(Now)
A sudden grip tightened around my neck. His eyes burned with rage — wild, dark, and terrifying. My gasp barely left my throat before he pinned me down on the bed, his hand pressing hard, stealing every breath from me. I clawed at his arm, struggling, but his grip was too strong, too wild, too merciless.
"What are you going to do?" he growled, leaning close, his voice dangerously low. For the first time in my life, I saw a side of Vaishank I never knew existed — cold, furious, and monstrous.
I gasped for air, my voice shaking. "Yes, I have a relationship with Lora… so what?"
His words struck harder than any slap. My ears went silent, my mind frozen. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs; my chest tightened as tears blurred my vision. I couldn't breathe. Desperate, I reached out, my trembling hand searching blindly across the bed. My fingers brushed the cold surface of my phone. I grabbed it — and with all my strength, I swung it at his head.
The impact made him grunt, his grip loosening. I shoved him away and scrambled off the bed. My lungs burned as I ran out of the room, down the hallway, and out of the house.
Behind me, his voice thundered through the night.
"Amrita!"
That single word — my name — came out as a growl.
The lift felt miles away. I didn't wait. I bolted down the stairs, my bare feet slapping against the marble steps. The whole condominium was silent — unnaturally silent — the kind that made even your heartbeat sound too loud. I burst through the exit door and onto the road, my breath fogging in the cold air.
I ran. Faster and faster. The streetlights flickered dimly, casting eerie shadows that danced along the empty road. My pulse roared in my ears as I looked back — Vaishank was there, chasing me. His figure moved like a predator who had found his prey. If I stopped, even for a second, I knew he'd kill me.
He grabbed a rock from the roadside and threw it. It missed, clattering against the pavement, but I didn't dare look back again. My lungs screamed for air. My legs felt heavy like chains were tied around them, but I pushed harder, desperate for escape.
"Please… please pick up…" I whispered breathlessly, calling Sudesh. The ringing tone was my only reply. No answer.
"Amrita! Stop! We can talk!" Vaishank's voice echoed behind me.
I turned my head for a split second — and that's when my foot slipped. My body crashed to the ground, pain shooting through me. The taste of blood filled my mouth. Before I could move, he was already there.
"Aren't you going to listen to me, huh?" he snarled. His fingers twisted in my hair, yanking me up so hard my scalp burned. My body slammed against the road again — every inch of me stung.
"Let me go!" I screamed.
He ignored me, tightening his grip. "Help!" I cried again, but his hand clamped over my mouth, silencing me. He pressed me against his chest, his breath ragged against my ear.
It was hell. The man I once loved — the one who'd held me gently, whispered promises to me — was now the monster trying to destroy me. My tears blurred my sight. I had spent my life loving him, giving everything I had, and now he was ready to end me — for that woman. That stupid, meaningless affair.
His hand pressed harder over my mouth. I could barely breathe.
"Listen," he hissed, voice trembling with fury, "just be a good girl and die quietly. Don't make a scene."
His breath brushed my ear — warm, heavy — the same breath that once made me feel safe now made my skin crawl.
He dragged me backward, his arm locked around me. My head spun; my body throbbed. Then I saw it — a wooden log lying nearby. Without thinking, I grabbed it and swung with every ounce of strength left in me.
The log struck his head with a sickening thud. He staggered, eyes wide. Before he could recover, I hit him again.
"You bastard!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face.
He stumbled back, losing balance. I shoved him hard, and he fell to the road. I dropped onto him, fists shaking, punching his head over and over as my sobs broke out uncontrollably.
"Why did you pretend to love me?" I cried, grabbing his collar. "All those nights, all that trust… was it just lust?"
He coughed, too dizzy to answer.
When he tried to grab my wrist, I hit him again — one final time. My hand brushed his pocket, and I saw the car key. I snatched it, got to my feet, and ran — my heart racing faster than my steps.
I reached the parking lot, jumped into his red car, and started the engine. My hands trembled violently; sweat slid down my temples, but I gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"I have to meet Sudesh," I whispered to myself, voice shaking.
As I sped through the dark streets, headlights blurred against my tears. And then — a sudden crash.
A car slammed into mine, spinning it violently. My head hit the seat as I looked up — the opposite car was yellow. My blood froze. Through the cracked windshield, I saw him.
Vaishank.
His furious eyes locked on mine.
Panic surged. I slammed the car into reverse, tires screeching. His car charged forward at full speed. I yanked the wheel, making a sharp U-turn, and pressed the accelerator.
The tires screamed against the road as he chased me — his headlights blinding in the rearview mirror, getting closer… closer…