There was a thud. As the door to her room opened, he stood there, in the sherwani. Her face was covered by the ghungat as she glared at him through it, how could she imagine her life with that man? He was a murderer, a person who had killed his sister. She believed he had no heart, truly a heartless monster.

He walked towards her with confidence, his eyes set on her like a predator ready to attack. She clutched the knife in her tightly, if it came to that she would murder him herself. She had a plan, a few years ago she was always in survival mode, but now getting back to it, it made her question her life.

This man had the power to destroy her life, he could ruin her, but Seher knew she couldn't give him the power over her anymore. 

"Seher. Seher. Seher", she heard him say his voice mocking like a villain in the last scene of every movie. She felt like a victim as she brought her knees to her chest protecting herself. Her eyes looked at his silhouette as he sat on the bed, his legs touching hers, she wanted to crawl back but she knew how much they loved the chase.

He could be a sadist.

She could hear his sister's cries, as she begged for his mercy, he didn't listen to her once. All men weren't heartless like him in the village, they had a heart, she knew many men who had supported their sisters and family.

The trauma made her tremble as she felt the tears drop one by one, she couldn't control it. She was getting a panic attack, his presence was scaring her. He was like a monster in fairy tales, the wolf in Red Riding Hood ready to end her life.

Her hand was pulled out as she felt a rough hand caressing it, his touch extremely soft her hand felt sweaty because of the jewels and his touch. She felt like he could read her thoughts, he could smell her fear.

She wanted to surrender at the very moment but knew how it could end. So she kept her steely presence, but couldn't help but flinch when he slipped a ring on her finger.

That was the mu dikhai, he hadn't seen her face and slipped the ring on her finger. What could it mean?

She felt his breath close to her, he was scaring her, intimidating her, killing her without doing anything. Seher wished she could take the first flight back to her home. Be a teacher and live her life normally, this was something she never wanted.

She felt the veil being lifted and she closed her eyes, as bright light fell in her eyes. Her safe haven behind the ghungat was gone as it rested on her head, she could feel every muscle on her face tremble as her eyes fought not to cry. She opened her eyes and met his dark brown ones, his eye were unreadable.

He was gazing at her with such an intensity, his hand touched her cheeks as he looked into her eyes. This would have been a romantic moment if she wasn't scared of him.

"You are extremely ugly".

Seher was taken aback by his cruel words. His unexpected comment was like a dagger to her already anxious heart. She had braced herself for many things, but this was not what she had anticipated. His eyes, so intense just moments ago, were now filled with a mockery that cut deep.

She felt a lump in her throat, struggling to hold back tears as she tried to maintain her composure. Seher had been through a lot in her life, but this humiliation was something she hadn't prepared for. She couldn't help but feel a surge of anger rise within her. This man, who had already demonstrated his heartless nature, was now adding insult to injury.

"Below average", he continued as he pulled her face closer to his by her chin, her eyes teared up as her resolve broke.

"But these eyes of yours are extremely rebellious, I have killed many who dared to defy me", he said in an authorative tone, warning her. He was taking revenge, she had rebelled against him during the haldi ceremony and now he was extracting revenge on her.

He pulled her closer so she sat on his lap, his nose rubbed against her neck, as she felt her hand trembling she clutched the dagger tighter. She needed to be calm, he kissed her neck, and then she felt his hands caress her neck, his eyes deadly, he could snap her neck in a second.
Seher's mind raced, desperately seeking an opportunity to regain control of this nightmarish situation. She had to keep her wits about her and play this dangerous game with caution.

With every moment, she became more aware of the weight of the dagger in her hand. Her fingers had never held something so precious and terrifying at the same time. She had a weapon, and she was ready to use it if her life depended on it.

As the man's kisses on her neck grew more intrusive, she shifted her weight ever so slightly. His grip was strong, but she needed to find a way to create an opening. It was a risk, but she had to act swiftly.

In a sudden and unexpected move, she shifted her body, causing the man to momentarily lose his balance. It was just the opening she needed. With all the strength she could muster, she lunged forward, driving the dagger toward his side.

The element of surprise was on her side, and the blade made contact. He caught her hand, and twisted it making her scream as the force made her drop the dagger. Seher's desperate attempt to break free had been thwarted by the man's sheer strength. He was not to be underestimated, and her daring maneuver had only escalated the brutality of their encounter.

Her scream echoed through the room as he twisted her hand, causing her to release the dagger. The cold metal hit the ground with a clatter, out of her reach. She was now entirely at his mercy, and it was abundantly clear that he held the upper hand.

Pain radiated from her injured hand, but there was no escape from this nightmare. With a sadistic smile, he continued to assert his dominance, knowing that her defiance had only deepened his desire to break her spirit.

Seher's thoughts raced as she realized that her chances of escaping this ordeal were slipping away, and the realization of her dire predicament weighed heavily upon her.

"Already defying me? my dear you need to be taught a lesson", he picked up the dagger and made a cut on her hand, and he removed her lehenga as she fought and on her thigh he made another cut. She cried out. The hot blood poured out. He didn't stop as she bled on the white sheets. Her world transformed into a horrifying tableau of pain and dread. Her body bore the marks of his cruel dominance, with seven cuts etched into her skin, each a visceral reminder of his sadistic tendencies.

Blood oozed from the lacerations, staining the fabric of her clothing, and Seher's cries of agony echoed through the room, filling the air with the haunting sound of her torment.

His laughter was an eerie soundtrack to the gruesome scene, each chortle adding a layer of despair to her ordeal. With practiced cruelty, he wrapped a bandage tightly around the wounds, creating a macabre contrast between her injuries and the white cloth that now bound them.

His threats had left her trembling, a mix of fear and helplessness coursing through her veins. She shuddered at the idea that this man held not only her physical well-being but also her life in his hands.

"Open your hair", Seher complied, her trembling hands revealing her long, dark tresses. As her hair cascaded down, it formed a stark juxtaposition to the cruelty that had unfolded in the room, a stark reminder of the vulnerability she now.

Her eyes were red as she didn't look up, she was in her blouse her lehenga on the floor, humiliated.

"Ugly", he repeated the word, his words piercing her deeper than the dagger.

He pulled her towards his by her waist, his touch making chills run down her spine. His touch repulsed her, he hurt her, he humiliated her. And he was probably going to rape her, this was nothing new. She knew she was going to face this before her wedding, but this still hurt her. Because somewhere inside her heart she wished for a normal life, with a loving husband.

Her husband was a monster, as he opened her blouse, his kisses harsh, punishing his hands assaulting her. She felt the tears drop one by one as she lay below him unclothed, he was touching her body as if she was a doll. It was painful, he was making cuts, his touch leaving marks. It was painful and the panic started when he positioned himself at her entrance and plunged in. She cried out feeling her insides tearing as the pain made her sob, it was killing her. She was dry, it scratched her insides, she smelled blood and felt it dripped down as he pulled out. She clutched his biceps, begging him to stop. It was pain, the type of pain, she never imagined, her legs were trembling as she pushed against his chest. But he stopped her cries by kissing her lips, containing her painful gasp by his lips as he penetrated, more harshly this time.

His hands were on her waist as he plunged in and out, her dryness not helping making it extremely painful as her skin streched.

He was making it painful for her, her reluctance to the act, and him being so rough, as he plunged in and out slowly made her lose her conciousness. She woke up and hour later, her body a mess as the man snored beside her. She controlled her sob, getting up from the bed and limping to the washroom. She opened the shower and scratched her body, getting rid of his marks and finally breaking down. Crying, feeling helpless as the hot shower comforted her, she sat there crying and fell asleep.

Next time she woke up, she laid on the bed, it was early morning and she could hear the shower running. He must have dressed her up, she got down from the bed, and went to the mirror, picking up the comb, she tried to remove the knots. Her mind was numb, in a state of shock, as she got ready and headed to the kitchen.

The maid greeted her, "Madam, Sir said from today onwards you will cook for the entire family".

"How many people?"

The maid replied, "Sixteen".

Seher's life had taken a nightmarish turn, and she found herself trying to adapt to a situation that seemed increasingly surreal. As she faced the daunting task of cooking for a family of sixteen, she knew that she had little choice but to comply.

With a heavy heart and a mind clouded by the trauma of the previous night, Seher began her day in the kitchen. The culinary duties ahead felt overwhelming, and she had never cooked for so many people before.

The sounds of sizzling ingredients and clinking cookware filled the air as she worked tirelessly. The physical labor served as a temporary distraction from the emotional scars that still haunted her.

Seher's hands trembled as she served the family their breakfast, feeling like a mere ghost in the room. The man, who had tormented her the night before, now seemed to enjoy a jovial breakfast with his family. Laughter filled the air as they shared stories and moments, completely ignoring her presence.

Seher stood to the side, a silent, invisible servant in her own home, her stomach aching from hunger. She longed for a moment of acknowledgment, a kind word, or even a scrap of food for herself, but it appeared that she was nothing more than a pawn in this cruel game.

As the meal continued, people began to leave one by one. The man finally turned his attention to her, his voice cold and calculating. "The egg was burnt," he declared, his tone unwavering.

Seher stammered an apology, her fear palpable. She knew that failing to meet his expectations could lead to consequences she didn't want to imagine. But to her surprise, he ordered her to sit and eat the burnt egg.

Seher, still trembling and unsure of his intentions, took her seat at the table. Her hands were unsteady as she picked up the fork and knife, feeling the weight of the room's attention on her.

As she cut into the burnt egg, the man's family continued their conversation, ignoring her presence. It was as if she had become nothing more than a piece of furniture, a silent witness to their lives.

Each bite of the egg felt heavy, not just because of its charred taste, but because of the oppressive atmosphere in the room. Seher's stomach, which had been growling with hunger, was slowly sated by the meagre meal.

The man watched her closely as she ate, his eyes revealing nothing of his intentions. Seher couldn't help but wonder about his motivations – was this an act of kindness, or was he merely toying with her, finding amusement in her obedience?