โFourth,โ she whispered, barely audible, her voice trembling under the weight of his stare.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, in the next instant, she felt the sting of a slap across her cheek, hard and unforgiving.
Her head snapped to the side as pain radiated through her face. The world around her blurred for a moment, but she stood frozen, unable to react. The sting of the slap was nothing compared to the humiliation that followed.
โYou think this is acceptable?โ Her father's voice was low and venomous. โYou are a disgrace to this family, Aaravika. Fourth? Again?โ He spat the words out like they were venom. โWhat the hell is wrong with you? Do you not understand the value of your reputation?โ
The humiliation burned through her, but she didnโt dare cry out or say anything in return. She knew better than that. Instead, she kept her head down, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, fighting the tears that threatened to spill over.
Her father turned away, disgust in his eyes, as he spoke to a few people passing by, pretending as if nothing had happened. But Aaravika was still frozen, standing in front of the notice board, her heart heavy with the weight of his words.
The pain from the slap was nothing compared to the crushing disappointment in her fatherโs eyes. The thought of facing him at home later terrified her. She knew there was no escaping the storm he would bring.
But then, something shifted in her chestโa strange, cold feeling. She wasnโt sure what it was, but the hurt was starting to dull. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
โYouโre just a failure,โ her father muttered from behind her, but she didnโt react. She had learned to swallow the words long ago.
Her gaze flicked to the crowd that had gathered around them, and in that moment, a rush of anger flooded her veins. They had all seen it. The slap. The failure. Her fatherโs disappointment. She didnโt want their pity.
She glanced at her father for a moment, then at the people around her, before she turned away, walking slowly towards the exit. But before she could make it very far, her fatherโs voice called out once more, this time with a cruel edge to it.
โDonโt you dare forget, Aaravika,โ he sneered. โYou live under my roof. You are nothing without me.โ
As Aaravikaโs father, Srivastav, dragged her by the arm out of the car, the tight grip around her wrist sent a chill through her entire body. She could feel the tension in the air, suffocating her as he led her into Desai house. Her legs trembled beneath her, but she couldnโt make a soundโshe had long learned the art of silence when it came to him.
Once they stepped inside, Aaravikaโs bua, Varsha, along with her twin daughters, Shravya and Shreya, were already there, watching with a certain twisted amusement. They always enjoyed seeing her sufferโit was a form of entertainment for them. Her mother, Ektha, and her younger brother, Parth, stood nearby, their faces etched with concern. Parthโs confusion and worry were palpable, but Ekthaโs face was filled with helplessness, unable to stop what was unfolding.
โWhatโs happening?โ Parth asked, his voice trembling with unease as he tried to make sense of the scene before him.
But Srivastav ignored him, shoving Aaravika harshly to the ground. She crashed to her knees, the floor cold against her skin, and before she could even recover, he was already reaching for his belt. The sound of the leather strap against the air made her stomach drop. She knew what was coming.
โWorthless,โ Srivastav muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with disdain. โYou canโt even manage to get your rank right. Youโve embarrassed us again. Fourth place. Again.โ
Aaravika stayed still, her body rigid, refusing to let herself show weakness. She had learned to brace for the inevitable punishment.
Her mother, Ektha, rushed forward, pleading, โPlease! Not again! This isnโt how you should be handling this! Sheโs just a child!โ
Srivastav pushed her away with one swift motion. โShe is no child, Ektha. Sheโs an embarrassment to this family. Youโve spoiled her.โ
The belt came down across Aaravikaโs back with a loud crack, sending a wave of pain through her body. She gritted her teeth, determined not to cry out. The tears were building up, but she fought them back with everything she had. She couldnโt give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.
Her mother cried out in protest, but Srivastav ignored her completely, striking again and again. Each lash was like a reminder of how little she mattered to him. How everything she did would never be enough.
Her brother, Parth, stepped forward, his voice shaking. โDad, stop! This isnโt how to fix things! You canโt justโโ
But Srivastav turned on him, silencing him with a cold glare. โStay out of this, Parth. This is between me and her.โ
Shravya and Shreya stood to the side, a wicked gleam in their eyes as they watched. They had no sympathy for Aaravika. To them, this was just another form of amusement.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Srivastav stopped. He stood over her, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling with rage. There was a coldness in his eyes, but no remorse. No empathy.
Aaravika remained kneeling on the ground, her body trembling from the pain and humiliation. The room fell into an oppressive silence. Her motherโs sobs echoed in the background, but Aaravika could only focus on the voice of her father.
โGet up,โ he commanded coldly. โYouโre not finished yet. Stand up, and remember your place, Aaravika.โ
She wanted to stay on the floor, to hide from the world, but she knew there was no choice. She had to obey. Her fatherโs wrath was worse than the physical pain. She slowly pushed herself up, her legs unsteady beneath her, but she remained silent. Her heart ached, not just from the beating but from the crushing weight of his disappointment.
โDo you think this is acceptable?โ Srivastavโs voice rang out like a slap in the silence.
Aaravika didnโt answer. There was no point. She had learned long ago that nothing she did would ever satisfy him.
Srivastav turned away, leaving her to deal with the aftermath of his rage. Her mother rushed to her side, but the damage had been done. Aaravika felt her heart breaking, her spirit withering under the harsh reality of her life.
As Srivastavโs hand swung toward Aaravikaโs face, his fingers curling tightly in her hair, the room felt suffocating. The grip on her scalp was relentless, pain shooting through her body as she braced for the inevitable slap. Her fatherโs anger was consuming, and she could feel the years of frustration in each movement. But just as the strike was about to land, a voice, deep and commanding, cut through the tense air like a knife.
โIf you dare raise your hand against her, I'll shatter every bone in your body and leave you begging for a death that won't come, Mr. Srivastav Desai.โ
The room went still. It was a voice that carried authorityโdanger in every syllable. Srivastav froze mid-swing, his hand hovering in the air as his eyes flickered toward the doorway.
Vayran.
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