her nose and she gritted her teeth.

He was about six foot three while she barely five foot four. He felt like a giant next to her.

"This isn't right." Shradha rasped, her voice weak and weary, foreign to her ears. She no longer sounded like the strong woman who she thought she was all along. She was no longer the same after her father's betrayal.

“What?” The corners of his lips turned up into a smooth smile, revealing perfect white teeth.
Of course, his smile was also beautiful and disarming. Maybe that’s what he used to intimidate people.

“You can’t do this. You can’t have me,” Shradha answered, trying to steady her heart so it doesn’t leap out of her chest.

“The piece of paper we signed earlier says different."

She felt her shoulders slumping down in defeat. She was his now, legally. There was no going back.

For a moment she wondered if he was mourning his father's death. Did he arrange a funeral? But the by the looks of it, Shradha noted that Aditya Kapoor was not a man who was affectionate about his father.

Who was she kidding? He freaking killed his father!

Her lips part at the loss of words.

“It’s wrong. You must know that.”

“Stop it,” he orders. His smile fades. That cool, calm demeanor returns, and she realised then that this is his dangerous side.

“Stop what?”

"Stop trying to prey on my good side. I don’t have one. Don’t think I’m good just because I stopped my father from hurting you. I’m not."

Shradha trembled now as his gaze bored into her. He was telling her things she should know, but mostly he was saying she had no hope.

"Take your clothes off."

At that her stomach dropped. He was serious, not even a glint of humor in his voice.

Obey! Her mind screamed at her. This was what she was supposed to do as a wife. She wondered what would happen if she didn't comply. What was worse? To be willing and allow him to take her and do whatever he wants, or for him to take it violently?

With trembling hands, she moved the tiny strap of her summer dress down her left shoulder, then her right. The dress drifted down to her feet the moment she slipped off the second strap.

“All of it,” he states, and his jaw tightened and she tremble against the weightage of his words. The room temperature suddenly rose up.

No one has ever seen her naked. Not even this much. Nobody, not even her doctors.

Shradha straightened and noted the amused look on his handsome face.

Her hands shook as she reached up to the little butterfly clasp holding her bra together, and she fumbled to get it undone. It was not actually that hard to undo. She just couldn't get her hands to work. Her breath caught when the clip snapped open, and she winced when the heft of her breasts spilled out.

She couldn't look at him. The hot blush of humiliation that swept through her left her breathless and lightheaded. She was frightened and ashamed. She was terrified and angry at what she was being forced to do.

Once she has stripped out off the
last piece of clothing from her body, she steel her spine, willing herself to be strong. This was for the best.

“Take your hair down for me,” he adds. She pulled the band from her ponytail. Long dark locks tumble down her shoulders and gather at the small of her back.

The desire in his eyes was a tell that he’s ready to strike. Fear lanced through her like a bolt of lightning.
He took one step closer, and she  stepped back.

He placed a hand right by her shoulder, blocking her in so she couldn't move. She couldn't stop shaking. The terror came from deep inside. Deep inside her soul. She couldn't control it.

He reached down to touch a lock of her hair, his fingers brushing over her nipples, making them hard. The contact makde arousal ripple through her and her throat went dry.

Allowing the ends of her hair to curl around his thumb, he watched, fascinated. Then, when he pressed his hand to the flat of her stomach, she knew this was it. He was  going to strike.

“Please… not this way. I’ve never…” she winced, hoping he won’t laugh at her and make her feel worse.

"Never....never what?"  His warm breath tickled her nose.

"I've...I've never been with a man." At the declaration, a devilish smile lightened up his face which scared her. It held an air of victory, like he was proud, like he won, like he just hit a jackpot.

"Are you on pills?"

Biting down her lip, she shook her head negatively.

"Start taking them." Soon after his command he stepped away from her leaving her confused. As the heat of his body left her, she suddenly felt cold being naked.

"I won't take you when you aren't ready. When I have you, you'll then be begging for me." With that he picked up the discarded dress from the floor and tossed it towards her. She caught it and held it close to her chests, an attempt to cover up whatever dignity that was left of her.

Something warmed inside her chest. He wasn't like his father who was about to take it from her forcefully. A little glow of hope flourished inside her heart which made her take a step closer to him.

"Will we be happy in this marriage? Will you be able to love me?" It was a silly question but she was always a naive girl who dreamt of fairy tales. Right now, the man in front of her gave her hope, that maybe, just maybe, she could be loved by someone.

"You'll be happy under my protection. No one will ever hurt you." With that he turned around away from her. "I don't do love, you shouldn't either. This was an arrangement our families made for a cause. I am fulfilling that. And that only."

A resonating knock pulled her up from her day dream.  Shradha's blurry vision once again traveled to the clock to check the time. It was past ten in the morning. God how long was she out?

Her legs raced to the door, in hope that it might be Aditya but
once she saw the face of the familiar middle aged woman who cleaned their part of the house, her hope shattered. Nevertheless she offered a faint smile at the lady.

"Sir has asked me to give this to you Madame. He expects you to wear this and be ready by six in the evening. A car will pick you up." With that, she extended the fancy package to Shradha.

Puzzled, she took it from the woman uttering a small thank you.
As she closed the door behind her, all she could think was how drastically they had changed. To the point he no longer talked to her. But she took in a deep breath.

Tonight she was going to talk it out with him even if it meant getting on his bad side.