Inseparable Souls

Chapter 5

At first, Shree was bewildered by the sight of Abhimanyu naked with another woman. As their intimate actions unfolded, clarity washed over her, leaving her feeling ashamed. Rather than anger or jealousy over her husband’s betrayal, she felt disrespected, knowing he had violated their sacred wedding vows.

Abhimanyu and his family seemed determined to humiliate her, and the sounds of the couple's shameless moans echoed through the walls, oblivious to the possibility of being overheard. Shree leaned against the wall, waiting for their encounter to end.

“What are you doing outside the room?” Kalindi spotted Shree as she attempted to retreat to her own space.

Shree shook her head in shame, at a loss for words as Kalindi heard the moans coming from within. “What are you waiting for? Your presence will ruin Abhimanyu's joy,” Kalindi remarked nonchalantly.

“It’s not fair! He’s dishonoring our vows,” Shree murmured.

“He had no choice! If his wife can’t meet his needs, he must seek other women. Kings have always had mistresses, even with multiple wives. Don’t make a fuss about it!” Kalindi replied without a hint of shame.

“You royals are heartless! You only care about your status and reputation!” Shree exclaimed, overwhelmed, before fleeing the suffocating palace.

“Guards, close the main gate! She must not leave the palace,” Kalindi commanded.

Meanwhile, Shree ran wildly, not daring to look back at the place that felt like a prison. Her scarf slipped from her head, her hair cascading down her back, creating a striking yet disheveled image.

As she neared the massive gate, she saw it beginning to close and sprinted forward, but she was too late.

“Open the door! I want to leave! Please!” Shree pleaded desperately.

The guards shook their heads, powerless against Kalindi’s orders.

“Please! Let me out! This place is terrifying, and I can’t survive here. I want to go home!” Shree cried, collapsing to her knees.

“What’s wrong, Shree?” Abhivayakt asked with concern, kneeling beside her to help her up.

“Abhivayakt ji! I want to leave this place! I can’t stay here. Please, tell them to open the gate. I want to go home!” Shree sobbed.

“Shhh, it’s okay. I’ll make sure you get home. Don’t cry,” Abhivayakt comforted her gently.

“No! I want to go back now! I need to see my father!” Shree insisted stubbornly.

“Alright, I’ll take you there. Just stop crying,” Abhivayakt said, wiping her tears.

“She’s not going anywhere!” Kalindi declared firmly.

Fearful, Shree hid behind Abhivayakt, clutching his shirt tightly.

“Daai, she misses her home. Let her go back for a few days,” Abhivayakt pleaded.

“Since the day she married, this palace is her home. She must forget her old life. Only her corpse will leave this palace,” Kalindi replied sternly.

“Daai maa! Please understand. She’s young and naive; it’s not easy for her to forget the home where she grew up. It will take time, and we need to be patient with her,” Abhivayakt urged, trying to reason with her.

"It's not a big deal. I was only fourteen when I got married and worked for the queen. If I could do it, why can't she?" Kalindi said dismissively.

"But Daai maa..." Before Abhivayakt could continue, Kalindi raised her hand, signaling him to be quiet.

"How many times do I have to remind you to mind your own business?" Kalindi said mockingly.

"Why are you being so harsh on her?" Abhivayakt asked.

"I'm just teaching her a lesson," Kalindi replied bluntly.

"This isn't the right way to do it," Abhivayakt said firmly.

"Oh, so the son of a mistress is going to teach me the proper way, huh?" Kalindi mocked.

"You're crossing the line," Abhivayakt said through gritted teeth.

"No, I'm just reminding you of yours," Kalindi retorted.

"Abhi, stop arguing with Daai maa over something so trivial," Madhurima interjected, stepping between them.

"Daai maa, if anyone else were in your position, I would have buried them six feet under," Abhivayakt warned.

"You've grown into quite a rebel for this girl! Do you feel something for her or...?" Kalindi taunted, glaring at Shree from head to toe.

"Don't talk about him like that; he's a good man. Our relationship is pure!" Shree protested, determined to defend Abhivayakt's honor.

"Finally, you show concern for someone living here," Kalindi said sarcastically.

"He is a good man; please don’t scold him," Shree insisted.

"Then tell him to stop meddling in your affairs," Kalindi ordered.

"That's enough! Shree, come with me. I’ll take you home, and no one will stop me," Abhivayakt challenged, gripping Shree's hand tightly.

Madhurima clenched her fists, struggling to suppress her jealousy.

"You want to leave? Go ahead, but don’t forget your father sold you to Abhimanyu. You’re his property. He’ll decide what happens next. Without his permission, you can't leave, or your father will rot in jail for breaking the contract," Kalindi warned.

The ground seemed to disappear beneath Shree as the harsh reality hit her. How could she forget that she was sold like an object? She had no rights of her own.

"Don't listen to her, Shree. Your father is greedy; let him rot in jail," Abhivayakt said, trying to pull her away. Shree jerked her hand back and said, "I’m sorry, Abhivayakt ji, I can’t go back." She clasped her hands in front of him.

"Don’t sacrifice yourself for your father; he deserves this. It’s outrageous to sell his daughter," Abhivayakt insisted.

"But he is my father. Even if he isn’t a good one, I can’t be an unfilial daughter. He’s my only family. I can’t let him be humiliated, even if it means I have to suffer," Shree cried.

"Abhi, don’t be foolish. Don’t fall for her fake tears. You’re picking a fight with your own family over her. It won’t end well," Madhurima tried to reason with him.

"She’s right! She’s not as naive as she pretends to be. Looks can be deceiving," Kalindi added in agreement with Madhurima.

Ignoring their warnings, Abhivayakt turned to Shree. "Come with me! No one will let you come to harm," he assured her.

Kalindi shot a warning glare at Shree. Nervously biting her lip, Shree replied, "Abhivayakt ji, this is my issue. Please don’t interfere! Your involvement will only create chaos between my husband and me."

Shree's response hit Abhivayakt like a slap, and he realized that to her, he was just a stranger.

"Alright then, I won't interfere any longer. Best of luck," Abhivayakt said calmly as he walked away.

Shree was left feeling sorrowful for hurting the one person who had treated her with kindness for the first time in her life. "I'm sorry, Abhivayakt ji! Please forgive me," she whispered.

"Now that Abhivayakt is no longer concerned about you, stop playing the victim," Madhurima spat at Shree.

"Don't worry! I’ll make sure she learns her lesson," Kalindi said with a sinister grin.

"I hope you won’t let me down," Madhurima replied before departing.

"You wanted to escape, huh? I’ll break your legs," Kalindi said as she slapped Shree hard.

Meanwhile, Abhimanyu had just stepped outside. Upon seeing Shree on the ground, her clothes disheveled and revealing, his anger flared. "What’s happening here?" he gritted through his teeth.

"Your wife was trying to flee the palace! Abhimanyu, she’s becoming quite bold," Kalindi complained.

"You ungrateful wretch! It seems I’ve given you too much freedom," Abhimanyu roared, and as he moved to strike Shree, Kalindi intervened. "Use whatever method you want to make her obedient, but do it within the confines of your room. Don’t forget who you are."

Understanding her implication, Abhimanyu seized Shree’s arm and dragged her to her room.

"Let me go! I won’t do it again, I promise!" Shree pleaded for mercy, but Abhimanyu ignored her cries.

Abhivayakt emerged from his room upon hearing Shree’s screams. Just as he was about to help her, Madhurima pulled him back. "Don’t! This is their matter." Defeated, Abhivayakt left the palace to vent his frustration.

Abhimanyu pushed Shree into the room and locked the door. "You wanted to run away, huh? I’ll show you what happens when you defy me," he said, pulling out a thick rod and gripping Shree's leg. "Your legs work well, don’t they? I promise you won’t walk properly after tonight."

"No, please! I beg you. Don’t do this. It was foolish of me," Shree pleaded, her hands clasped in front of him.

"How dare you run outside without shame?" Abhimanyu bellowed as he struck her leg with the rod.

"Ahhh! Please... leave me alone!" Shree's agonizing screams reverberated throughout the palace. She felt as if her bones were shattering, but Abhimanyu continued to beat her legs relentlessly until blood began to seep from her wounds.

"You filthy w***e! You think you can escape me?" Abhimanyu shouted, stuffing a piece of cloth into her mouth to muffle her cries.

The poor girl could no longer feel her legs, her screams gradually fading into silence as darkness enveloped her.

"Mother...," Shree gasped, desperately trying to hold on.

The palace echoed with her cries, yet no one dared to intervene. Today, Shree witnessed the brutal face of cruelty. It was her fate—her father had sold her as if she were an object, and to Abhimanyu, she was merely a creature to be trained like a performer in a circus.

Abhimanyu finally paused, exhaustion settling in. He glanced at Shree, who lay semi-conscious and drenched in blood and felt a twisted sense of pride in his handiwork. "Maybe you've learned your lesson," he said before leaving the room.

"Kanhna! {Lord Krishna}, save me!" Shree whispered one last time before succumbing to darkness.

---

When Abhimanyu exited, Kalindi entered the room. Upon seeing Shree's bloodied legs, fear gripped her. "Call a doctor! We can't let her die; she’ll only cause trouble for Abhimanyu. What kind of bad omen is this? In less than a day, she’s already caused chaos in the palace," Kalindi cursed.

Moments later, a female doctor arrived to examine Shree. "When will she wake up?" Kalindi inquired.

"What kind of monster beat her so brutally?" the doctor asked, her voice laced with anger.

"That's none of your concern; just do your job," Kalindi snapped.

"Oh, so this is a case of domestic violence," the doctor remarked.

"Just tell me how much you need to treat her," Kalindi insisted.

"Her skin is torn, and I can stitch it, but she must not walk for two weeks, or her wounds won’t heal properly. Fortunately, her muscles weren’t damaged; otherwise, we would have had to admit her to the hospital," the doctor advised.

"I’ll make sure of it!" Kalindi said, handing over a bundle of cash, and the doctor proceeded with her work.

---

When Abhivayakt returned home, he collided with a woman in a white coat.

"I’m sorry," the doctor said as she moved to leave, but Abhivayakt's concern deepened.

"Is my brother alright?" he asked Kalindi.

"Yes, don’t worry; she didn’t come for Abhimanyu," Kalindi replied.

"Then for whom?" Abhivayakt pressed.

"It’s Shree! After you left, Father punished her severely. She was beaten so badly that she required stitches on both legs. The doctor has ordered that she not walk for at least two weeks," Nandini informed him.

"What? How could my brother be so inhumane to that innocent girl? It’s disgusting!" Abhivayakt cursed.

"He is her husband; she needed to be punished for her reckless behavior. What he did was right; it’s a husband’s duty to ensure his wife is obedient," Kalindi argued shamelessly.

"She is not an animal!" Abhivayakt retorted, his anger flaring.

"Uncle, she cried for mercy, yet no one tried to save her from Father’s wrath. He beat her until she lost consciousness, leaving her covered in blood," Nandini sniffled.

"The people living here are heartless monsters," Abhivayakt seethed, striding toward Shree's room.

Upon entering, he found Shree lying unconscious on the bed, her bandaged legs and tear-stained face a heartbreaking sight. It felt as if a knife had pierced his heart. He was filled with sorrow for her suffering. "Why didn’t you come with me when I tried to help? Look what they’ve done to you," he murmured, remorse washing over him.

He sat beside her and gently wiped her tear-streaked face with a damp cloth. "You are a precious gem, yet they never valued you. If I had found you sooner, I would have taken you with me and cherished you for the rest of your life," Abhivayakt confessed softly.

"No! Please, don’t hit me... it hurts... stop... I beg you..." Shree mumbled in her sleep.

"Ssshhh! No one will hurt you. Shree, I’m here," Abhivayakt whispered soothingly, gently stroking her hair.

His touch brought her some peace. He held her hand tightly and sighed, "I wish you were mine."

Throughout the night, Abhivayakt remained by her side, waking up whenever she stirred, ready to help if she needed anything or if she felt unwell.

As the morning light filtered softly through her eyelids, Shree groaned, feeling a sharp pain.

"Be careful, Shree! Let me help you," Abhivayakt said in a panic, adjusting her position.

"Water," she requested weakly.

Abhivayakt poured a glass of water and handed it to her. "How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

"Disgusted! I hate myself," Shree snapped.

"Don’t say that!" Abhivayakt murmured.

Tears welled in Shree’s eyes, and she suddenly hugged Abhivayakt, crying in his arms like a child.

"Why am I so weak? Why can’t I fight for myself? When will this all end?" she sobbed.

Abhivayakt held her tightly, whispering, "Ssshh! You’re not weak! You’re the strongest girl I know! Soon, everything will be okay. Don’t worry." He rubbed her back soothingly.

Shree cried in his embrace until her sobs subsided. For the first time in years, she had someone to share her pain with. Abhivayakt’s touch felt like medicine for her wounds.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted them. "So this is what’s happening between you two behind my back?"

Shree and Abhivayakt pulled away from each other abruptly, and Abhivayakt stood up from the bed. "Brother, it’s not what you think," he tried to explain.

"Then what does this mean? My brother is in my room with my wife? Explain what’s going on!" Abhimanyu shouted.

"Please, brother, listen! I stayed with Shree because she was seriously injured, and no one else was here to help her," Abhivayakt pleaded.

"Get out of here!" Abhimanyu roared.

"Don’t leave me alone!" Shree cried, gripping Abhivayakt’s hand tightly.

Abhimanyu glared at Shree furiously before telling Abhivayakt to leave. "Shree, don’t worry. I’ll be right outside. If you feel scared, just call for me," Abhivayakt reassured her.

"Promise?" Shree asked, her voice trembling.

"Promise! No one will hurt you," Abhivayakt assured her before leaving the room.

Once Abhivayakt was gone, Abhimanyu turned to Shree. "What were you doing with him?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing.

Shree closed her eyes, gripping the sheets tightly. "You’re wrong; it’s only been a day, and you think I’ve already...?" Abhimanyu’s voice was filled with rage as he yanked her hair.

"I’m sorry! I didn’t do anything! I don’t even know when he came into my room. Please, just let me be," Shree begged.

"Stop lying!" Abhimanyu shouted.

"I’m not lying! I was unconscious after you left. I have no idea," Shree cried.

Her response seemed to satisfy Abhimanyu a little. He released her hair and gently caressed her face. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

Shree sniffed and shook her head. "I want an answer!" Abhimanyu insisted.

"Good..." Shree replied curtly.

"I don’t want to hurt you. You shouldn’t act so recklessly. Everything I do is for your good," Abhimanyu said, cupping her cheeks.

"You beat me like I’m some kind of animal," Shree complained.

"Stop whining like a child," Abhimanyu scolded.

"I need to use the washroom. Please send someone to assist me," Shree requested.

Abhimanyu called one of his maids, then stepped out to address Abhivayakt and resolve the misunderstanding.

"Abhivayakt, we need to talk!" he said.

"What is it?" Abhimanyu replied.

"You need to let Shree go; free her from your control. She spends every moment with you, and you can find much better women than her. Set her free," Abhivayakt pleaded.

"Abhivayakt? Do you have any idea what you're saying?" Abhimanyu retorted.

"I do, and your actions yesterday proved that you're not the right person for Shree. How could you be so heartless? Her only crime was wanting to return home, and yet you... it pains me to even say it. You did it with no trace of remorse," Abhivayakt stated, disappointment evident on his face.

"What I did was justified! You have no right to tell me what to do," Abhimanyu shot back.

"Brother, divorce her! I will cover the amount her father took from you," Abhivayakt said calmly.

"So you can be with her, right? Daai maa was right; you have your scheming eyes on your sister-in-law. How immoral can you be? Just as my mother stole my father from my mother, you're trying to take something that's mine. It seems both mother and son have a knack for coveting what belongs to others," Abhimanyu taunted.