Lying still on my bed, I watched the sky through the window and saw my father’s face. A tear tried to fall from my eyes but stopped at the edge of my lashes. I kept staring at my father, wondering if he would have acted differently if he knew how much pain I was in. I could have whispered…

Five years ago, my father was the happiest man in the world. His only princess was about to become a queen.

“I am so happy today, Riya,” he said.

“Papa, I’m leaving home and you’re happy? Is this what you wanted?” I replied.

“Every father wants his daughter to build her own home. You won’t understand now,” he said.

“Okay, Papa. If you’re happy, then I’m happy too,” I replied.

And that’s how I came to this house as Aarav’s wife.

_____

Promises are made to be broken…

“You witch, how dare you touch my things,” Aarav yelled. He had a habit of drinking. Whenever he drank, he would take out all his frustration from work on me and beat me.

I was pregnant and had planned to tell him that day. But the words never came out. Soon after, I lost the baby.

_____

Trapped in Silence…

“Papa, I don’t want to go back,” I cried.

“We’re middle-class people, beta. We don’t get divorced. We hold onto our relationships until the end,” he said.

“Papa, please don’t send me back,” I pleaded. But no one listened, and my father sent me back to this hell with Aarav.

_____

Finally the time came…

Last night, Aarav came home drunk. He was struggling with financial issues at work, but instead of sharing with me, he started shouting and yelling. The wound from last week hadn’t healed properly because he wouldn’t let me see a doctor.

Fear gripped me as I wondered what would happen next. I stayed quiet, not answering back, while he hurled abuse at me. Then, he began beating me. In pain, I tried to defend myself and pushed him away, but I couldn’t withstand his force. I fell down the stairs.

I was still breathing, but I knew my time had come.

_____

I could have whispered… goodbye…

I hadn’t noticed when my father came near me. He was looking tense. As he leaned over me, his eyes filled with worry and regret, I could have whispered, “Goodbye,” but the words caught in my throat. I wanted to tell him everything, to make him understand the pain and suffering I’d endured, but it was too late. The darkness was closing in, and all I could do was silently hope that he would find peace in knowing I was finally free.

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