My heart was thudding with uneasiness, the eerie silence of the room, where even the ticking of the clock seemed to have stopped, the dark in the room and the lie I was holding back was confronting me.

I looked in the mirror, my hair was devilish, my eyes swollen from tears. Legs trembling against the edge of the bed. Hand shivering.

I was facing the harsh lie in front of me.

The truth was uncovered, now Rudra will hate me more, the hatred will grow deeper than the ocean in his eyes than I thought.

I have been waiting for him since morning, the moonlight from the window was the only source of light in this dark room.

But the light of hope in my heart was shattered between the truth of the past and the reality of my present- our present.

I thought we would face this- the rivalry, the hate, the feeling of vengeance.

But I fucked up.

Like every time, I screwed up again, I showed that I am strong, fierce, assertive and can make everything right with my firm decisions.

But today, that confidence broke down in pieces in front of me like shattered pieces of mirror.

The room's silence break by the sound of footsteps coming, I turned and saw Rudra, his body exhausted, his shirt's buttons opened, the reality hit me.

He was drunk.

His eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep, seemed to bore into my soul, while his shirt, reeling of alcohol, hung loosely on his frame.

He stumbled, his steps uneasy, I took steps towards him to help him, but he raised his hand and said, "Don't you dare to come towards me, I hate you more than ever, just get lost in front of my eyes", his voice cracked with emotion, he was feeling betrayed.

I know I give him one more reason to hate me. I felt a pang of guilt as I watched Rudra's face contort in anger.

I tried to say, "Rudra please listen to me, I know I lied, I married you just to uncover the truth of my mother's past, I was looking for myself, for my mother, that's it".

I'd always felt like I was living in the shadow of my mother's trauma, and now  I'd dragged Rudra into that darkness too.

"Just stop with your explanations Chandni, you could say me you want help for your mother's past, I would help you, but you lied, to me, to my family, you keep us in dark, I hate lies and liars, first dad, then you", his voice barely above a whisper, he kneeled on floor, rubbed his face with frustration, I couldn't see him like this, I... I.. just can't see him like this.

"Why am I always left alone with lies, first dad, then you, I believed you Chandni, I trust you, I give everything to you, my trust, respect, but...", he cried, his palms covering his face.

I kneeled in front of him, my cries mixing with his, I cupped his face and said, "Rudra I am sorry I know I can't fix it, but try to understand just like you I was trying to find the culprit, please understand me, I know we hated each other for years, but it was unintentional, I don't want to hurt you, Rudra please don't cry I... I...", I couldn't finish those last words.

Those words sound bitter on my tongue, I give him so much pain, I can't say him what I am holding back.

He removed my hands from his face and stood up, "See it's finished now, we.... there is no us, just go to hell I don't want to see your face again",

"Rudra please... please don't say it, I can't live without you please Rudra", I pleaded.

"Ohh It was your plan right, to marry me for your own good then just leave me alone again", his tone sarcastic, I can't tell him what I feel.

"No Rudra I know I married you for a purpose but I don't know when you become my habit, my addiction.. my everything Rudra. I can't live without you", I tried to say what I feel, what I crave, only him- his presence.

"You are lying again, just like everyone, everyone lied to me and left me, my mom, dad and now you... I don't deserve this I want someone to hold me, to heal this... this shattered heart...", he pointed his index finger on his heart.

I closed my eyes, I can't see him, breaking down, so vulnerable- I am responsible for what today he is facing.

It would be good If I left, If I never show my face and just move from here, for him.

"You're still here," he slurred, his voice laced with anger and hurt.

"I...I didn't know where to go," I stammered, feeling a pang of guilt.

Rudra laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "You didn't know where to go? You're the one who's been lying to me, manipulating me, using me to get what you want."

I felt a tear roll down my cheek, and I hastily wiped it away. "Rudra, please listen to me..."

"No, I don't want to hear it," he interrupted, his voice rising. "I don't want to hear your excuses, your justifications. You're just like everyone else, Chandni. You're just like my father."

I flinched at the comparison, feeling a surge of anger. "I'm not like your father," I protested.

Rudra sneered. "Oh, really? Then why did you lie to me? Why did you marry me under false pretenses?"

I took a step forward, my heart pounding. "I did it to uncover the truth about my mother's past," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Rudra's expression changed, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice cold.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

How was the prologue?

So many of you were saying I should change the name of Chandni to something else but I wanna clear one thing that every thing choosen for the story is decided for something, the name also have a crucial role in further story

Your views about Chandni and Rudra..

Other characters will be introduced with the story...

Love

~leen

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