Anita's POV

I fled the room for air.

His presence was suffocating and choking the life out of me.

I touched the skin on my cheek, which is still burning from his slap. The memory of it seared into my mind.

"I'll never go back to him," I whispered to myself. "Not after this. Not after everything he's done to me."

I wiped away the tears that fell on my cheeks, shaking my head. "Why should I cry because of him? I've already left that life behind. That Anita is lost forever. And even if he tries to use my father to force me to return, I won't go. I just wish Mother could be as strong as I am. I wish she could stand up to Dad, save herself from him, and leave him once and for all. He doesn't deserve her love, her kindness, or her life."

Just then, Rajiv appeared before me, his voice shattering the silence.

"Anita!" he exclaimed, his eyes searching mine.

I looked at him, my expression a mask of ice, but my eyes flashed with a dash of hurt.

He took a step closer, and his eyes pleaded for forgiveness. "I was wrong. I was so wrong to slap you. I'm consumed by regret and by remorse. I'm sorry." He said after staring at me for so long.

I felt a lump in my throat while I replied, "It's in the past."

My voice was flat, but my eyes still portrayed the remains of the pain from the slap.

He stretched his hand, and it was about to touch the cheek he had slapped, but I immediately moved back, my eyes portraying a warning.

"I really shouldn't have slapped you; I'm sorry." He added in a regretful voice.

"Like I said, it is in the past." I replied, my voice still flat.

He smiled and said, "I am glad. I have a surprise for you. I hope it will calm you and make you forgive me for everything and forget the past." He spoke, his words evoking hope.

I merely smiled——a thin, mirthless smile——knowing that he should know better. Since he said he had read my diary, he should know that one thing I never do is forgive or forget.

He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, his eyes staring at me as he put it on speaker mode.

My brows furrowed, and my mind raced with worst-case scenarios. "Is it my father?" I asked, my voice filled with anxiety.

"Will you complain to him this soon?" I asked, and he remained silent, his expression unreadable.

As the phone rang, my nervousness grew.

My blood pulsed through my thumb like a ticking time bomb, threatening to explode at any moment.

I am not ready to face my father's wrath yet. I know he is furious with me, and the thought of his outburst makes my stomach churn.

I forced a chuckle, trying to sound nonchalant despite my inner turmoil. "I came to Mumbai, and I won't mind moving to another city to build myself," I started, my voice steady.

"But I will not be in a marriage again." I completed.

"Hello, Anita!" The voice on the other end of the line was like a warm embrace, a gentle breeze that soothed my soul, a sweet serenade that filled my heart with joy.

My eyes instantly welled up with tears of joy, my heart cocooning with excitement, while my mind flooded with memories of our childhood and our laughter.

This was the sister who had left me when I was just nine years old.

She was the reason I started writing a diary.

I whispered, "It's forbidden for us to speak. Won't it be a problem for her if her husband finds out?" My voice cracked due to tears as my eyes glanced at Rajiv to understand the gravity of the situation.

However, my sister responded, "He's not home right now, and I will make sure I delete the history once we finish. How have you been?" Her words were accompanied by concern, with love, and with a deep longing that mirrored my own.

My tears flowed like a river—unstoppable and uncontainable.

"Anita, I'm back!" Akash's voice interrupted my response to her.

I signaled him to be quiet, my eyes still locked on the phone.

He nodded understandingly and waited patiently.

I took a deep breath and continued, my voice still trembling from tears. "I'm good. How are you? How many nieces and nephews do I have now?" I asked, my smile broad and tearful.

She chuckled, and I could sense her happiness radiating through the phone. "There are two boys and three girls. And you? I've heard you've also been married. I couldn't believe time flew by this fast. But, when will you be receiving a part of you into the world?" She asked, her voice filled with excitement and curiosity.

"Are you happy, sister?" I asked, evading her question about marriage and children, my eyes glancing at Rajiv briefly, who smiled knowingly when she mentioned the prospect of me becoming a mother.

"Are you happy, sister?" she returned my question, her voice carrying concern and genuine interest.

"I am," I whispered.

"Thank God," she exclaimed, her voice filled with relief.

"I, too, am happy. I have to go now. I can hear my mother's footsteps. Take care of yourself. I don't know when we'll get to speak again, but......" She started, and suddenly, the line went dead.

"Sister!" I almost screamed, my tears flowing again like a river.

"Hey, it's okay," Akash spoke, his voice soft and calming, while he placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"I will take you to visit her." He added.

I shook my head, wanting to tell him that it's not possible; however, Just then, Rajiv lifted his hand from my shoulder, his eyes blazing with rage as he glared at him. "Don't touch a woman without her permission," he snarled.

Akash eyed him. "Will I learn basic manners from you?" he sneered back, and then his attention returned to me, his voice softening. "Stop crying, dear," he said again.

"She is not your dear!" Rajiv exclaimed, his voice perfusing with possessiveness. "She's my wife!"

"Wife?" Akash laughed mockingly, his tone dripping with scorn.

"The woman you starved, emotionally and physically, without ever caring about her? The woman you never loved?" He added.

Rajiv's face turned red with rage, and he screamed, "Did you go ahead and tell him everything about us?" His voice was like his earlier slap, which made me flinch.

Akash took a step closer, his eyes shimmering with anger, and he grabbed his collar. "Don't you dare raise your voice at her again," he growled, his fingers tightening on his collar.

I spoke up, still in tears, after drawing in a long breath to compose myself.

"Stop it, you both," I said firmly.

He withdrew his hands, exhaling a long sigh, and I turned to Rajiv, my eyes glancing at his. "Thank you for reuniting me with my sister," I said, my voice filled with sincere gratitude.

"I will forever be indebted to you for this," I added.

His eyes softened, and he cut me off. "I did it to make you happy, Anita. I want us to make amends and to start afresh." He held my hands, his grip tightening as I tried to pull away.

"I've made mistakes in the past, but I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make it right. Come now, let's go home. Let's start afresh. It's in the best interest of everyone."

"I promise you, I will make sure your father forgives you too," he continued.

Akash's eyes blazed with anger while he grasped Rajiv's wrists, his fingers wrapping around them tightly. "Let go of her hands!" he warned.

Rajiv's eyes flashed with surprise, but he released his grip, his hands falling away from mine.

I felt relieved.

"If the file is ready, give it to me," I said. "Because I'm not returning as I'm already freed."

His face twisted in a scowl. "You're not going anywhere with him," he snarled, his eyes raving with anger.

"You're still my wife, and you'll do as I say."

"But you forgot, Rajiv," I replied, my voice firm but calm.

"You mentioned divorce to me, even when I told you my family wouldn't accept me back."

Akash spoke, his anger flaring hotter as his face reddened. "You heard her. She's not your property. She's made it clear she wants nothing to do with you."

"Mr. Akash Kapoor, don't interfere in this matter. Anita may not have told you, but if you're doing this because you have romantic intentions, it's useless. Even if she's divorced, she's not allowed to marry or fall in love again. She's bound by a promise our grandparents made to each other, a promise that transcends this life and the next."

He burst out laughing, refuting his words like they were absurd.

However, Rajiv's expression remained deadpan, and his eyes were very serious.

It's true though. However, he already broke the promise by denying the marriage.

Akash's laughter subsided, and he raised an eyebrow. "Are you done?" he asked.

Rajiv opened his mouth to respond, but his employee interrupted, returning with a file in her hand. "Sir, we've prepared the report," she said, handing it to him.

"Give it!" I demanded, snatching the file from his hand.

I turned to leave, with Akash by my side, but my father's booming voice halted me in my tracks. "Hello, Son-in-law!"

My eyes widened in dread.

His voice alone sends shivers down my spine.

I slowly turned to face Rajiv, who had apparently put him on the call, and I glared at him, my heart racing with anxiety.

"Good afternoon, Father," he started, while I frantically shook my head, my eyes pleading with him to stop.

My palms naturally grew sweaty.

He smiled slyly and continued, "I've found my wife, thankfully, but she's refusing to return to me."

"Let's leave silently," I whispered urgently to Akash, desperate to escape the conversation.

My voice trembled, and my legs felt like lead.

I turned to head towards the elevator, but my father's voice cut through the air like a knife, making me flinch.

"Tell her I want to meet her," he growled.

"It seems she's forgotten her mother's teachings, and I need to intervene personally. Tell her to come here within the next two days. If I have to find her myself, she'll regret still being alive."

His voice was like a cold wind that sent shivers down my spine, and I felt like I was a scared little girl again, cowering in fear.

Akash's presence was my only solace, so I clung to him as we hurried away into the elevator.

"Forget about him. He can't reach you. I'll employ bodyguards to keep you safe always." He hugged me tightly as the door closed behind us, and I burst into tears.

"Father will kill me if I don't return now," I whispered, my voice trembling with fear.

He held me at arm's length, his eyes burning into mine with determination. "You will not return. You're not a slave to obey that man blindly. He can't throw you away like a toy and call you back when he pleases. You're a human being with emotions and rights. Don't fall for his threats. No one in this country can harm you when I'm here. I dare them to even try."

I know he is only trying to comfort me, but I know my father's power and influence all too well. In our village, he is a respected leader, and his word is like law.

I can't shake off the feeling of dread that has settled in my heart.