Hate Me Like You Don't

Don't you know how to behave?

"Fuck you! "

"Don't you dare utter that nonsense again! I will not let you go this easily after you destroyed my show." His fingers tightened on the pearly clasp at her back.

Her eyes burned in anger. How dare he think that much of himself. Didn't he know who she was? Oh right, he didn't. She couldn't let him. "Leave me." She controlled her tone.

"Now you're understanding. Tell me, who sent you?"

"No one sent me. I came here."

"To destroy my show!? Who paid you?"

"I am not a commodity, mister. I came here to contact my would-be brother-in-law for-"

"Heights of creativity, you have! This is not a hotel or someone's home. This is Sheesh Mahal, my palace."

She gulped, remembering the tales her cousin has told over the past few weeks. So he was... "You... Malik..."

The clasp broke.

She pushed him, agitated. "Fuck you!"

Bodies pressed together, hands roved on her back and Khushi stilled at the comfort it brought her, amidst everything that was going to crash for her sister.

Hazel eyes met chocolate ones and the world stilled for it was at that moment both realised what they had felt the first time they looked into their reflection in the other's eyes.

Arnav took a step back, fisting his fingers and bringing them lower. "You'll pay... very dearly." He moved towards the door.

"I can pay right now." Khushi moved towards him. If she had to, she would. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she turned him. She took his hand and tugged at her dupatta with it. It fell on the floor carelessly.

Arnav hardened at her vulgarity. "I knew it. You're just another middle-class slut. Running away with your brother-in-law, weren't you?"

"So, you believe I wasn't here for you." She closed the distance. "What if I was." She did believe in God, in fate. Payal wasn't meant to be with Abhishek, she had thought about that hundreds of time since she arrived here.

Arnav stood confused. What was this girl even saying! Didn't she hear herself. "I am not an easy person to make yours."

"I don't want you forever. Just for..." she titled her head, placing her lips alarmingly close to his. She couldn't, not really. She did know about the effects, though. His breathing hastened.

He pushed her away. "Fuck you!"

"Now now, I think it's time to eat your own words. "

Arnav shut the door on her, and Khushi slipped down against it, crying over something she had no idea of. Somewhere, a baraat was leaving.

***

Sashi and Garima Gupta were in utter shock. Their niece was missing and so were their shop's property papers. The horror of the former was more, and their daughter understood. They had to be strong. A life, her life, mattered much much more than a dowry obsessed groom who left the wedding midway.

They knew one thing. She couldn't have run away. Not when she already was. She didn't need the property. She already had the world served to her on a silver platter.

Sashi dialled to his brother-in-law.

"Yes, Sashi Bhai, how are things proceeding?"

"Bhaiya, she's gone..."

"Find her, now!"

***

Dawn had broken when Khushi entered her uncle's home.