Isha returned in the evening at her usual time but surprisingly, she saw her husband who would be in his home office at this time usually, sitting in the hall in his royal throne chair, opposite him sat an old man, she could say with the white hair on his head...

She is confused about whether to greet her husband, who is the king... Normally, it's the rule that if someone enters the palace and sees the king, they greet him by bowing their head and then carry forward with the work, but now, he is in a meeting and so she is wondering what to do while walking inside but suddenly she heard the old man's voice which halted her steps... 

"Your highness, you are my last hope, day by day, Bhupinder's atrocities are increasing, he harasses the girl students, and female teachers, beats the boys, and won't let the students and teachers enter the school", said the old man, keeping his head down in king's respect

"From when is this happening ??", Abhyansh asked in his usual cold tone

"from the past one month Maharaj", the old man said

"And you are coming to me now ??", Abhyansh asked sternly, the old man who is the head teacher of the school shivered at his tone, he knew he should have come there earlier as their king never wanted his people to suffer and who makes them suffer will see his BEASTly form... "Anyways... I'll look into it, Is everything else fine at the school ?? Do the caterers supply good meals now ??", Abhyansh asked 

"Yes Maharaj, after you talked to the caterers, they are now, supplying very good food for the students, the food quality is so good that even teaching and non-teaching staff is having food at the school only...", the old man said, Isha who is hearing the conversation, now remembered who he is...

He is her teacher, who used to come in the evening every day and home-school her... He taught her till her 12th along with 6 other teachers... She wanted to go and greet him, but what if he told her about her home-schooling to Abhyansh, would her husband use it against her ?? Moreover, she doesn't want her husband to know about her personal matters, she wanted to keep it low for now, and that's the reason she asked Avyan to not say about it to anyone...

She decided to walk inside calmly, she felt bad for not greeting her teacher who she respects a lot but she had to do it... But as the universe is against her... the old man who saw her walking inside recognized her...

"Isha ??", the old teacher Vijayender, called adjusting his spectacles, to see if he is right... 

Isha's steps halted, she cursed her fate, before turning to face her beloved teacher who she is reluctant to meet, a minute ago...

Abhyansh frowned, how did the government school teacher know Isha ?? Abhyansh always thought Isha to be graduated from the best schools and colleges, but he never tried to find out where she actually studied, now that he thinks of it, it's annoying not to know about his wife's basic details... He immediately decided to find all the details about his wife, he messaged his trusted men and asked for the report till the EOD, he wanted to give them enough time so that there won't be any discrepancies in the report that has details about his wife...

"Sir...", Isha walked towards the old man and bent to touch his feet but stopped her actions hearing the king...

"What do you think you are doing ??", Abhyansh asked with a frown, his voice colder than usual indicating his displeasure, his wife is a queen, she can't touch the old man's feet...

"Maharaj... he...  he is my teacher... so I was just taking his blessings...", Isha answered fumbling, looking at her husband's anger...

Abhyansh didn't say anything and Isha's teacher didn't understand anything, what is Isha doing here ??

"Isha ?? Beta, what are you doing here ?? You escaped Rajput palace ??", Vijayender asked making Abhyansh frown and Isha's eyes widen. Soon realization stuck him, was Isha ever held captive by her own family ?? Is that why her teacher is asking about her escape ?? What would be another reason why she had to escape her own palace ?? Do they used to torture her ?? Abhyansh fisted his palm even at the thought of that...

"Sir... no, why would I have to escape my own palace... I... I'm here as I am his...", Isha stopped suddenly... he never made her feel like his wife, he always said she is his slave... "I work here sir", Isha said stupidly... she didn't know, she couldn't muster up the courage to call herself his wife after he told her so many times that she is his slave, and in that, she introduced her self as his employee without knowing that would wound her beast of a husband badly...

"You work as a servant here ?? Isha... beta...", Vijayender started but is interrupted by the BEAST's roar...

"Vijayender... She is my WIFE, the realm's queen...",  Abhyansh roared scaring Isha and her teacher...

"I beg for forgiveness, your highness", Vijayender asked with a trembling tone and bowed head, as he is clearly aware of the BEAST and his anger...

"LEAVE", Abhyansh said calming himself, the way he called his wife, 'servant' still rang in his head, and that was burning his insides, and knowing he is the reason for it is more damaging...

Vijayender bowed his head in front of both the king and queen and walked away, he didn't understand why his student had to lie to him about working there when she is the queen of the place in real ??

"Maharaj... I'm sorry, please forgive me", Isha said, she didn't exactly know why she is asking for forgiveness but she knew she made her husband mad, and mad Abhyansh Singh Ranawat is dangerous... 

"Why did you lie ??", Abhyansh asked

"I...I didn't lie...", she said, looking down, afraid of his reaction...

"How many times, I have to tell you, Keep your head high...", He said with irritation...

She frowned but didn't say a word, 'How many times ?? He just said once' she thought...

"Sorry Maharaj...", Isha said lifting her head and looking at his face but not his eyes as she is afraid of him right now... She understood he is waiting for her to speak more and answer his other questions, by the pace of his breathing, so she continued speaking... "Sir asked what I was doing here, I had to tell him something...", she said but he interrupted

"You could have told the truth ??", he asked

"Yes, Please forgive me, Maharaj....", she said and he frowned... He expected her to say something about how he called her his 'slave', 'maid' etc... How he disrespected her, but she did nothing... Instead, she just said 'Sorry', Why is she like that ??

"Did Rajputs torture you ??", Abhyansh asked suddenly shocking Isha... Her eyes widened at that question... 

"Huh... ??", she said but he raised his brows and looked at her intently... She shook her head in a 'No'... She didn't know why her husband is asking, but she doesn't want to discuss her past with anyone, definitely not with her BEAST husband...

"I asked, Did the Rajputs ever torture you ?? leaving your brother, of course", Abhyansh asked holding her left cheek with his right palm surprising her... Firstly, they are conversing as if they are normal husband-wife, and secondly, he is asking as if he cares, does he ?? She asked herself in mind... But, remembering she had to give him an answer, she shook her head again closing her eyes... Understanding she wouldn't say a word, he left her cheek and walked to his office from there... 

As soon as Abhyansh left for his office, Isha ran out to find her teacher, and luckily, he didn't go much far...

"Sir... Sir...", Isha called, and hearing her tone, Vijayender stopped and turned to her... "I'm sorry sir...", Isha added

"I don't know why you lied, but I know you, you didn't have a choice I believe, but you shouldn't have, You are the Queen", Vijayender said still looking down...

"Sir, please look at me, bless me like you always do, you don't have to bow your head in front of me, and also, I'm sorry for how Maharaj shouted at you... He... he was angry with me, I apologize", Isha said...

"What do you think ?? Why did Maharaj stop you from touching my feet ?? Even though I'm the elder, you are the queen, King is considered the father to all his people, and that way, the queen is considered the mother, and our Hindu culture says, mothers cannot hold a child's feet, it's a sin... and Isha... I don't know what compelled you to this marriage, but I hope you are not in deep trouble ??", Vijayender asked, getting concerned for one of his best students, despite very limited resources and several problems, she worked hard to complete her education with flying colors, her dedication always surprised him...

"I'm currently having the happiest period of my life sir... I get to do my dream job, a family that cares for me... Now, I have everything I have dreamt of, bhai is also here, in India, he visits me every two days, in fact, we just met today for lunch...", Isha said with a wide smile and Vijayender returned a smile, looking at her kind smile, he understood she is happy... but he also knew it's not easy to be a wife to the BEAST.

They both conversed for a few minutes before Vijayender left from there... Avyan was coming to the palace at that time, and Isha asked him to drop her teacher at the main road, as no vehicle would reach the palace premises and he had to walk for 15 kilometers... It's not like no vehicle comes in except for the Ranawat's but it needs prior permission from the Ranawat security services Chief that too in a physical copy at least 3 days prior. In emergency and exceptional cases, the vehicles just need the king's 'yes' and they are allowed to the premises...

Isha after sending off her teacher walked inside, freshened up, and got into a saree, before making a coffee for her husband, he needs coffee daily at this time, so she went and gave it to him... She quickly walked away after handing him his coffee as she is afraid that her husband would question her about her life at Rajput palace which she didn't want to talk about anymore... But the BEAST had different plans, he already asked for her information and he would get it till EOD, so he doesn't want to scare her away with his questions but before he could say anything, she asked permission to leave and he didn't have any reason to stop her...

He just hoped the Rajputs treated Isha well, otherwise, it would become very hard for the beast to fulfill the promise he gave to Ranveer. But deep inside, he too knew that somewhere they treated Isha wrongly, otherwise which loving family gets their daughter married to a man like him  ?? And by Kailash Rajput's usage of words for her, he knew that man hated Isha... And must have definitely treated Isha badly, but not in a million years did he expect that she was caged for more than half of her life... 

While Abhyansh was having dinner, one of the royal staff informed Abhyansh about three of his trusted men's arrival. Abhyansh understood why they came, he quickly finished his dinner and left for his office after which his men came inside his office. 

All three men greeted Abhyansh bowing their heads, Abhyansh ordered them to take their seats which they obliged.

"Your highness, Everything you asked is in these files, allow me to state the important events of her highness's early life and education", One of the three men said

"Carry on, I hope you have the correct information and everything is validated", Abhyansh asked

"Yes, Maharaj... Everything has proof, we have validated", the second man said looking down... The BEAST nodded, asking them to continue...

"The queen was born on 26th January 19** to Amar and Pallavi Rajput, she went to Little birds convent, when she was 10, her parents died in a car accident, and after that, her paternal grandmother Sanghvi Devi became her guardian, After her parents' death, she was withdrawn from the school by her uncle, Kailash Rajput and home-schooled...", the man trailed when Abhyansh interrupted him...  

"Homeschooled ??", Abhyansh asked, shocked...

"Yes Maharaj, she was homeschooled from then, technically she went to school only till she is 10, that was till she finished her primary school, after that, all her education was at home... Till her 12th, all her teachers are from government schools, they taught her after school, Kailash Rajput threatened to kill them if they didn't teach the princess at the palace when all the teachers collectively went to ask him to send her to school... After her school, she did her graduation and post-graduation online, details of the college are...", the man said when Abhyansh stopped him with his hand, opening the file...

"So, she never stepped inside a school or college ever ??", Abhyansh asked, there is certain emotion in his tone, which is pain but the men didn't understand, hearing a different tone for the first time in years from the king, did surprise them...

"She never stepped outside the palace for 16 years, 16 years 7 months 23 days, to be precise Maharaj, Kailash Rajput caged her for 16 years, after her parents' cremation is done, it was only on your wedding day, did she step out of that palace", finished the man, without realizing, how the Royal Beast's facial features are changing, and breathing labored... "Kailash Rajput enjoyed all the properties on her name but never provided her with a single penny... she had to design her own clothes with the remaining cloth the royal designer left...", the man went on and Abhyansh's anger and patience busted hearing the tortures... Abhyansh, then understood why his wife asked for money from him on the first day of their marriage, she never saw the outside world, how could she have managed all alone ?? These thoughts killed him minute by minute...

"Out... I said GET OUT.....", Abhyansh roared so loudly that even Isha, Amruta, and Avyan who are in the hall which is at the center of the palace too heard his roar frightening them...

The men trembled in fear and scurried away... Abhyansh opened the files and searched for proof that his men were telling the truth, though his heart knew that was true, he wanted to recheck, no... that cannot be true, his wife, the kindest soul cannot be torched so much... That can't be possible... he told himself while going through all those files, his hands halted on finding the things against his hope... 

"Bhairav...", Abhyansh roared again, which made his bodyguard run inside...

"Find Kailash Rajput, his death is waiting for him...", Abhyansh ordered, in his loud tone, which was heard by Isha, Avyan, and Amruta who ran to the office hearing his first roar, when they saw the three men running out, they asked them but they scurried out without answering them, Avyan and Amrutha wanted to remain in the hall fearing the BEAST but Isha insisted they check him once, but on nearing his office, hearing his roar about finding her uncle, she got hell scared, thinking he would show that fury on her now, so she hid behind her mother-in-law and brother-in-law...

"Yes, Maharaj... Right away...", Bhairav bowed and walked out... 

As soon as he walked out, Abhyansh started throwing all the things in mad fury which shocked Amrutha and Avyaan, as he hardly lost control at that level... The thought that his wife could be tortured at that level made him mad, if Kailash Rajput could cage her inside the palace without caring what the world would think, he could only imagine what he would have done to that poor soul inside the four walls... Even thinking about the pain she might have undergone is making him lose control... And after marriage, he tortured her more than anything, Thinking about that, he destroyed the whole massive study in just a few minutes... His loud roars and shouts are making all three tremble in fear sticking them to the floor, Isha's condition is the worst, she is hiding behind Avyan and Amrutha, clutching both their clothes tightly... Abhyansh let the sharp objects hurt his arms and palms so that the physical pain could control his mental distress...

"AHHHHH...... AHHH.....", He shouted and his loud shrieks sounded as painful moans to Isha and Amrutha... 

"Avyan... I'm scared, what could have happened that is paining him so much ?? Let's go inside and see...", Amrutha said sobbing...

"Ma, don't talk like crazy, it was angry growls, his beast mode is on, he would kill you if you go inside... let's move from here...", Avyan who came out of shock at his mother's request urged to move, but he is late, the Beast saw them, he didn't notice Isha as she is hiding behind the both...

"Go away... before I kill you both, OUT...", Abhyansh shouted walking towards the office door to close it when he saw Isha's saree as Avyaan and Amrutha turned to walk away...

"Isha ??", His voice and tone softened... Hearing him, Avyan and Amrutha moved away, shocked at his soft tone, a tone they never heard... They never saw him coming out of his BEAST mode so quickly... it took at least days for him to come out of it and they didn't go near him till he calmed...

Isha stood rooted, looking into her husband's eye, he called her by her name for the first time... he called her 'Isha' and tears made her way... She observed a lot of pain in his eyes... He walked towards her, without realizing the blood is oozing out of his palms, he wiped her tears making her cheeks soak in his blood...

"Maharaj... You are injured...", she said taking his palms in hers, her fear is gone with one look into his eyes... Amrutha and Avyan stood there rooted not understanding what was happening...

"Come... sit here... I'll bring the first aid box...", Isha said to him making him sit on the nearby chair... "Ma... come here and please check his wounds till I get the first aid box", Isha called her mother-in-law before turning to walk away...

"No... it's glass pieces everywhere, you will get hurt...", Abhyansh said, holding her hand and stopping her from walking further...

"I am wearing sandals... not a problem...", Isha said trying to walk further but his grip tightened, which made more blood ooze from his palm wound...

"Ma... please stop the bleeding, I'll bring the first aid kit", Isha said with tears hurriedly seeing the blood flowing like water, trying to free herself from his tight grip...

"Someone get the damn first aid box", Abhyansh roared getting worried about Isha getting hurt, making the staff run inside... The staff came back with the first aid box and gave it to Isha... His wounds or the pain didn't even make him feel anything but the fear of her getting hurt is dominating every other thing...

She started cleaning the wound on one palm while Amrutha cleaned the other palm's wound... Avyaan stood there not understanding his brother's actions...

"Ma, I think, some wounds are deep, let's call the doctor...", Isha said looking at Amrutha, who nodded in return... "Avyaan... call the doctor, please", Isha said and Avyan nodded, before taking out his phone... 

Looking at Abhyansh's wounds over his arms, hands, elbows, and palms, both Isha and Amrutha sobbed... 

"Don't cry... These wounds don't pain me...", He said looking into her eyes... 'your tears do' he wanted to add but he is afraid that she would understand him or mock him reminding him that he was the one who gave hell lot of tears to her in the past... 'Fear', another feeling he didn't know before he met his wife...

"Doctor will be here in 2 minutes", Avyan said and Isha nodded...

"You both, leave from here...", Abhyansh said looking at Avyan and Amrutha... and both of them understood... Amrutha doesn't want to