Akshat Immediately left the hallway in tears and fury, piqued by their emotionless tones, leading to an immense and tense uncanny silence pursing in the stifling atmosphere...

"Why are you still here, huh? Pack your stuff and get out of my son's house!!", Juliana abruptly snapped sniveling at Aranya while wiping her tears that started streaming on its own accord when she heard her son's broken tone...

Aranya was still in shock zone after his outburst but instantly after hearing her mother in law's harsh words, she bit her lips in vexation as tears poured down her cheeks. She grimaced hearing her venomous tone and passing juliana a menacing look, she replied almost scoffing "Dear Mother in law, I'm not going anywhere from this house and why should I? I'm your son's wife and this thing only, you've clarified few seconds ago! And as far as your son is concerned, he still loves me because people like you cannot break the eternal bond between me and my husband...He might be angry and broken now because of feeling dejection from the two ladies who were the most important part of his life but mark my words Mrs. Malhotra from the mouth of actual Mrs. Akshat Malhotra that I'll never leave his side, no matter what!! Like he has sacrificed alot to get my love back, similarly I'll use every tactics and strategies to get his love and trust back...despite the fact that his own mother is the snake in the grass who doesn't want to witness her son's happiness!!!",her eyes became red and swollen with tears at the end of her speech while she started heaving heavy breaths...

Juliana's rolled her eyes in exasperation and replied almost gnashing her wild teeth "Enjoy being Mrs. Malhotra because it'll not last for too long. Because this time I believe that my son will definitely get rid of a scrape like you!!", Spitting out her venom, she crawled back to her car and sped off, disappearing from her sight in seconds.

Aranya instantly slumped against the floor sighing while looking out of her entrance with fresh tears welding up in her eyes...After few minutes of puling like a child, she exhaled out a shaky breath and lifting herself from the floor, she walked inside her room.

She instantly dialled Akshat's number but it went busy. She tried again but still there was no response. Sighing she hopped on her bed and slipped under the covers...

In the Evening...

Aranya POV:

Groggily opening my eyes, I looked outside the window to see the beautiful view of the sunset. The sky was painted orange with streaks of radiant sunrays sparkling in the vivid Auburn sky...

"Madam, it's time for your medicines! You haven't eaten pretty much anything since morning. Should I...?",I looked over my door to see the maid standing with a tray of food in her hands. I nodded my head slightly indicating her to come inside.

"Have you seen Sir since breakfast? He hasn't came for the lunch also",she spoke all of a sudden while serving me the chapattis. My inquisitive gaze immediately landed on her face where the wrinkles were looking even more prominent due to our close proximity...

"Um...he might have done lunch in the company! Don't worry!!",I forced a smile while looking down at my food with zero interest. I lost my appetite after the news! Where was this man actually? Fiddling with my spoon, I looked at the maid who was still standing there looking at me with concern in her eyes, looking like a woebegone...

"Y-You can go now! Don't worry...I've called your sir and he told me that he went to one of his friend's house",I fibbed biting my inner cheeks but hearing my lie, her frowned face relaxed a bit and passing me a genuine smile, she walked out.

After gulping down two three chunks, I took the whole food and Stuffing it into a paper bag, I gave it to my maid to feet it to the stray dogs.

At 1:00 pm:

My eyelids started getting weary waiting for my grumpy husband when I got a call from an unknown number. My heart started beating erratically when I heard silence on the other end of the call. Since I was alone in the house so an eerie feeling started surging inside my heart...

"Mrs. Malhotra?",a gruff voice abruptly spoke. I looked at the number again then hummed in response.

"Your husband is lying here drunk in the police station under the charges of beating an innocent person! Please come to receive him immediately if you can!", the anonymous man spoke and hungup the call immediately without letting me speak anything!!

Is it the best way to destroy oneself while destroying the life of someone else indirectly? I closed my eyes to let my tears fall freely down my cheeks. After few seconds, I took my clutch and walked out, locking my penthouse while a cab was waiting by the entrance.

*

*

*

"Hey! Get him out of the lock-up. His wife...is here!!", the inspector spoke while passing me a really irritated look and spoke almost in a rough manner," Look madam, we respect the Malhotra's but if next time, I get any complains of fighting after drinking against him than I'll take action!",he sighed while looking past me. I nodded my head unable to utter a word and as I looked behind me, a gasp escaped my quivering lips...

There stood Akshat with his face all red and swollen and his head was dropping slightly due to excess alcohol in his system. There were several bruises on his cheeks and knuckles, which were completely battered making him look like a pathetic man with his sleeves torn and wrinkled. His state made my eyes teary again. Why're you destroying yourself? You aren't thinking about me a bit that how much I'm suffering to see you in such state? Fighting back my tears, I slowly walked over to his direction and whispered,"Let's go!"

"What are you doing here?? Go back home! It's not safe to be out this late!!",he replied in a bit slurry tone with a frown etched on his face!

"I'm-I'm here to get you! Let's go...",I replied sighing while holding his arms but he instantly jerked my hand away while glaring at me...

"I SAID GET LOST!! I'M NOT COMING WITH YOU!!!"

I flinched at the intensity of his voice. I would probably have gone if I would have not known, how well he can hide emotions...he is broke and he needs my support otherwise he'll end up destroying himself completely!

"Why won't you come,huh? I'm your wife and no husband leaves their wife alone in the house while he himself spending the night in jail!!",I yelled with tears stinging my eyes and I could see his brown orbs softening while he was staring down at me.

"Wife huh? But it was you only who declared that I deceived you by not divorcing you than why're you here? Are you too desperate to d...divorce me now only?",he replied in a cracked voice with the corners of his eyes glistening with tears..."I said go back! Why're you still standing here??"

"Because I love you and I'm still your wife...and I-I will never leave your side until death do us apart!!",I broke into huge tears while uttering the last word but was it my mistake that my heart was still beating for him?

I was immediately crushed against a sturdy chest with two bulky arms draping around my waist possessively while his face was dipped in the crook of my neck with warm tears flowing down on my shoulders...he slowly sniffled my scent and whispered in shaky breath with his warm alcoholic breath fanning on my shoulders,"I...I love you too wifey'! You don't know how much those words mean to me!! You're the queen of my heart...",he gently pecked my tears...Wiping them away with the rough pads of his thumb, he instantly picked me in his giant arms even after my futile protest/attempt to let go of me and walking towards his car, he gently dropped me inside with my face burning in embarrassment...while he was chuckling in amusement!!

Stupid, moron, crybaby, obnoxious, arrogant, grumpy, hulk of a devil husband!!!