Arjun's POV

I got up at 4 in the morning. I could see the sun has not risen yet. I stared at my wife's face. How beautiful and peaceful she looks while asleep! Her thick eyelashes kissing her cheeks looked so admirable. She was a rare beauty. Her make up of last night's party had washed away and she looked so heavenly even without it.
I felt guilty looking at the welts on her body. What the fuck! I am not supposed to feel remorse for what I did yesterday. I have done worst with women in my past then why is this guilt of hurting my wife pricking me now?!

I notice her blanket had slipped from her chest so I covered her up to her neck to protect her from getting cold. I don't know why I am feeling guilty but the simple truth is I am feeling hurt.

I showered and exited my room. I can't stand looking at those welts and bruises I have caused her. I sweat it out in my personal gym to stabilise my mind. I have to go to my head office but I have to also train the newly admitted males in our squad. They are in their training period which follows putting them to test. I spend my time teaching them to use weapons still my mind is not fully here. I feel myself getting zoned out time and again.

At last I assign my job to Mathew and leave them alone. I return to my room to check on Radhika before I leave for my head office. I am mesmerized by her beauty when I stand by the door watching her. She is wearing full sleeves with a high neck trying to hid the remnants of her punishment. I trudged towards her and hold her by shoulders. Also I notice she is wearing that diamond studded necklace I gifted her the other day. That necklace can actually buy a house if sold in market. I have never picked up jewellery for any women I slept with but of course Radhika is an exception. Also I know my taste is very good, I also have an idea about what will look good on her flawless fair skin. She looks spectacular!

"You look beautiful." I tell her. I am half expecting her to blush but I receive a magnificent 'Thank you' which doesn't pleases me at all.

"Are you still upset about last night?!"

I ask her feeling irritated by her cold demenour.

"Look I am sorry I guess I went too far." I say sorry to snap her out of her anger.

Her eyes blazing with fire, she screeched," You're sorry?! You used your belt on me for how many times, I have no clue about. You wrote your name on my body as if I am some possession of yours. You had brutal sex with me which almost killed me. And you're here telling me you are sorry. You made me lose all my hopes last night. You know despite myself I was hoping you'll change....I was seeing a future with you in spite of what you did to me. I was trying to forgive you. Last night you killed all those hopes. You stamped on the pieces of my broken heart. I was trying Arjun, really trying to accept you but you ruined everything yesterday. What did you say! Upset?! You have no shame! You humiliated me in the worst way I could ever imagine and you are asking if I am still upset over last night. I hate you, Arjun!"

Shit! That hurt! What the fuck is wrong with me?! I quickly covered that hurt that crossed my face with my best poker face. She shouldn't know she affects me, should she?!

I fake laughed at her state though I didn't find it funny at all,"You think I care what hopes you had woven in your heart. You are so delusional. I don't care what you feel for me, Radhika. You are my wife and your duty is to please me in bed not talk and think about this stupid fantasies. About last night, whatever happened was the outcome of your actions. It was your punishment. Get over it and find something better to do. Also if you breath even a word about yesterday to Sam, I'll whip you!"

Whatever I said was to stop her from emasculating me. She doesn't needs to know that I just don't love sex with her but I love lying next to her with her body cocooned in my arms. She doesn't need to know how I like seeing her face first in the morning, does she? I don't trust her after all she is Rehan's daughter. She might cheat me and ruin me. I know better than trusting Rehan's blood.

I felt pained seeing how her face fell listening to my crude words. She was shivering at the very mention of whip. I held her gently and turned her around to make her look at herself in the mirror.

"Radhika, look at yourself in the mirror. What is it that you don't have?! You are a queen stop thinking like a decrepit rape victim. You are lucky that you got a husband like me who showers with you with gifts every now and then. Look at the beautiful woman looking at you from the mirror. Do you recognize her?! Remember the day I brought you here . Your clothes were dirty and soiled by the mud. You had barely anything in name of jewellery on your body except a filthy bracelet that bastard gave you. Today you are standing here wearing the most ethnic jewellery which can buy you a house if you try to sell it inside the market. You know something?! This is my mother's.....This is one and only piece in the whole world. You won't find it's twins anywhere because there aren't any. Look how beautiful you are. You are an enigma! You know I use to hate you a lot not because you are Rehan' s daughter but also because you have something I didn't....A heart! You got a privileged childhood and I had one hell of it because of your motherfucking father. Then I started caring for you. That feeling was something I had experienced for the first time in my life towards a woman who was not my mom. I hate to admit it but I do care for you. That is it. Nothing more, nothing less.

By any means I wanted to cajole her. Even after listening to my sweeten-up words, she looked lost and sad to me. I didn't liked it. My last resort was to make her feel cared for. So I started smotching her neck softly keeping myself from using my teeth on her alabaster skin which was already marred by the belt I used on her last night.

"I love the alluring shyness that covers your face when I come closer to you. You know I must have slept with many woman and few were virgin too but they weren't completely innocent like you. From your head to your toe, you were untouched and that made me want you even more. I had actually hit a jackpot by making you mine. This soft, plum lips unkissed by any other man except me."

I sweet-talked her something which I never did with any woman I was involved with. I could see she was instantly brought out of her daze by my deep kisses and sweet words. Such an innocent she is! She wasn't resisting me like before. She had her eyes closed and head arched back in pleasure.

I pressed my hands on the treasure between her thin legs feeling the moistness of her core. How much ever she fights me, she cannot deny the mindblasting effect I have on her.

"This mine. Only mine. I was the first to be in here and I will be the last."
My voice full of possessiveness and my eyes darkened with need.

I felt she was expecting me to say sorry. Dream on, sweetheart! Still somewhere down the line I knew I didn't had to go so hard on her especially because she is so new to my world and has no clue about how I punish.

"I am not even asking for your forgiveness. You should be the one saying sorry to me but I'll let go for this one time." I said in a unflinching tone.

I kissed her button nose, her cheeks moving down to her lips. My kisses were all chaste and far from lustful kisses. I wanted her to see I do care. If she behaves herself and follows the rules set then will have no problem at all.

"Radhika, if you obey, honour and respect me what happened yesterday will not happen again. You made me show you what an asshole I can be. I care for you though you don't believe it. I have never had any women sleep with me in my bed. I have never got possessive over any women in my past. You are dear to me. Take it as a warning if you try to run away from me and even if you succeed. You won't have the dream life you would want. If not me some other man who must have sworn revenge on me would get his hand on you. You know what they would want to do with you?! They'll do the same thing what your father did to my mom. You want that?!

I purposely triggered her fear so she learns to think before she acts. I know she is a woman of high self esteem and she values her dignity more than anything so I made her aware of the dangers looming over her head if she escapes from me which is never going to happen.

I assure her when I feel her shuddering at imagining the horrible picture I painted in her mind.

"Don't worry. Never will I ever let another man get near you. You'll always be protected by me. You are mine forever." I mean what I said with every cell and fibre in my body.

I feel her relax in my arms. I kiss her soft lips sensously and slowly. She is surprised by my slow devouring of her lips. I know darling what you are thinking but you don't need to think. That's my job.

I feel a smile coiling on her lips and it makes me smile too. I her to kiss me back so she does by syncing her lips with mine. I gain access of her mouth and explore her sweetness. Meanwhile my hands move on their own accord feeling up her body. I give a nice squeeze to her breast and she moans in my mouth. Ah, someday I want to fuck her breast. My hands cascade down to her ass and press it lightly but she whimpers in protest so I stop....

"How sore is your ass?!" I cannot refrain from asking.

She looks earthward shying away both from my question and my eyes. Her cheeks are flaming and she looks so cute right now. Cute?! Did I just call her cute?! What world am I in?! I have never called anyone cute except Sam but that's different of course.

Now I really feel guilty for the pain and suffering I caused her last night. I know no power in the world can stop me from doing godawful things when I am in my complete asshole mood. I always knew since my childhood that I could hurt people very badly.

Incoherently, I say," I am sorry."

Fuck! What the fuck did I just say! Arg! Why the fuck did I lose control?! You'll be the death of me, Radhika! I don't understand what you are doing to me.

Her face is a combination of shock and surprise. I think more of shock because you don't find Arjun Mehra saying sorry.

"I never wanted to raise my hand on you, Radhika. You were provoking me so much and I was so mad at you..." My voice came out frustrated as I pulled my hair out.

She took a step towards me and locked her gaze with m," Promise me it won't happen again." She demanded grabbing my hand and placing it on her hand.

I stood shocked at her demand and I gave her a promise with a nod. I can't stand her ignorance and her cold behavior. What is she made of?! Despite of all my wrong doings, despite of the monstrous behavior towards her, she still has faith in me. She reminds me of my mother who pushed me to do right till she was alive.

Why are you so naive, Radhika

"Why?!" I held her innocent face in my hands.

" What why?!" She asked me in an innocent tone.

"Why do still hope that I will change?! Why don't you see me for who I really am?!"

I am not a good man, Radhika. It's time you realize this and accept it but when I see the hope in your eyes, you make me believe that there is hope for a man like me even if it's for a moment.

She stayed quiet, staring deep into my eyes.

"You are tenacious." I told her because it's true. She has a spirit of Phoenix to rise from the ashes and in that way she resembles me because even I rose from the ashes of my parents.

"I have to be. Living with you is not easy." She replied unfazed.

Now that's true. She backfaced me to look at her reflection in the mirror and I was pained to see her covering her bruises. Maybe I should do something to bring that smile back on her face. I loved how she beamed last night in the party before the hell broke loose.

I hugged her from behind," You want to learn music?!" I asked her.

She looked at me from the mirror itself  and answered,"Yes but...."

" I will arrange a tutor for you. Take it as my way of making upto you and you can even study further if you want. Whatever you want." I told her softly.

She turned around swiftly to face me,"Why the sudden change of heart?!"

Heart?! Like seriously?! Do I even have one?!

I shook my head,"Heart?! I don't have one but I realized you must be getting bored sitting in the house whole day. We will look for a good tutor for you to teach you music."

"So if I want to complete my post graduation, I can go to college?!" She asked in an estatic tone.

College?! I don't think so. I very well know what happens in College and there is no fucking way I am going to let you slip off from my grasp. You will stay here where I can watch you without worrying about your safety.

"No college, I will arrange you to have home tutors and you can appear for exams from the comfort of your house."

As I said it, she grew upset and looked down at her feet. I realized that I was too harsh and I need to go little easy on her.

I lifted her chin up," Anything you want but I can't let you compromise your safety plus I can't handle it if you attract too much male attention."

I don't want other men to ogle at her even though she will be out of reach because of the bodyguards I will send with her but still that wouldn't stop men from lusting after her and I can't take that.

" So anything I want?! So you won't have an issue if I go out...."

Was she negotiating her best deal with me?! That little minx!

"You will have bodyguards with you." I said turning away from her to change my shirt.

I took out a shirt for myself from the wardrobe and unbuttoned the one I was wearing. Normally I would have changed in the washroom but I want to tease her a bit. As I discarded my shirt, and stood in front of her just in my jeans, she stared at me with her mouth wide open and her cheeks turning a bright pink.

Do you see the effect I have on you?!

"So you are giving me freedom?!" She asked, turning her face away.

"Well not exactly, I am just loosening my grip on you a bit. Don't and I mean it, don't ever take advantage of my trust!" I warned her.

I grabbed my clothes and went inside the washroom to take a shower. For now, we are not good but we will be soon when she will get over it and come around. She looked lost to me, as if deep in thought and I wondered if it has something to do with that man. I know I can't hurt her more so I have to find that man on my own and I will.

Radhika's POV

I was chatting with Sam in the hall when a beautiful thin woman entered inside the mansion with Mark by her side. She was calling out no screaming out Arjun's name.

"Where is my Arjun?! Mark, please call him, will you?! I haven't seen him for so many years. Hurry up Mark I can't wait anymore."

Who is she?! Why is she referring Arjun as hers?!

"Lily."

A familiar baritone makes me turn to the source of that voice. Arjun! Holy mother of Jesus! The cold prince has tears in his eyes. Am I dreaming or Is this happening for real?! I pinch myself hard to confirm and Ah, it's true. This is happening in real.

As she sees him, she gallops towards him and throws her arms around him. Who the hell is she?! What right does she have to embrace him like that?! I don't like what I feel right now. Envy and hurt are eating my heart bit by bit. Why do I don't like them so close?! I, a woman who is forcefully kept here against my own will. Then why am I hurt seeing him canoodling with her?! Whatever, he is my husband not hers.

He breaks the hug and cups her face ever so lovingly," Lily, you are alive! How?! Where were you all this years?! How can you be alive?!"

She sobbed, "Yes they didn't kill me. They kept me in a cell away from the sunlight. Oh, Arjun, they use to starve me and thrash me when I use to take your name. I hoped, hoped and hoped you'll rescue me but you didn't come." Saying so, she broke into sobs.

I am moved by what she went through but....Arg! Radhika, stop with your rambling! The woman has already gone through so much and you're concerned about her relation with Arjun. How heartless of you!

"How is this possible?! I saw your dead body and I, myself attended your funeral. Till that I didn't give up on finding you but..."

Ah, this is news to me. Is she his girlfriend?! As far as I know he isn't that serious boyfriend material. He has a wandering eye or use to have one. 

Dracula steps forward and fills him in," Arjun, Lily was held captive for years and the dead body they threw out of that car was someone else. It was a trap set by them and we fell  prey to it. You remember the body was burned and we concluded it's Lily because of her charm bracelet."

Lily says in a sad voice,"Yes, Arjun they snatched it from me. Mark posed as an imposter to rescue me. He took such a big risk to set me free."

Oh! Dracula brought her here. I don't know why I am not feeling good about this. Holy cow! They are so into each other. I don't like what I see.

Arjun takes a deep breath and says in a composed tone,"I am so happy to see you, Lily."

He has regained his cold unmerciful Dark Lord face now. Still the smile on his face doesn't fade away. I can see he is really happy to see her as he claims to be. I am happy too for him and her that they got a closure but what about me then?!

She smiles, "Me too Arjun. Now we will be together."

My heart bleeds hearing her words. Sam holds my hand and squeezes it lightly to assure me. She gives me a smile and I return it with my forced one.

"Sammy!"

Lily says in an exuberant tone and hugs Sam tight. I guess they know each other too well. I feel like an outsider right now. I take two step back to give them space.

Lily says in a exuberant tone, "Look at you Sammy. You are all grown up. You have grown in to a beautiful girl, Sam."

Sammy says with tears streaming down her cheeks, "Thànks Lily. I missed you so much."

"Sammy, I can't tell you in words how much I missed all of you. You remember how you use to tease me by calling me Bhabhi."

So they wanted to marry each other. Arjun sticking to one woman! He must have really loved this Lily. Will they get married now?! He can take as many wives as he want after all he is a king but he promised me won't.

So what, Radhika?! He can still keep a relationship with her without marrying her.

I didn't know my heart can hurt so much and I can still be alive. 

Sam says hesitantly,"Yes that...."

Lily cuts her off," Sammy, who is this girl?!" Finally I am acknowledged here. Thank God!

"She is Sam's friend, Lily." Dracula says gritting his teeth.

WHAT! Sam's friend?! I am Arjun's wife not just Sam's friend.

"Lily no she is...."

Only Sam is thinking about me here. This two man have already sided with their lovely Lily!

"Sam, Lily is tired. She needs to rest. We can talk later on about this."

Why later?! Tell her what relation we have, Arjun.

"No Mark I am not tired. In fact if there is anything I want then I want to marry Arjun." She said dreamily.

Marry Arjun?! I feel some ferocious lion is gnawning on my heart and my heart grows back only for that lion to bit into it again.

"Lily, we need to talk but you need to regain your health first. I will come to check on you in the evening. Sam, please can you take her?!"

I hope that talk is about us Arjun. If it is not then I will never forgive you.

"But Bhai...."

Sam, give it up. They won't let you breath a word to their precious Lily!

Arjun gives her a death glare, "Sammy no if's and no but's. I know what I am doing."

Yeah shut her up too! So much for giving you a chance even when you don't deserve it at all.

"Arjun, I am perfectly fine. I want to spend time with you and you are pushing me away. How about we get married tomorrow itself?! Which reminds me it's my mom's birthday tomorrow. What an aucpicious day!"

I can't hear anymore. I feel some acid is poured into my ears. I run away from them as fast as my legs could take me. I lock myself in my room because I can't bear to witness their love union anymore.

I will kill myself if Arjun marries Lily. I know I am supposed to hate him and I do but who do I have except him?! He is my only family even though he treats me so poorly still I can't be at peace if he takes Lily as his second wife. He is my husband and I don't want to share my husband with any woman no matter how pathetic her life was. I feel sorry for her for what she has been through but life has moved on. He is not hers anymore, he is my husband!

My mom use to say a woman can bear to share any thing but not her husband. That is why I guess, my dad's infidelities took her life. Just when I was about to rush to him and confront him for not breaking the news of our marriage to Lily, I felt a uncontrollable urge to throw up.

I brisked walked to the washroom and vomited in the cammode. I am feeling very uneasy right now.

"Radhika, are you inside?!"

"Yes." I yelled back at him. Stupid man. Where else would I go?!

He pushed open the door of the washroom and rushed to my side. He kneels down to my level and squints his eyes in suspicion,"You are not well."

Of course I am not well. You are going to divorce me to marry your girlfriend and you have the nerve to say I am not well.

Just when I open my mouth to say.....Eew! Radhika! What the fuck!

I puked on his shirt!

"I am so sorry." I say in a shrilled tone.

What if he gets angry and punishes me?!

He stares at me for little more than a second and says in a quiet tone," it's okay."

"It's okay?! You're are not furious?! How can it be okay?! I puked on you and...." I say cryingly.

He cuts me off, "Radhika, it's alright. Do you have more or it's done?!"

Have more?! Oh, he is asking me if I want to throw up more.

I shake my head from left to right limiting our conversation. I don't want to talk to this man anymore.

He pulls me up and takes me to the bed. He looks worried and tensed. What is he thinking?! Is it about me or Lily?! I stare at him and he stares back at me and for a moment I am lost in the depth of his eyes.

He takes out his cell from his pocket and I hear the furious and fast typing sound. Is he messaging someone?! Is it Lily?!

He looks up at me and answers my unasked query," I texted the doctor and she'll be here in no time. You rest okay."

He turns around to leave but I hold his hand stopping him. I don't want him to go to that Lily. She must be pining for him but I want him to stay here with me. I am his wife not her! I will remind him of the promise, he made to me.

His eyes travel from my hand holding his hand to my tearful eyes. I leave his hand in instance realising I am actually expressing how vulnerable and helpless, I feel right now. He will make fun of my feelings. Still whatever you do please just don't leave me. Don't go to her please.....

"I am sorry."

I don't know for what I am saying sorry but that time these were the only words that came out of my mouth.

He takes an U turn to me and gets seated beside me. I feel reassured as I stare in to his eyes as he wipes my tears. He pulls me to his chest where I snuggle in like a baby. I wrap my one arm around his waist to bind him to me and other one, I rest on his chest. I feel something, something moving under my hand, his heart! I feel it beating at a fast pace under my hand.

I look up at his face and he looks at me. I see something different in his eyes. I see a twinkle in his eyes. His eyes are not frost and cold like the first time I looked into them. They are warmer.

Is it because of  the return of Lily?!

To be continued.....