The Alpha Killed My Husband

35| Tangled Up

He slapped me.

I feel the air knocked out of my body as I crouch on the floor with an audible thud.

My heart races faster than a Formula One finalist. Tiny stars dance in the vision.

Alpha Rudransh Shenoy, my sworn enemy, has raised his hand at me, Queen Sarvyaoni. The world’s finest shape-shifting cobra.

Bloody hell! It will only take a hundred years of penance before I will be bestowed with a Viper’s stone. I can become immortal. This filthy good-for-nothing douche bag slapped me.

That freaking goon—slapped me—just like that!

Minutes roll over before the realisation dawns upon me. It comes crashing down in tangled emotions that are too much to divulge.

He wanted to inflict injury. I am enraged because I am startled. I just wait for the smoke to come out of my ears. It never came. to make me see my rightful place. He thinks he can overpower me.

No male is ever different. Everything is just a facade. You just have to push the right buttons to get the wrong sides. The true shade will be revealed in the most grotesque way possible. It will be an opera.

And I am a sumo wrestler. Nagini gritted her hundred-something teeth. Wait a minute! It did not sound like Nagini. Her voice isn't giggly. It's squeaky.

My palm covers my left cheek where a stinging sensation is spreading. It's warm and wet with tears. I am somewhat hazy. It hurts. I took my knees to my chest and leaned on the wall.

This bastard has a death wish. Let me out. The voice echoes again.

The room is eerily silent. Only the soft chimes of the bell on the balcony and the ruffling of curtains could be heard. I wanted to get up and hit him with matching strength. I wanted to pull his hair and scratch his chest. I want to bite him, choke him...kill him. Unfortunately, my body does not cooperate.

It’s traitorous. An energy is engulfing me. I am angrily helpless.

Get up, Nagini. Come out! I pant.

Now isn't the right time. The voice scowls. It is not Nagini. My mind is alert, sneaking glances around. I must be hallucinating.

'Who is it?' I call out.

'Aa—Aary,' Rudransh kneels beside me. I can see his silhouette from blurry vision. His face is voluminous. His voice is cracked at the edge. He is regretting it.

Not you, i***t!

'I—I—I am sorry.' He cups my cheek with both of his palms. The pad of his thumb traces a figure...his fingerprints. I close my eyes at the sensation. His palms are surprisingly cold. It takes my mind all over the place. It's numb.

‘Alone!’ My voice is deeper and huskier and it's full of determination. It doesn’t sound like mine. It’s strange…somewhat disconcerting.

'I am very sorry, Aary. I am so very sorry. Please, forgive me.' Rudransh sobs. I know he is saying it. I can hear it yet I am unable to take it.

Such a crackpot I have been to think he'd affect me. He has no idea what he has got himself into. I giggle. The hell begins.

It’s good to be an i***t sometimes. Enemy or not, he slapped some sense in you.

I growl at the voice. Sure, the slap throes, but knowing that you have lost control over yourself and your emotions is a whole other concern.

And you want to conquer the administration. I see you have quite overestimated yourself. The voice is back.

Na—gini? Nag—ini? Nagi—ni?

Silence.

Oh, damn. Did he hit a crucial nerve? Am I going insane? Did he get rid of Nagini with a single slap?

'Who are you?' I snap frustrated.

‘Aary! Luna?’ Rudransh reaches out to my face. He is terrified of the trash bag he has thrown. What a fine artist! He must be given an award. He can leave all of it behind and accept proposals for entertainment projects. He'll be unbeatable.

I giggle out loud. The almighty Alpha is scared. He feels for me. The two words don't fit together.

‘Heheheheheheee…’

‘Aary. I—’

I cut him off with a wave of my hand. The laughter is fading away as sensibility seeps in.

'I want to be left alone, Alpha. Is that too much to ask? Am I not worthy of it?' I still cannot recognize my own voice. It is barely anything more than a mewl. However, it is bitter.

'Please...' I emphasised, wiping the corner of my eyes.

Do not dare shed a tear. You are not weak. Think of the beautiful evening inching closer. The ocean. Emily. Avika. Vachaspati. Just do not think about him and...papa

I close my eyes as the flashes of my past start haunting me.

The silence thereafter is deafening. I can hear my harsh breathing and Rudransh's pulsating gasps. I cannot read his thoughts. I don't want to read anything. I want to be left alone for a calm reflection. I want to sort myself out first...and tear this beautiful room apart. My hands itch.

'Aaradhya...' Is it a sigh? No! I do not want to hear anything at all. Shut up and keep hitting me. I can bear this rage. It's how it should be. Your softness messes up big time, Rudransh. You almost make me lose my brain cells and you did something to Nagini. Her vocals have been disemblowed.

She is fine.

And she talks in third person pronouns now.

'I am officially fucked.' I nod, clicking my tongue.

'What?' He is puzzled. He must be. He has no idea of the favour he has done to me. He smacked me out of a sweet reverie before I could get too addicted to it and Nagini...oh my!

'Nothing...I beg your leave. Go away.' I have no hold over my desperation. I want to get away from him and everyone else. I want to slip back into the pit, curl myself into a ball and cry till my eyes cannot shed tears. Then, I will break the expensive furniture. By six in the morning, I will regain my sanity and will be scheming to get back to him. Only to come up stronger.

You are worthless once. Papa had yelled.

SHUT UP, BRAIN!

Your ugly face reminds me of your mother's infidelity. He had spit on my face before his gigantic hand had come smacking me on the face. My head banged on the wall. The world spun. I was startled.

I am nostalgic. I want Rudransh to smack me again. No, I don't want to relive the horrible days. Yeah, he must do that. He must slap me. Papa wouldn’t stop after a slap. It wouldn’t satisfy him.

I loved her. I loved you. None of you deserves anything. Respect? My d**k! His shrills were never as loud as his kicks. The pain used to engulf my body for days or weeks. In my head, I’d pray. I badly wanted to pass out or better die just so he’d leave me alone.

Sarvayoni! An utterance would engulf me. I could hear the faint wails. It was begging my father to stop. He would not.

His assistant, driver, servants, and even the guardian would look at me sympathetically. None stepped forward to help. The world was unfair. It is unfair. It will remain unfair till the end of time.

Destiny hasn’t changed much.

'Aaradhya.' A hand cupped my cheek. The fingers were long and covered my whole face. Am I shivering? Nope. Naah. Nada. I was a warrior. I am a warrior. I gave my asshole for a father the time of his life. He would have died of a heart attack someday if he hadn't thrown me at Vachaspati.

The serpents wasn't happiest either. He regretted life decisions big time.

‘I bow at your feet, Alpha. Leave me alone…’ I joined both of my palms and meet his eyes for the first time. I am losing it. If he stays a second longer in the same room, he would meet the Sarvayoni. He'd know I am not his flawless mate. I am an imposter, someone pretending to be his Luna and I am many creatures' worst nightmare.

I will show him how I have earned that reputation. The veil will be pierced. This cannot happen. He must leave right away if he respects the dangling balls between his legs.

The beautiful dark eyes are back. He is weeping so much. He is upset. His nose is crimson and so are his cheeks. He regrets it. He really does.

Dayyumm! It does not change anything, dude. He has pushed me back to the dark pit hole I have climbed out of after years of persistent efforts. I am so done playing well.

‘At least listen to me once.’ He sobs, crying his eyes out. Eh, no thanks! He reaches out to engulf me. I cower away because I am scared.

I am scared that I will smack him, ruin the symmetry of his face. Eyeballs? What are those? They will be popped out of the socket. I don't specifically want to voice out where I'd be stuffing it.

'No! Just leave or I will jump off this balcony.' with you. 'LEAVE ME ALONE.' Yeah, just f**k the hell off.