The function was over. Everybody had returned to the Mansion and left to sleep. So did Shivaay and Anika.

"Who was that boy?", he asked her. His voice filled with venom and judgement.

"Friend", she replied carelessly. Only if she knew that this would cost her a lot

"Never thought people like to be friends with trash", he replied sarcastically. Anika looked at him, until a thought clicked in her mind.

"What did you think?", she asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing?", Shivaays replied harshly and turned away.

"No, tell", she insisted, blocking his way. He locked at her for a moment, until a smirk formed on his face.

"I thought you're a sl*t", he answered and Anika looked at him sternly. If words could kill, Anika would've been dead right now.

Tears formed in her beautiful eyes but she didn't allow them to fall. Which made her eyes turn red. She could feel her blood boiling, due to anger. And the next thing she knew, was her palm hitting Shivaay's cheeks.

"You're poor that being rich does make you inhuman", she gritted her teeths and wiped away the sole tear running down her cheek.

Shivaay, who's pride had just been mortified, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her closer. Anika let out a tiny wince.

"How dare you slap me?", he growled but Anika seemed unbothered.

"If you wanna fuck around like a whore, just leave this damn mansion. Because we can't stand filth in our homes", did this man not have a heart?

"The floor is ready for you to sleep on", he reminded her how worthless she was to him.

"But, it's cold", she whispered, and a shiver ran down her spine just thinking about it.

"Do I look like I care?", he replied and walked towards the bed. Laying down, he switched off the light. Not caring about her for a moment.

She took a blanket out of his closet and laid down. The cold floor made her shudder. How could he sleep so peacefully when she was scared of the demons lurking in the dark. Reminding her of every bad thing that happened today or might will tomorrow. The demons seemed more merciless than her husband.

Remembering that her life was so much better before him, yet she had the audacity to complain, made her angry at herself.

Not knowing how to handle all the hate and disgust everyone had for her, that she felt for herself, she started scratching on her arms.

Each time more aggressive, more passionate, so that it would leave a mark. Her arms started bleeding and burning.

Once she had stopped, her crying had turned into loud sobs. As if asking for help. Wishing somebody could save her from this jail she had built in her own mind.

Shivaay, who woke up due to the loud sobs of his unwanted wife, froze. He turned his head to look at her, only to find her so helpless. So lifeless.

The girl, he had been trying to break, was broken. But that didn't satisfy him as he thought. It made his heart ache? Was he actually feeling something for someone for the first time?

He poured some water in a glass and offered it to her but she didn't acknowledge his presence. As if she didn't want to.

Shivaay's eyes landed on her arms, who were bleeding. His eyes widened and he turned on the light. Anika hadn't moved since he woke up.

He touched her shoulder but she jerked away. As if he was contagious. Oh, how the tables had turned.

"Anika?", he called her with an unknown emotion in his voice. Was that sympathy or guilt?

Shivaay poured the jar of water on Anika. Which made her startle. She looked at him as if he was some sort of ghost.

"Are you okay?", he found himself asking her. It was very rare, Shivaay caring about someone else rather than him.

She looked at him in fright. As if he'd harm her any time. And even the tiniest word could tear her apart right now.

"Don't be scared", he whispered. The man who made her feel like shit, was trying to console her?

"I-m afraid-d of d-dark", she stuttered, looking down, ashamed of herself.

"What did you do to your arms?", he sounded somewhat concerned. But why would he? He was the cause of all of this.

She looked at him. Not knowing the answer. Anika would often find herself in the same situation but never knew what it is?

"Stop showing me attitude and spit it out", he rolled his eyes. Anika shook her head.

"I don't know", her voice sounded so flat, hopeless. As if all the brightness in her had left.

"What's that supposed to mean?", he hisses. He looked at her with everything he had.

"Shut up", she yelled at him. Her eyes held so much odium for her. She grabbed his arm and pushed it away.

"You hate me. Why? What have I done to you? And why do you care now?", she yelled at him, with a venom filled voice.

"A-anika", he tried to tell her that he didn't know any better. He doesn't love. All he knows is how to destroy.

"I hate you and I don't even know you", she whispered and turned away. Leaving a confused Shivaay.

"I don't", he replied. Anika doesn't look at him, nor does he look at her.

"What?", she asked him. Even though she didn't want to hear his answer. Because she knew it would ruin her.

"I still don't care", this time his voice sounded stronger. As if he was convinced that he didn't feel anything when he saw her in this state.

How could he? How can one take care of another when he hasn't even learnt what caring about others is? That's Shivaay. He doesn't care about others because he doesn't know how.
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Amna xx