Radhika's POV

He left me alone to get dressed. I quickly got dressed and picked a necklace that adorned my sari. Sometimes I wonder why do I have to wear things that cost a fortune?! What difference is there in a human being and a doll who is all decorated to please the eye?! There is no difference at least where Arjun is concerned.

I took to Sam's room to check up on her but I bumped into the last person on this earth who I wanted to see right now. Lily! Now knowing that she and Arjun had a past together, I didn't wanted to face her too soon until I digest all the bitter truths of my life.

"Hello Radhika." that bitch! She is putting on an act now.

"Cut the crap, Lily! I know what happened between you and Arjun so please drop the act."

"Really?! You know what happened last night or you know what happened years ago?!" She gives me a cunning smile.

"Both. Lily, stay away from Arjun! He doesn't want you in his life or..." I paused and smirked," in his bed."

"He will soon. You don't even know him that well. He isn't those one woman types, he is the ones who want their cake and want to eat it too." She gave me a smug smile that annoyed me so much.

No worries! I am going to wipe that smile off her face.

"He must have done that when he was with you but he never cheated or went to any other woman from the time we are married. Maybe you couldn't keep him all for yourself just like I do!" I gave her my best smirky smile.

"You think this is going to last long?! From someone as young and as inexperienced as you, what else was I even expecting?! What are you, 19 or 20?! You think you can keep your wife's trophy on your shelf for too long?! What a pity! You are so stupid and so gullible. Must have been so easy for Arjun to play with you."She gave me a crooked smile.

Before I could even answer her, Sam beat me to it. When did she come?!

"Lily Mathew, don't you ever talk to Radhika in that tone ever! She is the  owner of this house and if she wishes then she can just sweep you away from here like trash but she isn't that type of a person. What you said?! Bhai played with Radhika. The truth is he has never played with any of the woman in his past including you. He never forced you or any of them and you exactly knew the scope of that fling you had with my brother. Women were eating out of his hand including you. He married Radhika for pete's sake and she is pregnant with his baby. What more will it take for you to see that it's over between both of you a long time ago and now he is married. Please get a life and move on so my brother can live in peace!" My God! Sam just went thermonuclear on her!

When we left her behind to sulk, I asked Sam the question I was dying to ask her.

"Sammy, if Arjun did not love her and he did not respect her by cheating on her then why do you think Lily still has feelings for him?!" I asked her.

"To be honest, I don't get it. I mean he never gave her a reason to wait. I think it's more like proximity breeds contempt. They were too close to each other once upon a time and now it's almost like a cold war between the two of them. Let's not talk about her and ruin your mood. Let's talk about the new addition to our family." With that, she made me blush furiously.

"What do you think, it's going to be a boy or girl?!" She asked me.

"I don't know and it's too soon to say anything right now maybe after two months, doctor will let us know." I confide in her.

"What you want?!" She asked me with bubbling excitement.

"A girl but you know how badly Arjun wants a son, a heir so I just want God to grant his wish."

"Well aren't you magnanimous?!" She teased me.

Am I magnanimous?! Have I lost the strong girl in me?! What was I even going to do by putting on a fight?! What would I get?! Freedom was out of question and life would turn miserable with every passing breath. I don't fight with Arjun because I know I will be fighting a lost battle. What do I fight for?! Some will say self respect but then what after that?! Even if by any chance I escape from here, I will be at losing end. It's just not the danger of the unknown but also the grief of being alone in this cruel world. I will lose Arjun, Sam and Mariam aunty. I am selfish for their affection. I want them in my life because they want me in their lives.

I had read somewhere that love frees you and Revenge is a vicious cycle that traps you. Arjun's whole life will be an example. I don't want to be beholden to Revenge against anyone. When I realised that I loved Arjun, I felt liberated from my hatred and the sting of the wounds of my past. I felt happy and joyous. I will make him realize his mistake through my tender love and care.

One day will come when he will love me and he will admit it to me. One thing about Arjun is that he is a enigmatic man. He hates to the extreme length of hatred and he loves to the extreme length of love. He avenged his mother's death in a cruel way tossing away all the morals. How will it be to be loved by such a man?! His love will not have a start nor an end. I want a love like that.

We sat together for the pooja that was dreadfully long but I prayed for my child with all my heart. I prayed that this child brings us closer and unites us in a bond of love, respect and everlasting commitment. I prayed that everything that is evil is kept away from my child and he or she arrives safely into this world. I didn't forget to pray for Arjun because I know he won't because he doesn't believe in God but I prayed for his health and happiness.

After the rituals were completed, we headed downstairs and Sam frowned looking at the men seated in the hall. She said they were here for business purposes.

I moved my gaze from left to right, taking in the foreign presence but my gaze zeroed on a familiar face. I know him. He was in my college. We had a cordial relation and he was a cute guy in those day now he has become a full fledged man of course he still looks like a little boy in front of Arjun. I ogle at my own husband who is talking to him. He is looking so droolworthy right now in that button down black shirt with belt and matching pants.

I am snapped out of my dream world by Ravindra's voice," Is that your wife?!"

I thought he won't recognise me but he did and now I will have to abscond before he blurts out anything else.

"Yes she is." Arjun gives  him a short reply and I know that he doesn't want to have a conversation about me.

From what I can seea, they were in a deep discussion and he wishes to get back to it.

"Oh she and I were in the same college." Ravindra's says in a friendly tone.

Arjun is staring intensely at me and I know by his look that he wants me to disappear right now. He doesn't like to show me off to other people.

"Radhika."

I turn to leave but I stop when I heard Ravindra calling out my name. God! Why he is here?! Why can't he just keep his mouth shut?!

"So here you are hiding yourself, the prettiest girl of my college." Hell breaks loose when he compliments me. No don't do that! I want to tell him but I keep quiet. Arjun doesn't like men praising my beauty, he takes it to mean that they want to have sex with me. Ravindra is going to get me in trouble.

I am staring at Arjun whose eyes eyes have turned into slits and if looks could kill, Ravindra would be dead by now.

"I think we should proceed with the meeting gentlemen." Mark intervene.

"Radhika, darling come here." Arjun offers me his hand and I place mine in his big palm only to have him grip my hand and squeeze it mercilessly. Of course I don't let anything show on my face.

"How are you, Radhika?! Such a pleasant surprise to see you here but I never thought that you will be married off so soon. I mean what are you, 22 or 23 so soon that too with Mr Mehra." Ravindra is trying his best to reconnect with me but I can't with my husband giving me those warning glares.

"Hello Ravi. I am good." I answer him in a clipped tone passing a small smile to him.

"And how is Neil?! I mean I thought you two were...."

Oh God!!! What a big blunder, he made! Arjun will skin me alive now! I am also disgusted by the fact that he linked Neil's name with me. I mean he is like a brother to me but of course the whole college couldn't help themselves from gossiping about us in those days. I had a crush in college but that's it, there is nothing more to say. I got proposed by many but of course they were all after my good looks and none of them made a place in my heart and I was a Mafia princess who wasn't supposed to live life like normal girls.

When I looked at Arjun, he was staring at me pointedly with those coal black eyes that were stormy and cold. Oh God!

"Forget it anyways congratulations on your marriage." Ravindra offers his hand to congratulate me but I don't want another infraction to add so I don't shake his hand.

I make a run for my room. God! I plop down on the bed and my tears kick in. Neil! It was just few days ago that I met him. How is he?! I wish I could find some way to contact him. I want to tell him that I can't and I don't want to escape now. Will he take a no for an answer?! He has been so protective of me like an elder brother. He is fully aware of the fact that Arjun is captain of this ship boarded by all people involved in mafia world. He is out to catch Arjun and destroy every trace of crime from the landscape of the nation. God! What will happen to me and my baby if something were to happen to Arjun?! I know it's pure selfishness on my part to only care for my own child when Arjun has been responsible for thousands of children being orphaned. My baby won't come in this world because he will be after all Arjun's flesh and blood and those people will want to get rid of him. I shudder to think of that horrendous thought. I will kill myself if something happens to my baby. My and my baby's best interest lie under Arjun's protection that shall only happen if Arjun is safe.

I am not going to help Neil in any way, I also need to find out what is between him and Sam. Is he using her?! I can't let Sam get hurt when she has been so, so good to me. She treats me like her real sister and I have to make sure she is not making a mistake. Neil is a good guy but he doesn't belong to our world.

Tears swam down my cheeks at the thought of plotting against my own best friend but I am a mother first and I am doing what I should for this child.

I grabbed the tissue box and pulled out a tissue and I cried a tissue to pulp. God! It feels like I cry so much nowadays. I am ready to cry at the drop of a hat.

When the door jerks open with a big bang, I jump in fright seeing Arjun palmtwichingly mad. His eyes are bloodshot and he looks like he is out for a kill.

"So crying for your destranged lover now, are we?!" He says ruthlessly.

Lover?! I have had no lovers ever. He has played into the hands of his anger.

"You misunderstand me, Arjun." I tell him with the shake of my head accentuating my denial.

He closes up to me in swift motion and I wish I could just curl up in a ball but what surprises me is the hurt in his otherwise cold eyes. The eyes which were stony are now gleaming with pure hurt.

"Then why would that fucker link your name with that Neil?!" He asks me in an accusatory tone.

"I don't know." I whisper in low tone.

"You are lying, you ungrateful little slu.." He wounds me with those ear splitting and heart breaking barrage of abuses. He never speaks of me in that manner but today he did! He called me an ungrateful slut. Yeah I know he didn't complete the word but then he intended to do, right?!

"I am not telling you any lies."

As if my momentary silent blows up a gasket, Arjun is fuming in unadulterated rage. He corners me and pulls me by my neck. Have you forgotten that I am with a baby?! Yes he has, indeed!

He holds my jaw tight to the point that his nails pierce in my skin," Who would think such innocent looking eyes hide such dark secrets! He was your lover, wasn't he?!"

He is staring at me fixatedly, pinning me down by his mere gaze. He has my body under his control and he is threatening me to lie under his fiery eyes.

" You are hurting me, Arjun." I wince in pain as he holds my neck too tight. I fear he will choke me to death. Why won't he just believe me?!

"Is that why you never gave me a place in your heart?!" He asked me rubbing salt on my wounds with that question.

My heart loves you, Arjun and this baby you have put inside me with force. Still I love this baby and you. Does that make me a weak person?! I don't think so, I have a gift of forgiveness but I won't forgive a finger raised at my character!

"No please let me explain." I try my best to make him see sense.

"So you and Neil were in love and wanted to marry but you couldn't marry him. Such a disgraceful woman you are! I thought you are a pure girl but no your heart was soiled though your body wasn't!" He says heartlessly.

Disgraceful woman?! Another accussation that ran my blood cold! I am disgraceful?! I am an ungrateful little slut?! What else, Arjun?! What else is in store for me?! What am I in your eyes?!

I am not disgraceful neither am I an ungrateful slut! He has no right to say anything about my character when he, himself has outnumbered the women he has been with. I know they didn't mean a thing but still he had a past and he has no business to put a finger at my character.

I stare at him with maddening rage and hurt,"Don't! Don't you ever raise a finger at my character! I am done explaining myself if you are going to jump to conclusions on your own. He was like a brother to me. That's it and I don't want to say anything else."

I will not stand here and justify myself for something someone said to you. I will not insult myself by giving any explanation and he is the last person on this earth who should even ask for one!

"How do I believe you?! You might be lying...."

"Then believe what you want to believe. I just don't care anymore!" I say in an uncaring tone. I free myself from his hold with great difficulty. He lets go of me as his eyes caught the sight of my barely visible baby bump. So finally you remember that I am pregnant.

"Come back here I am talking to you." He follows me as he yells behind me.

Talking?! This isn't talking! This is you harassing me!

"You know what Arjun, you are so obsessed with controlling me that you forget that I had a life before you and you can't control it neither can you change it. You are the last person on this earth who should be demanding an explanation from me when your score in women is more than your age perhaps more than even Mark's age." I finally let him have it. He can just go to hell for all I care! He has no right to put a finger at my character. I will not let anyone slam me for my character and dignity not even the man I love!

As if my words worked like magic, he had cooled off and he was smiling at me. Really?! A smile that too after calling me names! What will I do with this man?!

"Come here I don't want to fight." He comes closer to hug me but I step back.

"Who started it?! You love picking quarrels, don't you?!" I sneer.

He palms my face," I am sorry. I shouldn't have behaved so irrationally but you have to promise me that I was the first man in your life."

Okay so he is still stuck there. I just don't get it! Why is so riled up when he knows I was a virgin and he took my virginity?! What is he angry about?!

"You already know it. You took my virtue." I remind him of our horrific first night. Of course it's not horrific to him by the way he is smiling in ecstasy.

His hand travels down to my lower region and he places his hand on my clit,"Oh one of the best moments of my life." He smirks," This is mine, all mine like the rest of you. All of you is mine. I am the first man and I will be the last man who ever entered in you or your life. You will never know another man." He says in a tone full of authority.

One man is enough to make me want to bloody murder! I am done with all the men in this world after knowing him. Just not because of loyalty but I am fed up with him. He makes me so angry that sometimes I wish I could just get rid of him but I know I can't!

"I don't want to know any another man because I am done with the whole man race after knowing you."
I say with disdain.

"Am I that bad?!" He gives me a sad look! Really?! I should be the one who should be sad and hurt after hearing all the shit you threw at me.

" You have no idea. You called me a disgraceful woman and a slu.."

He places his hand on my mouth to stop me from saying it,"No don't say that word. It's not for you. I was just too angry but I never thought about you in that way. You are very special to me." He says genuinely.

Where does this Arjun go when he wants to hurt me?! This is how you treat a special person?! Call them names?! Suddenly it occurs to me that he was mad at me because he was jealous. Oh God! How did I missed it?! Arjun Mehra is actually jealous! I am delighted by this new discovery of mine.

"Were you jealous?!"

"Jealous and me?! No not at all." He looks away but I know the truth already, Mr husband.

"Yeah I believe you." I give him my best smirky smile.

He laid me on the bed and poised on top of me but still supporting himself on his arms," I am not jealous, I am territorial. You are mine and only mine if you even think about betraying me let alone doing it, I will kill you." He will kill me?! Me?! I find that very hard to believe but I know it's what it is. He doesn't tolerate traitors and he will kill me if I ever grow unfaithful to him. I don't have to worry because that's never going to happen. He is my husband and the father of my baby, I won't ever betray him come what may!

To be continued.....