Captured

Chapter 4

Hatred. 

A mere word of six letters and capable of ruining the whole existence of a person. It can make someone rise from the ashes and also push someone to his doom. The feeling creeps on like a parasite and slowly eats up whole from within. 

Matsyaa was experiencing the similar sting of poisonous bites in her body. She knew her refusal would not alter the truth. Her parents had conspired with Ranvijay to get her down on her knees. They played with her emotions. They fooled her collectively. At one point, she had accepted that her marriage would be a sacrifice for her family but now, it seemed meaningless. The healing part of her wounded self-respect stitched open and bled furiously. 

"Where did I go wrong?" She mumbled to herself and her lips trembled as her voice broke. "Why is this happening to me?" 

"It's not your fault, Matty. Look up at me!" Arush cupped her face and smiled gently, "It was never your fault."

"No. No. No. Definitely I've done something wrong. It's my…completely my fault. I…it's…I shouldn't have met Ranvijay. I shouldn't…" She blabbered, hyperventilating and Arush tried to shush her, "Even if you hadn't met him, this would've happened. Open your eyes and look around. Everyone has changed. Their greed has made them blind." 

She watched him stupefied and he straightened, pushing hands on his waist. "We are amid vultures. They'd eat us whole. Who will believe the safe haven of a family can turn into a labyrinth? Mom doesn't accept this reality. Aunt Gauri was also shaken but suddenly, she grew normal."

Matsyaa knitted her eyebrows and something struck in her mind. She shook her head, holding a finger up. "She didn't grow normal. She got better in hiding. Thanks for telling me everything, Arush." 

"What? Wait, Matsyaa!" He grabbed her arm as she stood up and decided to leave. "Where are you going?"

"We never had this talk, Arush. I don't want to hear anything. Everything is crystal clear to me now. I don't have any malign against my parents and I'm thankful to you for that."

"What?" He barked in astonishment and she sighed, "Look, I believe you. I really do and accept that my parents have helped Ranvijay but…if they've done this, I'm sure they have a reason. I'm not going to let an outsider create misunderstanding between us."

"I'm an outsider?" Arush growled and she shook her head, "I ain't talking about you. It's Ranvijay. When you were telling me everything, my parents' worried expression was going on in my mind. I accept they are hiding something from me but I can never question their love for me, Arush. They are my parents. They have brought me up with immense love and care. I feel so stupid that I was even doubting on them." 

Arush flinched back from her and squinted his eyes. She reached out to grab his hand and rubbed his palm, eyeing his rough lines. "They were concerned. They were anxious when Ranvijay started troubling me. They had even locked me up in my room. How can I accept now that they've suddenly shaken hands with him and that too against me? Against their own daughter?" 

"They were ready to marry you to Raghvendra. Don't forget he was forcing you to accept this relationship." Arush reminded her and she ironically smiled, gazing at him. "Didn't you just say that he planned everything? It could be a part of his plan." 

"Wow!" Arush laughed sarcastically and threw his hands in the air. "Now, you're even defending him. He is ruining your life."

"Arush!" She reprimanded, scowling. "He is my father. I trust him. I know he is wrong but if he wanted to ruin my life, he wouldn't have fought with Uncle and thrown him out. He could've easily got me married to Raghvendra. He didn't do this…"