In my Devil's Arms

As Riya worked Vicky opened a few business papers and read. His memory was very good in remembering them. He looked at financial report that Vinod had prepared for the last year. And compared the same with current one upto the date.

He noted down any areas of concern in his diary. They both worked in amicable silence for an hour.

An hour later he started looking for her. No way she goes without food today.

" Riya", he called.

" In here", she hollered from a room.

" Aah here you are", he said.

She was looking at a picture. Not by Darshan but some other painter. It depicted a cremation. It looked sad as three men were on their knees. A dead soldier was on pyre and a girl sat dressed as a bride on his foot".

Vicky remembered it..

" Its time my friend. I see yamdoot (angel of death)", said Dheeraj his friend to Srikant. He slowly closed his eyes as others were crying.

His eyes watered.

" Do you know who he is", she asked.

" No", he lied. "Just all these death scenes. How do you cope"?

" Used to it now. History is the study of dead", she shrugged.

" So who is he", Vicky asked.

" Not mentioned but by his uniform and seal he seems like a high ranked officer in king's army", she answered.

" These dead people are the reason you lose apetite", chided Vicky. " Come have a juice."

She went to him as they sipped packaged orange juice.

" So first submission was successful", he asked.

" Yes", she said looking at the ground.

" Riya look at me", he said.

" I. I. I..am sorry for what I did at the office", she said still looking down.

SHE FEELS GUILTY. HELL.

" Riya", he rsised her face with chin using two fingers.

" I got away with way less for what I subjected you to", he said.

" I. I .. need to"

" Eat cheese sandwich", he said. He handed her one and took another for himself.

She loved it. " Its yummy", she said. " Thank you".

Then she handed him an envelope.

" What's this", he asked.

" Open and see", she said.

He opened and saw the photograph of Gunjan's potrait she found in Laxmi's house.

" This", tears flew from his eyes.

"The potrait is in Laxmi's house", she said.

" Wow", he said. " This is how she should be always. Married to me". Respected. Happy".

He held her hands.

" Thank you", he said emotionally.

Vicky how can you love her so much thought Riya. Do you love me too"?

She let the thoughts go away. He doesn't love me.

" Come I'll show you a few more pictures ", she said to him.

" This is a court potrait", she showed.

But what she saw was depiction of clothing, the class system of that age the jewellery the court arrangement; all he could see was men leering at Gunjan.

She was dancing in a transparent dress which was too tight on her. There was no veil and her figure was creating high imaginations in courtiers.

" She is so helpless", said Vicky. He covered her with his hands.

The second one was on a terrace. Their bodies covered just by a sheet Ranjeet embraced Gunjan. Her eyes were closed as tears flew from them.

" She was mauled publically by him", said Vicky red with anger.

Chandbai dominated that collection with her beauty clearly visible. There was one in which she bathed her milky skin glowing in moonlight as king stared her with half sleepy eyes lying on a bed nearby. It was probably after he made love to her.

Her sensual self dominated the pictures .

There was one in which she wore a red lehnga tied way below her naval and choli with deep neck to show her cle*vage.

VICKY PALED..

" Vicky", she said.

" I'll burn all these pictures. All of them", he said .

" Vicky this is very ancient art.."

" So what? I let them ogle her", he cried. " Look how defeated she looks".

" I think you need fresh air", said Riya pulling him in the backyard.

" Come fast here. Look a Shiva idol", she said." Lets offer prayers. Come Vicky".

At the sight of idol Vicky snapped.

Gunjan has fainted after she learned he remarried. She cried a whole day and night without eating anything breaking her head on that idol.

" TAKE THIS DAMN THING AWAY FROM HERE", he said pointing to the idol."THERE IS NO GOD. SHE WORSHIPPED YOU HER WHOLE LIFE. AND WHAT DID YOU GIVE HER? "...He was breathing with difficulty now. "LIFE OF A COURTESAN, MISERY. SHE BROKE HER HEAD ON YOU. I REMARRIED. WE BOTH FAILED HER. WE BOTH. "

Riya froze. She just could not imagine that pain. She watched him in stunned silence.

Suddenly his head ached severely. He sat down holding it.

" I remarried you fallen woman. I need kids and your w*mb is no longer pure for bearing them", Srikant said.

" Gunjan Gunjan".

" Vicky ", she called.

But he could not hear her. He fell on the ground crying.

" Don't leave me Gunjan. Don't die my wife. I love you so much. Please please"...

" Vicky please control", she said.

He fell on the ground as his eyes rolled up and the black in his eyes disappeared leaving just eye white.

RIYA WAS REALLY SCARED NOW.

" Vicky pull yourself together", she said shaking him.

But her voice failed to reach him.

" Gunjan he made you dance nak*d. I couldn't understand your plight. I have no right to live. WHY DON'T YOU KILL ME SHIVA", his body was shaking now. Seizures started.

" No , no Vicky Shiva please help him", Riya started crying.

" Come back my love. I can't live another day without you", Vicky mourned in pain. " Have pity my love".

She hugged him tight. Her heart was aching with his pain.

She couldn't deny it anymore. She loved him.

" I love you Vicky", she whispered.

Only if he could have heard her.

He was still having violent seizures. Riya was scared for his life.

Think Riya Think. He was not Vicky now. He was Srikant. Only one person can reach him in his current state. Gunjan. Behave like her. Make him feel she is with him. Riya you are Gunjan.

" Sahib", said Riya. " I am in your arms", she said hugging him.

Srikant opened his eyes and looked at her. Deep green eyes looked back at him. She had same heart shaped face, milky skin, pink lips.

" Sahib", said Riya again. " Shiva sent me back to be with you."

" Really", he asked.

" Yes", she said.

" You won't leave again", he asked in fear.

" Never", she answered with her heart. " We shall always be together".

He hugged her tight. His eyes closed.

Srikant who has overpowered Vikram's body slowly subsided. Vicky collapsed at Riya's feet.

" Vicky", she cried weakly.

" Why do you bother him Srikant? He shall not pay for your sins. He is not you.. he he .is mine..let him be my Vicky", she said to empty walls.

Vicky slept soundly for an hour. As he woke up he was drenched in sweat. Riya was still working he found from his security. After he slept while working he was brought to his original room where he lived as Sri.

" Okay", he dismissed the security.

He bathed, changed and looked for her.

" Join me for lunch", he said.

They ate lemon rice with green chutney. Then munched fresh apples he got from village.

" I am okay if you demolish the palace", she said sadly.

" Why the U turn", he asked.

" Umm ..I.."

" You witnessed the attack", he said simply.

" Its okay I have made peace with it".

" I had no idea about your pain", she said with a guilt. " I am sorry I called you names".

" No big deal. I have been called iworse", he said smiling.

She smiled back. The rest of the afternoon passed in harmony. By evening they were friends again.

They decided to leave after having tea. But heavens had different plans. Unexpected Mumbai rains hit the area severely. The roads and vision were blocked.

" Are you okay spending the night here", said Vicky. " We can't leave now".

" Nobody knows in my house I am here. I just told Manav I am coming here for one last time."

He gave her his BlackBerry.

" Call your house".

She did. Luckily Manav picked.

" I am stuck here Manav. I can't come tonight. "

Vikram assured him she was safe and with him. His security was there too.

" Mr. Oberoi Riya gets a little lost in such places. Take care of her", said Manav.

" I will", said Vicky and he cut the call.

So now they will spend the night together. ❤