"Not today," Asis said.<br /> <br /> "We're married and you're afraid to come to me? It's only been six months since the wedding," Ashu said.<br /> <br /> "But not today," Asis's faint voice came again.<br /> <br /> "I've said before that I don't lik... "Not today," Asis said.<br /> <br /> "We're married and you're afraid to come to me? It's only been six months since the wedding," Ashu said.<br /> <br /> "But not today," Asis's faint voice came again.<br /> <br /> "I've said before that I don't like no," Ashu said, overpowering her without listening to Asis. The intoxication plus the anger of Asis's 'no' was all Asis's share of the pain.<br /> <br /> The night was passing at its own pace, but tonight again was a long one for Asis, like every other day.<br /> <br /> Today wasn't the first time all this had happened. It had started the day Asis got married and came here. Asis, with tears in her eyes, silently waited for the night to pass.<br />
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No, mom, I don't want to get married yet. You please explain to my brother. Why is he so eager to get me married?
The girl, who was sitting in front of her mom, crying, kept saying these words, but her mom was silent, also crying.
On the other side,
A boy who was riding his bike suddenly stopped, removed his helmet, and put it on the bike's handle, taking deep breaths. His face was covered with a mask. "Why am I so anxious today?" he said to himself and pulled out a photo from his purse, which was of the same girl who was sitting in front of her mom, crying.
The sink where the utensils were being washed still had a thin stream of water flowing from the tap, and a fly was trying to get out of the sink. Because it was wet, it was moving slowly.
Next to the sink stood a 22-year-old girl wearing a cotton nighty, with sindoor on her forehead and a vacant look in her eyes. She was staring at the fly trying to get out of the sink. Then she moved and opened the slow tap, filled her hand with water, and poured it over the fly, which fell into the hole with the water.
The woman silently watched the hole, then suddenly tears started flowing from her eyes. She closed the tap, sat down against the wall, and started crying, but the sound of her crying was confined to her mouth and didn't come out.
Just then, she heard someone coming, so she quickly got up and started working in the kitchen.
"Hurry up, the night meal isn't ready yet, and Ashu will be here soon. And don't bring this crying face in front of him, understood?"
A woman's voice came, and the woman standing in the kitchen nodded her head and quickly wiped away her tears and continued working.
When the doorbell rang at 10, she quickly went to open the door. Another woman's voice came from inside.
"Asis, where have you gone? Come quickly."
22-year-old Asis looked sometimes at the door and sometimes at the voice.
"Where have you been?" the woman said as she came out and saw Asis.
Will you just stand there staring at my face? Go open the door," the woman said as she sat on the sofa in the small hall.
Just then, the doorbell rang again, perhaps for the fifth time. Asis ran towards the door.
As the door opened, a man about 28 years old stood there, looking fair but with a red face due to anger.
"Where were you? I've been ringing the bell for so long, didn't you hear it?" the man said, looking at Asis standing in front of him. Asis was about to say something when the man slammed the door shut, came inside, and slapped Asis on the face.
Asis hit the wall, and tears kept flowing from her eyes.
"If you're eating for free, do some work, understood. If you're late even for a moment, you'll know what I'll do to you," the man said and went inside. Asis cleaned her face and quickly moved towards the kitchen.
"My Ashu has arrived," the woman sitting in the hall said. The man who came inside sat next to her.
"Yes, mom, I'm here. I'm very tired," he said. Asis came with a glass of water, and Ashu drank it and handed the glass back to Asis. "Make two omelets, I'm going to my room," he said. Asis silently went away.
The woman looked at Ashu and asked, "How was your day at the office today?"
"It was nothing, mom. Just work. Ever since the corona period ended, there's been a lot of tension about the job," Ashu replied.
"Everything will be fine. Don't get so angry, understood?" his mom said, putting her hand on Ashu's head.
"That's enough, mom. I've had enough. I'm going to my room to eat," Ashu said, removing his hand.
"Yes, eat and I'll also go to sleep," the woman said and got up to go to her small room.
Asis quickly made the omelets and put them on a plate, then went to her room. Ashu was already there, loosening the cuff buttons of his shirt.
Asis took out his clothes from the wardrobe, put them on the bed, and went back to the kitchen.
Half an hour had passed, and Asis was still standing in the kitchen. She didn't have the courage to go inside today because Ashu was drinking and sitting in the room. This wasn't the first time; it happened every day, but he usually drank outside and came home. Today, he was drinking at home. Just then, she heard his voice, and Asis quickly heated the food, put it on a plate, and went towards the room.
Ashu had finished his liquor bottle, which he had brought with him. Asis put the food plate on the table and started removing the rest of the items.
Ashu was staring at Asis, whose cheek had a mark from his slap. Asis quickly cleaned that place, and Ashu started eating.
Asis also came to the kitchen, ate her food, and started with the rest of the work. As soon as the sound of the door closing came from the room, Asis went towards the room. Ashu wasn't there, so she picked up the leftover utensils, went back, washed them, and kept them.
But she didn't have the courage to go inside the room. As she thought about it, she looked at the time and saw it was 11:30.
Asis went to her room and found Ashu sleeping on the bed. She also quietly came and lay down on the bed without making any noise.
Just then, Ashu turned and started looking at Asis. Asis was so scared that she froze. Then Ashu caught her, brought her close, and started kissing her.
"Not today, not today," Asis said.
"We're married, and you're still afraid to come to me. It's only been six months since the marriage," Ashu said.
"But not today," Asis's weak voice came again.
"I've told you before that I don't like it," Ashu said, overpowering Asis without listening to her. The intoxication, along with Asis's refusal and anger, added to her pain.
The night was passing at its own pace, but again, it seemed very long for Asis. This wasn't the first time. Since the day Asis got married to Ashu, this had started. Asis, with tears in her eyes, silently waited for the night to pass.
Asis was a girl of average height and looks, but if someone saw her, they would be compelled to look at her again. Her eyes were completely brown. She had gotten married to Ashu just some time ago. But her life after marriage was like a shock.
God protect her.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
"Mummy, they should have come today, but they haven't yet," Asis said to Janaki, who was repeatedly looking out the window. Janaki was also trying to call Ashu, but he wasn't picking up. It was 12 at night, and Asis's heart was racing.
"Maybe Ashu got stuck somewhere, you go relax, he'll come," Janaki said, checking her phone.
But Asis couldn't relax. She paced around the living room, hoping Ashu would arrive any minute. They had spoken the night before, and he had said he'd be back by 10 pm. But now it was 12, and there was no sign of him.
Asis's anxiety grew, and just then, the doorbell rang. Asis rushed to the door, hoping to see Ashu. But when she opened it, her smile disappeared.
Ashu's face was bruised, and his clothes were torn. He was stumbling, and Asis quickly ran to support him.
"What happened to you?" she asked, but Ashu just stared at her.
Janaki came running out, saw Ashu's condition, and gasped. She rushed to his other side to support him.
"Ashu, Ashu, what happened to you?" Janaki asked, but Ashu just kept staring.
Together, the two women helped Ashu inside, and Asis quickly got him some water. Ashu drank it and sat down silently.
"What happened, Ashu? How did you get so hurt?" Janaki asked, stroking his hair.
Ashu took a deep breath and began to explain. "I was at work, and my coworker and I got into a fight. He was stronger, and I couldn't do anything."
Asis and Janaki were shocked. "Just a fight? You can talk it out tomorrow," Janaki said.
But Ashu shook his head. "My boss gave me a few days off. My coworker is in police custody. I got out and came home."
Asis looked at him with concern. "You must be hungry. Did you eat anything?"
Ashu shook his head.
Janaki instructed Asis to clean Ashu's wounds and apply ointment. Asis helped Ashu sit down and began to undress him.
"Sorry, Asis. I didn't mean for this to happen. I said we'd go out tomorrow," Ashu said.
Asis looked at him, her eyes welling up with tears. "Why did you fight? Look at your injuries. You shouldn't have fought. Just avoid him if you can't talk to him."
Ashu nodded, taking her hand. "I'll do what you say."
Asis cleaned his wounds and applied cream. "Now, go lie down," she said.
But Ashu pulled her close. "Where are you going?"
"I'll just set up the bed downstairs so you can sleep comfortably," Asis said.
But Ashu pulled her into his arms. "Sleep here with me."
•••••••••••••
Ashu had a few days off due to his injuries, and he spent his time at home. Asis took care of him, and they grew closer. During this time, she noticed a masked boy, Veena's brother, moving around the rooftop.
Ten days passed, and Ashu returned to work. Asis and Janaki were relieved.
But just as it was lunchtime, the doorbell rang. Asis opened the door to find Ashu, drunk.
"Ah, you're like this," she said, shocked.
Ashu pushed her aside and stumbled inside. Asis saw their neighbors watching and quickly stepped inside, feeling embarrassed.
Today was the first time Ashu had pushed her in front of others. She was hurt and scared.
God protect her.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
The next morning, Ashu had left for work, and Asis was busy with her tasks. But today, she wasn't as happy as she was the previous day, and she wasn't chatting much with Janaki either. If Janaki called out to her, she would respond and then go back to her work.
By lunchtime, Asis was still in the same mood.
"What's wrong? You were so happy yesterday, but today you're sulking. Didn't your brother and sister-in-law call you yet? Maybe they forgot, and you should remind them," Janaki said while eating, as Asis came out to give her a roti.
Asis's mind seemed to snap, and she stared at Janaki.
"They forgot about me the moment I got married to your son. So, it's no big deal if they remember or not," Asis said and started to walk away.
"What is wrong with my son, and why are you talking like this? Have you forgotten how to talk to me? It seems Ashu isn't giving you your medicine anymore," Janaki said angrily, her tone piercing.
Asis went back to the kitchen and stood by the sink, trying to calm herself down, but it wasn't working. Just then, the doorbell rang. Asis splashed some water on her face and went out to find a boy standing there wearing a mask. Asis stared at him, and the masked boy stared back.
Asis understood that this must be Veena's brother.
"Give this key to her and tell her I've gone with friends," he said, holding out the key, and Asis took it, nodding her head.
As the boy turned to leave, Asis closed the door. He turned back, looked at the door, and said, "Again, tears in your eyes," before walking away.
Asis went back inside to find Janaki still glaring at her. Asis put the key down and walked past her.
"Take this food, I've eaten already," Janaki said, getting up and heading to her room. Asis took the plate and went to the kitchen.
She didn't feel like eating; she hadn't eaten much since the previous day.
Evening arrived, and Ashu was still out. Janaki was sitting on the sofa, watching TV, but she seemed more cheerful than earlier. Before Asis knew it, it was 9 PM, and Janaki had eaten dinner and gone to her room. Asis sat quietly, and just then, the doorbell rang. Asis got up to answer it, but her heart sank when she saw Ashu standing there, drunk.
Asis stepped aside, and Ashu stumbled inside. Asis closed the door and went to the kitchen to heat up Ashu's food. When she entered his room, Ashu was sitting, changing his clothes.
Asis served him his food and went back out. She had been thinking about confronting him, but seeing him like this, she reverted to her old self – quiet and submissive.
People say that a person's behavior is greatly influenced by their environment and the people around them. That was happening to Asis. She had transformed into a new person, filled with hope and love, but in just a few hours, she was back to her old self.
Asis went back inside to find Ashu asleep. She washed the dishes and lay down on her side.
"Did you argue with my mom today?" Ashu's voice was laced with anger, and Asis felt a jolt.
She didn't respond.
The next moment, she felt Ashu's hand on her, his fingers tangling in her hair, pulling her face up.
Asis had tears in her eyes, and she was in pain, but Ashu just stared at her.
"I asked you a question," he said, his eyes blazing.
Asis nodded, still lying down, her face tilted up due to Ashu's grip on her hair.
"Why did you say something to my mom?" he asked again.
Asis explained, "I found out that you were in a de-addiction center, and I just said something in anger."
"Why did you say it? What would you have done if you had the power?" Ashu asked.
Asis replied, "I didn't know; I was angry when I found out."
"Be prepared to face my anger too," Ashu said. Asis tried to push him away, but his grip was too strong. Tears started flowing again, and she was trapped in the same cycle of pain that she thought she had left behind.
God protect her.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
No response from Groq.
