5.

M O K S H

I stood in the middle of the hall, completely clueless of whatever was happening around me. My mind was clouded with lots of thoughts as a profound feeling of rage washed over me when the woman raised her hand to slap her.

This wasn't the real Moksh, I don't know what washed over me and that moment. I wasn't someone who lost their calm but I lost it all at that moment.

I was raised with great ethics and morals which taught us to never raise our hands on anyone hell not even raise our voices but this woman who was her mother dared to squawk insults at her and even had the freaking audacity to slap her. Mother or not she didn't have the fcking right to come to any conclusion without listening to her side of the story. I believed she had her reasons but accusing and blaming her without listening to her wasn't fair. No one touches what's mine.

Lasya, her name was Lasya. It was as unique as her. She was beautiful, so captivating with her enchanting pair of eyes. She looked so tempting in her red bridal lehenga, with tear stains on her milky white red cheeks, she was slim with a lean frame, but what made her stand out was her hazel eyes. Log kehte hai bhuri aakhon vaali ladkiyo per bharosa nhi karna chahiye, sahi kehta hai.

[Translation: People say that girls with hazel eyes should not be trusted, it is right.]

Because just in one glance she had managed to imprison me under her spell. It wasn't only her beauty that caught my attention, it was witty comebacks. She was strong, and independent and took a stand for herself by replying to each insult and accusation thrown her way. She was the complete package.

If we'd met in different circumstances, I would have liked her at first sight, courted her, been friends with her, taken her on dates and then eventually with the help of Bengali baba ka totka made her blindly in love with me. Per koi baat nhi, agar hasina khud chalkar aapke pass aai hai toh uska banne meh kaisi sharam!?

[Translation: But it doesn't matter, if a goddess herself has come to you, then what kind of shame is there in being hers?]

I knew I was going to protect her for the rest of my life the moment I shielded her from the clutches of the evil woman who was my unfortunate mother-in-law. I was a possessive man; if I set eyes on something, I would want it by hook or crook. What's mine, remains mine forever.

"Ziya take your bhabhi upstairs she must be tired, everyone, retreat to your rooms and take a rest, and I hope to see the complete Agarwal family gracing us with their presence at the reception party. Aur iske aage joh hoga vho ham Mehrotra sambhal lenge, ham nhi chahte ki koi aur hamare Ghar ke mamle meh dakhal andazi kare", it was Dad's voice which echoed in the silent living room

I watched my wife disappear along with Ziya and I focused my attention on the problem at hand. So Lasya was the hidden princess about whose identity there were various media speculations. But judging from the relationship she shared with her family she looked far from even sharing a cordial relationship with them.

"bhai yeh sab kya ho raha hai yaha? Mai toh teri shaadi meh enjoy karne aaya tha, socha tha teri life change ho jayegi yaha dulhan hi change ho gyi", Nevan whispered from behind me in my ear and placed a hand on my shoulder

[Translation: what is all this happening here? When I came to enjoy your marriage, I thought your life would change, here the bride itself has changed.]

"Bhabhi hai saale teri", I glared at him and he just gulped before retreating his hand back from my shoulder

[Translation: she's your sister-in-law, bastard]

I looked at the Agarwals trying to coax Dad and Dadaji into something and it pissed me off. Problem kya hai inn logo ki yaar? Sidhi si baat samjh nhi aati kya?

[Translation: What is the problem of these people? Can't they understand a simple thing?]

"Tujhe kya lagta hai bhai? teri kahani mein ab kaunsa twist aayega?", Nevan questioned and I shrugged my shoulders not understanding anything

[Translation: What do you think? What twist will come in your story now?]

"BC itni badi duniya hai Lekin sare mc mere aas paas he aakar marne the", I replied in annoyance but I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw the dramatic family finally exiting through the door. Bala tal gyi

[Translation: It's such a big world, but everyone has to create a nuisance in my life only.

: the trouble has been averted!]

"Papaji ab kya karna hai?", it was Mom who decided to break the ice once the problematic family left

[Translation: Papaji what to do now]

"Ab kuch nhi karna hai, postponed the reception to the day after tomorrow. Hame soche ke liye wakt chahiye, media ke samne statement release karna hai. Aur ha, everyone, log out of your socials for 24 hours, no source of information regarding the wedding should go out of the Mehrotra mansion, warn every servant and house staff related the same, tighten the security and make strict protocols", Dadaji ordered and everyone nodded agreeing to everything as if we had a choice

[Translation: Now nothing has to be done, postponed the reception to the day after tomorrow. We need time to think, we have to release a statement in front of the media. And yes, everyone, log out of your socials for 24 hours, no source of information regarding the wedding should go out of the Mehrotra mansion, warn every servant and house staff member about the same, tighten the security and make strict protocols.]

"Per Dad, uss ladki neh ham sabhi se jhoot bola hai, hame dhoke meh rakha hai, aap kaise usse accept kar sakta hai? How can you all behave like everything's normal, we all got cheated on for god's sake", Radhika Bua was overreacting a lot without any reason but she made sense, what had Lasya told Dadaji that he wasn't saying a single word against her?

[Translation: but Dad, our girl has lied to us all, has deceived us, how can you accept her? How can you all behave like everything's normal, we all got cheated on for god's sake]

"Vho ladki iss ghar ki Bahu aur Moksh ki patni hai Radhika, izzat se pesh aao", Dadaji scolded, turning on his feet towards his room

[Translation: That girl is the daughter-in-law of this house and Moksh's wife, Radhika, behave respectfully.]

"Izzat? Kaisi izzat Dad? Kis izzat ki baat kar rhe hai aap? Aap logo ko ho kya gaya hai? Yeh Aaj ki aai ladki neh kya jaadu kar diya hai aap per?", she scoffed glaring at everyone

[Translation: Respect? What kind of respect, Dad? What respect are you talking about? What has happened to you guys? What magic has this girl who came today done to you all?]

"Bas bohot ho gaya Radha, agar tumhare dad neh koi decision liya hai toh soch samjh kar liya hoga, and remember he's still the head of the family and the sole decision maker", Dadi rebuked and stepped towards Dadaji and at that moment nothing made sense to me anymore

[Translation: Enough is enough, Radha, If your dad has taken any decision then he must have thought it through.]

"I also want to know the truth Dadaji, I deserve to know, yeh meri life ka sawal hai", I rebelled and saw various pairs of eyes turning towards me

[Translation: I also want to know the truth Dadaji, I deserve to know, this is the question of my life.]

"Not you too, Moksh", Chachu affirmed, his tone laced with warning

"Why not? Why is everyone safeguarding Lasya and taking her side?", my question was aimed at Dadaji whose steps halted in the middle

"I don't think I'm answerable to you young man", his voice was thick and alarming as if challenging me to go against his ultimatum. I didn't hold any grudge against Lasya but at this moment I deserved to know the truth, my life was at stake too.

"My life is at stake too Dadaji, what if one day she decides to leave me saying it isn't working out, what if one day her motive is completed and she vanishes out of our lives? Moreover, we don't even know how Raina went MIA under our noses", I roared enraged by everything. My jaw ticked and my eyes had turned red. I wasn't suspecting Lasya but I didn't trust her either, at least not now.

"I said we won't talk about the matter", he answered

"What if I refuse to accept her as my wife? What if I divorce her?", my revolt had left everyone perplexed as no one to date ever doubted Dada Ji's decision

"You're doubting me?", he asked still appearing calm while I was finding it hard to keep my cool

"And what if I say, I am", I challenged seething in exasperation

"Don't cross the line Moksh you won't like the consequences", Dadaji passed on the ultimatum and without listening anything marched towards his room followed by Dadi and the rest of the family members going back to their room.

I closed my eyes and massaged my forehead. I was the only one left along with Nevan in the living room. He patted my shoulder and passed me a sympathetic look. The last thing I wanted from my best friend was pity.

"Help me find my keys", I said and unbuttoned my sherwani since I was wearing a plain kurta within

"Don't tell me you're thinking of going for a drive in this state", Nevan stared at me as if I'd grown an extra head with horns.

"I fucking didn't ask, Nev", I glared at him and threw the sherwani discarding it on the couch

Rolling the sleeves of the kurta to my elbow I searched in the drawers and finally found my bike keys. Jiggling them I walked towards the main door

"Bhai tu pagal ho gaya hai-", Nevan's words felt deaf to my ears as I care less about anyone right now. I was tired of everyone controlling my life and treating me as a puppet, I needed an escape right now before I exploded and hurt any of my family unintentionally.

[Translation: you have gone crazy]

Walking inside the garage I made my way towards where my bike collection was. Standing in front of my all-time favourite bike I smiled. She stood proud, sexy and shining in the dim lighting. I had her specially customised according to my preference and she was my baby, my girlfriend, My gulabo!

Mounting the bike, I put on the helmet and turned on the engine. I accelerated the clutch and it started with a roar making me smirk. Taking a deep breath I started my vehicle and from my peripheral vision noticed Nevan still standing near the threshold but I paid no heed to the apprehensive looks he gave me.

"I'm sorry sir but we have strict orders", I was stopped at the gates by the guards who held the handles of the metal gate in their steel grip

"The last time I checked before Dadaji it's me who signs your paycheck", I regretted my choice of words but my mind was too fogged to think of anything sane. They gulped and shared a look before stepping back and opening the gates for me

I tightened my hold on the handles and drove out of the gates leaving the mansion behind. I speed through the almost empty streets and let the midnight breeze hit my body. I felt at ease, and a sense of relief washed over me.

After a long drive which helped me clear my mind and roaming around for almost an hour on the abandoned roads, I finally came back and parked the love of my life safely. I kissed Gulabo for the last time and walked inside the mansion.

It was all dead silent inside, not even the house staff was present. Shrugging I skipped the stairs and walked towards my room swirling my keys in my finger while whistling.

Entering inside my anger went bonkers when the smell of my bodywash and shampoo filled my nostrils. I hate when someone uses or messes with my stuff without my permission. I was a possessive man and I didn't hate admitting it proudly.

Hell someone was even sleeping on my bed, must be Nevan. That clown would do anything to get under my skin. With heavy steps, I marched towards the bed and yanked the comforter off the person harshly only to receive the shock of my life.

Hazel orbs stared at me astonished and my own eyes widened in shock as if they would drop out of the socket any second. Throughout the whole fiasco, I had completely forgotten that I had a wife waiting for me in my room.

Lasya lay on the bed motionless with her body weight supported on her elbows as she looked as if she had witnessed a ghost. Her face was blank as a paper and she was too stunned to speak.

"What are you doing on my bed?", to cover up the embarrassment I came up with a random excuse without realising and instantly bit my tongue for my stupidity

"Kismat ka nanga naach kar rhi hu, wanna join?", her reply was sarcastic as she looked at me with a sardonic smile.
I gave her a bewildered look, I accepted her to behave meek and shyly in front of me like a typical new bride, maybe asking for forgiveness and a long speech about how I should think about giving our relationship a chance etc etc. per iski zuban toh katili nikli

[Translation: I am dancing naked with fate, wanna join?

: but her tongue turned out to be so sharp.]

"Tum-", I attempted to say something but was abruptly cut off in the middle by her as she glared at me

[Translation: you-]

"Kya tum-tum laga rakha hai, dikh nhi raha hai so rhi hu", she got on her knees and pointed her index finger angrily at me. Wah! Meri billi mujhi se meow!

[Translation: what are you staring at? can't you see that I'm sleeping

:my cat meows to me]

"Dekho-"
[Translation: see]

"Dekh liya", I clicked my tongue in annoyance when she continued to cut my every sentence

[Translation: have already seen]

I towered over her trying to intimidate her and I was successful when I noticed her hazel eyes flickering. My 6-foot frame was too tall for her 5'6-something dwarf body.

"Yeh Mera kamra hai aur yaha yhi hoga joh Mai chahunga, toh chup chap utho yaha se aur dafa ho jao", I threatened my eyes darkening at our proximity.
My voice came out more huskier than I thought and my eyes flickered between her captivating hazel orbs and luscious, delicious looking soft, plump, kissable pink lips,
Control, Moksh control! Shaadi ki pheli hi raat ko hi hawas ka pujari nhi banna hai!

[Translation: This is my room and whatever I want will happen here, so quietly get up from here and disappear

: Control, Moksh Control! Don't become a priest of lust on the very first night of marriage!]

"Ji nhi", she retorted and snatching the duvet from my hold slept covering herself, her back facing me. Baffled I gazed at her back and my jaw tightened as my temper rose, skyrocketing towards the extreme.

[Translation: Absolutely not]

I took hold of the water jug kept on the nightstand and without thinking twice emptied the whole liquid onto her. Water splashed all over, weting her as well as a major part of the bed. Agar mai bed per nhi sounga toh vho bhi nhi!

[Translation: If I don't get to sleep on the bed, then she won't be either!]

Lasya woke up with a jolt and looked like a cat in cold water, her wet hair stuck to her face and she looked at me with a murderous gaze. Well, she looked tempting and fuckable though!

Chii! Moksh, I chided myself mentally for the gutter of my nasty thoughts and walked away

I lay on the couch placed in my bedroom and closed my eyes covering them with my arm. And suddenly a big bucket of water was poured onto me as well.

Horrified I stared at my wife who threw the plastic bucket and stood there panting like a dog. And this is how we spent our first night as husband and wife. Abhi hi Aisa haal hai, aur Puri zindagi toh abhi baaki hi hai!
Hey ishwar mujhe shakti de ki mai iss mohtarma ko 7 Janam jhel paau!

[Translation: This is the situation right now, and the whole life is still left!
O God, give me strength to bear this beloved for 7 lives]

Great now I was wet too. This isn't how we were supposed to be wet on our wedding night, rather it should be because of a great earth-shattering, soul-trembling orgasm-\