Kabir carried Sanchi in his arms and walked toward the restaurant.
His hold was firm.
Protective.
Steady.
But suddenly, that same hold began to feel unbearable to Sanchi.
As they entered, a young woman nearby whispered to her friend,
"God... he's such a caring husband."
Husband.
That single word hit Sanchi like a lightning strike.
Everything around her blurred.
The lights.
The people.
The music.
The laughter.
Everything faded away.
And in its place came memories.
The temple.
The storm.
The sacred fire.
The sindoor that had been forced into her hairline.
The chain around her neck.
The vows she never wanted to take.
And Kabir's hand.
The same hand that was holding her now.
The same hand she had tried to escape from.
The same hand that had refused to let her go.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Suddenly, Kabir's embrace no longer felt safe.
It felt like a cage.
A beautiful cage.
But a cage nonetheless.
Slowly, she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Put me down."
Her voice was soft.
Yet trembling.
Kabir stopped immediately.
"Sanchi?"
But she didn't look at him.
Because she knew...
The moment she looked into his eyes, she would break.
Instead, she closed her eyes.
And for one brief second...
Everything came rushing back.
The wedding.
The rituals.
The helplessness.
The moment she realized that her choice no longer mattered.
Her eyes snapped open.
This time there were no tears.
Only anger.
Only hatred.
"Husband?"
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"Don't ever use that word for us."
For the first time, Kabir's grip loosened.
Sanchi stood on her own feet.
Unsteady.
In pain.
But free.
"Did you ask me?" she whispered.
Her voice cracked.
"When you dragged me into that temple..."
"When you made me your wife..."
"Did you ask me if I was ready?"
Kabir remained silent.
And that silence answered everything.
"You carrying me right now doesn't make you right."
Her eyes glistened.
"I almost forgot."
She looked away.
"For a few moments... I forgot what you've done to me."
The restaurant was crowded.
Yet Sanchi had never felt more alone.
Kabir watched her quietly.
For the first time, he realized something terrifying.
The anger she had been suppressing since the wedding...
Was finally breaking free.
Without a word, he signaled his bodyguards.
Within moments, the entire restaurant was emptied.
Now only Kabir and Sanchi remained.
The battlefield had become private.
Kabir guided her to a chair.
She resisted.
But he didn't let go.
Finally, both sat facing each other.
A table between them.
And a mountain of hatred.
With a snap of his fingers, waiters arrived carrying dish after dish.
The table filled within seconds.
"Sanchi."
His voice was calm.
"Eat first. Then we'll talk."
A cold smile appeared on her lips.
"Please?"
She laughed bitterly.
"Do you even know what that word means?"
Her eyes burned.
"A few hours ago, I used that same word."
"I begged you."
"Did you listen?"
Before Kabir could answer—
CRASH!
A plate shattered on the floor.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
Sanchi swept every dish off the table.
Food scattered everywhere.
The sound echoed throughout the empty restaurant.
Still...
Kabir didn't react.
He simply called the waiters again.
This time, twice as many dishes were placed on the table.
Then he gestured toward the food.
Start.
Sanchi stared at him in disbelief.
This man was impossible.
"I'm not hungry."
"My dear wife..."
Kabir's deep voice cut through the silence.
"Don't make me angry."
The moment the word wife left his mouth—
Something inside Sanchi snapped.
Before anyone could stop her, she grabbed a butter knife from the table.
And slashed her own palm.
A sharp line of red appeared instantly.
Blood trickled down her hand.
"Happy now?"
Her eyes filled with rage.
"Now I have a wound."
"And I can't eat with this hand."
For a second, silence filled the restaurant.
Then Kabir stood up.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
The calmness on his face disappeared.
His eyes darkened.
The air itself seemed heavier.
Before Sanchi could react, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him.
She collided with the wall behind her.
A gasp escaped her lips.
Kabir stepped closer.
And closer.
Until there was almost no space left between them.
Their breaths collided.
Their eyes locked.
Hatred against hatred.
Fire against fire.
Neither willing to surrender.
Neither willing to bend.
And for the first time...
Both realized that this marriage wasn't going to destroy just one of them.
It was going to destroy them both.
To Be Continued...