I twisted the doorknob and was about to enter the room when I felt someone holding my wrist. I turned back seeing Ezhil and freaking out.

What is he doing here?

"What are you doing here? Let go of my hand!", I said struggling under his hold.

"Nothing. Just came to have a word with you. I really miss you, Thara.. You know how this month without you felt like for me? It felt like hell. we've met after one whole month. Do you have something to tell me or give me?", He asked with a mischievous smile plastered on his face.

"W-What?", I asked confused.

"I terribly missed you, Angel. And, your husband is busy with his side consort. According to him, you're just one woman in his harem..", he said which made sense.

I really feel like one of the woman in his harem..

"I know. I'd felt the same if I married you. Let's not forget the fact that you have 4 concubines.", I spat and he gritted his teeth.

"I don't really care as long as you're with me.", he said smirking.

"What do you mean?", I asked. Now, fear started creeping me.

"Please, Thara.. Just one night.. Or just 2 hours.. I want you to co-operate. Don't make me force you.", He said and my eyes widened.

"No! Leave me!", I screamed at the top of my lungs.

He clamped my mouth with his palm and pushed me inside the room locking the door behind. No no no!

"Please, Ezhil.. Let me go.", I finally begged. I felt warm tears roll down my cheeks. I was scared. Considering the fact that there's no one in the palace, I have no way out.

I started crying loudly realizing that no one can ever come to help me. He slowly started coming closer to me and I started backing off.

He pinned me in the wall hurting both of my wrists tightly my his tight grip. He dug his face into my neck and took a sharp intake. It was disgusting.

I was screaming in the top of my lungs calling everyone's name who I know. I was wishing someone could save me. My throat was hurting but I still kept screaming.

"Please, leave me!", my voice became hoarse as I was screaming my lungs out.

He started kissing my face and his hands ran down my bare waist. I screamed, cried, sobbed and nothing worked.

"You know what? You look breathtaking today. All men's eyes were on you including your husbnd yet I'm going to be the one who's going to have you..", he said and i cried more harder.

Suddenly, there was a knock in the door.

"Are you okay, Princess Thara?", a maid's voice came over from the other side of the door.

"Help me-", before I could finish my sentence, Ezhil clamped my mouth where muffled screams left my mouth.

"You don't want that poor maid to die. Do you?", He threatened me. Definitely I don't want anyone die because of me..

"I recognize that maid's voice. Her name is Vaishnavi. She is just 18. Her father is a patient who can't even walk without help. Her mother ran away with someone else. She have a little brother who is just 5. If I kill her, you know what will happen..", he said and tears flowed freely.

"I know you won't care if I tell you I'm going to kill you. But, I know you're good enough to think about others.. Tell her you're fine.", He whispered against my ear dangerously.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down and decided to tell that I'm okay. But, a part of my mind was yelling to ask help from her.

"I'm OK. I'm just having a headache. Can you just leave me alone?", It was the toughest think I've ever done in my life.

"Good girl", Ezhil said with a smirk.

"Okay, Princess. I'm leaving. Just call me if you want something.", She said and I hummed. I heard footsteps fading away and I broke down.

"Just 2 hours and everything will be over. Just 2 hours. Okay?", He said and threw me on bed. I was crying hardly and trying hard to attack him. He undid one of my blouse hooks and I pushed him in the wall making him groan.

"You're playing hard to get. Aren't you?", He said coming closer to me again. I was a crying mess. He held me tightly and I was squirming under his hold.

"Please let me go..", I begged and he scoffed.

"How desperate you are? I like desperate girls who play hard to get..", he said licking my nape of neck. I can't help but feel disgusted.

"Leave me you bastard!", I yelled.

He slapped me thrice across my face where I lost all my energy. The side of my lip was bleeding. He took something and hit me on my temple which hurt a lot. I felt blood oozing out from that spot.

There was another knock on the door. I wish it's Arjun or Tamizh. Ezhil clamped me mouth making sure I don't make a sound. Muffled screams left my mouth and he started strangling me and none of the sound came from my mouth.

"Thara, why are you screaming?", Arjun's voice came over very concerned. It's obvious that anyone couldn't hear Ezhil's voice. He was calm yet harsh to me.

I was struggling to get breath. I couldn't talk or scream. My hand found its way to the table placed beside the bed. I threw the case on floor making it shatter on the floor.

Ezhil cursed me in some bad words and choke me more harder. I couldn't anymore. Black dots started appear on my eyes. Arjun's voice calling me was heard. But, I couldn't help but give up.

When I was about to close my eyes, a loud thud echoed through the room. Arjun broke the door entering the room. As soon as Arjun entered the room, Ezhil's hand left my neck. I took a sharp intake and started coughing continuously.

Arjun dragged Ezhil from the bed and started beating him up. He kicked him badly and he coughed blood. Soon, some soldiers barged inside the room and dragged him to somewhere.

I could hear him cursing me and Arjun before he got lost. I was about to close my eyes when he patted my cheeks.

"You fine? It's okay. I'll order my soldiers to take the doctor. Keep your eyes open.", He said and I tried hard to. He went to the wardrobe and took a shawl. He covered me in the shawl where I felt safe.

I covered the shawl around me and he made me sit on the bed with my head rested on the headboard. I was still coughing.

"Your forehead is bleeding. I'll dress your wound. Okay?", He asked and I nodded taking some breath which I lacked for a minute.

Meanwhile, I saw Tamizh running into the room with sweat beads in his forehead.

"You're late, man..", Arjun said while taking out something from the medicine kit.

"The soldiers were talking about-", before Tamizh could finish, Arjun spoke up.

"I know. Don't remind her that. Can't you see her condition. Don't talk about that in front of her. We'll talk about it in private.", Arjun said and I stayed silent. His steps halted when he saw my cut on the forehead.

"Don't tell me it needs stitches and you're going to stitch it without painkiller..", I said shaking my head in utter disbelief.

"Seems like it requires some stitches..", he said hesitating to reach the cotton to my forehead. Fear dug through me. Tears formed in my eyes. I can't bear that pain once again..

"N-No. You aren't.. I'd rather stay like this instead of getting stitches.", I said and Tamizh started getting closer to me.

He checked my wound on the forehead.

"It surely needs stitches, Thara. It will not pain.. just lay.", Tamizh said and I shook my head rigorously.

"I'm not going to. The doctor is on the way, right? Then, let he give me some drugs to not feel the pain and then I'll let him stitch my wound.", I said and they exchanged glances.

"There's no such drugs, Thara. Just lay down. It will just take 10 minutes. I swear..", Arjun tried to convince me.

"No. Last time, you said it'd only take 10 minutes and the process lasted till half an hour..", I complained.

"21 minutes. It just took 21 minutes.", He corrected.

"See, the truth came out.", I complained again.

"Just lay, Princess. I swear I'll make sure it doesn't pain. I don't trust anyone when it comes to you and I don't know why. Uh.. sometimes, I even can't trust Tamizh. I often have a thought that he's working for the queen and Aarthi..", he said and we both looked at Tamizh. Tamizh hit Arjun's head playfully.

"What was that? I too had a thought you were working for the empress and Aarthi."

True!

"Well it's not true. It's just that I respect my mother.."

He took out sharp needle and my eyes widened.

"I don't remember saying I'm ready for this.."

"Come on.. you should. You have no other way.", He said and I whined.

"It's gonna be okay. You know, he was trained by a herbal doctor for 2 years for war purposes. When someone got sick or hurt in the middle of the desert, he was the one who cures them. He's good at this.", Tamizh said.

"If he's good at this, why does he want to call the doctor?", I asked and he chuckled.

"It's been 5 years since he was trained. He doesn't clearly remember the herbs names. He only does stitching and operating right now.", Tamizh said. When he mentioned operation, I imagined how worse it'd be without painkillers or Anesthesia..

I'd rather die instead of getting operated.

"Now, you're going to get stitched. I'll make sure it doesn't hurt. I assure you it doesn't even hurt. Just clutch me or the bed sheet tightly."

"Okay..", I accepted without any choice.

"Please finish it before I die in pain.", I requested and he chuckled nodding.

The first stitch was like hell. I screamed. I clutched his fabric tightly with my eyes tightly shut. Tamizh was brushing my hair.

Tamizh was saying soothing words which did help a little. Arjun was muttering some dirty words which did it's great job in distracting my mind.

After painful 30 minutes, it was finally over. The pain was still there and was unbearable. I closed my eyes tightly and a tear slipped from my eye.

My eyes lost a lot of tears today..

In the meantime, the old herbal doctor entered the room and bowed us. He started checking my wounds and bruised lips and gave some ointments.

"Princess should have a herbal tincture to prevent infection on her stitched wound. And, she should apply turmeric on the wounded area.", he said and it sucked.

The doctor left after suggesting more herbs that are available in the garden itself.

I positioned myself in sitting position as the soldiers exited the room leaving me, Arjun and Tamizh alone in the room.

I took deep breathes and tried not to think what happened before few minutes.

"What about your reception?", I asked remembering.

"It's over before an hour.."

"Can I ask you something?", I asked and he nodded.

"You arranged reception for your wedding with Aarthi. But, you didn't arrange for our wedding. I feel jealous..", I opened up.

"Mother wants me to have a reception with her favorite daughter-in-law. I don't want it. But, I cant disobey my mother.. She's my mother after all."

"Who's your favorite?", I asked and Tamizh and Arjun exchanged glances. Tamizh glared at him dangerously like he's going to kill him the next second if he don't tell it's me.

He chuckled and said, "You've been my favorite since my childhood." I smiled. Tamizh slowly got out of the room awkwardly giving some space to us.

"I hate the fact that I'm sharing you among multiple woman..", I said what was in my mind since our marriage. I mainly hate that all of his wives are bitchy.

"You're my main consort and my only queen I have. You know what? No one can replace you.. You have a special place in my mind."

"Then why did you ignore me two days?"

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