Page 21 of The Unwanted Husband
“Stop.” She was livid.
He stopped short in response to her mini outburst but did not turn to face her. She placed her laptop on the chair next to her and walked over to where he stood. The breeze was cool but she was burning in anger and nothing could cool her down.
“Do you not have any empathy?” She met his eyes in the dim light. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know what’s happening with me.”
Nothing shifted in his eyes but she went on. “I don’t know what I’m even feeling. I only have bad things associated with this place and I’m trying to get out of here as soon as I can.”
“Then. Let me plan the celebration,” his voice mellow he added, “This will be an opportunity for me to invite my family in hopes of reconnecting with them.”
“Don’t twist this around. Someone who didn’t show up to catch the final sight of their daughter, why would they come to this party?”
Something shifted in him and the look in his eyes, she thought he was going to explode. But he stayed rooted to his spot. A moment passed and she could feel his anger and it made a chill run down her spine.
“Unlike you, I don’t dwell in the past. I will do what it takes to make the future better.” She could see the clench in his jaw even as he spoke. “All you do is play the victim card all day. The only way out of trauma is to face it. I will tell you what I told you weeks ago. Do something about what caused you trauma and stop—”
She had heard enough. She raised her hand and swiped it across his cheek. She felt the burn on her hand from clashing with his cheek before she felt his grip on her wrist.
“Grow up, Monisha.”
She fought back tears. Everything about what he said, the way he said it, including using her official name, annoyed her. “I hate you.”
He let her wrist go, pushing her arm away. “I don’t give a fuck what you think of me. I’m going through with this plan. I can’t sit around doing nothing like you.”
“How dare you,” she said, lifting her hand again, to express her anger.
But this time, he caught her wrist in a vice-like grip.
“I chose to let you lash out at me once.” He leaned closer, too close. His breath warm on her face, he added, “Out of courtesy to my best friend, don’t push your luck.”
“I hate you.” She could think of nothing else to say.
“Like I said, I give a crap.”
She didn’t realize it wasn’t just her wrist he held, he had her in a vice-like grip. “Let me go.”
He slightly tightened his hold on her wrist. “For raising your hand at me, not once but twice, I deserve this attention.”
Isha tried to wiggle out of his hold but could not. She had never been in such a situation. Someone intimidating her with their presence, and holding her in a restrictive position. And she wasn’t going to take it lying down even if she was the one who instigated him.
“Let me go.”
He didn’t respond nor did he move.
Impatience got the better of her and she moved swiftly, stepping on his foot in a swift move, fully expecting him to let go of her but he only let out a groan, tightening the hold on her further.
Frustrated that her defense training did not work, she threw her head back to look up into his now raging eyes. But he still did not show any indication of softening.
“Fine, I’ll talk, if you get out of my space.” She had to get him away from her and stop intimidating her.
He let go and she rubbed her wrist, standing a foot away from him, locked in a death gaze. She hated his guts but something else was looming in the air. Like she needed to make a point, she tilted her chin up. “I will not let you bully me into this. If you want to host a celebration, do it. I’m in no position to play host and pretend like nothing happened.”
She barely turned away from him and the next moment, she swiveled back into his arms. Her chest crashed into his and this time she was so much closer to him. Her hands were held behind her, her wrists pressed together.
“You think this is funny?” He growled.
Overcome by new levels of anger and her need to challenge him only grew. “What the heck do you think you’re doing?”
His eyes narrowed at her like he was trying to scare her and that did it. She wasn’t interested in fighting her way out of his grasp. She was going to make him let her go. With that thought, she pushed her heels off the ground and went up on her toes.
