A phone thrown on the couch, sheets crumpled and shirts tore.
Between all of that was Vivaan Malhotra.
The day passed just like that. A hide and seek between him and Rushaan.
He was in his room now. The master bedroom.
Lights dimmed.
A mirror broken.
And everything just messy.
He clenched his fists.
Glanced at the wall.
His anger was still not soothed.
"VIVAAN."
A sharp voice.
Kruthi.
"Get out of my room. NOW." He said, trying to suppress his anger to at least not let it out on Kruthi.
"And where should I go? Back to my home where no one knows I am married to you? Or to this family of yours who dislikes me already?"
He pause.
Looked at her.
His gaze softened slightly.
But that fist, it was still tightened.
She noticed that.
Her eyes, tracing from his face to his arm, to ultimately his state he was in.
"If you hit the wall, I swear I will reveal the truth of our marriage."
"YOU WON'T" He roared and grabbed her throat furiously, pushing her on the wall.
"V-vivaan" She gasped. Her eyes getting teary.
And for the first time
She witnessed the anger of Vivaan Malhotra.
He noticed it.
Her tears.
Her fear.
He removed his hand from her throat.
Paused.
And slowly connected their foreheads.
"I hate you."
"Y- you...could have killed me." She sobbed softly.
"I'd rather die before that."
Her eyes widened.
For a moment she forgot she was crying.
She was hurt.
And all she saw was his eyes.
Unmistakeably close to her.
"I am S-sorry" He whispered in a hushed tone. "I couldn't control myself."
"W-what if I died?" She whispered in a dry tone.
"I wouldn't have done that." He sighed and wiped on of her tear with surprising gentleness, given the status of man he was.
"These (glances at her tear on his finger) have the power on me. I hate that."
She suddenly wrapped her arms around him while crying.
Too afraid.
Too vulnerable.
He wanted to push her away.
He hated that.
Vulnerability.
Weakness.
But despite his efforts his one hand wrapped around her.
A silent assuring kiss on her head while rubbing her back.
Later, while preparing for bed Kruthi laid next to him. But surprisingly removed the pillows from between them and wrapped her arm around him.
His eyes flickered.
"What?"
She squinted her eyes, embarrassed but unapologetically her.
"This helps to relieve anger."
"What?" He asked in confusion.
"I- I am doing this only, so you don't kill me in anger." She stuttered, her cheeks flushed red making him leave a sigh.
"Kruthi, I won't kill you." He assured her tiredly.
"But then you'll hurt yourself na."
A pause.
He looked at his fist slowly.
He indeed punched the mirror before she intervened.
"But you don't have to do this."
"Then who will?"
Another pause.
A sigh.
He wraps her one arm around her.
"No one will."
He glanced at her.
His lips twitched.
Cute.
No.
Vulnerable and weak.
His jaw clenched.
Her lingering tears were still near her eyes.
He forwarded his free hand gently, careful not to disturb her.
Just before he could touch her, her eyes snapped open.
"See I told you were planning to kill me."
"I- I wasn't" He took his hand back immediately.
"You were planning to push my eyes and make me blind."
He scoffed in surprise.
"Trust me I have better ways to kill."
"That means you REALLY wanted to kill me." She sat suddenly on the bed furiously.
He smirked.
This was new.
Enjoyable.
He propped himself on one of his arms while facing her.
"I was."
"What?" She widened her eyes, again tearing up and pushed him from the bed. But he rarely even turned, given the difference between their strengths.
Her eyes paused.
His hand.
Dry blood on that.
Hurriedly she checked her body in fear.
He was confused.
Traced her gaze from his eyes.
And for the first time,
Vivaan Malhotra, chuckled.
Not silent.
Audible.
"It's not from your body, you're fine."
"It is. You are just hiding your deceit." She mumbled, continuing to search her body for any pain, feeling none, she turned to him confused. "Then whose?"
"Mine, I punched the mirror."
"Oh. Then it's fine." She said relieved and laid back on the bed.
"You don't care?"
She shook her head.
"I didn't ask you to go and beat yourself up, did I? Why should I care when you yourself are passionate in beating yourself up?"
"Wow." He mumbled under his breath.
Not sarcasm.
Surprised.
"But why were you angry?" She asked curiously.
He glared at her.
Not angry at her but at the past.
At what happened, in the past 5 to 6 hours.
"You don't have to know." He said coldly and pulled her in his one arm again.
"Vivaan... I have to know." She spoke finally. Ina a lowered soft tone.
"I am your wife, contract but wife. If something is harming you, name is going to come on me. What will I tell if God forbid something happens to you?"
He paused.
A glance on her.
A sigh.
"Fine."
"It's about Rushaan... but not Ayesha."