33

MAYRA'S POV

His facial expressions changed the second next when I said I wanted to tell him the real reason behind our wedding. His eyes flickered with blank emotions and his fists clenched on the side. Although no hint of dark emotions were visible on his face but still I had a little feeling that this was just a silence before storm.

Would he be angry after knowing the truth?

I blinked my eyes in hesitation and licked my dried lips before looking directly into his hypnotizing eyes which were again devoid of everything.

"You couldn't be selfish."

He mumbled under his breath but I swear I heard each and every word of his sentence.

I parted my lips to say something but stopped from doing so when he averted his gaze from me to fix it on the edge of the bed. Those raw expressions which were plastered over his face were turning deep every passing second.

Was it was selfish of me to marry him just because I wanted to save his life? Was it selfish of me to suffer everything so that I can heal his soul?

I twisted my fingers in nervousness and took a sharp breath before closing my eyes and bending down my head and placing my chin over my knees.

"Selfish? I don't know. But for sure I can give you one simple reason." I said and pulled a bottom of my lower lip between my teeth and without wasting a single second I added, "I don't wanted you to become like Jason."

As soon as those words left my mouth I felt his eyes snapping in my direction although I couldn't see him.

"Sometimes we don't realise the person in which we are turning to be. Jason changed into dark and unfortunately I couldn't let him out of that but I had an option to pull you out from the same darkness. I never wanted you to turn out like Jason with continued drugs and darkness. I wanted to paint your life with colors even if it means saying yes to lifeless marriage because deep inside I had known that our marriage will be lifeless but if in the end I will be able to evoke a new life into you then that's all matters. I married you because I wanted to heal you." I said in a little hoarse voice, cracking down a bit.

And then a sudden sensation chilled down my spine when I heard a soft sigh coming out from him. With fake strength I tilted my head upward to have a look of him.

He had his eyes shut with little clench on his jaws and nose slightly flattened. I frowned. I should have known this. I mean who would like to know that their marriage was nothing but just a reason?

"Answer me in yes or no." His words brought me back into the reality and I looked at him, dumbfounded.

"All that shit of addicting to you, all was related to him. Isn't it? Just like that Jason was addicted to his girlfriend and in the end he couldn't cope up with her withdrawal so he opted to become a monster. You thought that something like that will also happen to me?” I blinked several times at his question and my heart raced up in strange velocity.

Why did he started this topic? What was running inside his brain?

"Yes or no?" He hissed and I nodded my head and replied, “Yes.”

He stared at me for a second and his lips twitched distastefully.

"SO THAT MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE ME?" He yelled making me gasped in shock.

I quickly shook my head in no but I was too late because he had already turned his back towards me and before I could say anything next, he walked to the door.

"You know what. Let's just go back to home." He said after unlocking the door.

I sat there with tears collecting in my eyes and sweat forming over my forehead.

Why every good thing ends so easily? I was here having the best time of my life but just in a blink of an eye everything turned upside down.

My eyes shifted to ceiling where still those plastic stars were beaming in brightness. I pursued my lips together and slowly put my clothes back on my body and after having one last look of the room, I walked outside near his car only to found him already inside his car with the engine turned on. I quietly took a seat inside on the passenger seat and fixed my eyes out of the window.

To my periphery I found his tight hold on the steering wheel.

Say something Mayra. Say.

"Rehan liste...." I tried speaking but he held his one hand in air, gesturing me to stop.

I lowered my gaze and nodded slowly. The silence was killing me but maybe he does needs some space.

The whole car ride went in itching silent and when we reached home, he just gestured me to get out and after that he rushed away in his car.

I just stared at his car till it became invisible to my sight. With heavy heart I walked in our room and sat on the couch, trying to call him but like always he ended my call and put his cellphone switched off. So again he was planning to give me his silent treatment. But Rehan don't forget that I am your wife only. If you can ignore me, for sure I can also make your anger melt in seconds. Just come back then I'll show you that how easily I can solve every misunderstanding between us.

I smiled brightly then took a deep breath before going through my cellphone contacts.

And as I was going to call Vishal, suddenly an unknown number flashed. I narrowed my eyebrows and picked up the call in hesitation.

"Mayra forgive me." A familiar voice came from another side leaving me more confused.

"Tara?" I asked surely and a low sound of chuckle came.

"Yes Tara the slut." She said and that's when I realise that she was drunk.

"Are you okay? Err…Wait, where are you?" I asked in panic but no response came from her side.

Without thinking twice, I quickly ran to James and Ron.

"Please track Tara's number. I think she might get herself in trouble. She was completely drunk and... Please just do what I said." I added and they just looked at me like I've grown two heads.

I tried to calm my rapid breath and closed my eyes shut for few seconds.

"Seriously?" Ron whispered in disbelief and scoffed.

"Why do you want us to track that whore's number?" James asked, giving me sour look.

I frowned when he called her with names but by ignoring that I gave them a look to do what I said.

"Reason?" Ron blurted out and at that moment I had an instant urge to pull my hairs.

"Why everyone hates her so much?" I hissed in annoyance.

They chuckled dryly and that's when I realized that my tone was rough and unusual. I quickly muttered sorry and clenched my fist to calm myself down.

"How can you not hate her Mayra even after knowing that she was the one to act all slut with Mr. Malhotra?" I pressed my eyes shut at Ron's question and something itched inside my heart when all the sick memories of Rehan and Tara kissing clouded over my mind.

I licked my lips and took a deep breath before opening my eyes.

"Stop calling her with such names." I said.

"Like really? What is wrong with you?" I stared at blank space after hearing James comment.

What is wrong with me? Well then I do really want to ask everyone that what is wrong with them? Why all are blaming Tara? Why not Rehan? Just because he is man and she is woman? If she was wrong then so was Rehan. And in the end if I've forgiven Rehan, why not Tara?

Oh yeah, I forgot that we live in such a society where it is very easy to put every blame on woman and let the story end but what about her? Does anyone try to know the real story behind the façade of her actions? What if there's something more.

There's a different reality of every person and like that who knows there might be different reality of that woman who was called by sick names. But who cares right? Who will waste their time in finding her reality when judging her seems more interesting?

"She's in some cheap club which seems pretty much equal to her character." James voice brought me back to reality and I looked at him and shook my head in irritation.

"Can you take me there?" I asked and they both exchanged a look with each other before nodding reluctantly in agreement.

They both drove me to some club and I quickly went out from the car and walked in front of the entrance. But the second next, the bodyguards asked me to stop.

I sighed and asked James for help. He nodded and said something in the ear of them to which their face drained all colors and they instantly apologized, giving me the permission to go inside.

I looked at Ron in confusion. He smirked and whispered, "Well if you are thinking that how this happened then let me remind you the benefit of being the wife of Mr. Rehan Malhotra."

I smiled at him and quickly went inside. I looked around to found the whole atmosphere full of blasting music and alcohol. I scrunched up my nose a little and stood in the corner, searching for her. Soon my eyes landed on Tara who sat near the counter looking completely wasted. I walked to her.

She was in black short dress, looking pretty as always. Her hairs were slightly messed up and from her facial expression she looked tired and weak.

I pursued my lips and taped lightly on her shoulder. She quickly tilted her head in my direction and then her eyes went bigger in surprise or shock... Well I don't know but most probably in shock.

"M-Mayra?" She shuttered and I nodded after passing a warm smile to her.

She blinked then in a swift moment launched her on me in a tight hug. I bite the corner of my lips and hesitantly wrapped my arms around her.

"S-sorry. Sorry." She shuttered and I found wetness over my shoulder.

Is she crying?

I pulled away from her and after smiling at her, I supported her and took her outside the club near my car.

"Oh come on Mayra now don't tell me that you are planning to take her home. I mean that's ridiculous." I ignored James words and helped her to sit inside the car.

After reaching home, I took her to guest room before muttering thanks to both James and Ron who gave me displeased look in return.

“Take a shower and change into them." I handheld her my clothes with a little smile to which she gave me puzzled look.

"You are doing this for me?" I nodded at her question and sat next to her on the bed.

She knitted her eyebrows then wiped her tears with her perfectly manicured fingers.

"Don't you know everyone calls me slut? And I don't think anyone will treat a person like me this warmly. I mean how you could forget that I was the one with Rehan….” She said, looking at the bed but the guilt and ashamed in her eyes didn't get unnoticed by me.

My heart clenched. "But I never called you bad... Did I?" I asked slowly and she shook her head with tears filled eyes.

I faked a small smile and grabbed her hand.

"That's why I am treating you warmly." I added.

"But even after what I did?"

"Even after what you did." I smiled brightly and that's when her lips curled up little in a weak smile.

"I never wanted to do this. I never wanted to hurt Vishal. I never wanted to become like this. I-I never..." After completing her words she started sobbing.

I wiped her tears away and after taking one deep breath, I asked. "What happened with you?"

Her eyes snapped in my direction and after few seconds her lips moved into a tight smile. Deep inside confusion rushed into my mind. What had happened that she stated masking up with all the actions of being mean and distant?

"I want to sleeeeep." She announced. I laughed at her reaction but from inside my curiosity was eating me alive.

"But I will tell you a secret. Okay? Don't tell anyone about it." She said.

"Okay."

"I love Vishal more than any other thing." My jaw dropped at her words and I blinked few times to process everything.

She loves him then why..?

"Tara what happened with you that you became like this?" I asked.

She looked at me for few seconds and sighed deeply.

"Do you really want to know?" I nodded and that's when she stared at the bed and clutched her fists together.

"Okay then I will tell you everything."