FORTUNATE BRIDE?

/6/ COMPLICATED MAN

DISCLAIMER:- Do not read this chapter if you're a minor. 

He beamed to see Niti on the damp floor shivering in the fetus position. He discarded the bathing robe off her body and carried her entirely exposed body over to the bed in his arms. 

Subsequently, he wrapped her with the comforter and sat beside her. Watching her tremble and letting her keep her eyes closed, he brought his face closer to hers. 

She maintained keeping her eyes shut while mumbling, "No no… Xander! This isn't right."

Niti’s eyes were inoculated with panic. According to Xander, he was trying to be affectionate towards her, but she failed to acknowledge his tender sentiments. 

So, he grabbed her jaw and explained to her, “The very first thing that you need to understand about your husband is that I don’t ‘forgive’. There’s always punishment waiting for those who relinquish the regulations. Since this was your first time, I let you off the hook easily.”  

He then touched her cheeks as he affirmed, “Now, you get some rest while I go downstairs for breakfast. I can't stay beside you as I have to take care of a small business now." 

Niti was scared for her life. That was the reason why she avoided looking at him through the whole conversation. As soon as he withdrew, she whispered, “Help me, Dear God!” 

To see her being chilled to her bones, Xander was more than pleased with the outcome of his punishment. As he left the premises, Niti peeked at her jewellery from the other night which was laid on the dresser and remembered all the vows that she had taken on the day of her wedding. 

An unbearable whimper escaped her mouth as she recollected the very juncture when he had asserted in front of the Nun Lorraine, 'I love Niti.' 

As she strutted up, she realised all that had been told by her mother when she was an infant: 'Dear daughter, I hope you could learn well from me and all the women that you will meet in your life. Our tradition vouches for the fact that when a woman gets wedded to a man, she is thereby responsible for making sure her husband's happiness is sustained throughout their marriage. I expect just that from my daughter.'

The distorted fragments of memory that she had of her mother were always concerned with how to become the perfect wife. Aaradhya poked her head with her index finger as she attempted to persuade herself, "It was my shortcoming. I have not been performing my duties as his wife well. I should have woken up earlier than him, and bathed. This is all my fault. I should probably go to him and apologise for my misdeeds." 

As she tried to stand, a biting sensation made her approximately lose her balance. Nonetheless, while having the comforter wrapped over her body, she went towards the cupboard and grabbed a set of clothes. 

She cupped her breast inside a lacy bra and wore a set of pretty thongs. Thereupon, she grabbed a pretty white coloured sundress. The sundress was beautified with the striking print of elegant lily flowers. 

She grabbed a set of earrings from the drawer of the dressing table, and said while looking at herself in the mirror, "I think I can make up with him after all. He's my husband… and the man I love. I can get through this." 

After getting dressed, Niti waddled over to the kitchen while limping. 

Inside the kitchen, the housemaid, Rakul was inundated in washing the dishes. She approached the elder lady and asked, "Where is Xander?" 

The lady responded in a precarious voice, "He is a bit occupied at the moment with something urgent. He instructed me not to tell you about his whereabouts." 

"Is he in the house, though?" Niti asked persistently, "I urgently need to see him." 

The old lady shook her head and spoke, "It's friendly advice that I am offering you now. Since I'm like your mother, I wouldn't want what's bad for you. So, please don't look for him at the moment." 

Aaradhya reckoned hard over the senior woman's indication and agreed on walking back to her bedroom. As she made a step to the stairs, she heard a loud wave of laughter coming from the backyard. 

"What's this? Is this Xander? … hope not," She followed the trail of the sound, and observed from behind the glass door. Xander was standing alone with a hen sitting on the old wooden table. 

"Pucker, you have been a great pal to me for some time now," Xander spoke his mind as he looked at the shivering bird. 

He prayed, thanked the Lord for this provision, and hung Pucker, the hen upside down in an orange cone. 

The sight wasn't gruesome enough to have Niti turn away — nothing worse than a few of the movies she had, unfortunately, seen. He began to pluck the feathers of the bird, and then, brought out a sharp knife and stuck it on its neck with the same. 

With a swift movement, his head was removed. While the blood fell into a bucket, the man dipped his fingers into it as he said with a smile, "After decapitation you, my pal, I realized, we all are nothing but meat, blood and bones."

Niti brought her trembling hands over to her mouth as she wept for the life of the poor bird. While clenching the dress near her chest, Niti vented, "How could he do that? That's inhumane!" 

Pucker, the hen shook a bit, bled out, and was still. Niti cried while Xander thanked God for Pucker's life. Niti's tears washed away and he plucked the feathers after the scalding. 

"I had imagined it to be a laborious process — one “tweezer pick” at a time — but it was done in a flash. Less than ten minutes and my fluffy Wyandotte is bald from toe to comb," Xander enunciated with a grin evident on his face. 

He then slit opened his gallbladder accidentally while cleaning him out, but then he flushed the black goo out immediately and it did not leave a stain. Later, he removed the heart, lungs, head, feet, and a few other necessities.

As she was about to leave appalled by the scenario, an anonymous hand grabbed her arm. It was Rakul. Niti let out a simper as she was taken in by surprise. 

Since Niti made the commotion, Xander, unfortunately, heard her cry. He turned around to look at her while she ran away to see him bathed in the blood of his chicken buddy. 

Rakul followed Niti to her room. Niti was undoubtedly spooked of Xander now. When Rakul reached Niti's room, she observed her lying on the bed on her stomach and sobbing. The poor old lady sat beside her and caressed her shoulder as she implied, "That's why I told you not to look for him, or approach him." 

Niti faced the aged woman and piped up, "H… He was butchering it… so inhumanely! I'm scared." 

The old lady stroked her head and responded, "Dear, he loves rearing and butchering them. He had been doing it since he was twelve. He said it helps in relieving stress. Moreover, that chicken will be today's dinner. That's why he was doing it."

Niti became quiet and regretted not thinking enough about her decision to marry Xander. She, nevertheless, wiped her tears and asked, "Could you please lend me your phone? I need to talk to a very important person." The old lady sympathized with the poor girl and lent the phone over to her. 

She dialled the head nun, Lorraine's number. The number was turned off. She looked at the old lady and spoke up, "W… Why? Her phone is never turned off." 

Niti then dialled Joanne's number and crossed her fingers as she prayed to the lord for him to pick up the phone. Joanne, fortunately, picked up the phone but responded in a coarse tone, "What are you calling for now? It has been a whole day, and you don't even care to call once." 

Niti was deeply wounded by his words as she spoke up, "I'm sorry that I had to trouble you in this manner. But, it's just that I was a bit occupied with something. Please forgive me." 

The guy was still not convinced and asked, "So, what do you want now?" 

Niti couldn't believe her ears while a tear simmered down her cheek as she spoke, "I… ugh… just wanted to talk to Miss Lorraine. That's all." 

At first, she did not get a response, and then Joanne disconnected the call. 

Niti handed over the phone back to the old lady as she struggled to speak, "W… what did I do? Why do I feel like he hates me now?" 

The old lady caressed her head as she spoke, "There must be a misunderstanding." 

Niti was disturbed with the happenings of the whole day, "I need to go to the orphanage to see if everything's okay. I am genuinely worried." 

The old lady stroked her cheeks and advised "You should ask Xander. He is the only person in this household who can permit you to do so." 

Niti shook her head as she expressed her anxiety, "He was already furious at me for my raucous behaviour in the morning. He definitely won't even look at my face for what I did just a few moments ago " 

The old lady shrugged her shoulders, and Niti spoke out, "He is still scrubbing his hands, right? … I think I have an idea." 

The old lady's gaze trailed Niti who went towards the key hanger and grabbed the keys to Xander's Benz. As she ran out of the room with worried eyes, she assured the old lady by saying, "I will discuss this with Xander later. First, I need to visit the orphanage." 

The old lady attempted to prevent her from leaving but it was too late. 

She could only let out a soft cry, "Don't do that, my child Niti. You don't know his inner demons."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Please add this book to your library. I would like to apologize for the delay in updates.

Thank you.