Henry leaned in extremely close to Laboni. His hot breath pierced her neck. In a state of drug-induced intoxication, his voice dropped to a low, gravelly pitch—a whisper to others, but to Laboni, it sounded like lethal poison.
Henry whispered directly into Laboni's ear:
Henry: "Do you think killing me with that glass shard will set you free? You're mistaken, Laboni. I have a will in place—within one hour of my death, your brother Rehan will be buried alive. And your two children will be sent to a secret orphanage where they will never even know who their mother was."
The glass shard slipped from Laboni's hand and shattered on the floor. With a grotesque smile, Henry whispered again:
Henry: "I haven't just captured your body, Laboni; I have imprisoned your soul. You cannot kill me even if you want to, and you cannot leave me either. Tonight is the night to sacrifice your pride as a doctor. Surrender to me quietly, or tomorrow morning, I will send your brother's corpse to your room as a gift."
Laboni turned to stone. The only things she could see were the faces of her young child and her helpless brother, Rehan. Henry wrapped his shirtless, powerful arms around her. Laboni felt as if she wasn't held by a man, but trapped in the coils of a massive python that was slowly crushing her bones.
Outside, the sound of the rain intensified. Staring at the ceiling, Laboni whispered to herself, "God, will I never escape this hell?"
Lost in his intoxication, Henry buried his face in Laboni's hair, savoring the ultimate taste of his dominance.
The Aftermath of the Storm
Forty minutes had passed. The horror inside the room felt like an eternity. A shirtless Henry now sat by the bedside, sweat pouring off his body. The intense heat of his intoxication was slowly fading, replaced by a profound exhaustion. He was breathing heavily, each gasp echoing through the terrifying silence of the room.
On the other hand, Laboni lay motionless on the bed. Her tears had dried, leaving salt streaks on her cheeks. Her disheveled hair was spread across the pillow. She stared blankly at the ceiling—no emotion, no protest, just a vast emptiness. Her body had turned to stone, as if she were no longer a part of this world.
With trembling hands, Henry wiped the sweat from his forehead. As the haze lifted, he realized what he had done. He didn't have the courage to look at Laboni. The savage beast of forty minutes ago had transformed into a weary criminal.
Henry: (In a broken voice) "Laboni... I... I didn't want to do this. Why did you force me?"
Laboni did not answer. She didn't even move. Henry stood up and staggered toward the window. The rain continued to fall, but the roar of the wind had ceased. His sweating wouldn't stop; it felt as if the walls of the room were closing in to crush him.
He realized that while he had conquered her body, he had lost her heart forever. Laboni was no longer his captive queen; she was a living corpse whose soul he had destroyed.
Just then, the faint cry of a small child drifted in from the next room. Laboni's body jolted at the sound, but she couldn't summon the strength to rise. Her entire being had been drained in those forty minutes.
The Broken Bond
Henry struggled to stand. His body was still damp, his breathing heavy. Looking at Laboni's paralyzed form and stony eyes, he shivered for a moment. His arrogance had turned into a strange, restless anxiety.
When Laboni made a faint movement, trying to reach the baby, Henry suddenly grabbed her hand—not with savage force this time, but out of a sense of possessiveness and stubbornness.
Henry: (In a deep but low voice) "You're going nowhere, Laboni. Stay in this bed. I'll go to her."
Laboni looked at Henry with hollow eyes. The man who had just turned her life into hell was now talking about caring for her child? A tragic, mocking smile touched her lips. She said nothing; she simply turned on her side.
Without bothering to wipe his bare chest or sweat, Henry staggered toward the door. He paused to steady himself; he didn't want Sara to see him in this state. He knocked on Sara's door.
Henry: "Sara... sweetie, open the door. It's me."
There was no sound from inside. After a while, Sara slowly opened the door. She was still holding her little sister, who was sobbing. Sara looked at her father—shirtless, drenched in sweat, with a wild look in his eyes. Sara recoiled in fear.
Sara: "Where is Mama? Why isn't she coming?"
Henry: "Mama is very tired, Sara. She's sleeping. Give the baby to me. I'll quiet her down."
Henry reached out with trembling hands to take the child. But the moment the baby felt his touch, she screamed even louder, as if she couldn't stand the smell of alcohol and sweat emanating from her father.
Back on the bed, Laboni heard everything. Her heart was breaking, but she made a firm resolution—she would never surrender to this monster again. While Henry tried to calm the baby, Laboni reached under her pillow in the dark, searching for something.
The Mother's Touch
When Henry saw that the baby wouldn't stop crying and was terrified by his presence, he realized that despite his power to rule a kingdom, he lacked the power to silence a child's tears.
He staggered back into the bedroom, carrying the crying infant. He held the baby out toward Laboni.
Henry: (Utterly exhausted and broken) "Here, Laboni... take her. She won't stop. She's only looking for you."
Laboni, who had been lying motionless, sat up slowly. Her body was numb, and a fire of hatred burned within her, but the child's piercing cries awakened her maternal instincts. Without a word, she snatched the baby from Henry's arms. The moment the child felt her mother's warmth and familiar scent, her sobs subsided into hiccups. She clutched Laboni's saree with her tiny hands, refusing to let go.
Henry slumped into a corner of the bed. He buried his face in his palms and let out a long sigh.
Henry: (Muttering with his head down) "Am I really that bad, Laboni? Even my own child can't stand me?"
Laboni stroked the baby's head and looked toward the window. Her eyes held no tears, only a bone-chilling hatred. She didn't answer him. As the baby calmed down and tucked her face into Laboni's chest, Laboni whispered only one thing:
Laboni: "You aren't just 'bad,' Henry. You are a curse. And I will save my children from this curse."
Henry did not protest. The intoxication and physical exhaustion finally claimed him, and he collapsed in a heap at the edge of the bed.
Hidden behind the door, Sara watched everything. Her eyes were filled with terror and loathing. She saw how her mother protected her sister even in the midst of her own agony. Sara vowed to herself that she would never forgive her father.
The Plan for Vengeance
Laboni saw that her little girl was now in a deep sleep. Seeing that innocent face made her heart ache. The child had no idea what hell her parents were enduring.
Looking up, Laboni saw that Henry had also fallen into a deep, drug-induced slumber. His body lay disheveled, and the room reeked of alcohol.
Laboni had only one thought—this was the chance!
She very carefully set the baby down in the middle of the bed, surrounding her with pillows so she wouldn't fall. Then she stood up. Her body was aching, but the fire of revenge gave her strength.
Laboni noticed a large, sharp shard of glass from the mirror Henry had shattered earlier. She picked it up. There was no mercy left in her eyes. She walked silently to the head of the bed where Henry slept.
Henry's bare chest rose and fell with his breathing. Laboni thought, "Is it time? Is this the man I once loved? Is this the man who destroyed my brother's life?"
At that moment, the door to the next room creaked. Laboni saw Sara standing there, staring at her mother with wide eyes. Sara saw the sharp glass in her mother's hand. Standing between her mother and father was an invisible courtroom.
Laboni froze. Could she kill her father in front of her daughter? Or should she find another way?
She signaled Sara to come closer. Sara tiptoed into the room. Laboni whispered into her ear.
Laboni: "Sara, there is a bunch of keys in the bottom drawer of the wardrobe. And my small bag is hidden there too. Can you go get it? There is a phone in Father's pocket—I need to take it."
Sara nodded. Tonight, she had grown up. Out of a desire to save her mother, she became a partner in this dangerous game.