द्वेष

AUTHOR'S POV

The loud, sharp voice of the telephone ringing vibrated through the walls of Kulkarni Bhawan as Ashwini hurried out of the kitchen with a tray of warm milk and soaked almonds.

The clinking of the metal echoed sharply in the hall as she set the tray down on the dining table.

Her glass bangles chimed as she reached out for the telephone. It was almost twelve at night, and her husband was not at home.

He was never late.

Ashwini’s heart skipped a beat as she brought the phone to her ear. The other side was quiet — no “hello,” no “hey.”

She took a sharp breath, clutching the pleats of her saree a little tighter.

“H-Hello?” her voice trembled as she spoke, her mind racing with all the negative thoughts.

“I am sorry, Vini.”

Ashwini’s hand went to her chest as she inhaled a deep, steadying breath. Her eyes closed in relief while her fingers clenched tightly around the telephone.

“Bhai…” Just one word. Only that. She couldn’t even think of what to say next.

“I’m sorry for shouting at you that day… when you went to meet that asshole.”

Ashwini noticed a painful, sharp hiss in the background, and her eyes squinted slightly.

Then, suddenly — the line went dead. Completely.

Ashwini’s fingers trembled as she tried to call again, but there was no response.

Her eyes filled with tears of fear as she remembered that her husband was also with her brother.

She knew they wouldn’t kill each other, but still, there was a fear coiling deep inside her chest as she thought of the consequences of them being together.

She sank into a chair, clutching her saree tightly in her hands, chanting Om Namah Shivaya to calm herself.

After what felt like an eternity, she heard it — the screech of wheels on the blocks, the sharp pull of the handbrake, and then the soft but firm thud of the door closing, louder and more eager than usual tonight.

Ashwini stood up — her legs trembling, her mind blank — but her lips parted when the door finally opened, and her breath hitched.

Amit.

Her eyes traveled from one of his eyes to the other — red, bloodshot. Then down his entire body. Finally, they landed on his hands. His knuckles were raw, blood dripping continuously.

Ashwini stood frozen, wide-eyed, as he walked in casually, as if he weren’t hurt at all.

“Soi kyu nahi abhi tak?” he asked while removing his shoes and sitting on the couch.

[Why aren’t you asleep yet?]

“Wh-what happened to you? You… you were with Bh-bhai?” Ashwini stepped forward, gasping when he hissed slightly in pain.

Her eyes welled up as she stopped just short of reaching him.

Amit looked up, and Ashwini didn’t look away — she met his gaze with equal intensity. Messed-up thoughts, tangled feelings, and a complicated relationship swirling between them.

“Bhai did this?” she whispered, taking his hand in hers as she sat beside him on the couch.

“I’ve done worse than this.”

A lone tear escaped her eye as she looked at him.

“Go and sleep. I’ll take care of this,” Amit said, pulling his hand back and moving away.

Ashwini’s heart sank when she saw his eyes — distant, cold.

She swallowed her hurt, stood up from the couch, and walked to the table where the telephone sat. She dialed a number.

“Hello?” The call was answered on the first ring.

“Shaurya bhaiya… ghar aaiye,” she murmured slowly, taking in a deep breath.

[Shaurya, please come home.]

The phone went silent after that.

Shaurya was Amit and Samyak’s best friend — or at least, he had been. Now, he was the only one still in contact with both of them.

Ashwini turned away without looking at Amit and walked toward the place where he had left his shoes. She bent down to pick them up, but her whole body froze when Amit grabbed them before she could.

“Bola na, I’ll take care of this mess. Go and sleep.”

[I told you, I’ll take care of this mess. Go to sleep.]

Ashwini’s red, glistening eyes shot up to his as she gritted her teeth, then turned away sharply.

“Pata nahi kya samajhte hain khud ko,” she muttered under her breath, stomping her feet on each step as she went upstairs.

[I don’t know what he thinks of himself.]

Meanwhile, Amit leaned back, resting his head against the couch’s headrest, smirking slightly when his wife’s voice reached his ears.

His blood-soaked fingers tapped against his thighs.

“What the hell did you two do?” Shaurya’s voice boomed through the hall as he strode toward Amit.

“He made her cry, and above all, he deserved that—” Amit was cut off mid-sentence when Shaurya landed a hard punch on his face.

“Meri biwi ne marne ke liye bulaya hai kya tujhe yaha?” Amit hissed in pain, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips.

[Did my wife call you here to beat me up?]

“Kamine! You guys even get drunk after beating the shit out of each other. Aur tune nahi rulaya usko, huh? I’m sure she was crying on the phone.”

[Bastard! You guys get drunk after fighting like animals. And you didn’t make her cry, huh? I’m sure she was crying on the phone.]

Shaurya grabbed Amit’s hand, helping him to his feet.

---

The door clicked shut as Shaurya stepped out of Amit’s room after dressing his wounds.

The corridor was dark and silent, but Shaurya’s eyes spotted Ashwini waiting for him to return so she could check on Amit.

Shaurya nodded, and Ashwini quickly made her way to the room.

She unlatched the door carefully, trying not to disturb Amit. The room was completely dark — the curtains drawn, only the low hum of the air conditioner filling the silence.

Ashwini gulped as she entered slowly. After locking the door, she tiptoed towards the bed, her movements unhurried, as if she had all the time in the world.

Her eyes caught sight of discarded clothes on the table and ointments scattered near the bed.

Amit lay sleeping, one hand over his eyes, the other resting on the bed. One leg was slightly bent, and his calm breathing told her he was asleep.

Ashwini quietly gathered the clothes and placed them in the laundry. Then she carefully arranged the ointments neatly on the table.

She adjusted the air conditioner to a warmer temperature and picked up a blanket.

Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as she neared him, unfolding the blanket and covering him up to his torso. She gulped and turned to leave.

“Make sure to remove your anklets and bangles the next time you try to sneak into your husband’s room like a thief.”

Ashwini froze, her hand on the doorknob, her mind going blank at Amit’s voice.

“Go and sleep. You’re already tired.”

Her throat tightened. He wasn’t asleep?

She quickly unlocked the door and hurried toward Vardan’s room.

•°. 🪷*࿐

क्षणानुभूति

The childish, squeaky giggles echoed in the bathroom as Vardan ran from Amit, who had smeared shaving cream on Vardan's face.

Amit’s hand was injured, and he asked Vardan for help, but instead of helping his father, Vardan smeared all the cream on his cheeks and jaw and tried to run away from him.

Amit ran after him in the washroom with the cream on his hand. Their laughter filled the room with chaos and a burst of shine.

“V, where are you?” Vardan signaled Amit to keep quiet by putting one finger on his lips and disappeared into the wash area after yelling—

“Mumma, I am in the washroom!”

Amit turned towards the mirror, setting the cream on his face while his ears focused on the chiming of those bangles and anklets.

The hair on his back perked up when the washroom door clicked open. He looked down at his appearance — the loose, white, pale kurta and the pants hanging loosely on his body.

Then — his eyes moving further — he looked up at her reflection: the cherry-red saree with the sheer fabric hugged her body. The pallu was pinned, the pleats were neatly tucked, and the way her pallu fell on her back — moving every time she moved.

Her hair was tied in a messy bun, as if she had come straight after taking a bath. Her smell replaced the aroma of his shaving cream and even his own scent.

He took a deep breath while looking away when his eyes fell on the marks on her waist — still young.

He gulped when she walked forward in his direction.

His eyes followed her every movement as her long braid swayed with her steps. Her eyes were focused on something — on the floor — and that’s when his eyes went to his discarded shirt lying there carelessly.

Ashwini bent down to pick it up without glancing his way, but Amit was quick enough to take it before she could even touch it.

“You don't need to do this.” Ashwini didn't look at him; instead, she just straightened, and her eyes racked the bathroom in search of her son.

Amit’s brows knitted together as he saw how she tried to ignore his presence, yet the side of her eyes never left his sight.

“V!” Ashwini took a step away from Amit after huffing an angry breath.

"It was his fault. If he hadn't raised his voice at you, I wouldn't have beaten him.”

Amit’s voice came low, calm but firm. Ashwini turned around and bit the inside of her cheeks while she looked at him, her lashes fumbling.

“V!” Ashwini turned around, ignoring him.

“Trust me, no woman has ever ignored me like this,” Amit muttered under his breath, cursing himself for coming in front of her in that state.

“Mumma!” Ashwini gasped audibly when the cold water hit her body. Vardan’s tiny hands clutched the small bucket as he poured all its water on Ashwini.

Ashwini ran a hand over her face while breathing heavily. Her eyes fell on Vardan as he giggled out loud with his father.

“V, no!” Ashwini glared while faking her anger at Vardan, but he didn't listen. He did it again — splashing all the water on her again, making her close her eyes.

Ashwini was a mess — her saree clung to her body as she shivered from the cold water. Her breathing turned uneven, and her eyes were not helping much.

Ashwini’s back was pressed against the bathroom vanity. The cold marble of the sink sent a chill through her body as she tried to remove the hair from her face while her son’s continuous mischief didn't stop.

“V, please stop,” she said, but Vardan didn't listen. He was enjoying it while Amit encouraged him, stifling his wide smile.

And then — the splashing of the water stopped. The sound of water touching her skin stopped.

She opened her eyes just to peek at her son — but a shiver jolted through her petite figure when she found Amit standing just in front of her, at a one-inch distance, stopping the water.

The smell of his aftershave was still there as he moved forward, catching her between the counter and him.

His hands stretched beside her as he placed them on the counter.

Ashwini quickly tried to move away, her earrings made a loud sound, and her bangles clinked together loudly, but her breath got caught in her throat when she placed her hand on his hand in a hurry. She froze. Amit didn't bulge.

She craned her head up immediately to say something, to fight with him, but as soon as her eyes fell on him, the awareness of how close they were rushed to her and soon,

the rosy hue crept up her cheeks while her eyes fluttered. Amit noticed it all carefully — how her cheeks turned red, the slight tremble in her petite body when their fingers touched for a second, and the nervousness that overpowered her angry mode.

He sucked in a deep breath when Vardan still didn't stop.

“V, stop being naughty and go to your room.” Amit tilted his head a bit as he said it firmly, making Vardan stop in his tracks.

Vardan’s face fell as he looked down while his hold on the bucket loosened, and his lips formed a sad pout.

He stormed out of the washroom without even glancing their way.

Ashwini's eyes squinted as her chubby cheeks puffed up while she glared at Amit for scolding Vardan.

“Why did you raise your voice at him?” Ashwini said while her head craned up toward his eyes.

“Were you enjoying it?” Ashwini's eyes dropped to the floor, but they widened as she looked at her condition.

Her saree!

It was all set and now messed up from every side. Its fabric was very silky — the kind that took a whole hour to drape properly.

After concealing her expression, she straightened up while trying to move away from him, taking a step aside.

Her heart thumped loudly as she realized the state she was in.

“Don't worry. My eyes were busy somewhere else,” he said while his gaze fell on the messy strand of her hair clinging to her face, the long lashes holding tiny droplets of water, and the silent jingling of her anklets.

“And about last night, I only punched him once, and he punched me twice — and then Shaurya also did it when you went upstairs,” Amit said, more like complaining, while trying to peek into those orbs that were trying their best to ignore him.

Ashwini gulped while her head moved up a little toward him as something twisted deep in her stomach.

“Someone was talking about taking care of it all by themselves — then do it.” Ashwini’s voice, edged with anger, reached Amit’s ears as his brows furrowed.

“You are tak—”

“HAR//MKHOR!” Samyak’s voice echoed in the washroom as Amit stepped back, and Ashwini ran away from there, her saree still clinging to her as she closed her eyes in embarrassment.

•°. 🪷*࿐