Bengal, Chatterjee Residence

"What was that?" Indranil breathed out, glaring at Tripti, "What was that?!" He whisper screamed. 

Tripti felt as if her heart was tumble out of her chest as he firmed his hold against her arm. She panted softly, all hell breaking lose as she stared into those rageful eyes of Indranil. He held her and dragged her to a nearby room, breathing out. 

"Indranil...."

"What were you doing with Subhankar over there?" His eyes raved around her face as he pinned her against the wall. Tripti cupped her mouth, tears blurring her eyes, "Indranil. it's not so-"

"Shut up!" He exclaimed, grabbing her shoulders, "Do you think I am bloody blind Tripti? You were clearly hugging him!"

"No! Please Indranil, it was just.....I did not mean anything!" She panted, panic grasping her as she shook her head wildly, "Please Indranil trust me!"

"Really? From childhood I have been watching you sticking to that bastard! I repeatedly told you to stay away from him, didn't I?"

"DIDN'T I?!" 

Tripti flinched, grabbing the edge of her saree as her heart thudded faster, "I am sorry Indranil....but I did not--I love you, okay? I did not mean anything when I hugged Subho-Subhankar, please trust me!"

Indranil fumed, pressing his hairs behind his neck, "What else did you do? Sleep with him?!"

"NO! Indranil please, I am innocent! Please I love you, don't say such words please!" Tripti clasped her hands together, tears streaming down her eyes, "Please, please trust me! I promise in the name of Lord Krishna I did nothing!" 

"Please....please trust me one last time! Please I am sorry!" 

Indranil grabbed her wrist, digging his nails into her skin due to which she yelped, "Indra-Indranil...." She panted, as pain shot in her arm. His fingers were like a grip of iron curling over her angrily, "I am sorry! I am so sorry! I won't repeat it I promise!"

"I promise-"

"Shut up!" He boomed, twisting Tripti's wrist slightly, causing her to open her mouth in pain.

"I am giving you a final chance Tripti, a final chance," His voice dangerously lowered, his teeth gritting, while he kept twisting her wrist, "STAY AWAY FROM THAT SERVANT'S SON."

Tripti gasped softly at intervals, nodding vigorously. 

"Because, if for one more time I see you both lurking around, I would ruin his, yours and your family's image so much so, that you wouldn't even imagine," He growled lowly, his rageful eyes bearing against her, "I will tarnish your image, and it won't take me even a moment for that."

"So don't provoke me Tripti...." 

"Did you understand?"

Tripti gazed at him fearfully, shivering slightly.

"DID YOU UNDERSTAND? I WANT WORDS!"

"Y-yes...yes," She breathed out, her face washing with tears. 

Indranil's jaws clenched as he released her hand, and giving her a final glare, he left from there. 

Tripti covered her mouth, looking straight, not being able to fathom what just happened with her.

Her brain seemed to have stopped working altogether. She kept on exhaling deeply, trying to calm herself down, her eyes still widened. That was Indranil......that was Indranil? Her heart seemed to burst out of her chest, as she tried to process whatever happened with her a while ago. She strode out slowly from that room, and started walking.

The walk transformed into strides. Long strides.

Then into a run.

She ran towards her room, cupping her mouth as she instantly closed the door of her room, locking it. She rested her back against the door, those rageful eyes of Indranil piercing into her memory. He was twisting her hand. Goosebumps occurred on her as her gaze fell upon her left wrist, which had the red imprint of Indranil's fingers. She began to inhale deep breaths, slowly sitting on the floor, against the door. Her hands were clasped together into fists as she brought them close to her chest, gulping hard. 

'It wouldn't take me a moment to tarnish your and your family's image, Tripti!' 

Those words boomed in her head, replaying. She cupped her mouth again, breathing in and out. Tears flew down her eyes uncontrollably. 

What was this....? What was all this....?

What did just happen with her?

Her stomach felt weirdly heavy, as she recalled his words. 

He threatened her. Quite literally. 

He threatened her.

Her palms were still shivering, her legs were still shivering. Her lips parted as her throat dried, she quickly wiped her tears, and walked up towards the mirror. 

Her kohl was smudged.

She kept staring at the mirror for a while, gazing at her self. 

"Tripti! Tripti....are you inside?" Tripti flinched hearing the voice was Saudamini, who was knocking at her door.

"Tripti?"

"Y-yes! Boudi I am inside!" She almost yelped suddenly.

"Okay, but come fast! Everyone is waiting for the ceremony at the hall!"

"Ye-yes! I am coming!" She immediately answered. She kept a hand over her chest where her heart was beating so fast. And suddenly she remembered Indranil's threat.

'I won't spare you and your family,' 

No....

She can't. She can't-

Else....else he won't spare her family's respect. What if he reveals about it to Manikant?

What will he say? What will he say to her...?

What will happen to Subhankar?

No....no- she had to be strong. It was nothing, Indranil....he was just angry. He was just angry. She had one simple job, not to offend him the next time. And he will be happy. 

Right?

He was just jealous, because he loved her. Nothing else. 

It was no big deal. No big deal!

She hastily wiped her tears, taking a cloth and wiping away the smudged kohl. She swiftly reapplied the kohl again, and blinked at the mirror. Trying to force a smile. 

It was nothing. Indranil was just angry about Subhankar. He wasn't angry on her.

She will pacify him gradually. Everything would be fine.

She breathed in, straightening her garments as she silently crept towards the door, and opened it, coming out. Trying to ignore how her heart was still beating fast.

.

.

.

"Arrey, there comes my daughter!" Manikant beamed, extending his arms happily as he strode towards his daughter. Tripti was walking slowly inside the hall, fidgeting with her fingers together and her heart twanging against her chest like a bowstring. No one knew that moment the urge in her to run away fast. Away from everyone, everywhere. Her lips were still quivering, she had to bite it discreetly to stop it. She gulped softly, gazing at everyone's happy faces.

Meghmaala was busy with her two sons and Phalguni, and her aunts Shaanti and Kadambari were busy attending and gossiping with the guests. The hall, which used to be the King's courtroom, looked flourished and vibrant. There were excited gossips and sounds of laughter echoing.

Much contrary to the storm in her heart.

What, what was she about to do? Which trap was she stepping into knowingly?

Sweat sheathed on her palms, her forehead. Now knowing everything, she had to lay into the trap. It was impossible, impossible to shove aside that rageful look of Indranil's eyes; it was of pure anger, the way he grabbed his wrist and was twisting it, and she couldn't say anything to retaliate. Instead of pleading him of mercy. 

It was Indranil. It was Indranil! That Indranil whom she played with since childhood, knew since her childhood! 

Did everything for him since childhood, they way he wished for....

She couldn't believe it, she couldn't believe it at all. For a fraction of second everything felt like a nightmare, which she wanted to end. But it was cruel enough to be a reality in her life; a harsh reality now about which she couldn't do anything about.

She could land everyone in trouble, the respect of the two families, the entire Chatterjee mansion and it's glory!

There was no option, no option other than gulping everything down and burn in that pyre. Be consumed in the slow poison.

But she had to. She had to, why?

Because she had no other option. She had to cherish Indranil, no matter what.

She had to. No matter what.

Her throat choked, as she tried to weakly force a smile on her face. 'Be strong, Tripti. Be strong! For your family atleast!' She kept chanting, gulping as she walked towards her father, who was beaming with happiness, and hugged him.

"I can't believe this is finally happening, God," Manikant patted her head, leaning forward to kiss her forehead, and Tripti had to try hard to suppress a sob bubbling through her throat. If this was the condition of her in the beginning, how will she survive further? But she had to. She had to be strong, for everyone's sake.

Else...

"Come Tripti, it's getting late!" Meghmaala chimed and called her, taking her hand towards the couch. 

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

INDRANIL 👁👁🔥

Signing off for today!

Nushkie