Story
Beneath The Emblem
The Oculesics
Kaha gayi thi biwi?" Trayambak snarled from behind, his voice cold and close to Dhimahi’s ear. She froze. That tone, it always made her heart stop. ["Where had you gone, wife?"] She was too scared to speak. Her throat tightened. “Meri pyari biwi, maine tumse kuch pucha hai,” he repeated, his fingers brushing her neck. His touch felt like a warning. He grabbed her and forced her to face him. Dhimahi couldn't look into his eyes. She knew what was coming. ["My dear wife, I asked you something"] After a long, painful pause, she realised she had to speak but she chose to lie because there was no way out. Her voice shaking, she whispered, “Wo... wo mai Nit... Nit... Nitya ke sath..” ["I..I was with Nit...Nit...Nitya...."] Before she could finish, a loud slap echoed through the room. Her head snapped to the side. Her lip started bleeding. “Kaha tha na tujhse mujhe jhooth nahi pasand,” he growled, grabbing her hair to stop her from falling. [ "Didn't I tell you I don't entertain lies"] “Chal, dobara puch raha hu, kaha gayi thi?” [ "Come on, I am asking you again-where had you gone?"] Crying uncontrollably now, Dhimahi pleaded, “Please mujhe maaf kar dein, mai... mai Prateek ke sath library mei...” [ "Please forgive me, I... I was with Prateek in the library..."] He didn't care. His hand closed around her neck. “Kyu? Mana kiya tha na tujhe bahar nikalne se?” ["Why? Didn't I forbid tou from going out?"] She couldn't breathe. She clawed at his arms, trying to get free. Finally, she folded her hands and nodded, trying to show she agreed, that she’d listen. Anything to make it stop. He let her go, and she collapsed to the floor. But it wasn't over. He grabbed her hair again and dragged her toward the bedroom. Her body ached. Her voice was lost. “Kapde utar,”he said coldly. ["Strip"] Dhimahi’s hands shook as she reached for her dupatta. There was no point resisting. She knew it. But she was too slow. Trayambak stormed towards her, ripped her kurti, and forced her down to her knees. “Muh khol.” ["Open your mouth"] She looked up at him, her eyes full of fear, pleading silently. “Mere paas duniya bhar ka samay nahi hai muh khol warna mujhe aur bhi tareeke aate hai," he snapped, grabbing her hair again with one hand and slapping her lightly with another one. ["I don't have all the time in the world- open your mouth, or I know other ways to make you,"] She was empty now. Her tears kept falling, but she didn't fight. She couldn't. Like always, she did what she was told. Because Trayambak wasn't a husband. He was a monster. And she was trapped.
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